SCI-FI REVIEW: STAR WARS: Rise of Skywalker - Rae Carson

Release Date: 29/10/20

Publisher:  Del Rey

SYNOPSIS:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Witness the epic final chapter of the Skywalker saga with the official novelization of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, including expanded scenes and additional content not seen in theaters! 

 

The Resistance has been reborn. But although Rey and her fellow heroes are back in the fight, the war against the First Order, now led by Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, is far from over. Just as the spark of rebellion is rekindling, a mysterious signal broadcasts throughout the galaxy, with a chilling message: Emperor Palpatine, long thought defeated and destroyed, is back from the dead. Has the ancient Lord of the Sith truly returned? Kylo Ren cuts a swath of destruction across the stars, determined to discover any challenge to his control over the First Order and his destiny to rule over the galaxy--and crush it completely. Meanwhile, to discover the truth, 

 

Rey, Finn, Poe, and the Resistance must embark on the most perilous adventure they have ever faced. Featuring all-new scenes adapted from never-before-seen material, deleted scenes, and input from the filmmakers, the story that began in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and continued in Star Wars: The Last Jedi reaches an astounding conclusion. 

 

REVIEW:

A well written adaptation of the movie with a few additional details that didn't make it into the film due to streamlining. The prose are sharp, the descriptives on point and for me as a reader really took me into the world in a way that the film never did. 

 

Throw into the mix a deeper understanding of the characters and the chance to enjoy the thrills and spills in excellent combat sequences all round make the book, in my humble opinion way better than the movie. All in this is a great addition to any star wars collection and for me, demonstrates why Rae Carson is an author that is high on my tbr list.

SCI-FI REVIEW: Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising - Timonthy Zahn

Release Date: 01/09/20

Publisher: Century

SYNOPSIS:

Beyond the edge of the galaxy lies the Unknown Regions: chaotic, uncharted, and near impassable, with hidden secrets and dangers in equal measure. And nestled within its 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 leaves 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 the aid of his comrade Admiral Ar’alani, answers begin to fall into place. 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 Ascendancy is only just beginning. 

 

 

REVIEW:

Thawn is one of those characters I just love to spend time with. I love the way he wove his way into the star wars universe and feels like he's never been apart from it, with the way he's carved his own career path within the Empire as well as his early introduction. 

 

Its well written, has great characters throughout and whilst its obvious because its a look back on his life that he's in no real danger of dying its the supporting cast members that you really get to feel for as you really don't know whats going to happen. As expected with Zahn, they're very well fleshed out, feel great in the way that this is presented and when added to solid prose as well as dialogue really does make this latest reveal about the Admiral's past a joy to behold. Great stuff.

SCI-FI REVIEW: Star Wars - Legends: Thrawn: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command - Timothy Zahn

Release Date: 27/08/20

Publisher: Century  

SYNOPSIS:

It’s five years after the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star, defeated Darth Vader and the Emperor, and drove the remnants of the old Imperial Starfleet to a distant corner of the galaxy. Princess Leia and Han Solo are married and expecting Jedi twins. And Luke Skywalker has become the first in a long-awaited line of Jedi Knights. 

 

But thousands of light-years away, the last of the Emperor’s warlords, Grand Admiral Thrawn, has taken command of the shattered Imperial fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the New Republic. For this dark warrior has made two vital discoveries that could destroy everything the courageous men and women of the Rebel Alliance fought so hard to build. 

 

Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years! 

 

REVIEW:

An original appearance with Thrawn and a character that for me is equally as fascinating as the rebel alliance main cast. Set a few years after the fall of the emperor and written in the early 90's, this book became cannon prior to some rewriting due to the change of ownership. As you'd expect with Zahn, it has a good understanding of pace, a wonderful series of twists and turns and of course characters that you really want to spend time around. A real joy to sit down with and return to brighter days as well as reintroduce myself when facing the latest offering in the next few days. Magic 

 

 

Release Date: 27/08/20

Publisher: Century  

SYNOPSIS:

The dying Empire’s most cunning and ruthless warlord, Grand Admiral Thrawn, has taken command of the remnants of the Imperial fleet and launched a massive campaign aimed at the New Republic’s destruction. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Lando Calrissian race against time to find proof of treason inside the highest Republic Council—only to discover instead a ghostly fleet of warships that could bring doom to their friends and victory to their enemies.

Yet most dangerous of all is a new Dark Jedi, risen from the ashes of a shrouded past, consumed by bitterness, and scheming to corrupt Luke Skywalker to the dark side.

Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

REVIEW:

More from Thrawn and the myriad of associated characters as the reader is once again whisked away into a universe far far away. As with the original novel in this series, the reader has solid character development, some solid twists and turns that add extra flavour and help colour how the vacumn is being filled left by Vader's and the Emperor's death and for me, really does give the reader a series that is great fun to spend time around.

Whilst it might be an unpopular choice I would love to spend more time within the imperial sector rather than with the rebels, purely as its so interesting to get to see a counter argument to the rebellion. 

 Add to the mix, dialogue that moves the plot along and a spartan descriptive style that allows you to get to the meat of the story rather than some which have extra fluff added to increase the size.  

Release Date: 27/08/20

Publisher: Century  

SYNOPSIS:

The embattled Republic reels from the attacks of Grand Admiral Thrawn, who has marshaled the remnants of the Imperial forces and driven the Rebels back with an abominable technology recovered from the Emperor’s secret fortress: clone soldiers. As Thrawn mounts his final siege, Han Solo and Chewbacca struggle to form a coalition of smugglers for a last-ditch attack, while Princess Leia holds the Alliance together and prepares for the birth of her Jedi twins.

The Republic has one last hope—sending a small force into the very stronghold that houses Thrawn’s terrible cloning machines. There a final danger awaits, as the Dark Jedi C’baoth directs the battle against the Rebels and builds his strength to finish what he already started: the destruction of Luke Skywalker.

Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years! 

 

REVIEW:

The final part in this series and one that has been building for an epic conclusion as events that will come to shape the future of the universe are played out on a galactic chess board. Well crafted, topped off with characters on all sides that you care about really does leave you in doubt about the conclusion as you reader really want to see either side lose.

As usual with Zahn, great dialogue, top notch pose and characters that just step out of the pages into the readers imagination in such a way that this series is a firm fan favourite and a great way to spend quite a few hours during this difficult time.

BOOK NEWS: Pre-Order Bonus - Penguin Random House

Hail Mighty Readers,
Our friends at Penguin Random House have let us know about this fab offer for those who pre-order Timothy Zahn's forthcoming book (out the 26th July) Star Wars: Thrawn: Alliances through this special site:

Pre-Order Page

With it you'll not only get this galactic release but also a Pin of Thrawns Rank to add to your own special collection.  We cannot wait to add this to our normal everyday civvies to let the people know that we too have achieved rank in the Imperial Navy.   The only question is, can you do the same.  I mean just look at how cool this pin is:

So rank up an join today, remember:

All the best,


Gareth and Lady Eleanor

SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW: Star Wars: A Han and Lando Novel: Last Shot - Daniel Jose Older

RELEASE DATE:   19/04/18
PUBLISHER:  Century

SYNOPSIS:
*INCLUDES EXCLUSIVE COLLECTABLE DOUBLE-SIDED COVER FEATURING HAN SOLO AND LANDO CALRISSION!

Even the fastest ship in the galaxy can’t outrun the past. . . .

THEN:

It’s one of the galaxy’s most dangerous secrets: a mysterious transmitter with unknown power and a reward for its discovery that most could only dream of claiming. But those who fly the Millennium Falconthroughout its infamous history aren’t your average scoundrels. Not once, but twice, the crew of the Falcon tries to claim the elusive prize―first, Lando Calrissian and the droid L3-37 at the dawn of an ambitious career, and later, a young and hungry Han Solo with the help of his copilot, Chewbacca. But the device’s creator, the volatile criminal Fyzen Gor, isn’t interested in sharing. And Gor knows how to hold a grudge. . . .

NOW:

It’s been ten years since the rebel hero Han Solo last encountered Fyzen Gor. After mounting a successful rebellion against the Empire and starting a family with an Alderaanian princess, Han hasn’t given much thought to the mad inventor. But when Lando turns up at Han’s doorstep in the middle of the night, it’s Fyzen’s assassins that he’s running from. And without Han’s help, Lando―and all life on Cloud City―will be annihilated.

With the assistance of a young hotshot pilot, an Ewok slicer prodigy, the woman who might be the love of Lando’s life, and Han’s best and furriest friend, the two most notorious scoundrels in the New Republic are working together once more. They’ll have to journey across the stars―and into the past―before Gor uses the device’s power to reshape the galaxy.


REVIEW:
To be honest with you, having seen the trailers for Solo, I wasn't really holding out much hope for the book (in my opinion they should have cast Anthony Ingruber as he sounds and looks very similar to Ford) and sadly for me, this was born out by the tale I was presented with.

It was sadly predictable, the story slow and whilst built as a Han and Lando novel, it was more about Lando with Han being a secondary two dimensional cast member which grated on me quite a lot.  All round sadly disappointing and a title I won't be returning to at any time soon.  A massive shame as it had so much potential to be something outstanding.

SCIENCE FICTION FILM TO BOOK ADAPTATION: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Expanded Edition - Jason Fry

RELEASE DATE:  08/05/18

PUBLISHER:  Century


SYNOPSIS:

Written with input from director Rian Johnson, this official adaptation of Star Wars: The Last Jedi expands on the film to include scenes from alternate versions of the script and other additional content.

From the ashes of the Empire has arisen another threat to the galaxy’s freedom: the ruthless First Order. Fortunately, new heroes have emerged to take up arms―and perhaps lay down their lives―for the cause. Rey, the orphan strong in the Force; Finn, the ex-stormtrooper who stands against his former masters; and Poe Dameron, the fearless X-wing pilot, have been drawn together to fight side-by-side with General Leia Organa and the Resistance. But the First Order’s Supreme Leader Snoke and his merciless enforcer Kylo Ren are adversaries with superior numbers and devastating fire power at their command. Against this enemy, the champions of light may finally be facing their extinction. Their only hope rests with a lost legend: Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.

Where the action of Star Wars: The Force Awakens ended, Star Wars: The Last Jedi begins, as the battle between light and dark climbs to astonishing new heights.

Featuring an 8-page color photo insert of thrilling images from the hit movie

 

REVIEW:
The latest book in the Star Wars' franchise and whilst I've still not seen the film, I have to say that for a film to book translation, its OK.  I like the way that Jason has delved more into the characters minds bringing them further development and hopefully giving answers as to why certain choices were made as well as furthering the story.

OK, against a lot of the other Star Wars titles its not the best, but when you're so heavily constricted in having to follow movie script and dialogue you really need to look at them differently rather than comparing them. 


All round I did  enjoy the book but Kylo is really starting to grate on me with his itchy feet.  For godsake man, you killed your father, there's no real turning back after that.