Monday, October 24, 2016

Fulcrum


Just finished this good new book, Ahsoka by E. K . Johnston. Technically a Young Adult type book, it was a quick read and well written.

The story takes our heroine from sometime after her departure from the Jedi Order up through her becoming intermingled with the growing rebellion under Senator Bail Organa.

She has to hide, and keep moving, and stay out of trouble. Until she can't ignore the problems the Empire is causing all around her. So she takes action, at first locally, then on a broader scale.

A good entry into the canon, I'd say. Ties in with Star Wars: Rebels, of course, as well as Clone Wars.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Of the World


Just finished my re-read of the opening salvo in the peerless Thrawn trilogy. The Rocky Balboa of Star Wars! Take that, Chuck Wendig! Feel the pain, J.J. Abrams! 

Ahhh, yes. Home again, with our favorite characters. Such a ground-breaking series, as well. Page 106 is the first mention of a little Star Wars novelty known as: Rogue Squadron! Led by Commander Wedge Antilles, we know (from the climatic battle of Sluis Van) that the Rogues have 12 members, that they fly X-wings, and that Red Five (no other name given) is Wedge's wingman. No doubt we'll learn more in the next installment.

Lando. Han. Leia. Chewie. Luke. Ackbar. Mon Mothma.

The insufferable Borsk Fey'lya. Mara Jade. Talon Karrde. Grand Admiral Thrawn. The psychotic Joruus C'baoth clone. Interdictor cruisers invented on page 175.

Grand adventure. A big story, without another superweapon. Compelling characters, old and new. Great use of tech from the WEG archives.

Simply a wonderful read. Well deserving of its place in the Star Wars firmament. Fits well with the stellar Han Solo Trilogy. I don't care about the "Legends" appellation: I succeeded in my Will save to disbelieve. This book simply outperforms almost every piece of junk Disney has released thus far. By a wide margin.

Well done, once again, Mr. Zahn. I eagerly await the re-reads of numbers 2 and 3.