The School of Fear (Star Wars: Jedi Quest): 5 ("Star Wars" Jedi Quest) (Paperback)

Anakin Skywalker would pose as one there by scholarship. Ferus Olin (Anakin's rival) would pose as the son of someone important. The teens' mission had two parts. The first and most important part was to locate and rescue Gillam. The second part was to learn about a renegade squad of young mercenaries that used the school as a training ground.

Brava, Jude Watson! This, in my opinion, is the best of the J.Q. series thus far. Readers get to see another glimpse or two into Anakin's potential. The story is well written and the characters' traits are flawless! Highly recommended!

Anakin is now 16 and getting closer in age to Episode II. His personal conduct and his abilities continue to develop in expected and troubling ways as well. Envy is the new emotion that Anakin recognizes within himself, and fear is what Obi-Wan feels when he sees the actions that Anakin takes and the results they produce. The fear is for Anakin's future, for even as his skills grow faster and beyond that of any other student, and approaches that of full Knights, his emotions are not what they should be. His emotions continue to make decisions; his extraordinary abilities allow him to extricate himself from the results of those decisions. This time out the consequences that come so close to taking place are some of the direst that have been shared about Anakin's development, and as we all know matters will continue to get worse.

The only complaint I have is that these books are too brief and all seem to run within 10 pages of length of one another. It would seem more appropriate that the tales be told in their entirety, or specifically explained in parts and not stopped between 135, and 145 pages.

In any event, there are more brand new stories (from a variety of Star Wars storylines) coming in February, March, May, July, October, and November of 2003. There are also going to be 2 new electronic books amongst these other books I mention as well.

Watson clearly intended to use this book to further the idea of a growing rift between Anakin and the other Jedi, particularly his mentor, but you can't help but often feel that Anakin would have to be an idiot to behave as he does and Obi-Wan would have to be equally stupid to be such a poor teacher. That said, this book does cleverly echo the plot of the Jedi Apprentice novel 'The Defenders Of The Dead', highlighting the differences and similarities in Obi-Wan's youth and Anakin's.

'The School Of Fear' is fairly simply written, the tendency to end each chapter on a pointless cliff-hanger seems to prevail, but whilst it is simple in form (owing to it's target audience, no doubt) it is in no way condescending as some adult-written younger reader stories are. It maintains a competent vocabulary which, rather than confusing the younger readers, will help them to expand their own word use. It is in this way that Watson's books excel.

In all, 'The School Of Fear', and the Jedi Quest series in general, brings a darker edge to young Star Wars fiction, that was sadly lacking in the Jedi Apprentice series. This darker nature begins to reflect the increasing peril for the Jedi Order, the breakdown of the Galactic Republic and, most importantly, the turn of events that will turn brave young Anakin into the evil Darth Vader.

A point of interest for Star Wars fans will be that the character Reymet Autem appears in the comic series 'Republic: Honor And Duty' where he turns out to be the son of a Senate Guard.

Verdict: Four stars - Impressive, but lacking the epic scope shown in Jedi Quest 1: 'The Way Of The Apprentice'.