Daniel Wallace's latest entry into the Star Wars universe is a book that doubles as collectors item and will appeal greatly to EU fans. At $99.99 retail price, the cost of the book maybe prohibitive for some but it is well worth your time if you can get your hands on it.
The book comes in an electronic case that opens, lights up, and plays music. The book also contains extra inside it's pages including Qui-Gon Jinn'a Padawan braid, a Jedi Ace patch, and a Corellian Jedi Credcoin.
Jedi Path is similar to Ryder Windham's recent Jedi vs. Sith: An Essential Guide to the Force, in that both books are told in universe. They are treated as texts that were written for Jedi and others to read. As such the articles within each section are authored by leading Jedi of the era. Grand Master Fae Coven, Chief Librarian Restelly Quist, Battlemaster Skarch Vaunk, Jedi Ace Crix Sunburris, Jedi Biologist Bowspritz, Jedi Recruiter Morrit Ch'Gally, Jedi Seer Sabla-Mandibu, and AgriCorps Jedi Gal-Stod Slagistrough.
Jedi Path also includes annotations by the Jedi whose hands it passed through. Yoda, Thame Cerulian, Dooku, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Luke Skywalker all make comments. It also has what amounts to Sith Graffiti by Darth Sidious (Aka Emperor Palpatine). This is tough because Wallace only has about a sentence each time to try to convey that characters personality and views at the time they read possessed the book. I think he is most effective with Obi-Wan and least effective with Ahsoka.
Jedi Path is a very ambitious book that delves deeply into Jedi philosophy, organization and training. It is the best description we have yet gotten of Old Republic Jedi, how they lived, viewed the force, and their role in the galaxy.
I particularly enjoyed the detailed descriptions about different Jedi career paths it was a bit like a Jedi guidance counselor.
It also did a vey good job detailing lightsaber design and combat, as well as various aspects of the force and names for individual force powers.
It seems that this book begs for a Sith version as a sequel. That would be a tremendously fun read.
Overall Jedi Path is a must have book for novel collectors or those who collect the Essential Guides. For others the price may be prohibitive and I would suggest attempting to find it on sale, used, or hope for a cheaper re-release without all the extras.
I give it 8.0 Lightsabers out of 10. (It would be higher but for the cost.)
