Star Wars: Kenobi

For not being what I expected, Star Wars: Kenobi turned out to be highly enjoyable.

First, allow me to dispel a (natural) assumption.  Despite the title, the story is not told from the point of view of Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi.  The reader instead sees what is going on through the eyes of Annileen Calwell, a local shop owner; Orrin Gault, a moisture farmer; and A'Yark, a Tusken raider.  The only insight into Kenobi's thoughts comes during sporadic meditation sessions in between chapters.  Don't get me wrong, Ben Kenobi is still a main character; however, his actions are viewed by those who are unaware that the newcomer is a Jedi master in hiding.

Also, do not expect a summary of everything that happens to him in the nineteen years between Episodes III and IV.  Timewise, Kenobi takes place shortly after the events of Episode III.  Obi-Wan is in the process of settling into Tatooine life as Ben and becoming, as Luke describes him in Episode IV, "a strange old hermit."  He still believes that Anakin died on Mustafar and is dealing with the struggles of having life as he knew it being torn apart.  (As an extra note, there is an explanation as to how the mid-thirties Obi-Wan of Episode III becomes the sixty-something looking Ben of Episode IV.  Turns out a dual-sunned world causes premature aging.)

The plot takes a step back from the galactic turmoil of that period and focuses on local trouble.  To be honest, I found it a refreshing change to a lot of Star Wars stories.  The storyline was less than predictable and included enough twists and questions to keep me interested.  Also, John Jackson Miller does a wonderful job of giving a glimpse into the world of the Tuskens.  Without diminishing the sand peoples' well-earned reputation as savages, he shows them as more than mindless brutes with a way of life, culture, beliefs, and history all their own.

Since I "read" Kenobi by way of the audio book, I would also like to add that Jonathan Davis did an excellent job with the many different voices, including a good mimic of Obi-Wan's from the movies.  In addition, unlike many audio books, this one included sound effects and a bit of the Star Wars music we all know and love.  While some of these seemed a little off to me (the background sounds for the Claim sounded like a modern day grocery store rather than a sci-fi general store), overall, it was a pleasant addition.