Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy
A trilogy by A.C Crispin

When first I came across the initial installment of this trilogy, I was somewhat skeptical. I had read my share of Star Wars novels before, and thus seriously doubted anyone could write a character-based book while maintaining the integrity of said character. Here was an entire trilogy under way, written by an author who had previously contributed only two short stories, and to make matters worse -- was a friend of Kevin J. Anderson's!

For all unfamiliar with the name, the analogy I usually use to describe Kevin J. Anderson is that of Senator Palpatine (who would later become known as the Emperor). A man brought in to contribute to the Star Wars universe and who ended up taking it on his own tangent, along with several of his minions, and causing such extensive damage that only now, many books later, the gaping wounds of his work have been Bacta-treated into barely visible scars. But this is not the matter at hand.

Because, despite my fears, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to add another book to my ever growing collection, and besides -- some future novel might refer to it and then I'd be forced to perform the gymnastic feat of kicking myself repeatedly.

Now to compensate for this long (and longwinded) introduction, I'll start by saying this: These books are good! Instead of an encyclopedic listing of Han Solo's past, A.C. Crispin manages to create adventure after page-turning adventure, while giving insight into the character as never before. She even goes one step further and tackles the problem of giving Chewbacca a more distinct personality and life of his own -- an issue which many before her have avoided like the plague. These books are so well written, in fact, that while refreshing my memory for this review, I found that I couldn't put them down and ended up re-reading the lot.

The books cover Han's life from his early childhood up to the events depicted in Star Wars, including how he met Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, and just what the heck the Kessel Run is anyways. The Paradise Snare tells the tale of how Han breaks his ties and escapes from his childhood employer, a child exploiting con artist named Garris Shrike, and goes off to gain much needed experience as a pilot so he can apply for the Imperial Academy. He finds work on a pilgrim haven named Ylesia, but quickly discovers that all is not as it seems. He meets the love of his life and plans a daring escape that could fulfill all of his dreams, but finds that "Joy, unmixed with sorrow, is suspect."

Then comes The Hutt Gambit. Han, now robbed of his dream but with a new partner in the form of an 8 foot mountain of hair and fangs, goes off to the smuggler's moon of Nal Hutta to make his way as a pilot. He inevitably finds employment with the Hutts and finds himself between a rock and a hard place as they and the Empire go head to head with him in the middle. And then, in Rebel Dawn, with his own ship (the first appearance of the Millennium Falcon), Han makes a name for himself as one of the fastest, most daring smugglers out there. His luck can't last though, as tangled Hutt plots, the Empire cracking down, love, and his sense of justice all lead him towards a course of action that could make or break him. And though we all know what then happens... well, the journey .

Whether you're a hard core Star Wars fan or a casual reader who just wants to read a well-written story without having to immerse yourself in the newly created SW universe, this is the trilogy for you. The story lines are well-constructed, and the characters believable and true to the original designs of George Lucas. Or to make a long story short: These books are good!

Re-read Factor: Well as you can tell from my review, I really enjoyed rereading it, so I give it a "high."

Sequel Factor: Because it covers the life of Han up to the movie, a sequel isn't really possible. Actually, A New Hope is the sequel. Hmmm...

Strong Chick Factor: Since the first novel, every Star Wars book has had one strong female character. It's become something of a standard. This trilogy also has one. Although the books are primarily about Han Solo, she gets her share of pages as well and plays a vital role in the Star Wars universe. Naturally.

-- Tal Rosenzweig

Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy, published by Bantam Spectra Publishing, is currently available in paperback.