A audiobook by Cavan Scott

After quite enjoying my very first Star Wars audio drama, Tempest Runner, I was excited to see if more of them had been produced. By audio drama, I don’t mean just an audio book, but a full-on acted full cast drama. While Star Wars – Dooku – Jedi Lost is not as much a full cast drama as it is a play with different actors in audio form (like an old radio show somewhat), but I don’t mind – it’s what I was hoping it would be, and another solid bit of writing for Cavan Scott who has really got on my radar as of late due to his contributions to the Star Wars mythos. This story also fills in the backstory of a character that I felt was utterly wasted in my least favorite Star Wars film, and saddled with a confusing mess of motivation that I still have trouble trying to parse out. This is also available in book-form, but I would recommend it in audio as it is the way the writers intended it to be consumed.

“Darth Tyranus. Count of Serenno. Leader of the Separatists. A red saber, unsheathed in the dark. But who was he before he became the right hand of the Sith? As Dooku courts a new apprentice, the hidden truth of the Sith Lord’s past begins to come to light. Dooku’s life began as one of privilege – born within the stony walls of his family’s estate, orbited by the Funeral Moon where the bones of his ancestors lie interred. But soon, his Jedi abilities are recognized, and he is taken from his home to be trained in the ways of the Force by the legendary Master Yoda.

As he hones his power, Dooku rises through the ranks, befriending fellow Jedi Sifo-Dyas and taking a Padawan of his own, the promising Qui-Gon Jinn – and tries to forget the life that he once led. But he finds himself drawn by a strange fascination with the Jedi Master Lene Kostana, and the mission she undertakes for the Order: finding and studying ancient relics of the Sith, in preparation for the eventual return of the deadliest enemies the Jedi have ever faced. Caught between the world of the Jedi, the ancient responsibilities of his lost home, and the alluring power of the relics, Dooku struggles to stay in the light – even as the darkness begins to fall. “

The story is told through the device of having a character named Asajj Ventress learn about Dooku’s past via diaries and other bits of biographical records. She is especially concerned with finding messages Dooku sent to his sister, Jenza, as a way to figure out where she might be. Dooku is trying to find her because he fears she will release his secrets to The Republic as he is playing both sides in their battles with The Separatists, much in the same manner Palpatine is.

While this is not as good as Star wars: The High Republic – Tempest Runner, it is an interesting listen and makes me appreciate the character far more than I did previously. The cast is great, especially the person they got to play Yoda, which sounds identical to Frank Oz, as well as the actor portraying an older Dooku, who sounds remarkably like Christopher Lee. It’s full of sound effects and every other “bell and whistle” you’d expect from such a production. I’m not sure I particularly enjoyed the structure of having the entire play consisting of scenes from the past recorded in databases, but I got used to it pretty quick. If you are a Star wars fan, I’d highly recommend checking this out.

If you’d like a copy for yourself, click HERE