2018 Books & More

It’s the end of December and time for me to reflect on the Star Wars books that I read in 2018 (fourteen this year).

Last Shot by Daniel José Older

Adult Fiction - 2018

“Last Shot” is a book that takes place over 3 timelines. The main timeline takes place sometime after “Return of the Jedi” when Ben Solo is still a toddler. Another timeline features Lando and L3 in the months prior to her death in “Solo”. The final timeline features Han and Chewie in the years after “Solo”. The audio version of this book features 3 narrators, one for each of these timelines. Though not the strongest “Star Wars” book this year, there were some fun characters including an Ewok named Peekpa and a Gungan named Aro.

Most Wanted by Rae Carson
YA Novel - 2018

“Most Wanted” features Han and Qi'ra prior to the events of the film “Solo”. They are both scrumrats living with Lady Proxima’s White Worms and they are both competing for “head” of the orphans or whatever. During their competition they fall into a world of troubles and they also fall… in love. This novel is a stronger story than “Last Shot” and is good for anyone who wants more Qi’ra adventures.

Lando’s Luck by Justina Ireland

Middle-Grade Fiction - 2018

Justina Ireland gained fame this year for her Zombie apocalypse book “Dread Nation”. Her Lando and L3 book released late this year as part of the “Flight of the Falcon” line. I haven’t actually read this yet, but I did read her Zombie book, which was pretty good.

The Mighty Chewbacca and the Forest of Fear!
by Tom Angleberger

Young Readers Fiction - 2018

Chewbacca and Han are sent on a mission to the planet Ushruu where they meet a young bounty hunter and a cargo droid (who is really K-2SO, rebel spy). This one is written for younger kids, but is a solid novel and quite fun.

The Mindharp of Sharu by L. Niel Smith

Adult Fiction - 1983

This trilogy is from the early days of the Expanded Universe and the novels are a bit weird. The Mindharp was referenced in “Solo”, so I thought I would read the book. “The Mindharp of Sharu” contains more Sci-Fi elements than is usually found in Star Wars including characters shrinking. Though the novel is short, it took me a while to read through, because I am used to Audio books and no audio version of these exist.

The “Thrawn Trilogy” by Timothy Zahn
1991 - 1993

After reading “Thrawn” last summer (Zahn’s entry into the Disney “Star Wars” canon) I thought I would re-read the original “Thrawn Trilogy”. The novels still hold up even though they are no longer canon. They remain some of the highest quality Star Wars novels ever written, and the number of EU characters that came out of these books is staggering. Besides Thrawn we get introduced to Mara Jade, Borsk Fey’lya, Gillad Pellaeon, Jaina and Jacen Solo, Garm Bel Iblis, Tallon Karrde, and Joruus C'baoth. Overall an amazing trilogy, that all fans should revisit.

“Thrawn Alliances” by Timothy Zahn

2018

This novel is both a prequel and a sequel to the 2017 novel “Thrawn”. The first timeline shows interaction between Anakin and Thrawn where the second timeline stars Vader and Thrawn. Padme is also featured and is a stand-out character under the pen of Timothy Zahn. One interesting note is that this novel features planet Batuu which is the setting of “Galaxy’s Edge” the upcoming Star Wars theme area of both Disneyland and Diseny World.

“Razor’s Edge” by Martha Wells

2013

Martha Wells has gained fame this year for her “Murderbot” novella series, so I thought I’d check out her Star Wars novel. The Empire and Rebellion Trilogy takes place between “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back” and each focuses on one of the Key Three (Leia, Han and Luke). Leia’s story may be the strongest of the three. “Razor’s Edge” features Leia facing down the crew of the Aegis, a group of pirates made up of Alderaanian refugees.

“Honor Among Thieves” by James S. A. Corey

2014

“Han Solo goes on a mission with Chewbacca”… was the plot of half-a-dozen Star Wars books I’ve read this year, which is one reason why I can’t remember much about the book “Honor Among Thieves” even though I read it only a couple of months ago. There is a new character named Scarlet Hark, but the character is a kind of cookie-cutter version of the all the other girlfriends that Han has dated over the years. Oh well….

“Heir to the Jedi” by Kevin Hearne

2015

This book was planned to be the third installment of the “Empire and Rebellion Trilogy”, however Lucasfilm was sold to Disney before it was published and the novel was reworked so it could fit into the new Disney Canon. “Heir to the Jedi” features Luke Skywalker between “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back” trying to come to grips with his new Jedi powers and advance his journey to become a Jedi without aid from the recently deceased Obi-Wan Kenobi. It’s good stuff.

“Leia, Princess of Alderaan” by Claudia Gray

YA Novel – 2017

Claudia Gray has become a super star in regards to Star Wars novels. Her first 2015 YA book “Lost Stars” is a fan favorite and her 2016 Novel “Bloodline” tells of Leia’s time in the New Republic Senate and the public learning the identity of her biological father. “Leia, Princess of Alderann”, however, features a much younger Leia training to become a senator. In the book she meets, Amilyn Holdo, who becomes a lifelong friend. The book is another strong entry into the growing library of Claudia Gary’s Star Wars books. Gray returns to Star Wars in 2019 with her Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan book “Master & Apprentice”.

“The Legends of Luke Skywalker” by Ken Liu
Young Readers Fiction – 2017

This book is a collection of tales featuring the mysterious Jedi known as Luke Skywalker. Many are set between “Return of the Jedi” and “The Force Awakens” a time period still mostly unexplored in regards to Luke’s character. One story recounts how Luke recovered a compass from Palpatine’s observatory on Pillio. After reading a draft of this tale, the Lucasfilm story group wanted to include the compass in “The Last Jedi”, so the prop department quickly 3D printed the compass overnight, so that it could be included in the film.

“Moving Target” by Cecil Castellucci and Jason Fry

Young Readers Fiction - 2015

“Moving Target” was one of three novels I read this year centered on Leia. Though short, it notably featured the Sullustan Nien Nunb and a Dressillian (prune face) named Lokmarcha. The book was a part of the “Journey to the Force Awakens” line along with other Young Readers books such as “The Weapon of a Jedi”, “Smugglers Run”, and “Before the Awakening”.