Jedi Eclipse: Agents of Chaos II

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with STAR WARS: The Approaching Storm.]--As STAR WARS fans await the upcoming EPISODE TWO: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, the time is ripe to catch up on the events that occurred prior to Episode One and between Episodes One and Two. Here are two STAR WARS novels, written by fan favorites Luceno and Foster, and both read by Alexander Adams (aka Golden Voice Grover Gardner). Adams reads expertly and confidently, and his storytelling powers flow with Jedi force. CLOAK OF DECEPTION is the story of political intrigue and economic espionage in which the shadowy Dark Side sets out to destroy Chancellor Valorum, setting the groundwork for the Trade Federation blockade of Naboo. THE APPROACHING STORM follows young Anakin Skywalker and his Jedi Master, Obi Wan Kenobi, on an interstellar and interpersonal adventure. The production quality of these audiobooks is clean and professional except for the overuse of canned sound effects--everything from blaster fire and rocket blasts to the belches and flatulent sounds of alien creatures--that will likely annoy most listeners over the age of 10. While good Foley sound work can enhance a full-cast dramatization, overdone sound effects can easily mar a straight reading. S.E.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine