The Cestus Deception (Star Wars: Clone Wars, #2)

The Cestus Deception (Star Wars: Clone Wars #2)

3.47 of 5 stars 3.47  ·  rating details  ·  1,490 ratings  ·  47 reviews
Ord Cestus, a planet mostly barren and inhospitable to life, was first colonized as a prison world—until a handful of hardy pioneers discovered its rich ore deposits and managed to build up a successful droid-manufacturing industry. But when the Clone Wars erupted, bringing severe rationing of imported resources and a Republic ban on the production of battle droids, Ord Ce...more
Paperback, 401 pages
Published June 2nd 2005 by Arrow Books (first published June 1st 2004)
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Callista
Jun 18, 2011 Callista rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: julia Andersen, Paul Bennett, other Star Wars fans
Recommended to Callista by: Cilghal2
Well-written, with fully realised characters. Even made me forget at times that the alien race in question is basically a bunch of overgrown bugs. But that's one difference between the page and the screen. The story is an interesting study of duty and honour. The author really gets into Obi-Wan Kenobi's head and convincingly depicts how he operates within the Force. There's a very Zen feel to it. Obi-Wan's quiet confidence in himself as an instrument of the Force makes him powerful. He doesn't t...more
Tyene
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Christopher
Another good novel on the Clone Wars, this one focuses almost entirely on Obi-Wan Kenobi, with key help from Kit Fisto, a squad of ARC troopers, and an underground guerilla group, whose leader, Thak Val Zsing, reminds me an awful lot of a cowardly version of Mao Tse Tung (maybe it's just the name). It also features two rather tragic deaths: a lovable barrister and a rather unique clone trooper. It has a great deal of covert action and double-dealing diplomacy. It also had two very tragic deaths:...more
John
Over all this was a good read. Obi-Wan Kenobi was portrayed well as the reluctant negotiator and warrior, questioning his methods all along the way while doing everything necessary to get the job done as peaceably as possible. Kit Fisto's character was an interesting foil to Obi-Wan’s as he chomped at the bit for action with vigor that seemed almost unbecoming of a Jedi. Then again, after chasing around the galaxy with Anakin Skywalker, who was absent in this adventure, Fisto might have seemed s...more
Ron
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Bradley
This was a book that nearly snuck in under the radar. After a cancellation of another Clone Wars novel, it was unclear when the next book would come out. Therefore, about a year after Shatterpoint --the first Clone Wars novel--hit shelves, The Cestus Deception finally arrived. It was historic in two ways.

Not only does The Cestus Deception mark the first Star Wars novel written by Steven Barnes, but it is also the first Star Wars book written by an African-American author. And what a debut it wa...more
Crystal Starr Light

Ord Cestus is an out-of-the-way planet that the Republic reneged on their payments with. Which turns out to be a bad thing when the planet begins negotiations with the Separatists over a new droid, a JK or "Jedi Killer". Obi-Wan Kenobi and Kit Fisto are sent with Doolb Snoil and ARC trooper, A-98 "Nate", to repair the situation.
While listening to this audiobook, I ended up with quite a few notes. I'll let my notes speak for themselves:

1. Yay, Kit Fisto is in a novel! And his lightsaber form is F...more
Tina
Aug 31, 2011 Tina rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Star Wars fan who have to read all the books
This was my first Star Wars book, and I picked this one because of the hinting of a love story between Nate and the civilian woman (and my copy of the Republic Commando series hasn't arrived yet). I'm not really sure how picky I'm "allowed" to be about this book - I know I shouldn't "rate" it as I do "literature" (what a snob I am), but it's hard to ignore grievous errors when you're used to reading much more thought-provoking stuff. My issue on that regard relates to how Barnes tried to cram to...more
Ploy [SU]
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Linda Jaejoong
Ich liebe das Buch!! Endlich mal eine Geschichte ganz für Obi-Wan und wo die Heldenrolle nur ihm allein gehört. Es ist einfach zu lesen und damit sehr verständlich. Ein sehr schönes Buch, ich kann es allen Fans von Obi-Wan nur wärmstens emfehlen!! Wir erfahren viel von seiner Gefühlswelt, die er so sonst nie zeigt. Auch sein Aufeinander treffen mit Dooku und seinen finsteren Handlangern erhöht noch einmal die Spannung des Buches. Auch erhält der Leser einen tieferen Einblick in die Welt der Klon...more
Derrick
Obi-wan goes to Cestus to stop the creation of semi-force sensitive robots. Diplomacy and fighting. A quad of clone troopers are involved too. Asajj Ventress is Dooku's representative. Having only read about her in the Legacy of the Force series, it helped me understand what went on then better.

However, several references were made to previous encounters between her and Obi-wan which I'm guessing must have been comics only. That is stupid, referring to comics in a novel. Stick to other novels....more
Kent
Based on some of the reviews I've seen for this book I didn't think it would be all that good, but after reading it I thought it wasn't too bad. It has a pretty good story plot and well developed characters. The story takes place on Ord Cestus where they are building force sensitive droids and the republic wants to them to stop before they start selling them to the Separatists. It stars Obi-Wan and Kit Fisto, which is cool cause he kicks ass and isn't centered around much. It has several plot tw...more
Ernest
It cannot be easy to write a book that is set in a universe already beloved by many. What one gains by being able to work in a richly conceived universe is offset, sometimes heavily so, by losing the ability to set one’s own tone, to develop a history and/or future of one’s choosing or being constrained in any further number of ways. This is challenge that this book has.

This book sees a small group of clone troops accompany a team led by Obi-Wan Kenobi to a planet to deal with, hopefully diploma...more
Jayson
Star Wars The Cestus Deception
By Steven Barnes
454 Pages United States
Del Ray Book, Random House Publishing Group
ISBN-10: 0-345-45898-2

Long ago in a galaxy far, far away... Star Wars continues. Another story during the Clone Wars unfolds as a government in bad economic conditions from Ord Cestus threatens to sell deadly droids. They send the legendary Obi-Wan Kenobi to the planet and start negotiations to prevent them from selling those droids. Or they will suffer the consequences and the Republ...more
Marsha Stokes
The next book in the Star Wars saga for me was Steven Barnes "The Cestus Deception." I am in the middle of the Clone Wars, in between Episode II and III. This book was pretty good. Better than some of the Star Wars novels I have read, but it didn't really capture me and compel me to read non-stop (a quality of a great book, in my opinion). I could put it down for days at a time and not come back to it until I found a quite moment to read at night. Good, but not gripping!

I felt that the book was...more
Shadab Siddiqi
Jul 13, 2007 Shadab Siddiqi rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of the clone wars.
Shelves: clonewars
The most recent book I finished from the clone wars novels. I only have Medstar I, II and Hard Contact to go...but back to our most recent good read:

Ord Cestus, a planet mostly barren and inhospitable to life, was first colonized as a prison world?until a handful of hardy pioneers discovered its rich ore deposits and managed to build up a successful droid-manufacturing industry. But when the Clone Wars erupted, bringing severe rationing of imported resources and a Republic ban on the production...more
Brett
Sadly, the best part of this book is the afterword, which is touching and speaks for and to most Star Wars fans. The book itself is in a short chapter format which I usually love. It isn't a detriment here, but it doesn't make up for the rest of the books shortcomings. The plot is not really confusing but tries to be and is very sporadic. It drags throughout most of the books, and at times feels like readung an outline for a TV series story arc. This makes sense as Mr. Barnes has experience writ...more
Millie Cooper
The most boring Clone Wars read to hit shelves with a dull thud. This book doesn't come close to reaching the greatness that is Shatterpoint, or the Republic Commando books. It's page after page of terrible dialogue and pointlessly extensive political 'intrigue'.
There was, however, one good subject: the story of Nate the clone trooper, but it's been done by Karen Traviss, and better. Don't bother with this. It's not worth your time!
Matthew
Well this isn't the worst Star Wars book I've read, but it's certainly not a strong effort. The confusing political story makes it a bit of a slog to get through, with the high points coming from the scenes involving the ARC trooper Nate and the stereotypically evil but fun Asajj Ventress. Numerous moments here where I really had no idea what was going on or why characters were doing what they were. There's some good stuff hidden in here but you need to search for it.
Emanuel Cachia
While the voice contains an occasional long adverbial clause, the characters are enguaging and the plot and sub-plots develop in an enguaging manner. Not an edge-of-your-seat read, but an entertaining one.
4/5 stars, mostly because the ending is a little too open-ended for my taste.
Yves
Ce roman est à mon avis un des moins bon de la période Clone Wars. Dans ce tome, Obi-Wan, Anakin et Kit Fisto, trois Jedi, doivent aller sur la planète Cestus pour empècher la planete de vendre des droïdes qui seront en mesure tenir tête aux Jedi. De plus, c'est une bonne façon de ramener Cestus dans la République.

Il n'y a rien de vraiment spectaculaire dans cette histoire. On a encore droit à de la maudite diplomatie, le fléaux des prequels de Star Wars. On a encore droit à un Obi-Wan ennuyant....more
Patrick
I really enjoyed this one. The manipulation of Palpatine and how he was able to constantly play both sides of the war off of each other to achieve chaos is fascinating to me. I loved the characters and plot in this one.
Rosemary
Interesting in that it had great development of a supporting Jedi character, and really developed one of the clones, showing how the dominant mind set of the clones made the Jedi massacre possible.
Jasoches
Cool fighting (of course the fighting was cool, they're Jedi after all). The ending was very abrupt. There was the climax and then it was over. There's probably a follow up book.
Mary
Jul 27, 2011 Mary added it
GReat book really shows obi wan at the peak of his skills and its a good gripping story about the change a trooper went thru as well
Ricky Ganci
The word to perfectly describe this novel: okay. Kit Fisto is my hero.
Walt
This is one of the better Star Wars books I have read. The plot is clever and the storyline is not too predictable.

The best part about the book was the descriptive writing. So many Star Wars authors offer odd names and poor description of alien worlds, technologies, and species. Steven Barnes shows the reader what his characters look like, where they are, and how they are interacting in their environment. Even the action scenes were shown to the reader instead of dictated in a dull/ inexperience...more
Patrickderaaff
Rather forgettable Clone Wars novel. Not much more to say about it I'm afraid.
Jessie
Don't remember this one so it wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible either.
Peter McC
Surprisingly engaging book. First time I have read anything from the series.
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The Cestus Deception: Star Wars (Clone Wars): A Clone Wars Novel
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Steven Barnes (born March 1, 1952, Los Angeles, California) is an African American science fiction writer, lecturer, creative consultant, and human performance technician.

He has written several episodes of The Outer Limits and Baywatch. He has also written the episode "Brief Candle" for Stargate SG-1 and the Andromeda episode "The Sum of its Parts". Barnes's first published piece of fiction, the 1...more
More about Steven Barnes...
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“Thank you, for creating this vast and flexible playground. Thank you for creating one of the twentieth century's most popular myths, a gift that has brought billions of happy viewing hours at a critical time in world history, a time when perhaps, we need more than ever to blieve in honor, sacrifice, heart, and that special magic called life itself.
As long as I live I will never forget The Moment when Luke Skywalker flew so desperately into the Death Star's trench, John William's score soaring magnificently, and the audience overwhelmed by Industrial Light and Magic's mind-bending inaugural. At that pulse-pounding moment, a moment when it seemed the individual human being could have no point or purpose, no meaning in a universe so vast and cybernetic, we heard Obi-Wan Kenobi whisper that we should trust our feelings.
The Force flows through us. It controls us. We control it. Life creates it. It is more powerful than any Death Star.
Hundreds of millions of people said yes, and sighed, and applauded, and went home or turned off their videos feeling just a little more empowered than they did before the lights went down and the Twentieth Century-Fox fanfare came up.
No small feat.
May the Force be with you, Mr. Lucas.
And with us all. Always".”
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