The State of the Post-Palpatine Star Wars Galaxy (Part 2 of 2)

Death StarIn Part 1 of this article, we discussed the novels Lost Stars and Aftermath, the Shattered Empire comic series, and the Uprising  mobile game and what these stories tell us about the state of the galaxy following the death of Emperor Palpatine.

 

In Part 2, we uncover some of the major details and plot points from the three junior novels in the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens publishing project – as well as which characters to look for in the upcoming film and how these stories may affect the greater story moving forward.

 

Some non-major spoilers for The Force Awakens will follow. Some of this post will also include some speculation.

 

[The information and speculation in this article is provided by Pomojema (PJ) and Hard Case (HC)]

 

The Weapon of the Jedi

Book Description:

 

In this story, set between Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Luke finds himself drawn to a mysterious planet, where he must use the Force to save a young girl—and survive in a dangerous duel against a strange new villain.

 

Characters to look for in The Force Awakens:

 

Jessika Pava (possibly Jessica Henwick? – PJ)

Farnay

Narra

Sarco Plank (possibly Miltos Yerelemou? – PJ)

 

Story Points That May Relate to The Force Awakens:

 

The prologue of the story introduces us to a Resistance pilot by the name of Jessika Pava.  The book has her encounter C-3PO, and he begins to tell her a story about Luke Skywalker, who is clearly esteemed as a legend in Pava’s eyes.

 

At the beginning of the story, Luke feels the Force calling him to the planet Devaron (possibly Skellig Michael? – PJ) where he discovers a Jedi temple.  The temple of Eedit, as it is called, first appeared in season 3 of the Clone Wars series and may possibly have significance in TFA.  The empire has placed defenses around the temple to discourage would be tresspassers, and Luke hires a guide, Sarco Plank – who definitely has a role in the upcoming film – to help him find a secret entrance.

 

This book features a heavy emphasis on lightsaber training and features Luke’s first canonical duel with the weapon.  He defeats Plank in combat which may have implications for a feud between the alien and the Jedi in TFA.

 

There is also a frieze in the temple depicting a Jedi battle (possibly with the Knights of Ren? – PJ).

 

For the full SWNN review of Weapon of a Jedi by Pomojema Click Here.

 

Smuggler's Run

Book Description:

 

In this story, set between Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Han and Chewie must fly the Millennium Falcon on a top-secret mission for the Rebellion, while evading ruthless bounty hunters and a relentless Imperial agent.

 

Characters to look for in The Force Awakens:

 

Caluan Ematt (possibly Frank Stone’s character? – PJ)

Alecia Beck

Delia Leighton (red-headed human woman, Captain and owner of the Miss Fortune ship/cantina)

Curtis (male Shistavanen, Delia’s partner, copilot, and bouncer)

 

Story Points That May Relate to The Force Awakens

 

The prologue of the book is set in a cantina that is actually on board a starship known as the Miss Fortune. It is possible that the ship (now called the Serendipity) and it’s captain, Delia Leighton may appear in the film (perhaps this ship is the pub on Takodana where we meet Maz Kanata? – PJ)

 

We are introduced to a band of mercenaries that would love to get their hands on the famed Millennium Falcon.

 

Han and Chewie set out on a mission to rescue a rebel named Caluan Ematt, who is the leader and last surviving member of a group called the Shrikes.  The group’s mission is to scout out locations for a possible Rebel base.

 

The duo race against the clock to beat the Imperials to Ematt’s location.  Commander Alecia Beck of the Imperial Security Bureau, a cold and ruthless woman with a cybernetic eye, is also after their target.  It is likely that Ematt will appear in the film.  Commander Beck may also come in to play as her future appearance in some fashion is teased at the end of the book.

 

For the full SWNN review of Smuggler’s Run by Pomojema Click Here.

  

Moving Target

 Book Description:

 

In this story, set between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Princess Leia must lead a ragtag group of rebels on a treacherous decoy mission against the evil Galactic Empire.

 

Characters to look for in The Force Awakens:

 

PZ-4CO (“Peazy”)

Caluan Ematt

Kidi Aleri (female Cerean and rebel communications specialist)

Aurelant (male Draedan and rebel contact)

 

Story Points That May Relate to The Force Awakens:

 

Ematt appears in a rebel meeting towards the beginning of the book as well as in the epilogue further implying his presence in TFA.

 

The story focuses on Leia and a small group of Rebels (including Sullustan pilot Nien Nunb) on a recruiting mission in the outer rim. Unknown to the crew, the mission is a ruse, meant to draw Imperial attention away from the actual fleet gathering at Sullust to attack the incomplete Death Star II. Nien Nunb has been confirmed to appear in TFA and his friendship with Leia, briefly touched on in the Princess Leia comic series, is fleshed out a little more in the novel.

 

Leia and her team steal the Imperial shuttle Tyderium which is later used to smuggle the strike team to the forest moon of Endor in ROTJ (I know this is technically not relevant to TFA, but was too noteworthy not to mention – HC).

 

Leia has some knowledge about the Force, but she is most likely still untrained; she senses that she will be in the center of the action in the coming battles.

 

The galaxy is on the brink of a full-scale war right before the events of The Force Awakens (the New Republic does not seem to be involved in the First Order/Resistance skirmishes now, but it may in the future – PJ).

 

Leia recently sent Poe Dameron to Jakku.

 

In the epilogue of the book, Leia is referred to as “General Organa”.  She is having a discussion with Ematt about Poe Dameron, for whom she shows great concern.  The way she worries over Dameron suggests a motherly relationship to the character.  Poe is also confirmed by Ematt to be the best pilot in the Resistance.

 

For the full SWNN review of Moving Target by Pomojema Click Here.

 

What are your thoughts on these stories? Share your comments below.

 

+ posts

Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

Jordan Pate (Hard Case)

Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

26 thoughts on “The State of the Post-Palpatine Star Wars Galaxy (Part 2 of 2)

  • November 14, 2015 at 7:15 pm
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    Awesome! Thanks for the recap guys. I would love to read every SW-related story but its hard to me to fit it in with everything going on so I love it when you guys share all these little Easter-eggs that may tie in to TFA. This 2-part article is my favorite of the site so far

  • November 14, 2015 at 7:17 pm
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    Dameron’s mother has already been identified as not being Leia. I don’t get the comment in the last paragraph of the article.

    • November 14, 2015 at 7:24 pm
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      A motherly relationship does not have to refer to someone’s literal mother.

      • November 14, 2015 at 7:34 pm
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        I know, but the author seemed to imply it literally.

        • November 15, 2015 at 12:30 am
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          yeah that’s it!

        • November 15, 2015 at 3:22 pm
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          I do not see the author implying that at all. The word “motherly” by definition ensures that.

      • November 15, 2015 at 12:36 am
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        That’s the rumor.

        Kylo & Poe are step-brothers. Kylo becomes envious of Leia’s affection for Poe. Dark Side ensues.

  • November 14, 2015 at 8:13 pm
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    a ton of evidence suggests that the new republic is in the inner core worlds of the galaxy…also their is some evidence to suggest that there could be a connection between poe dameron and the republic

    • November 15, 2015 at 1:38 pm
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      Yeah I hope so. This would assuage fan concerns that nothing changed after ROTJ — the two sides are still at war 30 years later, which is rather depressing. Here’s what I would like to think, based on what has leaked so far:

      The Rebellion eventually won, and restored The Republic and Senate on Coruscant. The Resistance came together in the Outer Rim planets which are being taken over by the First Order, who are Neo-Imperialists. The Republic is funding and providing military support to the Resistance. Leia and Poe are with the Republic and acting as military advisers to the Resistance.

      • November 16, 2015 at 8:04 am
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        I hope your right! I want to get at least some big implication in this new film about how our heroes actions saved people. If the status quo is too similar it will feel like our heroes didn’t make that big of a difference. I want to feel like Luke and the rebels really did WIN, and now the next generation must protect their newfound freedom. i know its Star WARS but I hope there was at least a short peace.

  • November 14, 2015 at 8:23 pm
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    “Leia and her team steal the Imperial shuttle Tyderium which is later used to smuggle the strike team to the forest moon of Endor in ROTJ (I know this is technically not relevant to TFA, but was too noteworthy not to mention – HC).”
    This really confuses the hell out of me. When they announce the stolen shuttle in ROTJ, Leia say’s ” I wonder who they found to pull that off?” like she had no idea about the shuttle and why it was stolen…she is surprised that Han was promoted to General and is leading the team….If she knew about the shuttle …why is she so surprised why it was stolen? How could she not have known? lol

    • November 14, 2015 at 8:42 pm
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      Actually, you might be remembering the quote in the wrong context. Can’t find a convenient video of the scene, but according to a website listing quotes it goes:

      General Madine: We have stolen a small Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship, and using a secret Imperial code, a strike team will land on the moon and deactivate the shield generator.
      C-3PO: Sounds dangerous.
      Princess Leia: [to Han] I wonder who they found to pull that off.
      General Madine: General Solo, is your strike team assembled?

      So it’d be reasonable to assume she was part of the mission and had at least some knowledge as to what the reason for stealing it was. Her “pull that off” comment really seems like she’s just inquiring about who will actually lead the highly risky mission to the moon of Endor.

      • November 14, 2015 at 10:15 pm
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        good point

      • November 16, 2015 at 2:59 pm
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        John Crichton is correct. Her question was regarding the mission ahead, not the one where it was stolen. In Moving Target, the shuttle was stolen out of necessity for escape purposes. The theft of the shuttle wasn’t part of the original mission parameters. She just happened to steal the shuttle, which put it in Rebel hands in ROTJ. She did not steal it for a reason other than to escape a Star Destroyer, and therefore her being surprised at it’s new found use should not come as a shock nor does it interfere with the film continuity.

    • November 15, 2015 at 9:28 am
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      Exactly why I prefer the old EU’s explanation of the theft of the shuttle. Everything in this canon is needlessly convoluted.

  • November 15, 2015 at 1:15 am
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    I had hopes for new EU. But I am dissapointed. It’s like they are afraid to overshine the movies and are not daring to do something mindblowing. And the idea of the story team of Lucasfilm behind the scenes sounded so cool. Everything so far is tad boring. I’ll stick to the ”Legends” Shadows of The Empire.

    • November 15, 2015 at 3:21 am
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      So far, the new novel and comic continuity hasn’t been that great. But I thought most of the old EU was pretty bad so I’m really no worse off than I was before. That being said, I think we’ll likely see some more interesting stuff come out after TFA premiers.

      • November 16, 2015 at 12:36 am
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        Old EU was 40/60 – mostly bleh.
        New is about the same, but its closer to 50/50.

        • November 16, 2015 at 1:01 am
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          That’s being generous. I really only liked about 10% of the old EU. I liked Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy and a few of his other contributions. Some of the “Tales of” stuff was okay. The rest of it was really bad, in my opinion. As far as the Dark Horse stuff, I didn’t really care for any of it aside from the odd issue here and there. I’m not feeling much better about the new continuity. I actually liked Dark Disciple, but I couldn’t stand Aftermath. The other stuff was okay but forgettable.

    • November 15, 2015 at 9:27 am
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      Don’t worry they are rehashing the Jedi Academy Trilogy/Dark Empire II and calling it TFA.

    • November 15, 2015 at 1:57 am
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      Almost no new footage there really.

      • November 15, 2015 at 1:59 am
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        The castle burning was quite awesome!

          • November 16, 2015 at 12:35 am
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            Amazeballs.

            I love how they just recut already seen footage but just giving a little tinsy weensy bit more. AHHHHHH can’t fraking wait

      • November 15, 2015 at 3:30 am
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        THAT LIGHTSABER SHOT! Man… I love it!

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