Han Solo is my favorite Star Wars character. I love his witty comebacks and his fantastic character arc. And yet he's the character in the series weHan Solo is my favorite Star Wars character. I love his witty comebacks and his fantastic character arc. And yet he's the character in the series we don't know anything about. His backstory never comes up, and I've always wanted to know more about him. How did he become friends with Chewbacca? How did he meet Lando? When did he become captain of the Millennium Falcon ? What's up with the "Kessel Run in twelve parsecs"? When I found out that there was a book series about Han Solo's backstory, I immediately put the first book on hold at the library.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would.
Pros:
-It's about Han Solo. -I never knew that (view spoiler)[ Han joined the Imperial Navy. Now I understand why he knows so much about Imperial procedure in the movies! I always wondered about that. (hide spoiler)] -Most Star Wars books take place either during the Republic time period or the post - ROTJ time period. I thought it was cool that this one takes place between trilogies.
Cons:
-When I think of Star Wars , the word "fun" is the first thing that comes to mind. The Paradise Snare was not fun. It was actually pretty depressing. -Looking back on the plot, I personally think most of this book was unnecessary to the story. Other than the first two chapters explaining Han's childhood and the end when (view spoiler)[ he joins the Empire (hide spoiler)], I thought most of it felt like a subplot. -I don't fully understand his romance with Bria. Other than the fact that they both think the other is attractive, I never was clear on why they liked each other. -One of my other issues was in the area of content. A little more language and violence than in most Star Wars novels. Sexual content (while never graphic) was the biggest disappointment: several references to women being sold into prostitution, Han thinks about his long list of ex-girlfriends and it is implied that he never entered a romantic relationship with any intention of a long-term commitment, he sometimes thinks about how he "would like to spend the night" with a girl, etc. I was also highly disappointed that Han and Bria end up sleeping together. Everything is "off camera", but this bothered me.
Overall, I had high hopes for this series. While I am curious about the rest of Han Solo's story, I don't think I'll continue. The depressing tone and lack of morals presented made The Paradise Snare a "just okay" read for me. It lacked the innocent, light-hearted fun of the movies....more
Not my favorite Star Wars book. I did enjoy it (it's Star Wars --how could I not enjoy it?), but the ending seemed rushed to me and I found the chaNot my favorite Star Wars book. I did enjoy it (it's Star Wars --how could I not enjoy it?), but the ending seemed rushed to me and I found the characters hard to keep track up, especially since there were a lot of really similar names (Thrawn and Thrass....ugh....I was constantly getting those two confused). I also think Outbound Flight would have had more meaning to me had I read Zahn's Heir to the Empire series first. Outbound Flight is a prequel to that one, but I think the significance of a lot of the characters would have made more sense if I read the other first. Outbound Flight is also filled with numerous twists, and the reader can never be certain of who to trust. I enjoyed seeing Obi-wan and Anakin!
All in all, a fun Star Wars adventure, but not my favorite....more
Heir to the Empire takes place about five years after Return of the Jedi . Han and Leia are married and expecting twins, Luke has completed his Jed Heir to the Empire takes place about five years after Return of the Jedi . Han and Leia are married and expecting twins, Luke has completed his Jedi training, and the New Republic is trying to maintain peace after the terror of the Empire. But the Empire is far from dead. Thrawn, and Imperial Admiral, has taken control of the fleet and is determined to destroy the New Republic.
I loved seeing the original characters--Han, Leia, Luke, C-3PO, Chewbacca, R2-D2, Lando, Wedge, etc. Heir to the Empire also introduces several new characters: Thrawn, the new main villain; C'boath, an evil former Jedi; Karrde, a smuggler; Mara Jade, a young woman with a mysterious past and a hatred toward Luke (and who I also found slightly annoying).
This version includes a bonus novella that's about seventy or so pages long. I only read about half of it, as I thought it was boring and weird. I did enjoy the commentaries by the author!
While no longer considered canon, Heir to the Empire is a fun, fast-paced adventure about the post- Return of the Jedi story. ...more
I always love reading the book versions of the Star Wars movies, but I think this one is the weakest. Personally, I found the writing to be a bit flI always love reading the book versions of the Star Wars movies, but I think this one is the weakest. Personally, I found the writing to be a bit flat and the characters were never fully developed. I might have been a little lost if I hadn't already seen the movie. Some parts were confusing--I had to reread sections of dialogue but still ended up not being entirely sure what the characters meant! I did like that there was a little more explanation as to the rise of the First Order, something that wasn't given in the movie.
Overall a fun, quick-paced (but also a bit confusing) novelization. ...more
Cloak of Deception is an interesting look at the events leading up the The Phantom Menace . I enjoyed learning why the Trade Federation joined forc Cloak of Deception is an interesting look at the events leading up the The Phantom Menace . I enjoyed learning why the Trade Federation joined forces with Sidious, as well as what Qui-gon and Obi-wan were doing before being sent to negotiate the Naboo blockade issue. Like most Star Wars novels, it was clean, and we're introduced to a cast of new characters, and we get to learn more about the pre-existing characters like Qui-gon, Obi-wan, Palaptine, Vollorum, Queen Amidala, Viceroy Gunray, and even a younger Tarkin. Overall, I liked Cloak of Deception , but it was slow and boring at times, and the author was a little too wordy in places. ...more
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