‘Revenge of the Sith’, M. Stover

For some reason, I really enjoy the audiobook version of Matthew Stover’s ‘Revenge of the Sith’ novelization — and I might have realized why when I listened to an interview on the book and how the author had written it in the beginning of last week. What Mr Stover said was that he wanted the book to convey feelings — how a person was feeling at a specific moment after which I then thought of this way of writing, and realized it complemented the movie (by George Lucas) very thoroughly.

And, yet, at the same time the book went beyond the movie and introduced me to another world. The book was more of a story than a movie although I guess that is a property of any book: they contain more emotion and strength.

As a very beautiful quote from this novelization, I’d like to bring out the following:

The invisible gnat-clouds of starfighter dogfights became a gleaming dance of shadowmoths at the end of Coruscant’s brief spring.

Mind you, the first part is nothing special, but the phrase ‘Coruscant’s brief spring’ is again what Matthew Stover said he’d do — it is emotion, and it is strength. I think that this is one thing the author does really well: he likes contrasts, and very much of everything is portrayed in such a way as to make it distinct. And if we consider it to be a ‘brief spring’ cast against the soon-to-come ‘end of civilization’ then I believe we can glimpse a hint of melancholy.

Jonathan Davis is the good voice bringing the audiobook to life, and I have to say that he must be my favourite audiobook reader. I might even listen to his stuff if I didn’t like the content for he is serene and peaceful — that tone of voice that always is just out of reach when one tries it themselves.

The dark is generous, and it is patient.
It is the dark that seeds cruelty into justice, that drips contempt into compassion, that poisons love with grains of doubt.
The dark can be patient, because the slightest drop of rain will cause those seeds to sprout.
The rain will come, and the seeds will sprout, for the dark is the soil in which they grow, and it is the clouds above them, and it waits behind the star that gives them light.
The dark’s patience is infinite.
Eventually, even stars burn out.

Another thought that I really enjoy was also introduced in this novel. Namely, that of stars dying out. There is a relevant trail of thought relating to Anakin Skywalker and his fear of death which can be summed up by “Even stars burn out.” And they do, which is something I might have never realized before I noticing it in this novel. Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t, but I know that I had never considered it as important as I have done since.

Lastly, I might just add that in that interview where Mr Stover explained his writing of the book, he said that Obi-Wan was his favourite character. I think I might have enjoyed hearing that very much, for he is also mine. Which means I could be a bit biased — although I did learn of this after going through the book at least three times. Unless one could notice it in Mr Stover’s writing…

In every exchange, Obi-Wan gave ground. It was his way.