Star Wars: A New Hope - The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy (Star Wars Enters into a new Universe)

 If you have read some of my reviews of EU Star Wars you will know I like when I see a female author writing in the universe.

   I first saw the new Star Wars EU books back in 2015 in a Walmart in Mohegan Lake NY which I recorded in this POST HERE

   I normally don't buy books until they a 2nd hand or greatly reduced. I simply could not afford to read them otherwise! Most of my book are from Ebay or surprising hauls at Goodwill where someone clearly donated a number of them at once. I did buy paperbacks of Catching Fire and Mockingjay from a store as it was the only way I could get them at the time, I did later acquire hardbacks of both second hand later on because I loved the series so much! I have yet to find the 1st book in hardback... maybe one day when we are no longer in a pandemic, and we can go to stores normally again...

   It was unknown at the time I saw these how the EU would be handled in the new movies and at this point I had read quite a few EUs by then.... So, my plan was to finish the old EU and then start on the new whatever way it went. I started reading the EU back in 2011 (first book I read was the Clone Wars in 2010 which I took to NY with me when I moved) because I wanted Star Wars to continue to live not knowing it was going to be bigger than I have ever seen it in my lifetime very very soon! Star Wars was NOT a thing in 2011... but I got the news in 2012 things were going to change!

   But yes, I was around for the sequels when they came out, but I don't remember it being as big of a hype as these movies became plus finally, we reached a time where it was at last acknowledged there are FEMALE lovers of Star Wars and item were put on the market for them. And as I said in the beginning... having women involved was something I wanted to see because I was a girl fan since I was a child and kept it on the down low because it wasn't looked at as a girl thing.

   There were several women author in the old EU such as writing Tatooine Ghost & The Planet of Twilight  

   But as I said I don't normally buy books new... however I found this one and several others at the Dollar General for $2! Not too long after I found a couple at Dollar Tree, meaning I only paid ONE DOLLAR for them! I'm not sure what that says about the books but glad to get my hands on them to find out!

   Now for thoughts about this particular book.

   It is basically a retelling of A New Hope. Each section focuses on a different character, The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy... It talks of adding new incite to the story, but I just wasn't too excited with the added content. It's a fine retelling but not a great read if you are already very familiar with the story.

The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy
by Alexandra Bracken

  Here's what got me though... the Author's note part that talks about Star Wars has been in much of her life... you learn the author started out with writing fan fiction... now I don't have anything against fan fiction... but when did Disney start hiring fan fiction writers? I mean Fan Fiction is kind of legally questionable... I'm sure many good writers have done Fan Fiction but who actually talks about it in their bio in a legit book??? It's just weird! Anyway...

   This is the first book in a series of 3. I have not gotten my hand on books 2 & 3 nor really motivated to do so. I would read it if I found it cheap somewhere but still... not a must read. If you have a young fan just starting out in reading Star Wars this might be a good start but not so much for a more established fan.

   There are illustration in this book.
They look to be concept art.
As you can see, Leia is a blond here?
... and who is the person walking with Luke and Han?

Star Wars Winter Wonderland

A little season fun with Star Wars....

 

 

 

Splinter of the Mind's Eye

When was the last time a Star Wars novel was $1.95 retail? Yeah... a LONG time ago... 1978 actually. Splinter of the Mind's Eyes was the very first Expanded Universe Novel with the events taking place between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back and actually written before The Empire Strikes Back was released.

My copy, took this in the
car after buying it along
with a copy of Survivor's Quest.

  This book surprised me! I was really expecting a more B-movie quality to it since it was released after just the first move. I was quite wrong! This is a hidden gem! I came across a copy at a local flee market. Not sure if it is still published, mine is an original copy. They either were read a lot or were made of bad quality materials cause pretty much every copy I have seen in paperback are in rough condition. Hardbacks were made but they were published by The Science Fiction Book Club which I call for a boycott on.

  Reading on Wookiepedia I discovered that this book was a back up plan. Written by the same author as A New Hope... wait... who wrote A New Hope?!?! George Lucas? Well, sort of...  First off I would like to note that I think some people are too hard on George Lucas. (Don't get me started..) But there are a number of people to thank for this ongoing space opera. While the original novel of Star Wars was credited by George Lucas he in fact did not write the novel version. That task was given too Alan Dean Foster. I have not read the A New Hope novel but I need to look for a copy to see what he did with that one. By what I am reading online it sounds like Foster made his own major impacts to the Universe.

  So, according to Wookiepedia, Splinter of the Mind's eye was a back up plan should they need a lower budget sequel to A New Hope... I have never heard this little tidbit before! There are a lot of stories out there so I don't know if this truly was so but it's a very interesting story if in fact it is true! But I am seeing this info in various places. Interesting to think had A New Hope not have been a hit this would have been it's sequel...

  The story only features Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia (Why were they always this close to cutting Han out...) on a mission to a planet to persuade them to ally with the Rebellion but instead find themselves stuck on an Imperial outpost mining community. In the end Luke and Leia both have to confront and fight Vader.

  I thought that this book would be wildly ridiculous. At this point it is not known Darth Vader is Luke's father nor that Leia was his sister. But in my opinion it worked much better then I thought it would. It left me wondering if there wasn't a question in the writers minds to have them as siblings even then. While Luke is pinning and crushing over the Princess most of the time she really does not seem to feel the same. She has a bond with him but never goes over to far as to being attracted to him. If you remember Luke finally figures it out in Return of the Jedi on his own after being given quite a few hints. Leia when told, remarks that she sort of always knew...

  This is where I get annoyed at people. So, is it impossible to be attracted to your sibling? Um, not
really. I have heard of siblings (adopted out as children) actually marrying not knowing only to figure it out later after a few kids... so yeah, this CAN happen. People seem to write off that a writer would not go there out of some moral issue! It is made clear Luke does not know Leia is his sister but Leia does since in some way her love for him was different and this book does reflect that.

 And then there is the kiss on Hoth... has it never dawned on anyone that Leia did that not to lead Luke on but to make Han jealous and it had nothing to do with Luke and didn't feel funny kissing him cause she didn't feel that way about him. (just so you know some girls like to make a guy they like a little jealous, just saying, and as an actor I can tell you it's easier to act affectionate with a guy you don't like then with one you do.) A clever little trick between siblings on the unknowing Han who is totally clueless till Return of the Jedi when Leia had to spell it out.

  So above is my reasoning on the sibling thing, but now after saying that I need to show you a little clip that never made it to The Empire Strikes Back...



  Um, yeah. Maybe you should disregard my previous statement... hmmm, LOL... what I said makes since and then you see this....! Let's just be thankful THAT did not make the final cut. Awkward...



Luke crashes on Circarpous IV

  Anyway, there are other interesting moments such as...

• When Luke cuts off Vader's hand. This idea being used in the next 2 movies to both Luke and Vader.
• It seams that Obi Wan "Ben" is almost a part of Luke helping him. Again brings us to when Ben tells him he can not go with him to Cloud City.
• How traumatized Leia was from her torcher under the hands of Darth Vader. I wish this would have made it farther then just this book cause it gives her more emotional depth that I feel Leia lacks.
• There is one scene where Luke and Leia are sitting at a table and to throw some people who came into the room Luke ups and without warning slaps Leia treating her as if she was a slave. It was a bit of a shocking moment...
  
• In the stand off with Vader Luke sees no way out of the situation. He tells Leia who is now fighting Vader with his Lightsaber, to kill him. When hearing this Vader states he will not let her kill Luke because he wants to deal with Luke himself and is consistent with the fact Vader can not really kill Luke nor let him die at another's hand.
• After crashing in the jungle, Luke and Leia are getting some rest, as Leia falls asleep first Luke vows to protect her even if it's from himself. This scene is reused in Spector of the Past between him and Mara.

 There's more interesting moments but really, just find a copy and read it!

Now it is time for me to return to the New Jedi Order...

Specter of the Past

  I thought I would read this book while I was on my yearly trip to Sleepy Hollow New York to work at Horseman's Hollow. I must had read 40 pages before I gave up. I just wasn't into it and couldn't remember hardly a thing I read. I greatly realized that when I went back and reread it!

 It wasn't till I returned that I reread what I had tried to read in NY, I finally made it through the book.

 Specter of the Past is more or less a lead up to the good parts I'm sure are in Visions of the Future. My favorite part in this one was Luke's escape from the pirate's plant. Not a spoiler there... you know he escapes eventually... otherwise well, that would be the end right there.

  Now this is a spoiler if you somehow managed not to hear about it before reading this duology. I try to stay away from spoilers cause I like to get the full impact of a book as I read it but I learned about this one a long time ago, in these next two books Luke and Mara get together. Oh how I've been waiting to get to these and find out how that happens!

 Specter of the Past shows us a universe where the Empire has been pushed back to barely existing. We find Admiral Thrawn's partner Pellaeon now seeing the end of the war has no hope of the Empire turning the tables and making a triumphal turn around and win as things are now and he comes up with a plan to cause the least amount of damage to what they have remaining. Unknown to him someone else is also making plans to end this long drawn out war but with the Empire gaining all. And back on Coruscant what seems to be history is uncovered and causes a political problem no one knows where it will lead.... wait for part 2.


Talon Karrde (portrayed by Zahn, right)
 with Mara Jade
(portrayed by Shannon McRandle)

 Zhan (the author) is considered by many as the best Star Wars Expanded Universe writer by some. His stories are very detailed and intertwined (Thus the reason I say Specter is more of a prelude to Visions) and I found to be one of the few writers that actually surprised me with well planned build ups in the Thrawn Trilogy. While he is good I have to put Barbara Hambly and Matthew Stover in the same league. Each having their own special strengths in their writing. And possible Kathy Tyers the writer of The Truce at Bakura but I have only read one of her books.
Barbara Hambly was the writer of Children of the Jedi and Planet of Twilight
Matthew Stover was the writer of Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor and the novelization of Revenge of the Sith among others. 
 

 Check out Mandy Kay on Etsy...

Don't Mess With this Princess

There are some Princesses you don't mess with ;-)
 It seems today was International Women's day. I thought this image of Leia was pretty cool and fitting! Leia was a product of a long fought fight. My mom and my Grandmother were both strong women who didn't believe they have to depend on a man to get them through life. Because of this I also see the world as an individual who doesn't shy away much from something that is labeled for guys just cause I'm a girl!
 I'm glad when I see more women in film making. There aren't many. I have felt repressed in an unspoken level in the past from men involved in film making. I won't name names and I don't hold grudges and lately I have been fully welcomed in working in the field. But the point is, girls have a long way to go in learning to be their own person. To be the princess who can hold her own rather then the one waiting for a man to save her!

Galactic Hair

    Wanted to share my Princess Leia/Pinterest/Jersey City inspired hair do....
  First off, haha, at times I wish I looked a bit more like Mara Jade with red hair... and maybe a die bottle could do the trick but I may still be stuck looking more like Leia (besides the fact I have to be 6+ inches taller.) I did try to pull off Padme' one Halloween and it worked pretty well but I have a friend that looks so much like her it's a little creepy!
  When I watched the movies as a kid I didn't think the two buns were that funny/stupid looking and have through the years did my hair sort of like that, not even trying to. It was after I went out that it was pointed out. I've always had long hair and did all sorts of stuff with it. With as much hair as I have I can do the buns without help from fake hair!
 Lately I've been seeing all kinds of amazing things done with hair on Pinterest. Long hair is BACK! And doing weird things with is isn't as weird as it use to be! Finally people have caught up with me! Hehe...
  Anyway, The rhinestones comb was found in a beauty shop in Jersey City. I was looking for a present for someone and found this and got it for myself! New Jersey and New York City is a great place to find lovely things like this at really good prices. I don't think I paid more the $2 for this! It's a heart, brown rhinestones surrounded by a row of champagne colored rhinestones. Then a spray coming out of it of brown, champagne, and clear. The whole thing in made of metal so it's gonna last a while which is an issue with me. I want my stuff to last and plastic breaks and feels cheep so I'm happy when I find something made of metal!
  This look reminded me of the above illustration of Leia in The Truce of Backura. What I did is I parted my hair on the side and pulled the other side into a braid. A rubberband at the end of the braid. Pulled the braid under and pinned it with the comb into a loop at the top. Pretty simple and stayed there pretty well too. My hair has a way of not wanting to stay pinned up so I was surprised!

 And there you go... Galactic Hair!