Tarkin - Impressions.

The novel was more of a character appraisal/exploration than anything else. The story wasn't really pressing, it felt like it carried little weight in the grand scheme of things. However, the interactions between the upper echelons of the Empire were the highlights for me. Mas and the Emperor, Tarkin and Vader. Tarkin becomes a quasi friend to Vader, to the extent which he can have one. I thought it was cool to witness that respect for each other that they clearly share.

 

I've just finished reading 'Tarkin', finally!

Overall I liked it.

Building the character of Tarkin has only one eventual outcome for most Star Wars fans I think... the destruction of a planet with little more than calm and measured command to fire when ready - with no venom or anger in his tone. Whatever back story he got needed to leave us in a place where those actions seemed reasonable for the character, whilst at the same time not just making him out to be a hate worthy **** bag who we would not care about enough to want to read about.

I think giving him an upbringing founded on generational responsibility and nurtured within a "predator or prey" survival situation, achieved this well.

I find that the way the book was written complemented Tarkin's character - it was easy 'to read it in his voice' as it were, however, I did find this unusually hard going.

I don't think the 'rebel' characters were very well developed, though clearly part of this was because their backgrounds were only revealed to us/Tarkin late on in the story.

Not essential reading by any stretch, more an interesting journey into the past of someone who, I'm sure for older Star Wars fans, is a somewhat iconic character.

 

Iconic for sure. At least we discovered Palpatine's first name... Looking forward to more Tarkin tales in the upcoming anthology From a certain Point of View.

 

There was a lot to like in the novel but overall I was a bit disappointed with the plot. I never cared enough about the "rebel" characters for the plot to really hit home. I enjoyed the background information and the set up of the dynamic between Vader and Tarkin but its the main plot that never got going for me. Its worth the read definitely but I wouldn't put it in a top 5.