[Jason Vines]

Some people might dismiss Hard Contact by Karen Traviss because its progenitor is a video game. That would be a mistake: Between its covers lies a touching story about courage and camaraderie amidst uncertainty and war that surpasses the source material by far.

Hard Contact follows a four-man squad of Republic Commandos, elite clone troopers who tackle missions ordinary clones can't. This might sound like a recipe for mindless action, but it's actually the setup for soul searching by the clones, as well as their friends and enemies, about whether clones can lay claim to actual humanity. The Cestus Deception by Steve Barnes tries to explore this concept, but Hard Contact does a much better job.

The story revolves around clones, but playing a central role is also a Jedi. Unlike most of the other Jedi we've seen, this Jedi isn't a superhero. She's a green Padawan who's struggling to find her way in the Force. This is a refreshing change from most other Star Wars adventures that feature ?ber-Jedi.

I've focused a lot on the characters, who make Hard Contact the compelling story it is, but don't get me wrong: This book has plenty of suspense and combat.

My only qualms with Hard Contact are these: Its scope is hardly epic, perhaps as a result of its video game heritage. I wish Traviss had (been able to?) develop it more. Also, sometimes the behavior of the clones falls into military cliches.

Be those as they may, Hard Contact is an excellent read that is well worth checking out.

Grade: A-