I first came across Claudia Gray’s “Master & Apprentice” novel back in April on the first anniversary of its release while I was shamelessly combing through Obi-Wan Twitter looking for my next Star Wars piece of art to become emotional over.
Thanks to the Twitter fan account @allthingskenobi, an account that tweets excerpts from Star Wars books and novels surrounding our favorite classy but sassy Jedi, I was introduced to another chapter in Obi-Wan’s journey as a padawan, but focused on Qui-Gon Jinn before Episode I.
“Master & Apprentice” is about a mission that was supposed to be simple. Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi travel to the planet Pijal to assist Jedi Rael Averross, who happens to also be a former student of Dooku’s too, with a political treaty and dispute that quickly becomes clouded with deception and an imminent vision from Qui-Gon about a violent disaster.
The story gives us another look at Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s relationship as Master and Padawan.
In “The Phantom Menace,” the two Jedi seem to have a strong bond with each other in the Force, trusting one another’s instincts and acting as a team. For those who are dedicated to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s relationship, you would know that it wasn’t always smooth sailing, as detailed in the youth series “Jedi Apprentice.” But because the “Jedi Apprentice” books aren’t canon anymore, stories about our mysterious Master are now very limited.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s relationship is much rockier in this story than what we saw in Episode I.
Obi-Wan seems to always be nervous about messing up and disappointing his Master. He’s very stiff and polite in the descriptions about him and his dialogue. Meanwhile, Qui-Gon feels that he isn’t truly connecting with Obi-Wan during his training while also carrying this fear of potentially failing his Padawan.
Their relationship is really put to the test when Qui-Gon is offered a seat on the Jedi Council, and Obi-Wan finds out from someone other than his Master (ooo juicy).
This grass-is-always-greener decision really puts a strain on Qui-Gon’s bond with Obi-Wan and creates problems for either choice. If Qui-Gon is to accept the position on the Council, he’ll be able to give new insight on the way things are run, but that means abandoning Obi-Wan and forcing him to find a new master.
This book took me many rotations to read, having bought the book back in April, but this story was not what I expected it to be. Having read some of the Jedi Apprentice books a few years ago, I was waiting for that banter and training we saw from the pair in that book, but instead, we get more of the tension between the Master and Padawan as they try to work out differences with minimal confrontation.
Something that is also not really talked about in the Star Wars universe was how much of an impact Dooku leaving the Jedi Order had on Qui-Gon, or even their relationship as Master and Padawan at all.
It’s only briefly mentioned, but as I was reading, it seemed that Qui-Gon always felt that Dooku leaving was his fault or that somehow, he had done something that made Dooku disappointed in him causing him to leave. While we know why Dooku left the Order, and it is also mentioned in the book as well, Qui-Gon carries that anxiety with him as he’s training Obi-Wan.
Intertwined with the story of two smugglers trying to do good in the world and Rael Aveross’s struggle to unattatch himself to the political dispute, this story greatly builds up into “The Phantom Menace” and is a great addition to Qui-Gon’s storyline. I may still hold a grudge for the way he constantly rejected taking Obi-Wan on as a Padawan, but I would still love to see more stories in the future about Qui-Gon.
Overall, 4 out of 5 kyber crystals.
Reporter Notes Dump:
Favorite part: The epilogue brought me to TEARS. I will never watch The Phantom Menace the same after reading those few pages.
Favorite character: Obi-Wan, obviously. But besides Obi-Wan, Rael Aveross was great too. His character development from when Qui-Gon is first introduced to him up to when they are reunited and working together showed us a different side to being a Jedi protector.
Favorite quote: “Obi-Wan still appeared to be in shock. ‘It was terrible,’ he said, his eyes staring fixedly ahead. ‘I don’t ever want to fly again. Ever.’” (Chapter Thirty-Eight)
Sara Edwards is a columnist for Boardwalk Times.
