Star Wars – Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising by Timothy Zahn

(hb; 2020: first book in the Star Wars – Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy)

From the inside flap

“Beyond the edge of the galaxy like the Unknown Regions: chaotic, uncharted, and near impassable, possessing hidden secrets and dangers in equal measure. And nestled within their swirling chaos is the Ascendancy, home to the enigmatic Chiss and the Nine Ruling Families that lead them.

“The peace of the Ascendancy, a beacon of calm and stability, is shattered after a daring attack on the Chiss capital that reveals no trace of the enemy. Baffled, the Ascendancy dispatches one of its brightest young military officers to root out the unseen assailants─a recruit born of no title but adopted into the powerful family of the Mitth and given the name Thrawn.

 

“With the might of the Expansionary Fleet at his back and aided by his comrade, Admiral Ar’alani, thrawn begins to piece together the answers he’s looking for. But as Thrawn’s first command probes deeper into the vast stretch of space his people call the Chaos, he realizes that the mission he has been given is not what it seems.

“And the threat to the Ascendany is. . . just beginning.”

 

Review

Caveat: possible (minor) spoilers in this review.

Chaos is a good, lots-of-political-and-military-maneuvering work, a familiar set-up read for those well-versed in the Star Wars-verse, especially Zahn’s previous Thrawn novels. Thrawn remains a compelling character, with his known quirks (studying alien artwork for psychological insight; his lack of political guile), in this methodical, well-written set-up for the Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy, with other familiar faces (e.g., Anakin Skywalker) making brief or extended appearances.

This time out, Thrawn’s military career is just starting to take off when threats, the first of which is the Nikardun, an aggressive species that is rapidly incorporating other aliens into the Nikarduns’ subjugating culture. The second threat is the Chiss-ruling Nine Families, conservative and arrogant to a dangerous fault, who ignore this threat, and seek to punish anyone who upsets the delicate balance of power within Chiss culture, especially an outsider like Thrawn. Thankfully for the controlled-risk-taking Captain, he has allies who complement his talents, allies he'll need if Chiss culture is to survive beyond its present days.

The smart-minded, climactic battle, brief as it is, is a thrilling pay-off for the deceptions-and-maneuvering gabfest that dominates much of this book. Chaos’s ending is an excellent set-up for the next phase in the Thrawn Ascendancy, one that echoes Palpatine-foreshadowings in a good way.

Note: In the filmic Star Wars timeline, Chaos occurs between the events of Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

Star Wars: Thrawn─Treason by Timothy Zahn

(hb; 2019: sequel to Star Wars: Thrawn─Alliance)

From the inside flap

“‘If I were to serve the Empire, you would command my allegiance.’

“Such was the promise Grand Admiral Thrawn made to Emperor Palpatine at their fist meeting. Since then, Thrawn has been one of the Empire’s most effective instruments, pursuing its enemies to the very edges of the known galaxy. But as keen a weapon Thrawn has become, the emperor dreams of something far more destructive.

“Now, as Thrawn’s TIE-defender program is halted in favor of Director Krennic’s secret Death Star project, he rewalizes that the balance of power in the Empire is meausured by more than just military acumen or tactical efficiency. Even the greatest intellect can hardly compete with the power to annihilate emnitre planets.

“As Thrawn works to secure his place in the Imperial hierarchy, his former protégé, Eli Vanto, returns with a dire warning about Thrawn’s homeworld. Thrawn’s mastery of strategy must guide him through an impossible choice: duty to the Chiss Ascendancy or fealty to the Empire he has sworn to serve. Even if the right choice means committing treason.”

Review

Treason is a good, fun and often-thrilling science fiction read, like one of its prequels, Star Wars: Thrawn. Thrawn, clever─and lucky─strategist, deftly navigates his path through a battery of conflicting elements, situations and personalities, trying to unite his dual allegiances together in a way that is ultimately faithful to both. It is a fast-burn, intriguing entry in the Star Wars franchise, worth your time.

Star Wars: Thrawn─Alliance by Timothy Zahn

(hb; 2018: sequel to Star Wars:Thrawn)

Review

This direct follow-up to Star Wars: Thrawn is both a sequel and prequel. Thrawn and Vader are sent by Emperor Palpatine back to a star system where they first met, when Vader was Anakin Skywalker. Palpatine has felt a disturbance in the Force, something secret related to Thrawn’s people, the Chiss. The interplay of uncertainty and grudging trust between the crush-the-enemy Vader and the more flexible, charming and future-leaning Thrawn makes Alliance a worthwhile read─so does some of the better action sequences. (Padmé, Anakin’s now-dead mother of his children, makes an appearance in the flashbacks, as well.)

I did not like Alliance as much as I liked its prequel: for me, Anakin Skywalker is one of the most rigid and whiny characters in the Star Wars franchise. His flashbacks were a chore to get through sometimes, despite Zahn’s interesting characters and overall entertaining writing.

Followed by Star Wars: Thrawn--Treason.

Star Wars: Thrawn by Timothy Zahn

(hb; 2017: direct prequel to Star Wars: Thrawn─Alliance)

From the inside flap

“. . . [Grand Admiral] Thrawn’s origins and the story of his rise in the Imperial ranks have remained mysterious. Now, in Star Wars: Thrawn, Timothy Zahn chronicles the fateful events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realm of power─and infamy.

           

“After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as quickly, Thrawn proves to be as indispensable to the Empire as he is ambitious; as devoted as its most loyal servant, Darth Vader; and a brilliant warrior never to be underestimated. On missions to rout smugglers,  snare spies, and defeat pirates, he triumphs time and again─even as his renegade methods infuriate superiors while inspiring even greater admiration from the Empire. As one promotion follows another in his rapid ascension to greater power, he schools his trusted aide, Ensign Eli Vanto, in the arts of combat and leadership, and the secrets of claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he ahs much to learn in the arena of politics, where the ruthless administrator Arhinda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.

           

“All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empire’s grip on the galaxy─and his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy.”

Review

Thrawn is a good, fun and often-thrilling novel with interesting characters and their strangely heartwarming or edgy interactions. Zahn shows Thrawn’s steady and unusual rise through Imperial ranks─he gains power by helping those around him, even his enemies (who later may be of use to him) as he, with his Sherlock Holmesian eye for detail and hard-edged charm, moves upward.

Of course, this being Star Wars, there are familiar characters─Palpatine, etc.─as well as starship and blaster battles, Jedi awareness and other franchise elements. This is a good read, one worth checking out. What makes Thrawn stand out from other series novels is how different and interesting its titular character is. Followed by a direct sequel, Star Wars: Thrawn─Alliance.)

Side-note: According to Wikipedia, Thrawn “covers several years between Thrawn’s ‘first encounter’ with the Empire and the events of the third season of the 2014─? animated Disney show Star Wars: Rebels.”

Star Wars: Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn

(pb; 2011)

From the back cover

“The Clone Wars have yet to erupt when the Jedi Master Jorus C’baoth petitions the Senate for support of an ambitious mission: to contact intelligent life and colonize undiscovered worlds beyond the known galaxy. But government bureaucracy threatens to scuttle the expedition before it can even start─until Master C’baoth foils a murderous conspiracy plot, winning him the political capital he needs to set in motion the dream of Outbound Flight.

“Or so it would seem. The evil Sith Lord Darth Sidious has his own interests in the Outbound Flight. Yet even he is not the mission’s most dangerous challenge. Once under way, the starship crosses paths with the forces of the alien Chiss Ascendancy and the brilliant mastermind known as ‘Thrawn.’ Thus what begins as a peaceful Jedi mission is violently transformed into an all-out war for survival.”

Review

Outbound is good, fun read. It has solid, steady character and plot build-up, lots of starship battles, and personal and political scheming, elements that flavor, structure and set up future Star Wars tales. Of course, there’s Jedi action as well. This is worth reading, maybe worth owning for a few bucks.

Side-note: Outbound is set five years after the 2001 film Star Wars: Episode I ─The Phantom Menace.

Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . . Volume Five by various writers and artists

(pb; early 1980s, 2012: Collects issues #86─107, “the final twenty-two US-published issues of Marvel Comics’ Star Wars series)

From the back cover

“All your favorite Star Wars characters─Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewie, the droids, and others─are bringing peace to the recently liberated galaxy after Return of the Jedi. Even without the oppressive Empire, the young Republic is finding that there are still troubles to confront, and battles to be won!

“Collected here are issues #86 through #107, the final twenty-two US-published issues of Marvel Comics’ Star Wars series from the 1980s.”

Overall review

This last stretch of original Star Wars comics is uneven in quality. Many of the issues sport a familiar, singular plot structure: An alliance character goes on a diplomatic/rescue mission, is betrayed another trusted character, and encounters Imperial troops. The writers try to wring out as many variations of this plotline as they can, but it is clear they are running dry, creatively speaking. I sympathize with them, it must have been difficult trying to maintain fresh action-oriented tension after the fuzzy warmth that is Return of the Jedi.

There are other problem as well. The writing shows some of the characters─Luke and Leia especially─to be petulant, in a distinctly adolescent way. With all these characters have gone through, surely they have matured beyond such behavior? Not according to these writers.

Also, the artwork runs from barely tolerable to godawful.

That said, a few of the issues were fun, well-written and light, and there was an admirable mix of diverse alien types. I especially like Plif, a hoojib.

Bottom line: Is Volume 5 worth reading? Only if you are a die-hard, completist Star Wars fan. If you decide to read it, borrow it from the library before buying it, unless it is really, really cheap.

Story arcs/issue #s

“The Alderaan Factor” [#86]: While embarking on a diplomatic mission to the desert planet Yinchor, Leia is betrayed, meets a fellow survivor from her home world, and tangles with Imperials, led by the nasty Governor Wessel.

“Still Active All These Years” [#87]: Rik, Chihdo and Dani accidentally turn on a doomsday device on Shawken, impelling Luke, Plif and Kiro to shut it down.

“Figurehead” [#88]: On an unfamiliar planet (Herdessa), diplomats Leia and Mon Mothma (“leader of the Alliance of Free Planets”) discover Herdessa’s heinous secret─it is a slave-based economy. When some of the slaves revolt, Leia tangles with Lumiya, a cyborg security/battle droid who used to work in the service of the Empire.

“I’ll See You in the Throne Room!” [#89]: Luke aids an anti-Imperial revolution on Solay (“brilliant planet of ten suns!”). While doing so, he falls in lust with a flighty young woman (Mary) and learns an unexpected lesson about people, and what they are willing to do to achieve their goals.

This issue is one of my least favorite entries in this collection. Skywalker comes off as a rock-dumb boy who has never seen a pretty face. Usually my irritation with his character is limited to groaning at his sometimes-condescending attitude toward others.

“The Choice!” [#90]: Luke returns to Endor with Kiro─wounded  in issue #87─as well as Rik, Chihdo, Dani and the hoojib Plif. There, along with other Alliance of Free Planets members, wrestle with the problems of forging an interplanetary body.

“Wookie World” [#91]: Chewbacca’s homecoming on planet Kazhyyyk is a bitter and violent one: he, Han and Lando discover that it─recently freed from Imperial occupation─has fallen prey to brutal slavers, led by Knife (a Nagai) who hold Chewie’s family hostage. (His family: Mala, his wife; Lumpy, his son.)

This issue features the first appearance of corpse-pale slave trader Knife, a Nagai.

“The Dream” [#92]: This is one of the more sexist, at-times soap operatic issues in this anthology.

Luke and the gang try to help Prince Denin [from the planet Naldar] restore his capitol, occupied by the Imperials─and a Jedi Knight named Flint, last seen in the “King-Sized Annual #3” issue. Not only that, Luke is plagued by nightmares reminiscent of those he experienced in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back.

“Catspaw” [#93]: Leia, Han and Luke try to solve the mystery of who is killing the feline-biped aliens of Cantros Seven, a capitol city in a distant part of the galaxy.

“Small Wars” [#94]: When an Ewok’s jealousy sparks an armed conflict between the Ewoks and the Lahsbee, Leia and the gang try to defuse it─unaware there is a Hiromi plot behind it. (The Hiromi are tall, cricket-like aliens.)

This is an especially fun, silly issue.

“No Zeltrons” [#95]: Han, Leia, Admiral Ackbar and some Zeltron male assistants visit Kabray, a planet, to woo more possible allies. Once there, they find that the Nagai─slave traders─have dominated Kabray.

Meanwhile, Luke, Kiro and Dani head to planet Kinooine, in search of a scouting party who have not checked in at their appointed time. Luke also battles a sword-mistress, Lumiya, who bears a long-burning hatred toward him.

This is one of the better issues: it has a lot of effective humor; its storytelling balances tone, character and storytelling in an admirable way, with a cliff-hanger finish.

“Duel with a Dark Lady!” [#96]: Luke crosses his light saber with Lumiya’s electric whip, is imprisoned by her and Den Siva, is rescued by Kiro, and battles Lumiya─whose true identity is revealed, someone familiar to Luke.

“Escape” [#97]: On Kinooine, Luke and Kiro, with Lumiya as their prisoner, try to elude Imperial and Nagai soldiers, and rescue Dani from Den Siva. (Lumiya, in the last issue, revealed that she used to be called Shira Elan Colla Brie, last seen in issue #63, “The Mind Spider”).

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Alliance of Free Planets decide to go to war with the Nagai, after the latter race’s slaver activities are exposed.

“Supply and Demand” [#98]: Han is sent out to escort a princess and a child from Vandhelm, a planet where another secret Imperial battalion is holed up. This issue has a warm, fuzzy feel.

“Touch of the Goddess” [#99]: Luke mourns Kiro, who is presumed dead. Han, Chewie, Lando and Luke revisit old─perhaps dangerous─”associates” in order to retrieve two statues, seen in earlier issues. Han shows how ruthless he can be.

“First Strike” [#100]: The Alliance of Free Planets has its first official battle with the Nagai. The Alliance is aided by Fenn Shysa (former friend of Boba Fett), The Nagai are supported by Maccabree Warriors, seemingly indestructible robots.

Also: Han discovers a dark truth about his mentor and friend, Bey.

“Far, Far Away” [#101]: Han, after having a serious argument with Leia, goes on a mission to help another royal family on another distant planet.

“School Spirit!” [#102]: Lando and Luke return to Iskalon to tell Kiro’s people about his passing, and find out he is alive─and that the Nagai are stalking and killing his people.

“Tai” [#103]: Leia and her Zeltron assistants take a Nagai prisoner, with unexpected results. Tragic ending to this one.

“Nagai and Dolls” [#104]: Den Siva and some of his soldiers invade a fancy dinner on planet Zeltros, where Han, Leia and others are at. Luke and Plif are taken prisoner by stumble-about Hiromi hit-insects. One of the lighter, more humorous issues.

“The Party’s Over” [#105]: Tofs─green-skinned burly aliens in pirate garb─take Luke, Plif and his former captors (Hiromis) prisoner. Luke, Plif and the Hiromis fight the Tofs.

In another part of the castle, the rest of the gang, along with the Zeltrons, deal with Den Siva and his race-mixed troops, as well as the Tofs. This issue, along with the next one, is also humorous.

“My Hiromi” [#106]: Luke and his new friends, the Hiromi, assault a Tof ship in Zeltros orbit─and rescue Leia’s male Zeltron attachés.

“All Together Now” [#107]: The Alliance work with a motley group of Nagai (Knife, Den Siva), as well as Fenn Shysa, Dani, Bey (Knife’s half-Corellian brother and Han’s mentor), Zeltrons and others. They attack a Star Destroyer commandeered by the Tof leadership. This is the final, optimistic-as-Star-Wars-gets issue of the original series.

Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . . Volume 4 by various artists and writers

(pb; 2011: graphic novel. Collects Star Wars issues #68─85, the King-Sized Annual #3 and the original four-issue adaptation of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi from the Marvel Comics Star Wars series from the 1980s)

From the back cover

“In this volume alone, there are nearly 500 pages of classic Star Wars adventures! Luke Skywalker and his rebel friends battle the oppressive Empire in stories set shortly before and after the galaxy’s restoration to a New Republic in Return of the Jedi. This volume collects Marvel Comics Star Wars #68─85, as well as the original four-issue adaptation of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.”

Overall review

 This eighteen-issue edition collects issues #68─85, King-Sized Annual #3 and the original four-issue adaptation of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, which were originally published in the early 1980s.

Vol. 4 is a fun, action-packed collection. Again, many of the stories are standard science fiction stories that could be applied to any series, but then the same could be said about the original Star Wars films. The artwork, again, varies from decent to god-awful, but between nostalgia and the general fun tone of the work, this volume is a worthwhile read for fans like myself. Followed by Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . . Volume 5.

Story arcs/issue #s: 

“The Search Begins” [#68]: Leia, Threepio and R2-D2 seek out Denga, one of the bounty hunters who hunted Han Solo in Empire Strikes Back) on Mandalore, a distant planet. While there, they meet Fenn Shysa, an acquaintance of Boba Fett’s, who wears armor similar to Fett’s.

“Death in the City of Bone!” [#69]: Leia, R2-D2, Threepio and Fenn Shysa take on a Mandalorian slave colony army.

“The Stenax Shuffle” [#70]: En route to the plaent Stenos, Luke and Chewie to tell Lando about the last time he, Han, Leia and the droids were there (prior to the events of Empire). Luke and Chewie also mention how they looked for an ancient artifact, one that may win the Rebels new allies. (This issue fetures the first appearance of Rik Duel, Dani and Chihdo, Han’s acquaintances and fellow mercenaries.)

“Return to Stenos” [#71]: On Stenos, Luke and Lando are recognized, leading to a violent run of luck, mostly bad, as well as encounters with Bossk and IG-88 (Boba Fett’s bounty hunter partners in Empire).

“Fool’s Bounty” [#72]: Luke and Lando, caught by IG-88 and Bossk, fight for their freedom ─ with help from unexpected, multiple friends and acquaintances.

“Lahsbane” [#73]: While attempting to recover the ship tapes of a downed Rebel pilot (Tay Vanis) our heroes encounter silly ─ later hostile ─ aliens (Lashsbees) and an Imperial patrol, also looking the tapes.

“The Iskalon Effect” [#74] ─ “Artoo-Detoo to the Rescue!” [#76]: On Iskalon ─ a peaceful planet of gilled, water-loving aliens ─ hope, sorrow, treachery and milestone tragedies play out.

“Chanteuse of the Stars” [#77]: Back at the Rebel base on Arbra, an unexpected hologram of pre-Empire Han impels Luke and Leia ─ the latter still fervidly missing Han ─ to a mixed-alien ball that is sometimes screwball, sometimes terrifying. This is an especially fun, light issue.

“Hoth Stuff” [#78]: Luke and Leia search a transport ship for Wedge Antilles, Luke’s longtime friend and Rebel pilot. They find a hologram made by the still-missing Antilles, whose fate appears to be grim.

“The Apprentice” [King-Sized Annual #3]: On the planet Belderone, two young friends (Barney and Flint) are caught between the Empire and the Rebellion, setting them on their possibly-divergent paths.

“The Big Con” [#79]: Lando and Chewie try to trick a gang of thieves into helping them find Han ─ and discover the thieves already know. (This knowledge paves the way for the certain events in Return of the Jedi.)

“Ellie” [#80]: Luke and Leia discover the probable location of Tay Vanis, the missing Rebel, and his Bothan tape. (Both were first mentioned in issue #73.) Their seeming victory does not come without a high cost, however.

“Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” [#1─4 of the “four-issue limited series”]: This miniseries recounts the events of the 1983 film.

“Jawas of Doom” [#81]: Leia and Han go to Tatooine to retrieve money han had stashed away. They encounter trouble in the form of bellicose Jawas, legal red tape and Boba Fett, who ─ amazingly ─ survived his descent into the sarlaac (a beast with a long, torturous digestive cycle).

“Diplomacy” [#82]: Luke and a Plif (a hoojib, first mention in issue #55), fly to Iskalon ─ whose inhabitants’ serene society was destroyed in issue #74─76. Luke and Plif’s mission: to invite the Iskalions to join an interplanetary council. While there, Luke and Plif discover Dani, Rik Duel and Chihdo (last seen together in issue #72), as well as Kiro and Mone, Iskalions with notably different worldviews.

“Sweetheart Contract” [#83]: On planet Dragheda, Lando gets caught between royal intrigue and explosive revolution.

“Seoul Searching” [#84]: Han Solo and Chewie find and seek valuable crystals in a legendary city long thought destroyed. Of course, they encounter Imperial forces there,  also hoping to find the crystal to use as a devastating telepathic weapon.

“The Hero” [#85]: On planet Keyorin, “the Hunter’s World”, Lando, Han and Chewie get tangled in a conflict between multiple criminal parties, two of whom are Bossk and IG-88. Also: one of Lando’s on-going jokes ─ identifying himself as one of his enemies ─ lands him in a difficult situation.

Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . . Volume 3 by various artists and writers

(pb; 2011: graphic novel. Collects Star Wars issues #50--67 and King-Sized Annual #2. These stories take place between The Empire Strikes Back [1980] and Return of the Jedi [1983].)

From the back cover

"From 1977 to 1986, Marvel Comics produced monthly 'Star Wars' comics. This was when the continuity for that galaxy far, far away was still brand-new, when almost anything could happen-- and often did."ar,
far
away was stil
Overall review

Volume 3 is a fun, action-packed read with the occasional plot-awkwardness that marred the previous volume. This time out, though, there are less discrepancies with now-established canon. Again, many of the stories are standard science fiction stories that could be applied to any series, but then the same could be said about Star Wars. The artwork, again, varies from decent to god-awful, but between nostalgia and the general fun tone of the work, this volume is a worthwhile read for fans like myself. Followed by Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . .Volume 4.


Story arcs

“The Crimson Forever” [#50]: A deadly plague sweeps across the galaxy, Luke numbering among its barely-alive victims. His friends seek a cure for it. Domina Tagge, last seen in issue #37, makes an appearance.


“Resurrection of Evil” [#51] ─ “To Take the Tarkin” [#52]: The Rebels face a new Imperial super-weapon, as dangerous as the Death Star was. Meanwhile, Vader fends off a coup among his men.


“The Last Gift from Alderaan” [#53] ─ “Starfire Rising” [#54]: Cheesy and melodramatic characters and events highlight this “meh”-writerly tale about Leia, sword-wielding people on Shiva IV (a backwater planet), the Empire and a black hole.


“Plif!” [#55]: Chewie, Leia, Artoo and See-Threepio scout out a planet (Arbra) as a possible new base for the Alliance and get to know the smart and fierce wildlife, one member of it named Plif.


“Coffin in the Clouds” [#56]: Lando Calrissian returns to the Cloud City. While there, he faces a killer robot, Imperial troops, treachery and possible allies.


“Sundown!” [#58] ─ “Bazarre” [#59]: While Leia, Artoo and See-Threepio try to rig a force field around a sun-circling Rebel fleet, Luke, Chewie and Lando deal with a sneaky black marketer (Ferret) in order to secure more ships for the Alliance.


“Shira’s Story” [#60]: Shira Brie, the hot-shot Rebel pilot and Luke’s friend, returns to her Empire-devastated homeworld with the Jedi apprentice. Once they arrive, they ─ of course ─ encounter hostility in the form of Gundarks, a war-loving race. (Brie originally appeared in issue #56.)


“Screams in the Void” [#61] ─ “The Mind Spider” [#63]: When Luke makes what appears to be a tragic error about Shira Brie, he is shocked to discover that the truth may or may not be worse than he thought.


“Serphidian Eyes” [#64]: On a medieval alien world (Serphidia, in the Belial system), Luke tries to recruit new allies by negotiating with their Imperialistic, corrupt leader.


“Golbraith Never Forgets!” [#65]: When the Rebels realize that a crystalline record of their activities was left at an old base (Golbraith), they race there to erase it ─ only to find that an Imperial military attachment has beat them to the site.


“Water Bandits!” [#66]: Luke, accidentally abandoned by his Rebel friends after the events of the previous issue, helps a water farmer (Darial Anglethorn) fight off thieves and odd alien creatures.


“Shadeshine!” [King-Sized Annual #2]: Lando and Luke, pursued by stormtroopers on Ventooine, are told a tale about Han Solo via a recording made by Solo years before.


“The Darker” [#67]: On Arbra, planet of the new Rebel base, See-Threepio, Artoo, Chewie and some hoojib (including Plif) discover and combat a negative-energy creature seeking to escape its force shield prison.

Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . . Volume 2 by various artists and writers

(pb; 2010: graphic novel. Collects Star Wars issues #28--49 and King-Sized Annual #1)

From the back cover

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."Farm boy Luke Skywalker dreamed of going to the stars, only to get more than he ever hoped for when he joined an old Jedi to rescue a princess, aided a galactic rebellion, and singlehandedly destroyed the deadliest super-weapon ever devised. But Luke's adventures in the film Star Wars: A New Hope were just the beginning. From 1977 to 1986, Marvel comics published monthly adventures in comics form, keeping alive the excitement and fun of Star Wars for a whole generation as they waited for the next chapter in the film series.

"Collected here are issues #28 to #49, and the Giant Size Annual #1."


Overall review

This twenty-two-issue edition collects issues #28─19 and King-Sized Annual #1, which were originally published in the late 1970s and early 1980s. A lot of these stories took place between A New Hope (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980). They also include the comic book version of the latter film, as well as between-film stories, with additional bad guys and good guys. 

This is a fun, sometimes plot-awkward read, as Luke and Leia’s sibling relationship was not yet known, Jabba the Hut’s appearance and character is different (he is now thin) and other Star Wars themes and elements were not yet established. Many of the stories are standard science fiction stories that could be applied to any series, but then the same could be said about Star Wars. The artwork varies from decent to god-awful, but between nostalgia and the general fun tone of the work, this volume is a worthwhile read for fans like myself. Followed by Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago. . .Volume 3.


Story arcs

“What Ever Happened to Jabba the Hut?” [#28]: Han Solo and Chewbacca battle with some of Hut’s bounty hunters on Orleon, an “obscure planet” filled with acid-blooded stonemites.

“Dark Encounter” [#29]: On Centares, a planet ruined by industrial waste, Dark Vader and Valance ─ a cyborg bounty hunter ─ race and fight each other in order to capture a Rebel Alliance deserter (Tyler Lucian).

“A Princess Alone!” [#30]: Leia Organa sneaks onto the Empire-run factory planet, Metalorn, on a secret mission. While doing so, she tangles with Baron Orman Tagge, last seen in issue #25.

“The Long Hunt” [King-Size Annual #1]: On the planet Tirahnn, Luke and Leia offend the haughty Majestrix of Skye and her beastly Catuman Warriors. They, along with Han Solo, Chewbacca and their old friend [Katya] also fend off an attacking smoke demon. This is one of the my favorite issues in this series, it is one of the better-illustrated works as well.

“Return to Tatooine!” [#31] ─ “Saber Clash! “ [#33]: Luke does that. He encounters an old acquaintance, a hick named Fixer ─ as well as Baron Orman Tagge and his scientist brother (Silas) and a lot of stormtroopers. Han Solo, See-Threepio and Artoo get caught up in the action, also.

“Thunder in the Stars!” [#34]: Luke tries to save his Rebel friends from the Omega Frost, created by Silas Tagge, a device that freezes ships in space.

“Dark Lord’s Gambit” [#35] ─ “In Mortal Combat!” [#37]: Seeking new recruits for the Rebellion, Luke and the gang visit the fourth moon of Yavin, where the flirtatious Sister Domina, Priestess in the Order of the Sacred Circle, holds sway. Complications arise when her family history is revealed and Darth Vader shows up.

“Riders in the Void” [#38]: Luke and Leia find themselves stuck in an icky, hallucinogenic alternate reality. This is an especially fun issue.

“The Empire Strikes Back” [#39] ─ “Duel a Dark Lord!” [#44]: These issues are the comic book adaptation of the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back.

“Death Probe” [#45]: Artoo and Luke battle an Imperial death probe, which is tearing their ship apart, and the Star Destroyer it contacts.

“The Dreams of Cody Sunn-Childe!”: Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian crash land on an unfamiliar planet and meet legendary Rebel heroes (Cody Sunn-Childe and others) ─ who have sworn off violence. When Imperial trackers find them, the tale takes a tragic turn.


“Droid World!” [#47]: Artoo and See-Threepio try to stay alive on a space station where hostile droids hunt them.

“The Third Law” [#48]: Leia, See-Threepio and Artoo fend off assassination attempt ─ guided by Darth Vader ─ on a neutral-ground banking planet (“Aargau. . . third planet of the Zug system”). There is a lot of potent and imaginative writing in this issue.

“The Last Jedi!” [#49]: A rescue signal brings Luke and Leia to an out-of-the-way planet, where they cross paths with an Empire-deposed prince (Prince Denid of Velmor) and Jedidiah, a legendary Jedi Knight ─ as well as an Imperial attaché, Traal, who wants to kill Denid.

Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster

(pb; 1978)

From the back cover

"Luke Skywalker expected trouble when he volunteered to follow Princess Leia on her mission to the planet Circarpous. But he discovered that hidden on the planet was the Kaiburr crystal, a mysterious gem that would give the one who possessed it such powers over the Force that he would be all but invincible. In the wrong hands, the crystal could be deadly. So Luke had to find this treasure and find it fast."


Review

The first Star Wars spin-off novel, published between films A New Hope (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980), is fun, action-packed and has the science fiction serial feel of its source film. There are minor character and plot inconsistencies with Star Wars sequel ─ it had not that Luke and Leia were siblings, unbeknownst to each other, and, because of that, it was also not known that she had a special connection to the Force (making her a  possible Jedi practitioner). If you can overlook that, this an entertaining and well-written expansion of the franchise, one worth reading.