Star Wars: Cloak of Deception

Star Wars: Cloak of Deception by James Luceno
2001 Del Rey, 342 Pages

In the outer rim of the galaxy, disputes rage between the powerful Trade Federation and several far flung worlds. Back in the opulent center of the galaxy, life goes on unaffected...until now. Galactic Supreme Chancellor Valorum, last in a long aristocratic dynasty of ruling Valorums, soon finds himself embroiled in the conflict. The Trade Federation is attacked by a guerrilla terrorist outfit known as the Nebula Front, and so they petition the Galactic Republic for permission to better arm themselves. Valorum's advisor and confident, Senator Palpatine, suggests Valorum give the Federation permission to bulk up their droid army under the condition that they pay higher trade taxes to the Republic. Strangely, though, Palpatine's advice always mysteriously seems to hurt Valorum and benefit Palpatine. Meanwhile, the Jedi, Qui-Gonn Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, investigate the Nebula Front, finding that a disturbing, darker, and larger power seems to be guiding the conflict. Perhaps it's the terrifying cloaked Sith, Darth Sidious, who is giving the Trade Federation officials, who seem compelled by fear to obey, advice of his own...hmm...just like Palpatine does for Valorum...interesting.

Look, I love democracy. I love the Republic. I love 1999's Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace. I really do. But the Chancellor Valorum character? Valorum is onscreen just long enough for the viewer to intuit he's sad and in over his head, and that's about it. Terrence Stamp is a legendary actor, and it's only through his great screen presence that there's much of a character there at all. 2001's tie-in novel, Cloak of Deception, draws and colors in that sketch of a character found in the film. Deception takes place less than a year before The Phantom Menace and sets the pieces in motion for the plot of the film. 

Turns out Valorum is your typical nice, but out-of-touch aristocratic politician, an unwilling bureaucrat who doesn't have the force of will or creativity to drive matters--he is the one who gets driven, easy prey for the man who'll eventually become Emperor. The joy of this book is seeing just how masterfully Palpatine plays Valorum, giving the out-of-his-depth Chancellor advice on conflicts he himself is secretly behind. Unlike in many Star Wars books, the majority of Cloak of Deception's pages are filled with political intrigue, but those are actually its most interesting stretches.

The rest of the book, essentially the B-plot, follows our main duo of Jedis from The Phantom Menace, as they're constantly a step behind what's going on, and yet still several steps ahead of their oblivious fellow Jedi, who much more resemble ostriches than eagles. Those sections aren't bad, but they involve Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan going up against minor players who clearly aren't going to survive this novel. The political sections are the meat, and author, James Luceno, prepares a well-seasoned, protein heavy feast. The beloved EU author is responsible for guiding the incredible nineteen book New Jedi Order series, handling authorial duties for three of its books, including its epic conclusion, as well as many great standalone Expanded Universe novels such as this one. Luceno's prose is as deft as expected, and his work here greatly augments the film as an excellent foundation. Cloak of Deception is a must read for serious Star Wars fans.