by Michael Reaves

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter centers on Maul and what should have been, for him, a simple mission that Michael Reaves turns into a novel with potential but falls flat. Not only is the story predictable, the author’s writing is . . . not good.

The narrative is written mostly in the vernacular, that is, in plain language, which is fine. However, on many occasions he suddenly incorporates one word that, though perhaps accurate in usage, simply does not belong in the phrasing. Some examples: “Darsha felt the stairwell shift and shudder as if in the throes of a temblor” (153). “Temblor”? Is there something wrong with “earthquake”? Or: “It was a twisty path that Green Hair led them down, even for Coruscant — through dark alleys and back utility routes grown vermicularly complex over the centuries” (277). “Wormlike” would have worked just as well if not better than “vermicularly,” especially since one character here is called Green Hair. Reaves also uses weak similes such as, “a stab of pain like a blaster bolt through her skull” (199) to describe a headache.

Shifts in point of view are not smooth. A situation or action takes place in just a few paragraphs, then abruptly continues from a different character’s viewpoint. This happens often between Maul, the antagonist, and Darsha Assant, one of the protagonists. Indeed, what Reaves does best is draw parallels between the Sith apprentice and the Padawan by describing both characters’ interpretations and subsequent actions via the Sith and Jedi Codes, respectively. Still, disappointing all the way around.

The good news is, James Luceno’s short story, “Darth Maul: Saboteur,” previously available only in electronic format, is included in the paperback version of Shadow Hunter and is a real treat.

This is kind of a preface to the next game post, which is way overdue, but oh well. It’ll be posted soon!

When I moved back from Columbus in 2001, I looked for a specific coach who, back in 1995 when I first joined the Tigers and learned how to skate, worked with our then goalie. During my tenure with the Tigers at the time, we only played one game — a scrimmage against 14-year-old boys; don’t ask me what the outcome was — I honestly don’t remember. Anyway, I found him coaching his own team, and he invited me to a practice, after which he told me everything I was doing was wrong.

Well, no one ever taught me how to play in net! I mean, when I played club at Ohio State it was because no one else wanted to do it — I was originally a right winger! I was the goalie for the second half of the ’99 – ’00 season and the first half of the ’00 – ’01 season and started with the club’s equipment, which of course didn’t fit. (I used credit cards to gradually purchase equipment that did fit.) We didn’t have a goalie coach, and our coaches knew very little about coaching goalies. I was simply told to place my body in front of the puck. I ended up quitting due to severe depression; I mean, even my pdoc in Columbus was afraid I wouldn’t graduate! That’s how bad it was! I had to make my studies a priority.

So anyway, that coach asked me a series of questions, and I guess I answered them wrong — I may have said something about how I preferred to score goals or something. That’s when he decided, and these were his very words, that I didn’t deserve to be a goalie.

After that conversation I didn’t put on a pair of skates again until February of 2006 (see “Skate”); not necessarily because of his remark, well, partially, but mainly because of an even more severe depression — one from which I still suffer, and is why I have maintenance ECT. When I re-joined the Tigers last season, I really thought I’d skate up — I mean, I did in that one game I played in during the 2006 Spring Mixer (see “Getting a Life”) — until about the last minute. It wasn’t even so much that I wanted to play in net, but the Orange team didn’t have a full-time goalie, I figured that I wouldn’t get very much back from Play It Again Sports for my goalie equipment, and that the dues would be cheaper. Seriously.

I did skate up in one game last year (see “Game 4, 06 – 07: Tigers Orange 3, the Vixens 3″), and I questioned myself as to whether or not I should remain a goalie. Even our coach encouraged me to do both, and at the time I felt that I was a better forward, and it was all so confusing. But after this recent game (see “Week 7a: Purple vs. the Turtles”) in which I skated up, I know that I’m a better goalie now. Yeah, I still have tons to learn and work on, but I’m definitely better in net than skating up. So really, I count last year as being my first “real” year as a goalie. Funny where life takes us.

by Ron Marz

Just before he’s sent on assignment, Darth Sidious presents Darth Maul with the Sith Infiltrator, a state-of-the-art spaceship complete with hyperdrive, cloaking device, and speederbike stored aboard. Maul is sent to cripple the Black Sun criminal organization, which Sidious warns is a powerful and dangerous operation that stands in the way of his larger designs. Maul proposes annihilating its master and nine vigos, but Sidious disagrees, as Black Sun may prove useful in the future.

The word “vigo,” which Darth Sidious uses to describe Black Sun’s lieutenants (issue 1), is incongruous in the Star Wars universe. “Vigo” conjures images of men in suits with guns, not a number of alien species wielding just as many different weapons. Further, Sidious calls Maul his “tool” (issue 1), and that’s exactly what his apprentice is in this story arc — merely a killing tool, presumably so Sidious doesn’t have to get his own hands dirty.

But despite Sidious’s description of Black Sun as dangerous, composed of one master, nine lieutenants, their bodyguards and other soldiers, as well as his express order not to destroy the entire organization, that’s what Maul does. There are, however, a couple of opponents Maul fights that are surprising in a good way, particularly the Black Sun master and his bodyguard.

The most impressive part of the 4-issue series is the artwork. Well, admittedly, Jan Duursema is my favorite Star Wars comic book artist, so no surprise there.

I had my monthly ECT on Monday, and they finally got the anesthesia right! They still had 117 lbs. on my chart, even though last month I told them I was at like, 114. This time, it was one of the nurses who knows me pretty well and she made sure to write down the proper weight (112.6 lbs.). I saw her do it.

Of course, now I’m up to 113, but I’ve been incredibly dehydrated, probably because — lucky me! — I have my period even though I just had it two weeks ago and it’s only the second week of my Pill pack. This is the second month in a row this has happened. It’s like, all my medical problems are competing with each other in terms of showing themselves. And of course I have to have my period on an ECT week. It was the same last month, too. *sigh*

At least I’ve recovered from the anesthesia at a normal rate. I was still a bit slow and woozy yesterday, but I managed to do pilates and stretch, even though I had to improvise on the former. As I was expecting, the picture tube on our TV finally died, so we got a new TV over the weekend; except that it’s a newer model, so Brian’s having a difficult time figuring out how to hook up the VCR (my pilates are on VHS). But no matter — I found the exact same tapes on DVD on the company’s Web site, so they should arrive at Brian’s office on Friday via FedEx 2-day air or whatever.

Too bad I didn’t think to have his birthday present and my LEGO Star Wars: Hoth Rebel Base that I pre-ordered with a gift card delivered there, but I think the latter two are arriving via USPS. Though I’m realizing that won’t make a difference. Today we got a card from USPS that they tried to deliver a package from Brian’s sister. Well, I heard the buzzer make a slight buzz yesterday, but sometimes it doesn’t work, or other times, people ring the wrong fricking buzzer. And if I’m not expecting anybody, I’m not answering the door. I should have learned my lesson when we had to order the HP4 DVD via Amazon, which UPS delivered. Brian ended up having to go to the UPS station after work and waiting until 9:00 to get it!

Anyway, even though I stretched yesterday, my neck was incredibly stiff but my Walgreens sock buddy took care of that last night! I also showered, did some chores, and checked e-mail, though for some reason, I seem to be losing interest in things I used to like, like being constantly signed in to e-mail so I don’t miss any (though I am signed in at the moment); IMing; Crackbook; Neopets; blogging; reading blogs (though that’s been going on for a while but I’ve been making more of an effort to do so); and . . . dare I say it? Hockey.

I think it’s mainly because I got spanked so badly at “tryouts” last week. Even though our advanced goalie can’t make it tomorrow, thank God I don’t have to go. I didn’t really have to go last week because the tryouts are for people who want to play on the Blue (int.) or White (adv.) teams, and I already know I’m going to be on Orange again. But the Blue goalie, who’s also my new mentor, said I should show up for one of the tryouts anyway, so the coaches can see where I’m at, although we have completely new coaches for the Blue and White teams.

The Blue coach is a goalie himself and said he’s willing to work with us individually when there’s time during practice. Anyway, just the few things my Blue mentor told me last week really helped — like following the puck with my eyes all the way to wherever it ends up. I made two glove saves during the scrimmage doing that! Usually they bounce right back out, but I took her advice and managed to close my glove as much as I could (it’s still really stiff), and the puck stayed! And both shots were made by white-level players! Still, they stung bad because my glove doesn’t offer enough protection, but I got the call from the pro shop today — my new glove and blocker are here! Too bad we can’t pick them up ’til Saturday because the shop’s all the way out in the ’burbs. But, those saves were worth the sting, especially considering the players’ levels!

Despite this, I still don’t feel as interested in hockey as I was just a few weeks ago, but I’m sure this is a temporary feeling. A few of my own teammates were there, and being with them again was a lot of fun. Also, I’m really out of shape. I hadn’t been on the ice since the Friday before for my Instructional League, and not for three entire weeks before that due to what I thought was a sinus infection that wouldn’t go away, and, though that was part of it (I have chronic sinusitis), mainly because of the stress and tension the PCP diagnosed, which caused all the tiredness and was mostly remedied when the pdoc had me take all my Tegretol at night instead of one in the morning and two at night.

Still, after the tryouts, I was really beat and my knee began bothering me again (there are three of us goalies at the Instructional League, so we rotate and have a chance to rest). So I’m not going this week because I have the Instructional League on Friday (it’s every other Friday), and I need a day for my knee to rest when possible. Even though the 28th is supposed to be my last day of the Instructional League, I gave it to a goalie acquaintance who goes on the opposite Fridays because our first real practice is the night before, and since I’m the Orange team’s Registrar this year, I have to be there to collect certain information from our players or they aren’t allowed on the ice.

Over the summer, my goalie friend and I would sometimes switch Fridays, but I didn’t ask if I could swap the 28th for her 21st session. I know this is totally girly, but I’d made appointments for a haircut and facial long before I found out our first practice date, and the last time I made an appointment at the salon, I ended up rescheduling at the last minute, and I set these up for the 21st.

Finally, and if you’ve read this far, you have my sincere thanks, I made it to the gym on my own today so obviously, I’m feeling OK physically, and somewhat mentally, and then saw my therapist immediately afterwards. I hadn’t seen her since July, so it was good. I just wish we could have had a double session because of all that’s been on my mind, but at least now I have a regular day and time that I’ll see her (not counting next week), and I’ll probably just take the el, so I won’t have to worry about parking. That’ll also knock off one of my 43 Things — taking public transportation again, even if it’s only once a week. Lastly, my other goal is to start going to the gym with Brian on his way to work, which means I’ll have to go to bed earlier!

by James Luceno

James Luceno’s Cloak of Deception is the first novel in the Star Wars canon that takes place during Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum’s reign. As the title implies, the story is filled with intrigue, mainly political, and the author includes descriptions of the characters’ cloaks whether or not they are the deceptive type, which is a nice touch. Indeed, unless the reader is familiar with the characters in The Phantom Menace (novel or movie), s/he may have a difficult time keeping track of everyone involved in the story, as there are many central characters, some more so than others.

Although it has its share of Jedi wisdom; blaster and lightsaber fights; and other staples of Star Wars lore, Cloak of Deception is mainly a political novel, and in that, will appeal to those who aren’t necessarily Star Wars fans through and through, so long as they are able to follow who’s who: there are, after all, 1,024 senatorial delegates representing at least that number of planets in the Old Republic rather than a mere 100 senators representing 50 states.