Book review
I love Star Wars.
(…Fair warning: the above sentence is a ridiculously huge understatement.)
Because I do love it so dearly and desperately, I probably tend to be a little harder on additions to it than most–I know how wonderful it is, how amazing the possibilities are, and truthfully I’ve been spoiled by how excellent some of the Star Wars novelists are at building and telling worthwhile, weighty stories in this fantastic universe.
Because of that, I can be a critic. And I’m not always easy to please. Unfortunately, most of the Star Wars comic books that take place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back have not pleased me. The plots and character interactions feel forced, or too coincidental, or just sloppy and full of bad writing, and I honestly rather enjoyed not knowing EXACTLY what took place in those few years between those movies. It’s always wise to leave a story some breathing room–to leave space for possibilities, rather that filling it up to the brim and swamping it with certainties.
That said…this book was wonderful. It fits into the time period without a hitch, without feeling awkward. And best of all…it’s Han Solo, perfectly rendered. It feels like a honest and genuine look inside his head, a viewport into one stage of his gradual change from selfish smuggler to selfless hero. Because it is gradual. That kind of profound change to someone’s psychological structure takes time. Han Solo always had a heart of gold, we know this; but it takes time and courage and many other things to be able to wear that heart on your sleeve instead of keeping it stashed away in a secret compartment with your hidden (probably illegal) contraband.
And since Han is the star of this series, it’s important for the writer to remember who he is, how he thinks, how he operates. Marjorie Liu did an excellent job of this. It’s thrilling to see Han as he is in the movies–prickly and standoffish at first, but gradually warming to and protecting those with whom he’s gone through various trials and adversities. He is always just as honorable as he can afford to be (and sometimes a little more than he can afford to be–though his honor does have limits, sorry Greedo), and he knows how to decide what’s important to him and what ultimately isn’t, what rules he’s willing to break and what orders he’s willing to follow.
This story is well-told, and I really liked the character of Loo Re Anno. Her wisdom is thought-provoking, and had as much of an impact on me as it does on Han (which is always a sign of good writing). Her storyline is important, and contributes a lot to the tale as a whole. Also…having the whole thing set during a super-famous hyper-dangerous space race that only the best pilots can hope to survive, much less win? YES, PLEASE. VERY YES.
(…Also, maybe it’s just my love of the X-wing series bleeding through, but…I laughed pretty hard at one part during the beginning, because any time you hear, ‘General Airen Cracken, Head of Security and Intelligence for the Rebellion,’ you are about to have a very bad day. Or at least a very frustrating quarter-hour or so. Depends on how much you let him get to you…and how much you give back from what he makes you take.)
- Goodreads rating – 3.88
- REVIEW – Wordsworn