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Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice #3
Star Wars: The Hidden Past
After Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn are hijacked to the planet Phindar, they find themselves trapped in a world gone mad. The ruling Syndicat controls the people by erasing their memories. The planet's only hope lies with a band of thieving rebels.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are caught in a mind war. And if they're not careful, their own pasts will be wiped out forever.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are caught in a mind war. And if they're not careful, their own pasts will be wiped out forever.
138 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
March 10, 2014
"If routine you count on, disappointed your hopes will bet. It is better to expect nothing, and let each moment surprise you."
Nothing is lost where the Force dwells, and the Force is everywhere.
When Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi are hijacked to the planet Phindar during a mission they find themselves caught in the middle of a civil war between the planets inhabitants and the greedy syndicate that controls them they find that not only are their lives at stake, but something far more potent...their memories.
It's Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's first official mission together since they became Master and padawan! Huzzah! Despite this book being intended for a younger audience I enjoyed it immensely. It was a pretty short read however it was not at all lacking in story or character development. I was really intrigued by the political unrest in Phindar and how the Jedi solved the issues plaguing the natives. And I also really enjoyed watching Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon interact as they learned to trust one another and form a stronger bond.
Love this series so far!
Nothing is lost where the Force dwells, and the Force is everywhere.
When Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi are hijacked to the planet Phindar during a mission they find themselves caught in the middle of a civil war between the planets inhabitants and the greedy syndicate that controls them they find that not only are their lives at stake, but something far more potent...their memories.
It's Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's first official mission together since they became Master and padawan! Huzzah! Despite this book being intended for a younger audience I enjoyed it immensely. It was a pretty short read however it was not at all lacking in story or character development. I was really intrigued by the political unrest in Phindar and how the Jedi solved the issues plaguing the natives. And I also really enjoyed watching Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon interact as they learned to trust one another and form a stronger bond.
Love this series so far!
January 30, 2016
Star Wars Legends Project #43
Background: The Hidden Past came out in August 1999. It was written by Jude Watson.
The Hidden Past begins on Obi-Wan's 13th birthday (a few weeks after the end of The Dark Rival, my review), 44 years before the Battle of Yavin, and 12 years before The Phantom Menace. Other than Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, the only character who returns is Obi-Wan's Phindian friend, Guerra. Which makes sense since almost all of the novel takes place on his home planet, Phindar.
Summary: Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are embarking on their first official mission together as master and apprentice, to oversee the first free democratic elections on Gala. However, plans change when they are hijacked and forced to land on a nearby planet ruled by a brutal crime syndicate. Even worse, the evil regime enforces its will by mind-wiping citizens who step out of line, and the rogue Jedi just became their primary targets.
Review: So, like the first book in the series (The Rising Force, my review), this leans pretty heavily on common YA tropes. In this case, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon find themselves working with a group of rebels to effect change on a dystopian society. Of course, this story commits the common Star Wars blunder of telling us that something is going on across an entire planet, and then only showing us that it's going on in one relatively small town. The enemy forces seem to number in the hundreds, if not the dozens, and it's never super-clear how they gained or maintain power (although there is a perfunctory and somewhat implausible explanation for the latter). Also, the name of the crime syndicate that runs Phindar? "The Syndicat" . . . Kind of hard not to imagine that it's run by the evil feline from Disney's Rescue Rangers or something. (Extremely dated reference from my childhood: Check.)
The main characters Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon hang out with the whole book are the Derida brothers, Guerra (from the last book, as I mentioned) and Paxxi. They join a whole host of alien characters with eccentric speech patterns, from Master Yoda to Jar Jar Binks. Your mileage may vary as to which end of that spectrum you'd place them at. Their main verbal tic of saying something untrue and following it up with "I lie!" or "Not so!" definitely got a little old eventually, but they provided just enough comic relief that it didn't really bother me that much.
One thing that should have bothered me and really didn't was a hilariously implausible "Prince and the Pauper" style chain of events that set the novel's climax in motion, and which then resolves itself neatly in a way that is equally implausible and will clearly tie-in to the next book in the series. This particular sequence was too amusing and fun to get too cranky about, but if Watson hadn't tied it up so neatly, I feel like it could have led to some really interesting fallout in the next book. As it is, hopefully it'll get more than a passing mention, but I'm worried that it will be practically ignored as not having mattered at all, when it really should. I see that this paragraph is super-vague. Sorry about that . . . but no spoilers.
The best part of this book continues to be the developing relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan doesn't quite get Qui-Gon yet, and it will probably be awhile before he does. But it's already clear that their connection runs deep, and Qui-Gon has clearly formed an attachment with Obi-Wan. (I choose that phrase deliberately to highlight the ongoing absurdity of the wildly-inconsistent prequel-era nonsense about Jedi not forming attachments, but that's neither here nor there in the story itself. Just grousing.)
The worst part of the book . . . Well, I was about to say the worst part is still that there's not much to it, and it feels like it's suddenly over just as it gets going. But that's not quite right. The other issue with this series so far that I've failed to mention before is that they just aren't very well-written, although that felt the most noticeable in this entry. There are just a lot of awkward turns of phrase, cliched language, and repetitions. And some of that comes with the territory of writing for a younger audience, but not all of it. I'm definitely wondering (since I don't really remember) what this series will look like once it settles into more of a rhythm.
D+
Background: The Hidden Past came out in August 1999. It was written by Jude Watson.
The Hidden Past begins on Obi-Wan's 13th birthday (a few weeks after the end of The Dark Rival, my review), 44 years before the Battle of Yavin, and 12 years before The Phantom Menace. Other than Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, the only character who returns is Obi-Wan's Phindian friend, Guerra. Which makes sense since almost all of the novel takes place on his home planet, Phindar.
Summary: Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are embarking on their first official mission together as master and apprentice, to oversee the first free democratic elections on Gala. However, plans change when they are hijacked and forced to land on a nearby planet ruled by a brutal crime syndicate. Even worse, the evil regime enforces its will by mind-wiping citizens who step out of line, and the rogue Jedi just became their primary targets.
Review: So, like the first book in the series (The Rising Force, my review), this leans pretty heavily on common YA tropes. In this case, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon find themselves working with a group of rebels to effect change on a dystopian society. Of course, this story commits the common Star Wars blunder of telling us that something is going on across an entire planet, and then only showing us that it's going on in one relatively small town. The enemy forces seem to number in the hundreds, if not the dozens, and it's never super-clear how they gained or maintain power (although there is a perfunctory and somewhat implausible explanation for the latter). Also, the name of the crime syndicate that runs Phindar? "The Syndicat" . . . Kind of hard not to imagine that it's run by the evil feline from Disney's Rescue Rangers or something. (Extremely dated reference from my childhood: Check.)
The main characters Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon hang out with the whole book are the Derida brothers, Guerra (from the last book, as I mentioned) and Paxxi. They join a whole host of alien characters with eccentric speech patterns, from Master Yoda to Jar Jar Binks. Your mileage may vary as to which end of that spectrum you'd place them at. Their main verbal tic of saying something untrue and following it up with "I lie!" or "Not so!" definitely got a little old eventually, but they provided just enough comic relief that it didn't really bother me that much.
One thing that should have bothered me and really didn't was a hilariously implausible "Prince and the Pauper" style chain of events that set the novel's climax in motion, and which then resolves itself neatly in a way that is equally implausible and will clearly tie-in to the next book in the series. This particular sequence was too amusing and fun to get too cranky about, but if Watson hadn't tied it up so neatly, I feel like it could have led to some really interesting fallout in the next book. As it is, hopefully it'll get more than a passing mention, but I'm worried that it will be practically ignored as not having mattered at all, when it really should. I see that this paragraph is super-vague. Sorry about that . . . but no spoilers.
The best part of this book continues to be the developing relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan doesn't quite get Qui-Gon yet, and it will probably be awhile before he does. But it's already clear that their connection runs deep, and Qui-Gon has clearly formed an attachment with Obi-Wan. (I choose that phrase deliberately to highlight the ongoing absurdity of the wildly-inconsistent prequel-era nonsense about Jedi not forming attachments, but that's neither here nor there in the story itself. Just grousing.)
The worst part of the book . . . Well, I was about to say the worst part is still that there's not much to it, and it feels like it's suddenly over just as it gets going. But that's not quite right. The other issue with this series so far that I've failed to mention before is that they just aren't very well-written, although that felt the most noticeable in this entry. There are just a lot of awkward turns of phrase, cliched language, and repetitions. And some of that comes with the territory of writing for a younger audience, but not all of it. I'm definitely wondering (since I don't really remember) what this series will look like once it settles into more of a rhythm.
D+
June 3, 2018
A fun space opera story; can't wait to see what happens next!
May 25, 2019
This installment of the "Obi-Wan is the Greatest" show features MEMORY WIPES. You can imagine how gleeful I was about this, and how much sweet sweet information I took from it.
Other highlights:
Other highlights:
• I met Guerra in the previous book, obviously, but here I was finally treated to the full Paxxi and Guerra effect. They're honestly not as annoying as I expected.
• THE RIVER STONE... at LAST.
• Delving into Obi-Wan's past memories was a TRIP. What kind of wacky tomfoolery were they still on, trying to say that Owen Lars is going to turn out to be Obi-Wan's brother. AOTC is the next movie and they still hadn't straightened out the story they wanted to tell? Amazing.
• On the same subject, as a child Obi-Wan GOT TO GO HOME FOR A VISIT to his FAMILY?!?!? INCREDIBLE. I love contradictory canon making absolute nonsense of itself. I'm still not sure what conclusion I'm going to decide to draw from this, but it's going to be great.
• This was not anywhere near as genuinely traumatizing as the Ruth Baulding version, which is to be expected, and frankly kind of a relief.
• Interesting how absolutely and totally screwed every single planet in the galaxy is. The Jedi are sent to Gala to oversee some election, while no one seems to have even heard of the rampant oppression and abuse on Phindar? Very strange.
• Obi-Wan can totally swim. READ 'EM AND WEEP, Claudia Gray.
July 15, 2017
Right, so in re-reading this series I have to keep reminding myself that they're kids books and aren't meant to get into meaty and deep stuff like, say, Animorphs would. But they're entertaining as all get-out and I'm totally here for how Watson is starting to develop the bond between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. Both have some serious issues heading into this master/padawan relationship and I'm surprisingly pleased by how well those get laid out and how the clashes of their unresolved stuff gets brought into play.
The Derida brothers of Phindar come to the fore in this book and, while some may have Jar-Jar flashbacks, I really liked them. I also like the (admittedly surface-level) way that Watson gets into family dynamics and what "family" means and how people are connected to each other. The descriptions of the Force and what it can do here are great; perhaps it's the pastoral part of me coming out, but I'm always interested in seeing how the Force gets named and used and what it can allow characters to do.
So if you're looking for depth and phenomenal writing, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a quick, engaging, entertaining read, have at it. I'm certainly looking forward to the next book.
The Derida brothers of Phindar come to the fore in this book and, while some may have Jar-Jar flashbacks, I really liked them. I also like the (admittedly surface-level) way that Watson gets into family dynamics and what "family" means and how people are connected to each other. The descriptions of the Force and what it can do here are great; perhaps it's the pastoral part of me coming out, but I'm always interested in seeing how the Force gets named and used and what it can allow characters to do.
So if you're looking for depth and phenomenal writing, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a quick, engaging, entertaining read, have at it. I'm certainly looking forward to the next book.
October 2, 2015
3.5 stars
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's first mission together as a Jedi team. The blurb is fairly accurate. They go to a world controlled by a despotic government that maintains control by wiping people's memories.
One of my favorite scenes was after Obi-Wan survives an attempt to wipe his memory.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's first mission together as a Jedi team. The blurb is fairly accurate. They go to a world controlled by a despotic government that maintains control by wiping people's memories.
One of my favorite scenes was after Obi-Wan survives an attempt to wipe his memory.
“I’m glad of one thing, Padawan,” Qui-Gon said. “You have held on to your memories.”
“Your river stone helped me,” Obi-Wan said, placing his hand over his inner pocket. “I did not realize the stone was Force-sensitive. I should have known you would have given me something of great value.”
“Force-sensitive?” Qui-Gon frowned. “What do you know. I thought it was just a pretty rock.”
Obi-Wan gave him a startled glance. Qui-Gon’s face was impassive as he strode toward the transport. Was his Master kidding or serious? He had no idea.
They started up the entry ramp. A smile stole over Obi- Wan’s face. Another mission lay ahead. Perhaps through its trials he would grow to understand Qui-Gon. But somehow he thought not. It would likely take a lifetime before he figured his Master out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2022
‘The Hidden Past’ is the third book in the Jedi Apprentice series. It continues following Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan and their growing trust and companionship. Continuing after their last mission in ‘Dark Rival’ they are side-tracked and suddenly find themselves in the middle of a civil war. It’s interesting how the Jedi, who aren’t supposed to involve themselves in local politics and wars, handle things when they can clearly see people suffering and wrong-doing occurring. It’s good seeing the master and apprentice continue to learn from the mishaps they find themselves in. Qui-Gon learns a bit about patience rather than rushing straight into danger and Obi-Wan begins to learn more in the ways of the Force. Another great read!
February 4, 2024
The Hidden Past by Jude Watson. This is the third book in the Star Wars - Jedi Apprentice series.
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are hijacked to a planet that is ruled by a people that control others by erasing their memories. If Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan aren't careful they will be next and their pasts will be wiped out.
This story started out slow, but by the half way point got really good.
I gave this one 4 stars.
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are hijacked to a planet that is ruled by a people that control others by erasing their memories. If Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan aren't careful they will be next and their pasts will be wiped out.
This story started out slow, but by the half way point got really good.
I gave this one 4 stars.
January 19, 2024
The Hidden Past by Jude Watson
Challenging, hopeful, informative,
inspiring, reflective, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5 Stars
This was a "good" story, but a little less than the previous two stories. It DID move the story forward. The relationship between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. That was the best part of this story...and Obi-Wan is now thirteen years old.
This was fun, and we saw Obi-Wan growing up.��
It is VERY short, but still a good story being told.
Picking up the next book, soon.
Challenging, hopeful, informative,
inspiring, reflective, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5 Stars
This was a "good" story, but a little less than the previous two stories. It DID move the story forward. The relationship between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. That was the best part of this story...and Obi-Wan is now thirteen years old.
This was fun, and we saw Obi-Wan growing up.��
It is VERY short, but still a good story being told.
Picking up the next book, soon.
January 18, 2023
Are these books just going to be about poor baby Obi being the galaxies punchbag
April 2, 2023
My least favourite in the story so far. Idk I feel like it was so focused on the plot that there weren't enough good character moments (which are my favourite parts of these books). I also wasn't as big a fan of the side characters in this one. Still entertaining though & I loved seeing Obi-Wan's selflessness again!
February 6, 2024
The books keep getting better. Reading them feels like binging a really good cartoon, like AtLA or Clone Wars.
May 20, 2024
We'll call this 3.5 stars -- another junior Lucasverse novel that punches well-above its weight. The plot is fairly mundane, but the character work on Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is first rate.
March 10, 2021
This book is terrible... not so! I lie! I genuinely enjoy this book every time I read it. I recommend pairing it with the next book too since there’s some overlap. I think the best part of this book are the fun characters
May 20, 2022
I think I still stand by my 4 star rating from before.
It's a very young YA book, but it is nice to see the relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon begin to develop. I agree that the meat of the story really happened in the last 25% of the book and wish we could have spent more time there. Oh well!
It's a very young YA book, but it is nice to see the relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon begin to develop. I agree that the meat of the story really happened in the last 25% of the book and wish we could have spent more time there. Oh well!
April 18, 2015
Man. Obi-Wan gets captured A LOT! I guess that's what you expect with apprentices. I really enjoyed how Obi-Wan withstood the memory wipe droid. Qui-Gon was totally crazy with stress from Obi-Wan's disappearance, which to me showed how much Qui-Gon really cares about Obi-Wan though he never shows it.
The rock/present was very humorous.
The rock/present was very humorous.
January 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Decent Read
This was a good, average read. I liked getting to know more about Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon as they travel together and develop their connection. The story gives some nice background on their partnership and shows more of their personalities. It was enjoyable but not very memorable. The plot was simple and didn’t stand out, yet it was still a pleasant addition to the series.
This was a good, average read. I liked getting to know more about Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon as they travel together and develop their connection. The story gives some nice background on their partnership and shows more of their personalities. It was enjoyable but not very memorable. The plot was simple and didn’t stand out, yet it was still a pleasant addition to the series.
June 3, 2015
Obi Wan is Qui Gon's Padawan, in their first official mission as Master and Apprentice they are detoured and forced to land on a neighboring planet where things are drastic. People are being controlled by erasing memories of dissenters.
March 24, 2021
While the speech patterns of the Derida brothers is tiresome, much like the writings of Derrida, they have a warmth to them that saves them from being entirely insufferable. Obi-wan and Qui-gon continue to get character development.
February 14, 2022
The reason the title for this particular installment in the 'Jedi Apprentice' series was chosen escapes me. 'The Renewal Threat' or even 'The Mind War' would've been better and more understandable titles. There isn't anything in this book about either Qui-Gon or Obi Wan's past in this one. While the title for book 2 in this series was fitting for it, I feel like this one's title should've been given to book 2 because it would make sense at least. Plus, if this one had been called 'The Dark Rival,' it would make sense; but oh, well.
Despite the puzzling title, this story was actually interesting. Prince Beju has agreed to an election instead of just receiving his mother's throne by birthright. It is known to select Jedi, including Yoda, that he thinks the election is ridiculous. There's a chance he may not respect the results of the election, so Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are heading to Gala hoping their presence will inspire respect for the outcome. Their journey is with a Phindian pilot, but the ship never gets there. They end up on the planet Phindar, and Qui-Gon quickly figures out that this was no accident. Not when they get shot at before and after landing and getting off the ship. Unfortunately, Qui-Gon's revelation is legit when they find out that the pilot is Paxxi Derida; Guerra's brother. Guerra is a 'friend' of Obi-Wan's who betrayed him in a previous book. Obi-Wan is shocked by the reason they were basically kidnapped en route to Gala: Guerra and Paxxi want Jedi assistance to take on a Phindian Syndicat (I'm not sure if it's pronounced the same as the word 'Syndicate' or not) black market who are tricking the Phindians into depending on them by making it look as if the planet is dealing with product scarcity, but the reality is that the Syndicat is hoarding it all. If the Phindians have to stand in line most of the day, every day, then they'll have no time to revolt.
Partly because I haven't had much luck with the prequel era of the legends universe, the last time I read one from this non-canon era was February of last year (2021). To my surprise, I think this is the best of the 'Jedi Apprentice' series so far. Qui-Gon is more believable and seems closer to the Liam Neeson portrayal, the author didn't include anything to inanely and unnecessarily slow down a drama, and none of the characters seemed incredibly stupid. The 'renewal' threat of whiping a person's memory added a sense of dread to the story and gets the reader to think about how they'd react to dealing with someone they love having their memory wiped, thus subjecting the character/you to an ambiguous loss. Perhaps at this point, Jude Watson had come to a point of comfortability with this universe and had more of a grasp on the character's personalities because this was a very good addition to the prequel era. 4 stars.
It loses a star for the puzzling title and because I was a bit disappointed with where the Terra storyline ended.
Despite the puzzling title, this story was actually interesting. Prince Beju has agreed to an election instead of just receiving his mother's throne by birthright. It is known to select Jedi, including Yoda, that he thinks the election is ridiculous. There's a chance he may not respect the results of the election, so Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are heading to Gala hoping their presence will inspire respect for the outcome. Their journey is with a Phindian pilot, but the ship never gets there. They end up on the planet Phindar, and Qui-Gon quickly figures out that this was no accident. Not when they get shot at before and after landing and getting off the ship. Unfortunately, Qui-Gon's revelation is legit when they find out that the pilot is Paxxi Derida; Guerra's brother. Guerra is a 'friend' of Obi-Wan's who betrayed him in a previous book. Obi-Wan is shocked by the reason they were basically kidnapped en route to Gala: Guerra and Paxxi want Jedi assistance to take on a Phindian Syndicat (I'm not sure if it's pronounced the same as the word 'Syndicate' or not) black market who are tricking the Phindians into depending on them by making it look as if the planet is dealing with product scarcity, but the reality is that the Syndicat is hoarding it all. If the Phindians have to stand in line most of the day, every day, then they'll have no time to revolt.
Partly because I haven't had much luck with the prequel era of the legends universe, the last time I read one from this non-canon era was February of last year (2021). To my surprise, I think this is the best of the 'Jedi Apprentice' series so far. Qui-Gon is more believable and seems closer to the Liam Neeson portrayal, the author didn't include anything to inanely and unnecessarily slow down a drama, and none of the characters seemed incredibly stupid. The 'renewal' threat of whiping a person's memory added a sense of dread to the story and gets the reader to think about how they'd react to dealing with someone they love having their memory wiped, thus subjecting the character/you to an ambiguous loss. Perhaps at this point, Jude Watson had come to a point of comfortability with this universe and had more of a grasp on the character's personalities because this was a very good addition to the prequel era. 4 stars.
It loses a star for the puzzling title and because I was a bit disappointed with where the Terra storyline ended.
August 6, 2023
Buenas buenas, hello there!
Estoy sorprendida de haber leído 3 de estos libros seguidos jajaja Todavía sigo en shock, porque terminar el primero me tomó más de un año entero. En fin, esta tercera entrega estuvo bien. La verdad es que no fue tan terrible, solamente yo quería terminarlo rápido. Me parece que de los primeros tres es el más flojo (pero es mi opinión personal), en lineas generales igual, esta bastante bien. Estoy un poco impactada con estas historias, ya que para ser para niños son muy buenas. Los momentos de tensión y de desarrollo de personajes están equilibrados.
Amé el momento en el que Obi recuerda que Owen Lars es su hermano (TODAVÍA SIGO EN SHOCK CON ESA REVELACIÓN PORQUE CUANDO LO ESCUCHÉ POR PRIMERA VEZ EL AÑO PASADO NO LO CREÍ). Me gusta ver a Qui Gon estresado por Obi, porque me hace acordar muchísimo a Anakin, pero por otro lado me da un poco de bronca. Me parece como que Qui Gon esta all over the place con sus emociones pero nadie le dice nada, ahora Anakin es un mess y es criticado por todo el mundo. Recalco que a Anakin lo viven cagando y lo odian.
Me gusta la relación entre maestro y padawan, son momentos que nunca vi en star wars y si merecen la pena <3
Mas allá de todo, de verdad pienso que Jude Watson hace un trabajo increible. No son tan geniales los libros pero si estoy absolutamente intrigada para seguir leyendo sus trabajos. Me intriga terminar esta saga, seguir viendo a ambos crecer e incluso seguir con las otras dos. Señora usted si tiene magia. Igual, de los libros que leí de Jedi Quest, me parece que las tramas eran mejores, debe ser cosa de la longitud de la saga. En esta, la autora sabe que tiene 20 libros para estirarse jajajajaj
En fin, dos estrellas pero de verdad que estoy sorprendida con esto. Ahora si veo posible terminar sus dos sagas para fin de año pero a no colgar!
Vamos a por el siguiente XD
Estoy sorprendida de haber leído 3 de estos libros seguidos jajaja Todavía sigo en shock, porque terminar el primero me tomó más de un año entero. En fin, esta tercera entrega estuvo bien. La verdad es que no fue tan terrible, solamente yo quería terminarlo rápido. Me parece que de los primeros tres es el más flojo (pero es mi opinión personal), en lineas generales igual, esta bastante bien. Estoy un poco impactada con estas historias, ya que para ser para niños son muy buenas. Los momentos de tensión y de desarrollo de personajes están equilibrados.
Amé el momento en el que Obi recuerda que Owen Lars es su hermano (TODAVÍA SIGO EN SHOCK CON ESA REVELACIÓN PORQUE CUANDO LO ESCUCHÉ POR PRIMERA VEZ EL AÑO PASADO NO LO CREÍ). Me gusta ver a Qui Gon estresado por Obi, porque me hace acordar muchísimo a Anakin, pero por otro lado me da un poco de bronca. Me parece como que Qui Gon esta all over the place con sus emociones pero nadie le dice nada, ahora Anakin es un mess y es criticado por todo el mundo. Recalco que a Anakin lo viven cagando y lo odian.
Me gusta la relación entre maestro y padawan, son momentos que nunca vi en star wars y si merecen la pena <3
Mas allá de todo, de verdad pienso que Jude Watson hace un trabajo increible. No son tan geniales los libros pero si estoy absolutamente intrigada para seguir leyendo sus trabajos. Me intriga terminar esta saga, seguir viendo a ambos crecer e incluso seguir con las otras dos. Señora usted si tiene magia. Igual, de los libros que leí de Jedi Quest, me parece que las tramas eran mejores, debe ser cosa de la longitud de la saga. En esta, la autora sabe que tiene 20 libros para estirarse jajajajaj
En fin, dos estrellas pero de verdad que estoy sorprendida con esto. Ahora si veo posible terminar sus dos sagas para fin de año pero a no colgar!
Vamos a por el siguiente XD
July 31, 2018
I have a couple things to say about this book and maybe the Star Wars universe in general. I HATE when characters speak in stupid ways, like Jar Jar Binks (gods below I hated the way he spoke) so to hear what is essentially a similar way to that horror show was kind of painful. The Phindian's language just got on my nerves and made reading this tiny book that much longer. Okay rant over...
OBI-WAN!!!! Let's be honest, I'm reading these for him (when don't I read books for Obi-Wan?) and he did not disappoint. This is Obi-wan's first mission with Qui-Gon as his master and it was a nice dip in the pond to see them sort of have moments where Qui-Gon recognized his padawan's strong points but to also see his weak points. His initial thoughts on Obi-Wan were that he was courageous, had good instincts, and was able to read a situation quickly. He also thought he was a bit of a stickler for the rules (some things never change), too fast paced in fighting and forgot his own stamina, and was irritated very easily, very quickly. And to hear him say "Shut up and obey me" to a prince made me laugh a little, the Great Negotiator he is not yet. It's baby Obi-Wan I get it.
Qui-gon didn't seem as cold as in other books I've read, he does remember Obi-Wan's birthday, he does show concern for his padawan, and when he thought Obi-Wan's memories had been wiped he was devastated. It's a refreshing sight to see a Qui-Gon that does care about his padawan, so kudos to Watson for that. Overall a nice little series that has some character traits that don't stick out as too out there for characters we always enjoy reading about (about by characters I mean Obi-Wan...and sometimes Qui-gon if he's nice to his padawan. But mostly Obi-Wan).
OBI-WAN!!!! Let's be honest, I'm reading these for him (when don't I read books for Obi-Wan?) and he did not disappoint. This is Obi-wan's first mission with Qui-Gon as his master and it was a nice dip in the pond to see them sort of have moments where Qui-Gon recognized his padawan's strong points but to also see his weak points. His initial thoughts on Obi-Wan were that he was courageous, had good instincts, and was able to read a situation quickly. He also thought he was a bit of a stickler for the rules (some things never change), too fast paced in fighting and forgot his own stamina, and was irritated very easily, very quickly. And to hear him say "Shut up and obey me" to a prince made me laugh a little, the Great Negotiator he is not yet. It's baby Obi-Wan I get it.
Qui-gon didn't seem as cold as in other books I've read, he does remember Obi-Wan's birthday, he does show concern for his padawan, and when he thought Obi-Wan's memories had been wiped he was devastated. It's a refreshing sight to see a Qui-Gon that does care about his padawan, so kudos to Watson for that. Overall a nice little series that has some character traits that don't stick out as too out there for characters we always enjoy reading about (about by characters I mean Obi-Wan...and sometimes Qui-gon if he's nice to his padawan. But mostly Obi-Wan).
November 4, 2025
About time I continued with “Jedi Apprentice”!
This one’s fun–while on their way to a completely unrelated mission, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s ship is hijacked onto a different planet, where they meet up with an acquaintance of the last book to help them overthrow the Syndicat, a crime group that’s oppressing the local populace. One of the things that the Syndicat does to enforce their rule is kidnapping dissenters, mind-wiping them, and dropping them off on another planet to take bets on how long they last.
Fun times.
So I remembered a surprising amount of this book, and I think it holds up for the most part, despite its length. There’s a surprisingly emotional death scene in there for one of the villains, that I recalled all these years later.
The mind-wipe subplot feels a bit extra though, and unnecessary–there’s a bit where Obi-Wan gets grabbed to go through the mind-wipe, and while we know it won’t be permanent, because we’ve seen “Star Wars” before, it’s a bit anticlimactic that it does absolutely nothing. Obi-Wan is able to resist it because of the Force, or something? That’s nice, but it feels like a cop out. And so we have a story in which there’s a threat of someone losing all of their memory, and that never happens to any of the named characters. If we saw this happen to one of the supporting characters, it would make that threat feel more real for the reader.
Anyhow, other than that, it’s an effective little book, and it leads into the events of the next one pretty nicely.
This one’s fun–while on their way to a completely unrelated mission, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s ship is hijacked onto a different planet, where they meet up with an acquaintance of the last book to help them overthrow the Syndicat, a crime group that’s oppressing the local populace. One of the things that the Syndicat does to enforce their rule is kidnapping dissenters, mind-wiping them, and dropping them off on another planet to take bets on how long they last.
Fun times.
So I remembered a surprising amount of this book, and I think it holds up for the most part, despite its length. There’s a surprisingly emotional death scene in there for one of the villains, that I recalled all these years later.
The mind-wipe subplot feels a bit extra though, and unnecessary–there’s a bit where Obi-Wan gets grabbed to go through the mind-wipe, and while we know it won’t be permanent, because we’ve seen “Star Wars” before, it’s a bit anticlimactic that it does absolutely nothing. Obi-Wan is able to resist it because of the Force, or something? That’s nice, but it feels like a cop out. And so we have a story in which there’s a threat of someone losing all of their memory, and that never happens to any of the named characters. If we saw this happen to one of the supporting characters, it would make that threat feel more real for the reader.
Anyhow, other than that, it’s an effective little book, and it leads into the events of the next one pretty nicely.
January 1, 2018
3 1/2 stars.
How fitting that the first book I completed in 2018 should be a Star Wars tie-in (now no longer canon), since I have spent the past 3 weeks completely immersed in all things Star Wars, thanks to the fantastic The Last Jedi.
About the book itself, it is part of the Jedi Apprentice series that chronicles Obi-Wan's adventures as Qui-Gon's padawan. It is somewhat difficult to rate this book, since it is essentially an adventure for children and thus there are not many ~deep reflections to be found here and the world-building remains at a rather basic level. It was, however, a very enjoyable romp through the galaxy far, far away that kept me interested and invested in the characters, even the ones that don't appear outside of the series (or even just this book). I especially liked the two Phindian brothers that challenge the two Jedi's patience on more than one occasion.
I think I will continue with this series, or maybe re-read the first two. They are quick reads that nevertheless manage to be engaging, and, despite the book's shortness, add to the characters.
How fitting that the first book I completed in 2018 should be a Star Wars tie-in (now no longer canon), since I have spent the past 3 weeks completely immersed in all things Star Wars, thanks to the fantastic The Last Jedi.
About the book itself, it is part of the Jedi Apprentice series that chronicles Obi-Wan's adventures as Qui-Gon's padawan. It is somewhat difficult to rate this book, since it is essentially an adventure for children and thus there are not many ~deep reflections to be found here and the world-building remains at a rather basic level. It was, however, a very enjoyable romp through the galaxy far, far away that kept me interested and invested in the characters, even the ones that don't appear outside of the series (or even just this book). I especially liked the two Phindian brothers that challenge the two Jedi's patience on more than one occasion.
I think I will continue with this series, or maybe re-read the first two. They are quick reads that nevertheless manage to be engaging, and, despite the book's shortness, add to the characters.
March 31, 2022
Die Gestohlende Vergangenheit geschrieben von Jude Watson ist der dritte teil der Jedi-Padawan Jugendbuch reihe und ist wie die beiden vorherigen Bände auch wieder ein großartiges, spannendes und flottes Abenteuer. Qui-Gon und Obi-Wan sind auf ihrer ersten gemeinsamen Mission als Meister und Schüler und stranden auf dem weg dorthin auf einem Planeten welcher von einem Diktatorischen Syndikat Regiert wird, welche mit rationierungen das Volk an sich binden, außerdem verfügt das Syndikat über die Möglichkeit mithilfe von Gehirnwäsche die Erinnerungen von Wesen zu löschen, daher auch die im Titel genannte Gestohlende Vergangenheit. Obi-Wan und Qui-Gon auf einen Charakter aus dem 2. Band und helfen einer Rebellion bei dem Versuch das Syndikat zu stürzen. Wieder einmal wird die Beziehung der beiden weiter aufgebaut und gefestigt. Das buch ist lustig und tragisch zu gleich, jedoch kam das ende wieder sehr plötzlich macht aber wieder einmal lust auf mehr.
Fazit: bisher ist die reihe echt gut, auch wenn es "nur" jugend romane sind
Fazit: bisher ist die reihe echt gut, auch wenn es "nur" jugend romane sind
August 21, 2020
3.5 stars (an extra half star for the iron on included with the book, which is partly why I bought this)
Young Obi-Wan is a smart cookie.
Overall this was all right. I’m not really interested in reading Star Wars books, but I like Obi-Wan (especially as played by Ewan McGregor). I liked the development the series shows between him and Qui-Gon as Master and Padawan and seeing Obi-Wan learning and honing his fledgling Jedi skills. The best part was the last third/quarter of the book, which I don’t want to spoil. There are a surprising number of people still reading this, going off of the recent updates listed on the book’s page.
It is also interesting to see what was developed before The Phantom Menace was released.
Young Obi-Wan is a smart cookie.
Overall this was all right. I’m not really interested in reading Star Wars books, but I like Obi-Wan (especially as played by Ewan McGregor). I liked the development the series shows between him and Qui-Gon as Master and Padawan and seeing Obi-Wan learning and honing his fledgling Jedi skills. The best part was the last third/quarter of the book, which I don’t want to spoil. There are a surprising number of people still reading this, going off of the recent updates listed on the book’s page.
It is also interesting to see what was developed before The Phantom Menace was released.
May 11, 2025
I picked up this book after seeing an amazing clip on Instagram where Obi-Wan was showing his regret over Anakin’s fall to the dark side. I didn’t really have any expectations for the book—just thought it’d be another Star Wars adventure, like an episode of The Clone Wars or Rebels.
The story follows Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan as they get involved in a conflict on Phindar, a planet controlled by Syndicat. Supplies were being restricted to keep people from revolting, and rebels who got caught were either killed or had their memories wiped.
What stood out to me was how the book showed a different side of Qui-Gon compared to the movies. It really focused on his negative thoughts and emotions. Obi-Wan, as always, was great at disguises—something that reminded me of his cleverness in The Clone Wars.
I went into this book not expecting much, but I ended up enjoying it anyway.
The story follows Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan as they get involved in a conflict on Phindar, a planet controlled by Syndicat. Supplies were being restricted to keep people from revolting, and rebels who got caught were either killed or had their memories wiped.
What stood out to me was how the book showed a different side of Qui-Gon compared to the movies. It really focused on his negative thoughts and emotions. Obi-Wan, as always, was great at disguises—something that reminded me of his cleverness in The Clone Wars.
I went into this book not expecting much, but I ended up enjoying it anyway.
April 4, 2023
My undisputed favourite of the series when I was a kid. I think I can see why. The story managed to evoke so many different emotions within me and was at times incredibly tense. It also dropped a few hints for the next book, which I like. And who doesn't love a good old insurgency? Liberating a planet always makes for a thrilling read (ahem, perhaps I've gone that route myself as a writer...). The dubious mention of Obi-Wan having a brother called Owen is of note.
Lastly, I was amused to find the T-shirt transfer paper still in the middle of my copy, though I know I spent years trying to decide if I should use it. I'm glad I didn't!
(PS: my ancient JA bookmark was once again used - it features the cover of this very book)
Lastly, I was amused to find the T-shirt transfer paper still in the middle of my copy, though I know I spent years trying to decide if I should use it. I'm glad I didn't!
(PS: my ancient JA bookmark was once again used - it features the cover of this very book)
June 14, 2023
The concept of a world containing a rebellion by literally wiping the memories of their people and either dropping them on a planet to die or returning them to the normal community is INSANE. I was fascinated with that immediately.
Then we have the Brothers who are our sidekicks for the book. I love Guerra, deeply; however, multiple characters doing the Not So bit was a lot for a whole book. I was also swept up in the sadness of Terra and her mother.
But, the book in comparison to the others of this series so far didn't ring as fun to me. The threat was scary, the discussion of the importance of memories were beautiful, but the flow of the story itself was weaker. Obi-Wan's memories might make up for it, as well as seeing how bonded Qui-Gon has gotten by now.
Then we have the Brothers who are our sidekicks for the book. I love Guerra, deeply; however, multiple characters doing the Not So bit was a lot for a whole book. I was also swept up in the sadness of Terra and her mother.
But, the book in comparison to the others of this series so far didn't ring as fun to me. The threat was scary, the discussion of the importance of memories were beautiful, but the flow of the story itself was weaker. Obi-Wan's memories might make up for it, as well as seeing how bonded Qui-Gon has gotten by now.
June 23, 2024
A fine entry in the Jedi Apprentice series, although maybe not the most memorable or ground-breaking of Star Wars books.
The characters still come to life on the page as Watson expertly sets the stakes, with Obi-Wan dealing with the possibility of a mind wipe midway through. It feels like a real threat, because although we know he and Qui-Gon survive to Phantom Menace, we don't know how they got there. This also foreshadows events to come in the Rebel Force books, set decades later. (It's probably unintentional, but still neat.) Watson uses this device to give more insights into Obi-Wan's deepest-held memories, at least at thirteen years old.
Overall, the Hidden Past worth reading if you're enjoying the series. It sets up the plot for the next book in a big way.
The characters still come to life on the page as Watson expertly sets the stakes, with Obi-Wan dealing with the possibility of a mind wipe midway through. It feels like a real threat, because although we know he and Qui-Gon survive to Phantom Menace, we don't know how they got there. This also foreshadows events to come in the Rebel Force books, set decades later. (It's probably unintentional, but still neat.) Watson uses this device to give more insights into Obi-Wan's deepest-held memories, at least at thirteen years old.
Overall, the Hidden Past worth reading if you're enjoying the series. It sets up the plot for the next book in a big way.
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