As you might have noticed by what I've been posting lately, I am in a bit of a reading slump. I can't concentrate on things for very long and I am finding it difficult to discover something that can keep my attention.
I am not usually a fan of YA stories, but I have read Rucka's work in the past and know that he is also a novelist. If anybody can make a story hum and move the plot forward, he can.
This book is part of a publishing push to fill in voids in the space of time between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. Strangely, this one takes place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. So we will see how this ties in.
Taking everybody's favourite characters, Chewie and Han, and sending them off to the Outer Rim on a rescue mission we are also introduced to a formidable villain. Commander Alecia Beck is at once a typical baddie with a big scar on the face and an artificial eye but is updated for today by being female. This actually makes the character more menacing as she is also very smart and calculating. I liked her very much.
The story moved along very well, giving the reader a glimpse into events right after the first Death Star was destroyed. Han and Chewie are packing up their bags and cash, ready to settle their debts with Jabba the Hut. But Princess Leia has a problem that only they can help with.
I liked the story very much; the interplay between Han and Chewie was spot on and the Milennium Falcon was lovingly written as a third character. It was interesting to get an insight on how the ship was flown and how much knowledge they had about her.
The only thing I felt didn't work, and this is a very minor thing, was how often Han called Chewie "pal." From the movies I got the impression this was a term he would use on strangers not on somebody he knows or trusts. Somehow, it just wasn't in character. That said, Rucka got their voices perfectly and it was a treat to get an insight into Cewbacca's thoughts.
It was a good book and stands on it's own perfectly well. If it informed something about The Force Awakens, I missed it completely.
Greg Rucka - http://www.gregrucka.com/wp/
Greg Rucka - http://www.gregrucka.com/wp/
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