''The Cestus Deception'' is a

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

novel by

Steven Barnes Steven Barnes (born March 1, 1952) is an American science fiction, fantasy, and mystery writer. He has written novels, short fiction, screen plays for television, scripts for comic books, animation, newspaper copy, and magazine articles. Career ...

set in the ''

Star Wars ''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop-culture Cultural impact of S ...

galaxy A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, dark matter, bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek ' (), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System. ...

during the

Clone Wars Clone Wars may refer to: Star Wars Film and television * ''Star Wars: Clone Wars'' (2003 TV series), an American animated television series set in the ''Star Wars'' galaxy * ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars'' (2008 TV series), an American 3D CGI anim ...

. The book takes place one year after the Battle of Geonosis in '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'', and 21 years before the Battle of Yavin in '' Episode IV: A New Hope''.

Plot

Set during the

, the story follows Jedi Knights

Obi-Wan Kenobi Obi-Wan Kenobi () is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Within the Star Wars original trilogy, original trilogy, Obi-Wan is a Jedi Master as a supporting character and is portrayed by English actor Alec Guinn ...

and

Kit Fisto This incomplete list of characters from the ''Star Wars'' franchise contains only those which are considered part of the official ''Star Wars'' canon, as of the changes made by Lucasfilm in April 2014. Following its acquisition by The Walt Dis ...

and their adventures as ambassadors on the planet of Ord Cestus, which has started producing so-called "Jedi Killer" droids. While, Obi-Wan Kenobi takes the diplomatic approach with the leadership, Kit Fisto and a clone trooper squad start recruiting and training fighters from the working class of the planet to incite a rebellion, should Obi-Wan fail. While they deal with the intrigue and politicking of the locals, as well as intervention by the Sith minion Asajj Ventress, a love affair forms between one of their clone trooper bodyguards Nate and a female pilot who is attracted to the clone template Jango Fett.

Characters

: Jedi Knight (male

human Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, ...

) *

Jedi Master Jedi (), Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are the main heroic protagonists of many works of the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic, and later supporting the Rebel Alliance, the Jedi O ...

(male Nautolan) * Doolb Snoil: barrister (male Vippit of

Nal Hutta The fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise features multiple planets and moons. While only the feature films and selected other works are considered canon to the franchise since the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney ...

) * Admiral Arikakon Baraka: supercruiser commander and trainer of the Clone Troopers of the Republic (male Mon Calamari) * Lido Shan: technician (humanoid) * A-98: "Nate"; ARC Trooper, recruitment and command * CT-X270: "Xutoo"; ARC Trooper, pilot * CT-36/732: "Sirty"; ARC Trooper, logistics * CT-44/444: "Forry"; ARC Trooper, physical training * CT-12/74: "Seefor"; ARC Trooper, communications * Trillot: gang leader (male/female X'Ting) * Fizzik: broodmate of Trillot (male X'Ting) * Sheeka Tull: pilot (female human) * Resta Shug Hai: Desert Wind member (female X'Ting) * Thak Val Zsing: leader of Desert Wind (male human) * Brother Nicos Fate: (male X'Ting) * Skot OnSon: Desert Wind member (male human) * Debbikin: research (male human) * Lady Por'Ten: energy (female human) * Kefka: manufacturing (male humanoid) * Llitishi: sales and marketing (male Wroonian) *

Palpatine Sheev Palpatine, also known by his Sith name Darth Sidious, is a fictional Character (arts), character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Initially credited as the Emperor in the original trilogy films, ''The Empire Strikes ...

: Chancellor of the Republic, dispatcher (male human) * Caiza Quill: mining (male X'Ting) * G'Mai Duris: Regent (female X'Ting) * Shar Shar: Regent Duris's assistant (female Zeetsa) *

Count Dooku Count Dooku of Serenno, also known by his Sith, Sith name Darth Tyranus, or simply as Count Dooku, is a fictional Character (arts), character in the Star Wars, ''Star Wars'' franchise, created by George Lucas. One of the main antagonists of the St ...

: leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems (male human) * Commander Asajj Ventress: Commander of the Separatist Droid Army (female humanoid)

Publishing

The Cestus Deception was first published on June 1, 2004 by

Del Rey Books Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn, by Penguin Random House. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It ...

as a hardcover novel. Its paperback

ISBN The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a numeric commercial book identifier that is intended to be unique. Publishers purchase ISBNs from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency. An ISBN is assigned to each separate edition and ...

number is 9780345458988The Cestus Deception on Penguin Random House's website
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References

External links

*
Amazon.com Listing
' *
Official CargoBay Listing
' 2004 novels 2004 science fiction novels Star Wars Legends novels Del Rey books {{2000s-sf-novel-stub