Star Wars: Dooku – Jedi Lost (Audio Drama Review)
Though it has been a few months since the release of the Star Wars: Dooku – Jedi Lost in both audio and print form, it was only recently that I concluded the nearly six and a half hour audio format of the story from Random House Audio. It is important to note that this is not an audio book, but rather an audio drama, and the difference between the two is quite significant. There is a full cast of actors complete with the musical accompaniment of John Williams’ work and cinematic sound effects to boot. As for the book form, it is important that fans know it is not a novel and instead reads exactly like a script. With all that in mind, let us take a deeper look at Dooku – Jedi Lost.
Story 
After not really hearing a whole lot about the audio drama, curiosity eventually got the best of me. After seeing the hardcover book was actually a script and not a novel, I passed and opted for its iTunes-downloaded counterpart. The story does an exemplary job of telling the tale of Dooku’s past, beginning with an adolescent version of the character muddling his way through the Jedi Academy alongside side friend, peer and classmate, Sifo-Dyas.
Without giving away everything, the journey takes place over the course of several years throughout the travels of several unfamiliar planets. Dooku’s family history is explored so hardcore fans can rest easy knowing his ‘Count’ title is finally explained in great detail. The tale will eventually weave its way into adulthood for the title character, but still well before his appearance in Episode II: Attack of the Clones.
In addition, several supporting characters brilliantly dot the landscape such as Yoda, who was after all Dooku’s teacher at the academy, along with Dooku’s eventual pupils in the Force, Qui-Gon Jinn and Asajj Ventress. Each character introduced in the story plays a part at varying levels of importance with virtually none of them being simple filler. There was, however, one male character speaking to Asajj Ventress that I personally got lost on as it was poorly explained as to who it actually was. Was it a Force ghost? Was it Asajj’s imagination? That continued to pose a nagging feeling as I concluded the story and still didn’t know who the voice was representing. In spite of that, there is one solid, quality story here which is quite engaging and comes highly recommended.
Production
Dooku – Jedi Lost is directed by Cavan Scott who best known for penning young reader Star Wars novels. His upcoming work will be Disney’s much heralded Star Wars: The High Republic, a series of stories in both novel and comic book form taking place 200 years before the events of the prequel films. Apparently the man is high on Disney’s list to commandeer their prized franchise, and with good reason.
Scott excelled at overseeing the Dooku audio drama as it was no small task to get the most out of its actors while appropriately implementing a traditional Star Wars score and inserting timely sound effects that all elevate the story’s atmosphere. At the same time, the roster of voice actors all played their parts expertly and in convincing fashion. In short, the production value of Dooku – Jedi Lost is through the roof.
Overall 
To be honest, any standard audio book will absolutely pale in comparison to what is found here when it comes to presentation and delivery. If anyone ever wondered why families used to gather around the radio 70+ years ago listening to dramatic serials, a glance at Dooku – Jedi Lost provides the perfect glimpse as to why. If nothing else, it is audible storytelling at its finest. Not only do we get a detailed history on a major and mysterious character from the prequel films, but it is delivered in such a stunning fashion that the six hour and 21-minute story seemed to go by in a mere fraction of that time.
The full cast as mentioned on Audible.com:
Orlagh Cassidy as Asajj Ventress
Euan Morton as Dooku
Pete Bradbury as Gretz Droom
Jonathan Davis as Qui-Gon Jinn
Neil Hellegers as Ramil
Sean Kenin as Sifo-Dyas
January LaVoy as Jor Aerith
Saskia Maarleveld as Jenza
Carol Monda as Lene Kostana
Robert Petkoff as Ky Narec
Rebecca Soler as Yula Braylon
and
Marc Thompson as Yoda
