The galaxy is full of creatures that are nothing like us at all...even if we accept that they're doing what comes naturally, one is not beholden to comply when the sarlacc asks for dinner.
John Jackson Miller's novel Kenobi is what Disney should have done with their Kenobi show. Miller knows Obi-Wan exceptionally well and crafted an immersive tale that warmly invites all audiences, long-time Star Wars fans or not, to engage in Obi-Wan's initial struggle in starting his new life protecting Luke on Tatooine while trying not to be involved in the locals' lives.
Miller has been a long-time author for Star Wars literature. His list of other works is:
Star Wars: Knight Errant
Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Series
Star Wars: A New Dawn
He also was the main writer for the comic series: Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, a spin-off series of the videogame of the same name. I definitely plan on doing a review of these publications as soon as I can get my hands on them.
Star Wars Kenobi was released in 2013 and numbers 418 pages, not including excerpts and writings of Miller's other works which total up to 442 pages.
Basic Plot Summary
Taking place right after the purge, Obi-Wan Kenobi brings baby Luke to Owen Lars on Tatooine. To ensure the safety of the family, Obi-Wan adopts the new name: Ben, and settles down in the Jundland Wastes. By saving one of the locals from almost being crushed by a Dewback, Annileen, Ben is unfortunately dragged into a series of violent conflicts between the Tusken Raiders and crafty businessman Orrin Gault and his growing army.
Innocent lives are lost that forces Kenobi into an extremely difficult position where he must intervene using his knowledge in the force while simultaneously try to conceal his background as a Jedi and general in the Clone Wars.
Praise and Critique
We can all probably agree that we enjoy subtle homages to other characters in the franchise. We love to see these little connections that enforce how vast the Star Wars universe is. One of my favorite references in this book were of Sharad Hett, the Tusken Jedi (not really Tusken but a man who joined the Tuskens). They weren't just placed there for simple fanservice as some might be led to believe. References to Sharad Hett were really crucial to one of the character's developments and we see it come to play later on in the book. I love it when pieces of media can work things in like this to really drive their story home, and that's exactly what Kenobi does.
I don't really have any substantial issues with this book other than the time it takes to establish all of the characters. Ben isn't a background character by any means, but it does take a while for him to make a solid appearance and for his presence to take an effect on the other characters. However, once the setup is finished, the ball really does get rolling and it turns into a rollercoaster towards the end.
Do I Recommend This?
Absolutely. I had such high expectations for Disney's Kenobi that I wasn't expecting to be as disappointed as I was. Reading this novel only cemented my opinion, and reenforced my love for the expanded universe. This is a realistic take on how exactly Obi-Wan adapted to life on Tatooine. He was by no means a shell of a man that the show portrayed him to be. He was the Ben Kenobi that fans recognized and loved. It's such a travesty that this story could go completely unnoticed by new Star Wars fans.
Final Rating and Thoughts
I give it a solid 9/10. I said it multiple times in this post, and I will say it again: THIS is what Disney's Kenobi should have been. THIS Ben Kenobi is the real Kenobi. The only good thing I could say about The Book of Boba Fett was how engaging their portrayal of the Tuskens was. This book does the exact same thing, and the payoff is excellent. Please, do yourself a favor and pick up this book. The story is riveting and emotional and will keep you invested until the very end.
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