Customer Reviews

Medstar II: Jedi Healer (Star Wars: Clone Wars Novel)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is the second in the Medstar duology and brings a nice conclusion to a good first effort by Michael Reaves. This novel obviously does not stand by itself, but if you read and enjoyed Medstar I, this is a must read. Enjoy!

Medstar II was slightly better than Medstar I. The obvious references to MASH were toned down a bit, but there were still times I tried to match the characters in Jedi Healer to their counterparts in the MASH tv series.

The plot thickens significantly in this book, as the loose ends from the first half of the duology begin to get tied up. The characters are very easy to get attached to, and their personalities come through in shining colors. The authors do a good job of pulling you into the story. Without giving too much away, the resolution of the issue with the spy in the camp was very well written and the subterfuge practiced by the different bad guys was pleasant to read. Although it was simple to figure out who the spy was before it was definitively revealed, it was interesting to see the characters go through the deductive process. My only complain was that it seemed that Bariss should have been able to figure it out much sooner, and didn't take some simple logical steps earlier in the story. But it was interesting none the less.

My only other complaint was that there seemed to be an inordinate number of aliens that I was unfamiliar with. I kept having to go online to look them up, because they weren't adequately described in the book.

In this duology I've grown really attached to the characters. It's almost sad to continue to read about all the Jedi, knowing what is going to happen to them in the upcoming movie....

"Jedi Healer" is the second and concluding volume in the "Medstar" duology. It continues the story of the surgeons we met in "Battle Surgeons". They remain on the planet Drongar working in the Star Wars version of a M.A.S.H. unit. One particular storyline continues from the first book, and that is the fact that there is a spy working on Drongar against the Republic. This spy is a double-agent in that he (or she) is working both for the Separatists (the group led by Count Dooku) and also for the Black Sun criminal organization. Since the goal is the same for both groups, at the moment, there is no conflict. There is, however, double the risk for the spy. It is never said who the spy is, or what gender, so there has been some guessing games going on since "Battle Surgeons". With the only true export from Drongar being the fragile miracle drug, "Bota", the spy is finding ways to divert bota from the Republic.

Along with the spy portion of the story is the main story of the surgeons. They live their lives, do their jobs, try to cope with life on the incredibly hot and muggy Drongar, and question why they are doing what they are doing. To go along with the cast of characters from the first book (Jos Vandar, Tolk, Jedi Apprentice Barriss Offee, I-Five) we are introduced to the young surgeon Uli Divini, who is taking the place of the killed surgeon Zan Yant. Uli is very confident, very skilled, and very untested. Jos questions whether Uli will be able to handle the work, though it is quickly evident that he can. There are two conflicts in this book. The first is in the new relationship of Jos and Tolk. It is a relationship which is forbidden by their culture. The second is figuring out who the spy is before the spy can cause any more damage.

As far as Star Wars stories go, I enjoyed the Medstar books more than most. Reaves and Perry have created a very interesting story here and a satisfying conclusion. Granted, I would have been slightly more satisfied if the spy was the other person, but we can't have it all. "Battle Surgeons" is a slightly better book because there was more of a M.A.S.H. feel to it, but there is much to like here. Anytime Barriss Offee is on the page is a good scene. She is one of the most interesting characters and the fact that she is a Jedi in training dealing with the potential for a drug addiction was a great idea, if underused. There was less M.A.S.H. stuff here, but the interactions with I-Five (the droid) more than make up for it. This book features, of all things, a quest to get I-Five drunk. Classic.

While this is a prequel novel featuring mostly on characters which were not in the movies, this Clone Wars novel helps to provide a feel (along with "Battle Surgeons") of just how the Clone Wars affected nearly everyone in the galaxy in some way. While there are no grand space battles, this, is like a battle to secure one meaningless hill in WWII. The battle must be fought because the other side wants the hill (though Bota is far more valuable than a hill), but in the larger picture, the hill doesn't really mean that much. The opportunity to see the surgeons again is more than worth the price of having a book set around that meaningless hill.

-Joe Sherry

Jedi Healer is not a bad book. That said, it's not a particularly good one, either.

Let me explain. I loved the first Medstar novel, Battle Surgeons. It let us see others involved in the Clone Wars, not just the Jedi and stormtroopers-to-be. But while that book was excellent, and had a great setup for Jedi Healer, the latter just fell apart.

The title character, the Jedi healer, Bariss? Reduced to a subplot, along with the actual fighting (which did have a role in the first book). The whole purpose of the fighting is undone, rendering the events of the novels pointless. And the reveal of the spy (continued from the first novel) involves too much false setup and no hints as to the real culprit.

That said, I'm still looking forward to Reaves's upcoming Star Wars trilogy, since these two have both proven their potential elsewhere; Jedi Healer simply isn't a showcase for them.

Star Wars: Medstar 2: Jedi Healer by Steve Perry and Michael Reaves was the conclusion to the MedStar books, and I have to say it did not live up to the first book and overall was a bit of a disappointment. The story was prediactable. The struggles of Barriss in regards to the so called "wonder drug" was overrated. It just didn't involve me with the characters as much as the first book did. While there were some humorous elements and some interesting relationships, the identity of the spy at the end was no surprise and the authors failed to emotionally involve the reader in the story the way they did in the first book. The book was technically well-written and it was not the worst Star Wars book ever written, in fact I would put it in the average to slightly above average Star Wars books categories, but it just wasn't as strong as I'd hoped it would be.

I never thought I'd see the day when I gave a Star Wars novel three stars. Yet, the rating is truly deserved. After reading Medstar I, you start feeling a connection to the characters, seeing how they struggle with issues that are true to life, perhaps even some you can relate to on a personal level. The second installment, however, misses the mark. Here's why:

The title is misleading. Barriss Offee, Padawan learner, has been sent to the mobile surgical unit on Drongar to use her Jedi healing skills on the sick and injured. You definitely see more of her in action in the first installment. Not so much in Medstar II.

Nothing really happens that has any substance. News reporter Den Dhur meets an attractive female of his species, they get together, she basically "proposes" to him, she leaves and tells him to come back to their home planet ASAP, and then he gets cold feet. The romance between Jos Vondar and Tolk la Trene gets up and running in the first book, runs somewhat awry in this one, just to get back on track again by the end. These stories just didn't go anywhere.

Although Barriss is still a Padawan, her stay on Drongar is essentially her trial to become a Jedi Knight. In my mind, that means the she should already be skilled, controlled, intelligent, patient, and very strong in the Force (especially since she's a healer). When she accidentally gets injected with bota, the adaptogenic drug found on Drongar, she, in lack of better terms, had an "acid trip" experience where she became one with the Force and all of a sudden the whole galaxy made sense. Couldn't she figure out that the bota had a hallucinogenic effect on her? I would think she would have known better. Instead, she takes it again, but this time on purpose?! I think the author was trying to illustrate how easy it is to start down the path of the dark side, but the attempt fell flat.

On a positive note, the human-like droid I-5 kept things going in the right direction. And, the part of the book where he gets drunk (yes, drunk), is quite entertaining. Also, the double agent who was working for the Separatists and the Black Sun criminal organization was identified. At the end of the first installment, I had a pretty good idea who it was, but I was glad to see that the author didn't forget to wrap that part of the story up.

All in all, Medstar II is worth reading, if anything, just to complete the duology. Just don't expect any exciting action sequences or any radical changes in character. If that's what you're looking for, read Republic Commando: Hard Contact. I really do not like to give three stars, but compared to books like the one above, Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, and the Cestus Deception, it just doesn't pass muster.

May the force be with you!

It's about time somebody wrote a book like this. Most Star Wars novels seem to compete with each other for whose characters can wield the most amount of Force, so in one book they're destroying a planet and the next they're destroying a solar system, until finally somebody has the galaxy in the palm of their hand.

Sheesh.

This on the other hand is more about characters you can actually identify with, good solid writing with back stories and culture and history, and enough tension to keep you going. It's a fine set of characters. The plot twist was easy to spot a mile away, but had just enough doubt to keep you suspended between hope and angst.

Really this is more like something George Lucas would have written, with MUCH better dialog: a set of otherwise fairly normal people, set in extraordinary times. If you're tired of the spinoff authors who can't think of any better story climax than yet even more destructive power in the hands of evil, this is for you.

Our team of crack surgeons, nurses, and Jedi healers return in the second part of this set. Jos Vondar has to choose: his family or the love of his life, Tolk. I-Five continues to seek out his lost memory. And there is a spy in their midst!
NOTE: Based on novel and audiobook.

I Liked:
There are a lot of little things I love about part two in this duology. One of the things is just how different it is from the rest of Star Wars EU. There are no major movie characters, no huge, epic battles with people running all over the place. The novel is very focused on one location and on one highly ignored aspect (at least in Star Wars) of fighting. It's refreshing and unique.
The characters continue to intrigue, from Den Dhur befriending I-Five and his quest to get the droid drunk to the reasons why the spy turned against the Republic in the first place to Barris Offee and her addiction to bota. My favorite characters continue to be Den Dhur (the Sullustan reporter out for a story) Barris Offee (the young Jedi Padawan Healer).
I really liked how Jos had to decide whether to choose Tolk or his family. Even today, this is a real concern. Often times, our own families put restrictions on who we should love or spend time with. Plus, this hasn't been addressed in Star Wars, so it's nice to see that Star Wars EU has the same problems we do.

I Didn't Like:
What works for a first novel, often doesn't work for a second. This sequel is a perfect example. Sure, the events in Battle Surgeons was great, but we want something a little different, more expanded this time around. Unfortunately, the authors didn't do that.
Many things in this book were just underutilized, from yet another Tatooine native, Ulie (who reappears in Death Star) to Barris' bota addiction to the spy outcome. Ulie just pops in on the scene and is "I'm here!" At least in the audiobook, he serves no role other than to point out to Jos how everyone knows that Jos and Tolk are going together. And honestly, isn't Tatooine supposed to be the butt crack of the galaxy? Then why is everyone from that planet? Barris' bota addiction was very interesting, but I think the issue should have been brought up in Battle Surgeons, so she could have grown more. The spy issue was interesting, but it was painfully obvious who the spy would be very early on. And Barris basically realizes there is a spy because of the Force. Oh, geez, that was insightful. Not.
Lastly, we spend an awful lot of time on the Black Sun/Kaird subplot, which goes nowhere. In the end, we see Kaird in space vowing revenge. For those who've read Coruscant Nights I, you know he returns, but even there, it isn't very clear what happened to him between the Medstar books and Coruscant Nights.

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
"Mopac-faced" replaces "sh**-faced" when referring to someone getting drunk. This sort of substitution occurs frequently.
Tolk and Jos sleep with each other (off-screen, if you will).
Much "action" happens in a surgical unit, and this is Star Wars, so expect explosions and people being held at blaster point.

Overall:
While this isn't a bad book (as in horrible), after the great setup of Battle Surgeons, I almost expected a bit more than what we got here. It ties up the spy plot nicely (almost too nicely), and it's great to see the characters again. However, the last book had a really good ending, so reading this one isn't 100% necessary (unless, of course, you want the full story of Den Dhur and I-Five, recurring characters in Reaves' writing). It deserves a 3.5, but I'll be generous and rate 4.

Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*

I'm a bit of a completist... I've got all of the Star Wars audiobooks (less the "children's series" ones). A few were AWFUL, most were average, and some were terrific. This one (and the other part of this two-book "series") falls into the "average but enjoyable" category.

Basically, these books aren't so much "Star Wars" in the classic sense as they are "M.A.S.H. in a Star Wars setting." Yes, there are Jedi involved... minor Jedi we know nothing about from the movies... but it's the surgeons who are really at the heart of these books, and as such, this is a unique storytelling experience in this particular genre.

I drive long distances, and spend a lot of time in my car... though, thankfully, I do that less today than I did when I lived in Chicago. Audiobooks are what keep me (mostly) sane.

These are certainly worth the time to listen to.

Jedi Healer is the continued story of the Clone Wars MASH unit on the Planet Drongar. The Republic medical team of surgeons, nurses, and droids is still headed by Dr. Jos Vondar, but his close friend Dr. Zan Yant did not survive Medstar I. The wounded clone troopers continue to be brought in by medlift, and the doctors continue to exert every possible effort to save lives.

Much of this tale deals with the efforts of the Separatist spy to create chaos on Drongar and the efforts of the Black Sun operative to obtain as much of the miracle plant bota as possible. At the same time we are treated to the ongoing love affair between Dr. Vondar and his chief nurse Tolk le Trene as they try to overcome cultural prejudices stemming from Vondar's upbringing. The droid I-5 and the reported Den Dhur are still with us and have significant roles as the story unfolds.

Much of the book deals with Jedi Padawan Barris Offee and her experiences with the Force. She discovers that an injection of the miracle plant bota opens up areas of the Force that she never dreamed existed. She would be able to perform miraculous feats by using the bota. However, could this be a direct path to the power of the dark side? Offee struggles with this situation and finally manages to reach a conclusion.

This book, along with Medstar I, gives us an extremely interesting look at the world of the medical teams serving in the Clone Wars.