The embattled Republic reels from the attacks of Grand Admiral Thrawn, who has marshaled the remnants of the Imperial forces and driven the Rebels back with an abominable technology recovered from the Emperor’s secret fortress: clone soldiers. As Thrawn mounts his final siege, Han and Chewbacca struggle to form a coalition of smugglers for a last-ditch attack against the empire, while Leia holds the Alliance together and prepares for the birth of her Jedi twins. Overwhelmed by the ships and clones at Thrawn’s command, the Republic has one last hope–sending a small force, led by Luke Skywalker, into the very stronghold that houses Thrawn’s terrible cloning machines. There a final danger awaits, as the Dark Jedi C’baoth directs the battle against the Rebels and builds his strength to finish what he had already started: the destruction of Luke Skywalker.
What Star Wars novel should I start with?
The Thrawn Trilogy!!
Just finished it for the second time and wow. Still great and complete trilogy, filled with action and amazing storytelling. Zahn bravely pushes the saga in interesting new directions that sets the bar for all the novels that have followed. I think what I like about the each novel in this trilogy is that they have their own arc. Yet Zahn links this them all together in the end of it all. So read this set if you can!!
Oh The Courtship of Princess Leia…… I remember reading this novel when it first come out. Before the time of the Disney, before the dark times that were the other three movies… Well I should say that. Overtime I’ve come to like the for what they are and it’s also fun to watch my kids watch them. Anywho!! Novel yes! Sorry… Courtship of Princess Leia.. I think this is the first novel of Star Wars where it left me with a bad taste in my mouth.. So many unfinished story lines, plot holes, etc. I also found out that the author Dave Wolverton was to pen a trilogy. Starting with Courtship, which would explain some of the unfinished plots. But the whole thing was canceled like Fox slapping around Firefly…..Oooo To soon?.. The reasons being, I still don’t know and can’t seem to find anything about it. It’s funny reading through all the hate for this book tho hahaha. Comparing it to really bad fan fiction, yeah fan fiction.. Over all i would stay away from this one.
Seeking rich, powerful allies to bring into the Rebel Alliance and a new home planet for the refugees of her native Alderaan, Princess Leia considers a proposal that could tip the balance of power against the evil Empire. The Hapes Consortium of 63 worlds is ruled by the Queen Mother, who wants Leia to marry her son, the dashing and wealthy Prince Isolder. Han Solo has always dreamed of marrying Leia himself, and now he makes a desperate last gamble to win her back. Soon he, Isolder, Luke Skywalker and Artoo will be at the center of an adventure leading to an awesome treasure, a group of Force-trained “witches,” and a showdown with an invincible foe.
So we have Star Wars: Catalyst (A Rogue One Novel) By James Luceno and this story line does fall into the Disney’s Canon of novels. Now this book is not essential to read before seeing Rogue One the movie. It just gives you more ensign on the history of the characters that coe up in the movie.
War is tearing the galaxy apart. For years the Republic and the Separatists have battled across the stars, each building more and more deadly technology in an attempt to win the war. As a member of Chancellor Palpatine’s top secret Death Star project, Orson Krennic is determined to develop a superweapon before their enemies can. And an old friend of Krennic’s, the brilliant scientist Galen Erso, could be the key.
Galen’s energy-focused research has captured the attention of both Krennic and his foes, making the scientist a crucial pawn in the galactic conflict. But after Krennic rescues Galen, his wife, Lyra, and their young daughter, Jyn, from Separatist kidnappers, the Erso family is deeply in Krennic’s debt. Krennic then offers Galen an extraordinary opportunity: to continue his scientific studies with every resource put utterly at his disposal. While Galen and Lyra believe that his energy research will be used purely in altruistic ways, Krennic has other plans that will finally make the Death Star a reality. Trapped in their benefactor’s tightening grasp, the Ersos must untangle Krennic’s web of deception to save themselves and the galaxy itself.
The story line is set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. More focused on the plans for the first Death Star as well as introduced the Erso family and the main antagonist, Orson Krennic. It’s a good prequel to Rogue One. Less action-packed and more deliberate than the other Star Wars canons.
Overall, I loved the novel and it does a good job of filling the holes that were left in the film. A must read for any Star Wars fanboy out there!!
The Sand Tender: The Hammerhead’s Tale is a short story written by Dave Wolverton from Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina and is about Momaw Nadon. It takes place in 0 BBY.
Momaw Nadon, an Ithorian, resides on Tatooine after being exiled from his home planet, Ithor, for revealing Ithorian gardening secrets to Alima, albeit under threat of torture. While living on Tatooine, Nadon still honored the Ithorian traditions and tried to adapt large trees from Ithor to the hot dry weather on Tatooine. On Tatooine, just after the Battle of Tatooine, he met Alima, who was searching for the missing droids. Alima threatened to kill his beloved trees if he did not help him find those two droids. The pacifistic Nadon attempted to kill Alima, but because of Nadon’s lacking experience with weapons, the attempt failed and Nadon was humiliated by Alima once more. Finally, Nadon discovered the truth when he saw old Ben Kenobi in Chalmun’s Spaceport Cantina. The old man had the wanted droids. Nadon then hid in the background when stormtroopers tried to stop Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon from escaping with Kenobi, the droids and a young farmboy. After having lost the droids, the Imperial Prefect searched for a scapegoat he could blame for this failure. Nadon then appeared on the scene and told the Imperial Prefect that he told Alima about Millennium Falcon and Alima didn’t report that information. Nadon was willing to swear under oath and ready to testify that in imperial court. The officer taking justice in his own hand shot Alima, killing him. Nadon was horrified and saddened at what he had done, but a small part of him was glad, for him and his trees were safe. To make up for this, he took two cell samples from Alima’s corpse for later cloning. In keeping with the Law of Life, Nadon made two clones, so that Alima would pay his debt to the Ithorians—and Nadon would pay his to Alima.
Short and sweet… No more. no less. Haha I wish I had more to say about this short story. But it really was just filler and a entertainment all around.
So we have Bloodline (Star Wars Disney Canon Novel)….. I wanted to like this novel.. There were a number things I could get behind. The story over I liked, it’s just the writing style seemed off putting..
Witness the birth of the Resistance
When the Rebellion defeated the Empire in the skies above Endor, Leia Organa believed it was the beginning to a lasting peace. But after decades of vicious infighting and partisan gridlock in the New Republic Senate, that hope seems like a distant memory.
Now a respected senator, Leia must grapple with the dangers that threaten to cripple the fledgling democracy—from both within and without. Underworld kingpins, treacherous politicians, and Imperial loyalists are sowing chaos in the galaxy. Desperate to take action, senators are calling for the election of a First Senator. It is their hope that this influential post will bring strong leadership to a divided galaxy.
As the daughter of Darth Vader, Leia faces with distrust the prospect of any one person holding such a powerful position—even when supporters suggest Leia herself for the job. But a new enemy may make this path Leia’s only option. For at the edges of the galaxy, a mysterious threat is growing.
The Stilted awkwardness of the prequels and lacking charisma… Is what almost killed the whole thing for me. I mean this story line puts Leia in the more badass light. But everything about the story is rather flat and the author (at least to me) didn’t take the time to flesh out the people within the book.
Hammertong: The Tale of the “Tonnika Sisters” is a short story written by Timothy Zahn for the short story Anthology Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina. Perhaps most significant for establishing that the Tonnika sisters seen in A New Hope were in fact Shada D’ukal and Karoly D’ulin in disguise. *Spoilers*
A group of Mistryl Shadow Guard—an ancient sect of women warriors—has been hired by Kellering to transport “Hammertong”, a mysterious top-secret Imperial project. The women go to the research facility to guard the transport as additional security. They are attacked by the Imperials and Team Prime Manda D’ulin and Pav D’armon are killed. Shada D’ukal and Karoly D’ulin find Hammertong ready to transport inside a Strike-class medium cruiser. Angry by death of Manda and Pav, they decide to steal the Imperial project and fly to Tatooine. They evade the Imperials and crash-land in the Dune Sea; in order to transport Hammertong off-planet, they need to hire a freighter. Shada and Karoly disguise themselves as the Tonnika sisters, professional con artists, and go to Chalmun’s Spaceport Cantina in Mos Eisley, where they are arrested by an Imperial officer, who believes they truly are the sisters. In jail, a guard named Riij Winward knows they’re impersonators and as proof tells them he knew about the crash-landed Strike cruiser, and where the real Tonnika sisters are. He frees them in exchange for leading him to the crash site before the sand conceals the entrance to the already half-buried cruiser. They go to the Dune Sea, and Riij tells them what the Hammertong really is: part of the Death Star II’s superlaser. He reveals also he is member of the Rebel Alliance, asks for the weapon, and gives them an offer to join the Alliance. They refuse to give him Hammertong and are ready to return to their home planet, until they learn Riij took their droid with the blueprints of Hammertong inside it. They decide not to go after him and Shada seriously considers joining the Rebels on her own if Karoly refuses.
I rather enjoyed it for what it was.. It did it’s job of answering questions and adding a new spin on certain scenes. One part I thought was funny, was they still called Docking Bay 94 as Docking Bay 97.
SO!!! Yeah…. When I started this Challenge I may have kinda read this trilogy out of order…. Yeah I know… So here I am reading the first in the Thraw Trilogy, Heir to the Empire! If you would like here is a link to the post I made about Star Wars: Dark Force Rising (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy #2) I kinda made a OOPS there hahaha SORRY!
“But you must never relax your guard. The Emperor is gone, but the dark side is still powerful. Never forget that.”
It’s been a while since I read Heir to the Empire, and, to be honest, I was afraid it wouldn’t be as good as I remembered. Well, nothing to fear! Zahn truly captivate my mind all over again with this novel! If George Lucas could take advice from him, maybe the Star Wars prequels would have turned out better! Maybe… But I feel the prepuels are getting to much hate now a days. I’ve re-watched them and I do rather enjoy them, specially watching with my kids. To see their faces light up when the Wars comes on is great. BUT! Not Jar-Jar! F’in HATE that guy! The only time I enjoyed him was in Robot Chicken where the killed hi off and his ghost hunts Vader hahaha!!
Sorry got off topic there for bit.. Heir to the Empire!! Yes, Anywho. A reviewer, at the time of the book’s first appearance in 1991, wrote that Heir to the Empire “captures the spirit of the movie trilogy so well, you can almost hear John Williams’ soundtrack.” I would almost have to agree with him on this. Zahn does a superb job rendering the personalities from George Lucas’ films that one can almost hear Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Billy Dee “Hello, what have we here?” Williams when reading their characters’ dialogue. The pace of the book is brisk and the action sequences are so well done that one can swear they are cinematic. Although there are many Star Wars authors whose novels are spellbinding, Zahn stands head and shoulders above the crowd.
It is a time of renewal, five years after the destruction of the Death Star and the defeat of Darth Vader and the Empire.
But with the war seemingly won, strains are beginning to show in the Rebel Alliance. New challenges to galactic peace have arisen. And Luke Skywalker hears a voice from his past. A voice with a warning. Beware the dark side….
Here is the science fiction publishing event of the year: the exciting continuation of the legendary Star Wars saga. Picking up where the movie trilogy left off, Heir to the Empire reveals the tumultuous events that take place after the most popular series in motion-picture history—masterfully told by Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn.
In spring 1977 a film called Star Wars was released—and a cultural phenomenon was born. Its epic story, about a young man named Luke Skywalker, whose destiny was to save the galaxy from conquest, caught the imaginations of millions and broke all box-office records. Today Star Wars and its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, are acknowledged as the most popular series in movie history, and rank among the top ten films of all time.
The three Star Wars films form a spectacular saga of bold imaginations and high adventure. But the stories of its characters did not end there. Now for the first time, Lucasfilm Ltd., producer of the Star Wars movies, has authorized the continuation of this beloved story. In an astounding three-book cycle, Timothy Zahn continues the tale of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the other characters made world famous by Star Wars, as he brilliantly expands upon George Lucas’s stunning vision, “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.”
Heir to the Empire begins five years after the end of Return of the Jedi: the Rebel Alliance has destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and driven the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet back into barely a quarter of the territory that they once controlled. Leia and Han are married and have shouldered heavy burdens in the government of the new Republic. And Luke Skywalker is the first in a hoped-for new line of Jedi Knights.
But thousands of light years away, where a few skirmishes are still taking place, the last of the Emperor’s warlords has taken command of the remains of the Imperial fleet. He has made two vital discoveries that could destroy the fragile new Republic—built with such cost to the Rebel Alliance. The tale that emerges is a towering epic of action, invention, mystery, and spectacle on a galactic scale—in short, a story that is worthy of the name Star Wars.
So far we have these book covered in this Challenge:
ROGUE ONE IS OUT NOW!!! WHO IS GOING TO SEE IT?!? I normally push out challenge post a few days apart. But with Rogue One out, I figured this would be the perfect time to release it. We’ll be in line currently wait to see this movie. I’ve been looking forward to this movie for awhile now, I did hear some news that it’s not getting a sequel.. I understand the time line will pick up where New Hope is. But that doesn’t you have other random adventures with this group. What are you thoughts on this new movie and also them “maybe” not doing a sequel?
Greedo… Poor, poor Greedo. Finally tracks down high profile bounty, only to be shot in the dick under a table… Yeah I said it and yes I believe Han shot first! Greedo has become somewhat of a legend in the Star Wars universe and also spawned a rather heated debate between fans. I talking about the “who shot first” debate.. The “Han shot first” is a phrase referring to a controversial change made to a scene in Star Wars (1977), in which Han Solo is confronted by the bounty hunter Greedo in the Mos Eisley Cantina. The change was made for the 1997 Special Edition re-release of Star Wars, and has since been altered twice more. The phrase “Han shot first” is meant to express that “Han was the only one who shot”, and is a colloquial retort to series creator George Lucas’s explicit cinematic assertion that Greedo shot first. The actor Paul Blake indicated that Greedo shooting first made the character appear inept (in that he would have missed Solo from very short range), and that “it does give Greedo a little more glory if he’s just blown away.”
Now the film’s 2004 release, the scene was altered again, with new timing so that the shots are fired at nearly the same time and so that Solo dodges Greedo’s shot. In an article titled “The Star Wars George Lucas Doesn’t Want You To See”, The Atlantic summarized that “in the original versions … it’s clear that Han Solo pulled out his gun and shot the bounty hunter Greedo. In the 1997 version, Greedo shoots first. In the 2004 version, they shoot at the same time”. Then they changed it again! Only this time in 2011 Blu-ray release, the scene of Solo and Greedo firing at each other was shortened by several frames. Yeah… So if you raised on the 1977 version of the movie, you know Han shot first.. Han always shoots first.
So with that aside I want to talk about the short story of A Hunter’s Fate: Greedo’s Tale by Tom and Martha Veitch. Giving a backstory to the bounty hunter Greedo. It was later adapted into a webstrip by Pablo Hidalgo for Hyperspace.
A teenage Greedo and his younger brother, Pqweeduk explore the various caves inside the jungles of their adopted home world. They discover the remains of three old Rodian starships inside one of the caves. Greedo returns to his hut and asks his mother, Neela, about the ships. Neela explains that many Rodians made a pilgrimage to this planet to escape the clan wars that had taken Greedo’s father away from them.
Shortly after this event, a Rodian warlord of the Chattza Clan named Navik the Red finds the jungle colony and begins slaughtering as many of the pacifist Rodians as he can. Neela takes her children and along with her brothers, Nok and Teeku, they board one of the starships and escape. Nok pilots them to a heavily populated area in the hopes that they can start a new life for themselves. He takes them to the smugglers’ moon—Nar Shaddaa.
I rather enjoyed this story and almost feel sorry for Greedo. He was used up in more ways than one. Now if you watch the TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars, most of the events of Greedo’s childhood and early life have been contradicted by the TV series. In the episode “Sphere of Influence“, Greedo is depicted as a fully realized and active bounty hunter, years before the same events would have taken place as detailed in the “Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina” novel. Great story of a doomed character, give it a read sometime!!
So with novel I thought I would break it up into different reviews and topics, do to it being 16 different stories. Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina it is the first in the series about minor characters from the original trilogy, all edited by Kevin J. Anderson, with cover art by Stephen Youll.
Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina. Bantam Spectra paperback (1995-08-01).
Tales from Jabba’s Palace. Bantam Spectra paperback (1996-01-01).
Tales of the Bounty Hunters. Bantam Spectra paperback (1996-12-01).
The basic plot of book or should I back-cover blurb goes as follows:
In a far off corner of the universe, on the small desert planet of Tatooine, there is a dark, nic-i-tain-filled cantina where you can down your favorite intoxicant while listening to the best jizz riffs in the universe. But beware your fellow denizens of this pangalactic watering hole, for they are cutthroats and cutpurses, assassins and troopers, humans and aliens, gangsters and thieves.…
I rather enjoyed this whole series of stories and Tales of the Bounty Hunters was my favorite out of the three. So the tale we’ll cover today is We don’t do weddings: The Band’s Tale!
Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina:
Is a short by Kathy Tyers in which was published by Bantam Spectra in August 1995 about Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes.
Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes are members of the Intergalactic Federation of Musicians specializing in a style of music known as Jizz. While working on the planet Tatooine, they enter into an exclusive contract to work solely for the crime lord known as Jabba the Hutt. Figrin however, wants to get out of his contract.
One of Jabba’s rivals, a Whiphid named LadyValarian, sends an E522 assassin droid to Jabba’s Palace to recruit Figrin D’an’s services. Valarian offers them 3,000 credits to perform at her wedding to the Whiphid hunter, D’Wopp. The allure of Valarian’s Sabacc tables notwithstanding, Figrin feels that this would present an excellent opportunity to earn enough money to book passage off of Tatooine and get out from under the thumb of Jabba the Hutt.
“When Jabba frowns… somebody dies.“―Doikk Na’ts
This was always a fun story and I rather enjoy the fact that they got a little more deeper in the Jabba the Hutt life. It really had a mod feel to it and it was a pleasure for the imagination. It’s a short short story, so it was a REALLY fast read and you don’t need to know the history to jump into this book.
Behind the Scenes:
This story is the first vignette featured in Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina.
The story ends right before Han Solo shoots Greedo the bounty hunter at Chalmun’s Spaceport Cantina in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.
The embattled Republic reels from the attacks of Grand Admiral Thrawn, who has marshaled the remnants of the Imperial forces and driven the Rebels back with an abominable technology recovered from the Emperor’s secret fortress: clone soldiers. As Thrawn mounts his final siege, Han and Chewbacca struggle to form a coalition of smugglers for a last-ditch attack against the empire, while Leia holds the Alliance together and prepares for the birth of her Jedi twins. Overwhelmed by the ships and clones at Thrawn’s command, the Republic has one last hope–sending a small force, led by Luke Skywalker, into the very stronghold that houses Thrawn’s terrible cloning machines. There a final danger awaits, as the Dark Jedi C’baoth directs the battle against the Rebels and builds his strength to finish what he had already started: the destruction of Luke Skywalker.
