Audio Book // Star Wars Dooku: Jedi Lost
It is nice to take a break from the usual grim dark and move into a space opera now and again. Dooku's journey has always interested me, and I have been reading/listening to a lot of Cavan Scott, so when this got suggested, I knew I had to try it.
Title: Dooku: Jedi Lost
Author: Cavan Scott
Narrator: Marc Thompson
Listening Length: 6 hours and 21 minutes
Blurb:
Delve into the history of the sinister Count Dooku in this audio original set in a galaxy far, far away….
Darth Tyranus. Count of Serenno. Leader of the Separatists. A red sabre, unsheathed in the dark. But who was he before he became the right hand of the Sith? As Dooku courts a new apprentice, the hidden truth of the Sith Lord's past begins to come to light.
Dooku's life began as one of privilege—he was born within the stony walls of his family's estate, orbited by the Funeral Moon, where the bones of his ancestors lie interred. But soon, his Jedi abilities are recognized, and he is taken from his home to be trained in the ways of the Force by the legendary Master Yoda.
As he hones his power, Dooku rises through the ranks, befriending fellow Jedi Sifo-Dyas and taking a padawan of his own, the promising Qui-Gon Jinn—and tries to forget the life he once led. But he finds himself drawn by a strange fascination with the Jedi Master Lene Kostana and the mission she undertakes for the Order: finding and studying ancient relics of the Sith in preparation for the eventual return of the deadliest enemies the Jedi have ever faced.
Caught between the world of the Jedi, the ancient responsibilities of his lost home, and the alluring power of the relics, Dooku struggles to stay in the light—even as the darkness begins to fall.
Format: Audiobook - Buy now via my affiliate link
Review
Dooku has always intrigued me. He was so right about so much, yet blinded by the obvious. His ultimate downfall in the movies came quickly, which was a shame, but damn, what an interesting character played by a fantastic actor. A chance to learn about him couldn't be missed!
There is a lot in the story that I agree with Dooku. The Jedi have become weak and no longer a force of Justice. They are the republic's police force, driven by politics and what the Senate rules rather than Justice and safety for all. They are a shadow of the former ideals they are meant to uphold. But this belief sends Dooku down a path that leads to his fall to the dark side.
It's funny how characters from different fandoms can merge in such a similar way. Here we have Dooku. Strong-willed, believing the Jedi are wrong, they hope to save the galaxy from their stupidity but fail to see that the ends don't justify the means. Then, another "villain" I am reading about, Lex Luthor, falls into the same pride. Lex believes those around him are wrong to trust Superman, that he is trying to save the world from the alien, and once again being blindsided by their pride and hope. Even though both seek Justice and the dream of a better place, they allow this goal to become a focal point to the point of no return and become the issue they had hoped to solve. It's this kind of "Bad Guy" I love reading about. They are so human and so easily understood. And Cavan Scott does a great job of this.
The background for Dooku that is finally filled in is impressive. To hear how his father abandoned him, to learn of his love for his sister, and Dooku's drive to do good in the galaxy is all the more heartbreaking as you watch his slow demise to the Dark Side. If I hadn't already been a fan of Dooku, this would have made me into one: excellent voice acting, great storytelling, and just the right length to keep me engaged. I highly recommend it.
