Star Wars
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous

The story takes place sometime after the Battle of Geonosis.  This is a story of the history between Yoda (around 900 years old) and his greatest apprentice, the devious Count Dooku (a mere 83 years old).  Early on the reader is treated to a creative twist in the story that occurs when Dooku sends Yoda a shell (which has a symbolic meaning of course).  Yoda, in turn, sends Dooku a candle (again symbolic in meaning) and Dooku then sends Yoda a lightsaber of a dead Jedi that when ignited contains a secret message meant only for Yoda’s eyes.  This is a message that truly starts the story. This is a message asking for a meeting with Yoda on Vjun (a creepy planet that reeks of the darkside).  The message is a message of peace.  I also found it very interesting when the deceased Jedi, Quo Gon Gin appears to Yoda ever so briefly after he receives this message (a nice touch).
The reader is also introduced to an interesting character named Scout (a red headed 11 or 12 year old Padawan) who doesn’t really have a lot going for her.  Scout wins a Padawan tournament (which is a nice read) and due to a bet between Yoda and another Jedi (Master Jai Maruk); Scout now becomes Jai Maruk’s new Padawan.  What stands out the most about Scout is her determination (not her Force ability).  We are also introduced to another Jedi Padawan, Whie, a much more talented Padawan than Scout.  However, Whie seems to suffer from haunting dreams and nightmares.  Are the dreams of the future or are they dreams that stem from his childhood on Vjun.
Apparently, Yoda must sneak (in the body of an R2 unit) away from the Jedi temple and his duties to the Republic so that he may meet Count Dooku on Vjun.  Yoda takes with him two Jedi Masters and the two Padawans mentioned above.  But, Asajj Ventress, the wannabe Sith apprentice of Count Dooku, tracks them and sends some assassin droids after them.  At this point, I’ll simply say I’m amazed once again at how deadly Ventress seems to be…not truly even a Sith and yet she seems to effortlessly kill Jedi (she is one tough cookie!).  And yet, Ventress has a healthy fear of Dooku who seems more than capable of destroying her.  However, there is a very interesting scene in which Ventress seemingly tempts Dooku into killing his master Sidious.  Explaining that Darth Sidious will have no use for Dooku when this war is over and it would be in his best interest to kill Sidious now and take her as his apprentice (another nice touch).
We also meet two very interesting druids…one who betrays the Jedi’s location and another who seems to have sworn an oath of loyalty to the young Padawan, Whie, and his family.  Dooku, by the way, is living in a place that once belonged to Whie’s family on Vjun.  Whie’s mother apparently still lives in the palace as a crazy old housekeeper for Dooku (weird and not completely necessary to the story).  Later in the bookm we do see a surprise visit from the famous combination of Master Obi-Wan and his famous apprentice, Anakin Skywalker.  In the end, Yoda is unsuccessful in bringing Dooku home and Dooku is unsuccessful in the killing and or breaking of Yoda.  In conclusion, this is a book which spotlights the bond that an apprentice and a master share, which when one considers this…isn’t that what the Star Wars universe is all about? (think about it!).

Storyline Importance: 8.5
Let’s first ask the question, “How important is the relationship between Yoda and Count Dooku to the grand scheme of the Star Wars universe as a whole?”  Well, depending on how you answer that question…that’s where you’ll find your answer.  And quite frankly, my opinion is “whether Yoda had been able to bring back Dooku to the light side of the Force of not, we’d still have a Sidious-Anakin pairing in the future and Dooku would still be dead within months at the hands of Anakin Skywalker”.  Thus, although this is a great story, I’m forced to go with a lower score.

Excitement: 8.6 (maybe 8.7)
There were some pretty decent fight scenes here, but not the excellent light saber duels that will earn you a nine or higher in this category.  Thank goodness for Asajj Ventress…perhaps saving this category from having an even lower score.  Now, I will say, the Padawan tournament was a great read and showed Scout’s toughness, but in the end the lack of mortal danger made it somewhat null and void.

Character Importance: 9.1
I may contradict myself here, but in terms of movie importance, Dooku’s character is a memorable guy.  And this book simply helps the avid Star Wars fan have a better understanding of Dooku as a while.  And I’m still always amazed at the viciousness and dealiness of Asajj Ventress, who seems to be able to go toe-to-toe with almost any Jedi and yet fears the power Dooky possesses (quite the irony is you ask me).  Ventress has slowly become one of my favorite characters in the expanded Star Wars universe.  And, I didn’t mention Yoda (I mean he is on the title of the book).  Let’s just say this…most stories involving the Grand Master himself fail to disappoint and this story was no exception!

Favorite Moments: My absolute favorite scene in this book was the one where Yoda finally meets face-to-face with Dooku on Vjun (pretty much all of chapter eleven).  And for what seems like hours, this Master and his former apprentice have a somewhat peaceful conversation, talking about the past, the present, and the future.  Dooku has power and yet Yoda has power.  Dooku has armies and yet Yoda has armies.  When asked what he truly wants, Yoda responds with the simple answer…a rose (great stuff).  In a climactic turn of events, Yoda practically begs his former apprentice to tell him why he should be as Dooku, at one with the Dark Side.  And for but a moment, it appears Dooku sees Yoda shadowed by the Dark Side…how Yoda would truly be if he was led to the Dark Side. Dooku was afraid, for he realized that Yoda would be more powerful than Sidious ever was or ever could be.  In the end, you see that Yoda would give practically anything to save his former apprentice from his new mater and that includes killing Dooku when he at least decides to strike out against Yoda.  Yet, Dooku manages to escape and Asajj Ventress also lives to fight yet another day.

Overall Score: 8.8 (maybe even 8.9)