NICE JOB KAREN!!!

I agree with most of the other folks here. This book is fantastic. My primary complaint about the newer movies is that they skip right over the clone wars...a story I have wanted to see since I was 10, and would think most fans would like have seen played out. The title of the whole thing is Star WARS after all!

While the official clone wars novels have skimmed around the subject from the Jedi point of view, this novel plunges you right into the thick of things through the eyes of the troopers themselves. In place of the usual "cannon fodder" profile, we get to see them using their wits to keep themselves and each other alive. Ultimately the clones will betray the Jedi Order due to built-in programming, but here they are living thinking beings who struggle to make sense of the world around them given there limited perspective as (young) gung-ho war machines.

They are led by a Jedi who has demonstrated little or no skill in her art up to this point in her life. It will take everything she has to pull it together and help these guys do their job. This is a nice counterpoint to more familiar knights who are blessed with abilities and self confidence that most of us have a hard time relating to. Sure, we'd all like to be the Jedi super-star that can pummel their enemies effortlessly. But It seems more realistic (if that word applies here) if there are some who must work twice as hard to succeed.

In short, I'd have to call this the best novel I've read on the clone war period and am very pleased to hear that a sequel is on the way next spring. Hopefully, with Star Wars on the up-swing again, we will see several related novels from Karen Traviss.

A great Star Wars book from a different perspective

Having never played the game I didn't quite know what to expect from this book when I picked it up, but having now read the book I now want to play the game.

Hard Contact tells the never before seen view of the Clone Wars through the eyes of actual clones. The book is set on the rural Separatist-controlled planet called Qiilura, where a bio-weapon aimed at killing clones is being produced. Thats where the Republics finest clone commandos come in.

With little intel and unknown enemy support, the commandos must infiltrate and capture the facility's chief scientist and destroy the weapon to prevent millions of deaths that could result. With the help of a young padawan named Etain, who herself is struggling with her commitment to the Force, Darman, Niner, Fi and Atin must travel through the countryside of this backwater planet without long range communications, enough weaponry or rations.

This book has great backround on the clone training that I was enprevy to before. It shows the dedication and unrelenting faith that the clone commandos have to their training,to their brothers and towards their jedi officers. The pure toughness of the commandos is interestin to see considering all you've ver seen in the movies is easily killed stormtroopers.

I would definitly recommend this book to all Star Wars fans who would like to learn more about the clones. The writing style is interesting and I enjoyed the multi-perspective view of events in the story, it keeps you on your toes throughout the action. So pick-up Star Wars Republic Commando: Hard Contact and may the Force be with you!

This was a great military / sci-fi read.

This had all the classic themes of military service:

The struggle of leadership to deal with loss.
The trials of the common foot soldier (in this case Clone Commandos) to deal with loss.
Selfless service
Personal sacrifice
The great effort that teambuilding requires
The fear of failure, failing the mission and failing your comrades
The realization that during war defining yourself as one of the good guys isn't always that easy

I could go on...

The plot could have been set in the jungles of Vietnam as easily as a Separatist held planet.
Witty banter and glimpses into the commando mindset of ultimate truths.

Delightfully suspenseful - will they succeed? Give it a read and you will find and enjoyable adventure.