On Matthew Stover

[ladyofleithian]

Just listening to the Revenge of the Sith audiobook again. Am on the part with General Grievous, more specifically when he talks with Captain Needa (yes, the same Captain Needa that later gets Force Choked by Vader for letting the Milennium Falcon escape). Let's say it's a testament to Stover's awesomeness when he takes a character as small as Captain Needa and gives him a Crowning Moment of Awesome by calmly stating the terms of surrender with Grievous -- and keep in mind that Grievous is basically Nightmare Fuel incarnate. Especially those eyes. *Shudders* -- and refusing to be intimidated by him. Even when Grievous is threatening to disembowel Palpatine live on the Holonet.

I have to say my favorite section so far -- besides the Needa section -- has to be when Palpatine urges Anakin to go duel General Grievous. Especially when Anakin pictures himself bringing in Grievous clad in electrobinders to Coruscant and becoming a Master. It just speaks volumes about what Anakin wants: his frustration, his restlessness, etc. I can't really speak for the movies, but the book version of Anakin is definitely superior. Especially in the Revenge of the Sith novel. His conversations with Padme and Obi-Wan (and even Palpatine when they're not being Nightmare Fuel) get one a little misty; in fact, even small stuff like his hilarious conversation with C-3PO when he goes to see Padme gets one a little misty, if only because you know what'll happen later. And this:

"I was just thinking...all these years and C-3PO's the only one who calls me 'master'."

(Paraphrased, that is)

It's definitely the little things that make you identify with this Anakin. Which makes what happens later all the more heartbreaking.