Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Star Wars Fans!
I have sat down and absorbed yet another book in the Star Wars universe and I am happy I did. I love what Disney is doing with the new canon. As much as I miss certain elements from the old extended universe, I have to admit that all involved in creating the new canon have done an admirable job of keeping me entertained.
Star Wars: Smuggler's Run is written by Greg Rucka (Marvel's Shattered Empire) and features beautiful artwork by Phil Noto (Marvel's Chewbacca). It is the third book in Disney-Lucasfilm's young reader series that I have read. Like Weapon of a Jedi and Moving Target, this book runs about two hundred pages, and tells a tale set between the movie episodes. It stars Han Solo and Chewbacca in an all-new adventure, and elements that are featured in Star Wars: the Force Awakens.
In Smuggler's Run we first meet up with Han Solo in a bar named Serendipity. It is a time prior to the events of the Force Awakens. He is listening in on a conversation between several bounty hunters at a table behind him. Of course when they start talking about fast ships and the fabled Millennium Falcon, old Han has to give his two cents worth to the conversation. He regailes them with a little-known tale of the Millennium Falcon. For a drink, of course....
After the famous medal ceremony in A New Hope (yes, Chewbacca gets a medal, as well), Han And Chewbacca are set to leave Yavin IV. It is Rebel High Command's thought that Yavin IV may be the Empire's next target after the destruction of the Death Star. Before they can leave the planet, Princess Leia requests their presence at a meeting. She informs the duo that Ematt, Leader of the Rebellion's special recon team, has been ambushed and his team killed. The team, the Shrikes, locate new places for possible bases and rendezvous points. They compile a list of these locations for future use, as well as locations of the Rebellion's cache of hidden food, weapons, and supplies. The Empire knows of the list, and has sent the Star Destroyer, Vehement after them.
Han and Chewbacca's mission is to travel to Cyrkon, a toxic planet that protects its residents with domes and shielding from the planet's atmosphere. It is on the edge of Hutt space, so Han is extra cautious since he owes Jabba a considerable amount of money. It is there that they will meet with Ematt and transport him off world to a safe location. Han says no, but is persuaded by his Wookie friend that it is important that they agree. He relents, and the two are off for Cyrkon. But waiting for them is not only the Vehement, but an Imperial Commander by the name of Beck, and several bounty hunters looking to cash in on the reward for Han Solo before Boba Fett does.
This book travels at a pretty good pace, a trait of Rucka's I have always appreciated. He weaves old and new elements of Star Wars canon together rather well. His presentation of Imperial Commander Alecia Beck made her one of my favorite new additions to Disney-Lucasfilm's new canon. She cold, calculating and her cybernetic left eye is an interesting story all its own. Ematt was first seen this past December as Leia Organa's trusted major in the Resistance in the Force Awakens. His addition to the Rebel Alliance of old is a fun one, with him always second-guessing and bantering with Han, which is a great combination. He is brave and daring, and I hope to see more of him in future stories. Also Rucka brings up a few elements that that eventually will lead to Han facing off with the Guavian Death Gang and Kanjiklub aboard Han's freighter, the Eravana later on. There is also a cameo of the protocol droid ME-8D9 that can be seen in Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana.
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the other two that I have read. I was not a fan of the Imperial Captain Hove or some of the bounty hunters that traveled with the droid bounty hunter, Captivator. But other than those two issues, it was a great addition to the Star Wars universe. I give it four out of five stars.
Because there is always time to read,
Xepherus3
I have sat down and absorbed yet another book in the Star Wars universe and I am happy I did. I love what Disney is doing with the new canon. As much as I miss certain elements from the old extended universe, I have to admit that all involved in creating the new canon have done an admirable job of keeping me entertained.
Star Wars: Smuggler's Run is written by Greg Rucka (Marvel's Shattered Empire) and features beautiful artwork by Phil Noto (Marvel's Chewbacca). It is the third book in Disney-Lucasfilm's young reader series that I have read. Like Weapon of a Jedi and Moving Target, this book runs about two hundred pages, and tells a tale set between the movie episodes. It stars Han Solo and Chewbacca in an all-new adventure, and elements that are featured in Star Wars: the Force Awakens.
In Smuggler's Run we first meet up with Han Solo in a bar named Serendipity. It is a time prior to the events of the Force Awakens. He is listening in on a conversation between several bounty hunters at a table behind him. Of course when they start talking about fast ships and the fabled Millennium Falcon, old Han has to give his two cents worth to the conversation. He regailes them with a little-known tale of the Millennium Falcon. For a drink, of course....
After the famous medal ceremony in A New Hope (yes, Chewbacca gets a medal, as well), Han And Chewbacca are set to leave Yavin IV. It is Rebel High Command's thought that Yavin IV may be the Empire's next target after the destruction of the Death Star. Before they can leave the planet, Princess Leia requests their presence at a meeting. She informs the duo that Ematt, Leader of the Rebellion's special recon team, has been ambushed and his team killed. The team, the Shrikes, locate new places for possible bases and rendezvous points. They compile a list of these locations for future use, as well as locations of the Rebellion's cache of hidden food, weapons, and supplies. The Empire knows of the list, and has sent the Star Destroyer, Vehement after them.
Han and Chewbacca's mission is to travel to Cyrkon, a toxic planet that protects its residents with domes and shielding from the planet's atmosphere. It is on the edge of Hutt space, so Han is extra cautious since he owes Jabba a considerable amount of money. It is there that they will meet with Ematt and transport him off world to a safe location. Han says no, but is persuaded by his Wookie friend that it is important that they agree. He relents, and the two are off for Cyrkon. But waiting for them is not only the Vehement, but an Imperial Commander by the name of Beck, and several bounty hunters looking to cash in on the reward for Han Solo before Boba Fett does.
This book travels at a pretty good pace, a trait of Rucka's I have always appreciated. He weaves old and new elements of Star Wars canon together rather well. His presentation of Imperial Commander Alecia Beck made her one of my favorite new additions to Disney-Lucasfilm's new canon. She cold, calculating and her cybernetic left eye is an interesting story all its own. Ematt was first seen this past December as Leia Organa's trusted major in the Resistance in the Force Awakens. His addition to the Rebel Alliance of old is a fun one, with him always second-guessing and bantering with Han, which is a great combination. He is brave and daring, and I hope to see more of him in future stories. Also Rucka brings up a few elements that that eventually will lead to Han facing off with the Guavian Death Gang and Kanjiklub aboard Han's freighter, the Eravana later on. There is also a cameo of the protocol droid ME-8D9 that can be seen in Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana.
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the other two that I have read. I was not a fan of the Imperial Captain Hove or some of the bounty hunters that traveled with the droid bounty hunter, Captivator. But other than those two issues, it was a great addition to the Star Wars universe. I give it four out of five stars.
Because there is always time to read,
Xepherus3
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All written content (c) Copyright 2015 by Thomas Bahr II
Cover photo (c) Copyright Disney-Lucasfilm
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