Hard Contact Part 4

[colls]

Welcome to our last of four check-in and discussion posts for our Book of the Month.

This month’s book is Hard Contact (Star Wars: Republic Commando #1) by Karen Traviss
Chapters 16-20


Hard Contact Part 4

1. Does this book alter your perception of the Jedi and the treatment of Clones during the Prequel era?

2. Were you surprised that Etain stayed on Qiilura?

3. What are your thoughts on the bits of Mandalorian culture offered in this book? How does it align and differ from the current canon about Mandalorians?

4. How did you like the book? Are you inclined to continue the series?



FYI - There's no need to answer all (or any) of the questions above - they're just talking points to get us started. Informal chatter is more than welcome! In-person book clubs often veer off topic, it's okay if we do as well. :)

Comments

[colls]

I like that this book isn't subtle about the fact that making clones for war is bullshit business - and the acceptance of it doesn't paint the Jedi in a very good light. I don't think it changes my perception about that, just adds to it.

I was a bit surprised that she didn't evac with the squad, but in hindsight, I suppose it makes more sense to extend the plot for future books in the series. We have a bonded ensemble now with the squad and Etain - now we'll set them up on different plot threads/fronts before bringing them back together.

There were really only tidbits here, so I didn't notice anything about Mandalorian culture that truly contradicts what is in the current canon. The current canon is a bit of an unrevealed complexity at the moment (different clans/cults having different interpretations of themselves, etc).

[brokenmnemonic]

1. I think that this book does a decent job of highlighting that the way the clones are created and trained is abhorrent - even moreso than is suggested in the prequel movies, because this goes into detail on just how much the training treated their lives as being of no value.

2. I'm not surprised that Etain decided to stay on Qilura - I think that while she's probably not going to make Jedi Knight any time soon, her attachment to the clones and to the world felt like natural character development to me. I was intrigued as to whether she and the clones would stay together, but I didn't think that the idea of only one clone staying there was plausible. If there are millions of clones, then four staying makes no more difference than just one staying. I think I'm rather hoping that Etain and the rest of the squad don't get back together, because I really don't like the idea of it being this squad who kill Etain when Order 66 comes in.

3. I'm not sure how I feel about the little bits and pieces coming through the one character in this novel about Mandalorian culture. The comics are somewhat confusing about how much of Mandalorian culture is even still in existence at this point. I'm starting to feel that what I've seen in the Mandalorian tv series is a way of somehow making all the viewpoints correct, by creating a situation where there are multiple splinter factions all calling themselves Mandalorians and with differing perspecitves on themselves and their history.

4. I honestly have mixed feelings about whether to continue reading the series or not. On the one hand, I thought it was a good military sci-fi story that moved quickly and brought up some difficult points about the Clones and how they're treated, but on the other, I know that Order 66 is on the way, and I'm not sure I really want to get invested in anyone from this particular period.

[colls]

3. Ah!! Yes, that's a good point. It'd be a clever way to bring in contradictory threads.

4. I know that Order 66 is on the way, and I'm not sure I really want to get invested in anyone from this particular period.
I feel this way a lot, too. I'm already invested in some clones (Rex, for example) and don't need any more causing me heartbreak.

[seascribble]

I liked it! I've also heard that there are some developments that are hinted at in this book with Etain that I don't particularly care for, so may not read more.

Overall, it really delivered on my clone feelings. The Jedi stuff I could take or leave; Etain felt very influenced by the 80s/90s scifi women in a way I didn't jive with fully.

I think Order 66 happens differently in Legends, we don't have the backstory of the chips and things from the cartoon.