Book Club: Medstar: Battle Surgeons & Jedi Healer

Jade-Walker · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 1031

EDIT 10/21: It made more sense to me to combine the 2 books in one thread so we can review them together.

It was suggested that we start a new thread for each new book. So I moved your comments over.

Beltayn wrote:

I just bought 'Medstar One: Battle Surgeons' on Thursday at Manhatten Comics. I'm halfway through Chapter 4 right now (I started reading late last night; between watching 'Rescue Me' and 'Nip/Tuck', then 'The Substitute' before I dozed off Razz

).

After the first chapter I was hooked- probably because it reminds me of 'M*A*S*H*' Cool

[/

Jade-Walker wrote:

I agree, Mike. It did remind me of MASH.
While I enjoed this book and liked getting to know Bariss better, I was a bit disappointed. I guess Cestus was just so much better, this one had too much to live up to.
BTW--if anyone has troubles with some of the med lingo, let me know. I think that the authors usually translated the med in to basic, but I noticed places where they didn't.

Any ideas of which book we should do for next month?

Krash wrote:

Might be a good time to let some people catch up on reading...maybe something like "Shatterpoint" or "Survivor's Quest"

Any other suggestions for books?

skyedancer · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 19, 2004 Posts: 314

I'm on page 58 of Battle Surgeons and so far I like it. It's got different feel than Cestus Deception. (And no Obi-Wan! Confused

) For one thing, on Drongar the environment is as much an enemy as the Separatist movement. It does remind me of M*A*S*H also and that is one of my favorite TV shows ever (despite my niece proclaiming it as "totally lame"). I was in love with Hawkeye Pierce and Dr. Jos Vondar reminds me of Hawkeye. Like Kim, I'm glad to read about some of the less major Jedi--like Barriss. I'll post more later when I've read more.

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

I finished reading 'Battle Surgeons' last night- excellent book. SW always seems to portray combat as something almost sterile- people rarely bleed (although they lose limbs, get decapitated or cut in half with lightsabers), and no one really cares when the droids, clones or stormtroopers get killed- you see a guy get hit, he goes down, end of story. This book took that sterile environment and made it into something gritty and real- a field hospital after an engagement isn't a nice, bright sunny place to be in (trust me, I know), and the authors conveyed that almost perfectly.

I also liked the fact that the clone troopers were given much more depth and personality (CT-914 mourning his dead friend, and the brief scene with the clone officer who, despite his own injuries, insisted that his troopers were treated first).

The usual plots and subplots were interesting (the whole Filba / Bleyd / Black Sun black market plot was good!). For the most part, I pretty much liked all of the characters in this book

All in all, it was well worth reading!

Jade-Walker · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 1031

I think that part of the reason that you don't really see all that much in the way of blood in the films is because of the types of weapons that must be used--a lightssaber, which cauterizes as it severs, and blasters which burn/send electrical current through the body.
But the "conventional" weapons could not be used on this planet. I was, therefore, under the impression that they had to resort to projectile-types of weapons, which cause more bleeding.

I also liked the reflection upon both Clones and Droids--looking at their "humanity" and breaking through those stereotypes of what they are supposed to be.

SPOILER:

I was disappointed, however, that at the end you didn't find out who the spy was. I guess that's for the next book in the duology. Wink

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

Jade-Walker wrote:

But the "conventional" weapons could not be used on this planet. I was, therefore, under the impression that they had to resort to projectile-types of weapons, which cause more bleeding.

Along with mortars, grenades, mines, rockets, missles... all of those things that explode into fire, super-heated gases (HEAT- High Explosive, Anti-Tank warhead designed to basically burn through the armor and once inside, explode in the case of rockets and missles), concussion (can rupture your insides) and shrapnal, all of which cause massive trauma to both organics, vehicles and buildings alike. They also used sonic weapons as well (the Gungan observer was a victim). It seemed that quite a few casualties were caused by shrapnal, burns, amputated limbs, and in some cases the environment (infections, disease, etc.). As the saying goes- 'War is Hell'

Malo-ha · Recruiting Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 786

I enjoyed the book. It was a real change of pace from Shatterpoint and Cestus deception. It was good that they chose to show the real side of war.

Sometimes I felt that the planet and weather with its rain, spores, and mud was as much a character in the book as the people.

I liked Bariss Offee and am glad that we get to see part of a Jedi's Trials from the point of view of a minor character in the PT. We get to see her doubts about herself and her struggle to determine not just what she thinks is the right thing to do but what the Force wants.

Quote:

was disappointed, however, that at the end you didn't find out who the spy was. I guess that's for the next book in the duology.

I think that will be a big plot point for book two.

Krash · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 3495

I'm fairly early into the book, and I have to agree that somebody was watching episodes of M*A*S*H on DVD while writing this book (don't worry I love that show) This is one of the things about EU that I love...how they can take a minor detail of the Clone Wars, and develop it into a whole new story arc.

I keep associating these characters with their MASH counterparts: Dhur needs to be seen in all black and white footage...and Filba (I can't picture a Hutt in anything with the word "Mobile" in the title (the MASH thing Laughing

) He seems like Major Charles Emmerson Whinchester III on his worst day. And I keep having flashbacks to that episode when BJ has a one-time fling with that nurse...everytime I read about this guy having a crush on Barriss. Take notes ANAKIN...JEDI and dating doesn't end well!

Ok, I need to know...
I-5, more Klinger or "Radar" Wink

Jade-Walker · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 1031

Well, the droid doesn't cross dress, and he doesn't carry a teddy bear. So neither. Razz

Krash · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 3495

Chapter 25...and counting!

I liked the part where they start debating the "humanity" of clones and droids. The scene where Barriss has to inform CT-nine-one-four that his "friend" didn't survive really connects with the sense of "family" among the clonetroopers you read in Cestus Deception. GOOD job of bilding on that them between books!

So what have I learned so far today...
Fortune Cookies (or rather "holocasters") are cannon! Wink

Krash · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 3495

I finished the book today, for a cast of characters (with the exception of Bariss) that I have no visual reference for...that evacuation scene was one that I kinda got emotionally wrapped up in. You know how you feel closer to something/someone when you have an image to go with the words...that was something I had been struggling with (kept relating them to characters from MASH)

Zan's death really hit me on a personal level, and you could really feel the pain the rest of the crew was going through. I thought the part about risking your life to save a musical instrument (and how his music was a rest from the war for those guys) was a touching moment.

Can't wait for Medstar II

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

I just picked up Medstar 2: Jedi Healer today at Manhattan Comics. As soon as I finish Cestus Deception (3/4 done) I'll start on it Cool

Malo-ha · Recruiting Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 786

I picked up Jedi Healeon Monday. I'm about half way through it. I'm enjoying it very much. There is a lot more about Bariss and her Trial and she explains a bit about the Force in conversations with other characters which was good. The story has taken some expected twists but also some unexpected ones.

Malo-ha · Recruiting Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 786

Since the usual instigator of the monthly book selection is hopefully having a fantastic vacation right now I thought I would suggest we have October's Book Selection be Medstar II: Jedi Healer. I added it to this thread so we can more easily discuss the two books together.

I finished the book and enjoyed it very much. Although I did figure out the spy before the end of the book. On another note did anyone else recognize the robot I-Five from Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter?

DonC · Senior Councillor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 950

I started MedStar I: Battle Surgeons yesterday (and skipped all the posts in this thread so I would avoid spoilers), if the rest of the book is as good as the first three chapters, it's going to be very good.

In fact, I was reading the book while I was at stop lights today. I'd be doing my bank route (I'm a courier) and I'd come to a light and grab the book. Some of the longer lights in Shaker Heights let me read 2 pages.

Krash · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 3495

Don, trust me...it's a good book. Especially, if you've ever been a fan of the TV show M*A*S*H (tons of similarities in the characters/situations).

I'm half-way through Medstar II, and I love that they managed to work in a snow storm (very much like at the 4077 MASH unit). And you gotta love a group that is on a mission to get a droid "drunk" Confused