Jelena’s Review of Aftermath: Life Debt by Chuck Wendig

Aftermath Life DebtAftermath: Life Debt is the second novel in Chuck Wendig’s post-Return of the Jedi trilogy, following Aftermath and preceding Aftermath: Empire’s End due for publication on January 31st, 2017.

 

Thanks to our friends at Random House, I am able to bring you this early review. But, because most of you haven’t had a chance to read the book yet, the review will be split in two parts. The first one will remain mainly spoiler free, but heed my warning before you venture into the second part.

 

 

When we left our heroes in Aftermath, Norra and Temmin Wexley, Sinjir Rath Velus, Jas Emari, Jom Barell and Mister Bones, they were sent after some Imperial targets at the suggestion of Admiral Ackbar, armed with data holocrons which Temmin stole from a crime lord. At the beginning of this novel, we see them in the thick of the action trying to extract an Imperial from a crime syndicate stronghold. Since they come from diverse backgrounds – a rebel pilot, a teenager, an ex-ISB officer, a bounty hunter, a marine and a murder-bot – there are still tensions and mistrust within the group, but they are growing on each other, some more than others.

 

They are asked by Princess Leia to find her missing husband, Han Solo. Han’s chance for freeing Kashyyyk was a ploy by the Empire, Chewbacca was captured and Han barely escaped. He resigned his commission in the Republic and spent the entire time searching for Chewie. But, the last communication between him and Leia was abruptly interrupted and she hasn’t heard from him since. Our team is ready to roll.

 

Rae Sloane
Rae Sloane

 

On the other side of the war, Rae Sloane has to deal with Fleet Admiral Gallius Rax, a shadowy figure whose files are mostly redacted and who reported directly to Palpatine during the last few years of the Empire. Sloane always believed in the Imperial order, but Rax’s methods and secrecy are starting to make her uncomfortable. In a way, Sloane believes in an idealized image of the Empire (she thinks slavery was never part of her perfect Empire) and cannot get a handle on the man, who is supposed to be her superior. Therefore, she decides to investigate the Fleet Admiral’s past. But, Rax is the master manipulator and his schemes reach much farther than Sloane can imagine.

 

Naturally, these story lines eventually converge with the shocking results.

 

When you start reading the novel, several things pop out at you. For one, Life Debt is a much more streamlined novel than Aftermath. The focus and the purpose are clearer. The other is that you now understand the seeds Wendig planted in the first novel because they start bearing fruit in this one. This also makes the interludes much more interesting because you are beginning to understand the author’s intentions and already imagine how they will pay out in the final novel. Finally, while Wendig does not abandon his style completely, it is clear that he has heard some readers’ complaints. He still writes in third person present tense, but he mostly abandoned short, choppy sentences. Which, I think, is a perfect response to criticism. Hear it, digest it, but don’t completely compromise your own thing. While I, personally, liked Aftermath, I can recognize that Life Debt is a better book. That in itself is a success, especially because the middle book in the trilogy is a tricky thing to write.

 

Story wise, Wendig describes the galaxy not just divided between the Empire and the New Republic, but the galaxy in chaos – with various groups pursuing different goals out of ideology (like Acolytes of the Beyond) or ambition and avarice. It is also a time of self-examination, for both the New Republic and the remnants of the Empire. What is the New Republic, its goal, its ideology? Will it be a protective hand that guards the galaxy or will it break apart before it even began? We can already see the seeds of the future conflict within the New Republic represented here by Leia’s conflict with Mon Mothma. Leia feels the Republic needs to help liberate enslaved planets; Mon Mothma is a politician, thinking about benefits for the young Republic. You know that when the Princess fails to convince, she goes through the wall and drags others with her, willingly or not. The situation is similar within the Empire – with Rae Sloane and Gallius Rax as the main players.

 

Sinjir and Jas by makeramidying
Sinjir and Jas by makeramidying

 

Most importantly, though, Wendig gives us a more intimate book by placing us in the heads of our main characters and showing us their fears, doubts and their growth. Sinjir is still my favorite character, the ‘man without a star’ as Jas puts it. He is still a sarcastic loudmouth and a badass, but he is looking to change and move away from his past self. He managed to break my heart a little in the end. We get a quality time with Jas as well and learn more about her, especially the reason why she is so single minded. And we see a character pulled in two, between who she was (and claims that she wants to be) and who she is becoming. I have to admit that Jom got on my nerves at the beginning of the book, because I dislike holier-than-thou people in books as well as in life. But, the events of this book leave no one unchanged and he grew on me by the end. I’ll say no more about Mister Bones except “singing, dancing murder-bot” (Thank you, Wedge!) and allude to his scene with Han Solo – you will know what I mean when you read it.

 

Norra and Temmin, oh, boy. What to say about these two and not spoil the book? A boy on the cusp of adulthood and a woman who stumbled into being a hero will have some real challenges to face in this novel. Temmin, now nicknamed Snap by Wedge, is training to become a pilot we all know he will become, but at this perfect stage between boy and man other opportunities call out to him as well. Unfortunately, he will have to grow up fast. Norra is continuing to do a good work and worry about her son. She is also trying to go on with her life and, perhaps, find something for herself. But, life has a way of throwing a wrench into your plans. To say more will spoil the book, but look for a scene where Norra shows her strength not by being a badass, but by simply saying “no”.

 

Chewbacca and Han Solo

 

Oh, you wanted to hear about Han Solo? Really? Well, all right.

 

Han is by no means the main character in the book. He is first our group’s assignment and later one of them.

Wendig writes a different Solo, one that is incomplete, one without his right hand man or, better said, Wookiee. It is a Han Solo driven by guilt and unbreakable friendship, prepared to walk through fire to get to his man, ahem, Wookiee. This is, at the same time, the Han Solo that we know and love, with a crazy and gutsy plan in his pocket. In his mind, life debt goes both ways and he will pay it, no matter what. I will say no more, except that Han and Chewbacca managed to make me cry at the end of the novel. Why? What of Kashyyyk? Read the book.

 

In the end, Aftermath: Life Debt is another good brick in the new canon wall. The release of The Force Awakens clearly gave Wendig more freedom to tell his story and spread his wings a little. I enjoyed his description of the situation in the galaxy as well as the action and touches of humor. But, mostly I enjoyed his characters and their development. He made me care and fear for them; they made me angry, sad and made me laugh. And, as all the roads lead to Jakku, he made me wish that Aftermath: Empire’s End was not six months away. Aftermath: Life Debt is highly recommended. Happy reading!

 

 

SPOILER WARNING! SPOILER WARNING! SPOILER WARNING!

 

 

Bones

 

Let’s talk some spoilers. These will be mainly spoilers that influence the sequel trilogy and everything that led to it. I will still not give you major plot points of Life Debt. I will give you some interesting tidbits though.

 

We learn a bit about the future General Hux. For one thing, he is Brendol Hux’s illegitimate son. His first name is Armitage and his father describes him as a “weak-willed boy”, “thin as a slip of paper and just as useless”. With a glowing endorsement like that, is it a wonder that he became a poster boy for Hitler Youth?

Additionally, it seems that Brendol Hux is the only one Gallius Rax thinks of as important for the future of his Empire. From Claudia Gray’s Bloodline, we know that he disappeared after Jakku. Training recruits from birth, anyone?

The Acolytes of the Beyond make a comeback, this time as a well-organized terrorist group. The ‘Vader Lives’ graffiti are their doing. You move up in their ranks when you earn a mask. Sounds familiar, no?

Speaking of Rax, our mysterious Fleet Admiral from the end of the first novel, his story begins (and ends?) on Jakku, when young Galli sneaks onto the ship that carries Palpatine’s adviser Yupe Tashu. Tashu is commanding a group of droids who are building something on the planet. But, the ship is Imperialis, Palpatine’s personal ship we saw in Lando mini-series, and it is Palpatine who discovers him and takes him under his wing. One fact is of note – Galli resists Palpatine’s compulsion. That is telling you a lot about his strength even as a child. Who knows what the Emperor taught him since and until his death.

Put all of the above in the mix – Brandol Hux (and his kid), Acolytes, Tashu (who is freed by Rax’s agent) and Rax himself – and you pretty much get the seeds of the First Order. Because there is no rebuilding of the Empire, we already know how the Battle of Jakku ended.

 

Falcon

 

We get to see some old – big and small – players. Besides Mon Mothma, Ackbar and Wedge, Mas Amedda, Evaan Verlaine (from Leia comic) and Maz Kanata all make an appearance. Oh, and Malakili, the rancor trainer, last seen crying after the death of the rancor Luke killed. He runs into the new lawmaker of Tatooine in familiar Mandalorian armor and gets a job offer. Wendig also presents us with a new kind of droid – a therapy droid named QT-9. Cutie, get it?

 

The author also continues something that we have already seen in the new canon – things are not black and white in the galaxy. Not every Imperial is a monster, though certainly some of them are. And the acts of the Rebellion/New Republic have grave consequences, including the deaths of innocent children. War, in general, inflicts great wounds, some of whom will never heal.

 

Finally, if you had your hopes up that you will see Luke in this book, I am sorry to disappoint you. Except a couple of sentences that can be interpreted as his Force-sending to Leia, there is nothing and my opinion is that we will not see Luke Skywalker until Episode VIII is released.

 

If you have come this far, well done! If you desire more spoilers, you can ask for them in the spoiler thread in The Cantina and I will do my best to answer them.

Aftermath: Life Debt is available now wherever books are sold. Stay tuned to Star Wars News Net for more news and reviews on Star Wars books, comics and more!

 

+ posts

Staff member, comic and book reviewer. Cheers for the Light Side, but would drink with Grand Admirals.

Jelena Bidin (LadyMusashi)

Staff member, comic and book reviewer. Cheers for the Light Side, but would drink with Grand Admirals.

48 thoughts on “Jelena’s Review of Aftermath: Life Debt by Chuck Wendig

  • July 12, 2016 at 11:17 am
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    I needed to read the comments about style. Let’s hope that slight change will be enough to me, if there’s one thing I hate is present tense in a book…

  • July 12, 2016 at 7:10 pm
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    The good…it’s SW
    The bad…it’s Wendig!!! (that’s really bad)
    The ugly…another not soo good new canon book.

    Hoping that Claudia is up to write another SW novel (soon) and that someone will get Zahn off the sidelines and into writing something for us as well!!!

  • July 12, 2016 at 7:43 pm
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    Dang. I was really hoping that Gallius Rax guy was Thrawn…

    • July 12, 2016 at 7:54 pm
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      If the longstanding rumors prove to be true then Thrawn will be coming to REBELS next season. And this weekend there will be a shitload of news about the show at Celebration London, I have to imagine his blue face will be all over the S3 trailer.

      • July 12, 2016 at 7:56 pm
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        Fingers crossed.

        It seems that Chuck Wendig was trolling me, though, with that ending to Aftermath.

      • July 13, 2016 at 1:08 am
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        Hope you’re right! The EU-Wipe was definately the right call by Disney, but I want to see at least a few legends characters be transferred over into new stories.

        • July 13, 2016 at 3:58 pm
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          I wasn’t an EU guy, but I agree with your comment.

  • July 12, 2016 at 8:10 pm
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    I picked up Aftermath about a month ago and ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. Not sure what the hubbub (criticism) is about. Been looking forward to Life Debt since I finished Aftermath. I already like the post-RotJ canon more than I do the Bantam-era post-RotJ Legends material, even if I loved the characters, planets, and species that came out of that era.

    • July 12, 2016 at 8:14 pm
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      I think most of the stories in the post-RotJ EU were crap. There are some real gems like the Thrawn Trilogy and some of the X-Wing novels, etc., but you can tell there was no over-arching plan to the story so it gets a little repetitive and far-fetched, continuity-wise, and the Yuuzhan Vong are just a huge face-palm, IMO. I really like what they’re doing with the new canon, but I also really hope some more of our favorite post-RotJ EU characters make the leap to the new canon. I’m looking at you, Mara Jade and Thrawn. I’m more interested in saving some of the technology and characters and planets and species from the EU than the stories themselves.

      • July 12, 2016 at 10:27 pm
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        Agreed. In the old post-ROTJ EU, it seemed that for every Heir to the Empire there was also a Crystal Star or a Children of the Jedi. For every Mara Jade, there was a Callista or a Gaeriel. Most of the new characters have been a lot better in my opinion as well as the stories themselves. The world building makes a lot more sense and there is definitely a bigger picture in mind. The Legends branding is the best thing they could have done in my opinion. Granted there are a couple of duds like Heir to the Jedi for instance, but overall I think the batting average for the new canon is a lot higher than the old EU. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not chomping at the bit to see some Mara Jade and Thrawn come our way. 🙂

        • July 13, 2016 at 1:46 am
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          Loved Thrawn trilogy, but Mara Jade as ten times the Mary Sue Rey is alleged to be. Thrawn is also a Mary Sue.

          • July 13, 2016 at 5:16 pm
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            Or a “Gary Stew” 🙂

          • July 13, 2016 at 7:09 pm
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            Mitth’raw’nuruStew

          • July 13, 2016 at 11:39 pm
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            Ysalamirisue…

          • July 13, 2016 at 5:56 pm
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            How are either of them Mary Sues? They both die. By that logic, Vader, Luke, Han Solo, Wedge Antilles, and Princess Leia are all Mary Sues.

          • July 13, 2016 at 7:08 pm
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            That’s not what a Mary Sue (and Mara died from another author).

            Both are smarter, more capable than every other character. Thrawn has AMAZING leaps of logic that allow him to guess the plot by looking at art, always able to figure out whatever the heroes or doing.

            Mara Jade somehow got all this training from the Emperor and yet remains untouched by the dark side, to the point where she later lectures Luke about his turning to the dark side. Seems a bit convenient. And she actually finds peace by killing Luuke Skywalker, which is kind of insane and should have caused a turn to the dark side since she was stil obeying the Emperor’s last command.

            I love both of the characters, but as I have gotten older, their flaws are glaring.

          • July 13, 2016 at 10:01 pm
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            I’d argue against Mara being a Mary Sue. She in fact is built up through dialogue as this brilliant assassin, covert operative, but does nothing but fail, and ultimately succumb to the ‘charms’ of our hero. Thrawn…eh, again, he’s a brilliant tactician, he does one thing well, and then goes out like a punk because Zahn is done with him. Not sure he fits the definition of a Mary Sue either. They aren’t well written or developed characters, and I’ve never been a fan of either. Rey on the other hand does nothing but succeed, all the time, at everything.

          • July 14, 2016 at 1:14 am
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            Mara Jade: “I can fly anything.” Same thing is said about Rey.

            Mara can shoot and hold her own in lightsaber combat, all without having touched the dark side. She is portrayed as smarter than almost everyone else, same as Thrawn. They are fine, but Zahn clearly favored them

          • July 14, 2016 at 6:59 pm
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            Problem with Rey she is totally self taught. Mara Jade however was schooled by Sheev himself so it was not just automatic knowledge.

          • July 14, 2016 at 8:48 pm
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            No, you assume she is self-taught. You don’t see every bit of her life before then, do you? Do we see Han say he is trained as a pilot? Or does he just pilot the ship and we accept it?

            Rey says she is a pilot, then shows it. That’s enough. How she learned, you just fill in for yourself (or see in the books that she did flight simulators on Jakku).

          • July 14, 2016 at 9:28 pm
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            The heroes are specifically THERE to hire a pilot and ship – THAT’S his story purpose at that point, so Han doesn’t NEED more explanation for why he can fly – that’s his job. Rey however is a scavenger who has never been off the planet, and who lives in a broken at-at. If you’re suddenly going to start whipping out sophisticated skills like aerial acrobatic maneuvering a freighter, you’re going to have to show your work, and leaving it for some supplementary material to do it for you is just not going to fly for me personally – it’s a lazy way to patch over some weak writing.

          • July 14, 2016 at 10:57 pm
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            Luke simply says he is a pilot and another guy says it about him and then he flies better than any other Rebel pilot.

            We never even get a line of dialogue about Leia, but there she is in Empire, flying the Falcon!

            Give me a break. Honestly, there are plenty of flaws in TFA, but this is pedantic BS.

          • July 14, 2016 at 11:00 pm
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            Rey learned from flight sims. She says she knows how and then she does it. Good enough for me and most.

          • July 14, 2016 at 9:07 pm
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            It’s been a while obviously since I read the HttE trilogy – the impression she made on me was one of being sold as this amazing weapon, but who ended up completely useless every time it actually mattered. Thrawn – yes, I agree, the tactical perfection via art-class was horseshit, but that alone doesn’t make him a Mary Sue.

          • July 14, 2016 at 11:00 pm
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            We came to different conclusions, then. It happens!

          • July 15, 2016 at 12:38 am
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            Or at least the long-term impression it made on us, obviously. The biggest pisser for me, as I said, was Zahn so patently obviously setting Mara up to fall for Luke (I hate him…but I LOVE him!!!!!). I certainly wouldn’t be described as a SJW, but I remember thinking “Oh, for fuck’s sake, she’s not allowed to exist as a character without having to be a love interest for somebody?”

          • July 15, 2016 at 2:56 am
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            I read that series probably 20 times since 1991, haha. It was so great. I think she was a good foil for Luke and the love interest thing didn’t bother me b/c she went off and did her own thing for a while, too.

          • July 14, 2016 at 9:11 pm
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            Actually, it’s Poe who can ‘fly anything’. Rey just knows the Falcon in particular better than Han and Chewie because…reasons.

          • July 14, 2016 at 10:59 pm
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            “Actually” lol.

            Mara Jade says that. It’s a direct quote. People say that Rey is shown flying without any hint she can fly, but she says she can fly and then does it. Same with Mara. That was my point. It should have been clearer.

            Rey knows the Falcon because, as shown in the movie, she has been tinkering on it for years.

          • July 15, 2016 at 12:39 am
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            It’s not shown in the movie though, is it? Her entire comment on the Falcon, as I recall, is that it’s garbage and hasn’t flown in years. I understand there’s some reference to her tinkering with it in the novel, but I’m ruling that inadmissible – no propping up the film with extras that are sold separately.

          • July 15, 2016 at 2:55 am
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            There is no reference to Leia knowing how to fly, but she does. We take Luke’s word for it. It’s such a non-factor.

          • July 14, 2016 at 1:45 am
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            Then Luke Skywalker is the original Mary Sue of Star Wars, yes? Where were his short comings in the first film?

            They weren’t explored until the second.

          • July 14, 2016 at 9:04 pm
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            Are you kidding me? In SW, Luke is a whiny kid, he gets both literally and verbally slapped down by Han, botches a half-assed rescue plan (the lot of them only being saved by Leia’s quick thinking), and only survives the DS attack because literally every other pilot is shot down giving him cover, and then is saved by Han just as Vader is about to roast him. In ESB he is impetuous, judgmental, fails Yoda’s critical test, runs off half-cocked into a situation he doesn’t understand, gets his ass handed to him by Vader, and is saved by Leia – who, incidentally, forces Lando to risk their lives to go back to get Luke after they had gotten away scott free. In Jedi he has learned from his failings, and is completing his character arc, so is much more considered and capable. I mean, you HAVE seen these films before, right?

          • July 16, 2016 at 12:30 am
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            You’re making things up. Luke is the hero of the story in Episode IV, and everything he does, he does right. Let’s list who loves Luke in Episode IV upon eye contact, shall we?

            R2-D2
            C-3P0
            Obi-Wan Kenobi
            Princess Leia

            He’s also a big hit among the Rebels on Yavin before he runs even fights with them.

            And by the end of the film, he and Han are Bros. In fact, I think..Wait, doesn’t Han offer Luke a job prior to the battle of Yavin? Just like he did Rey? Hm.

            He didn’t botch the rescue plan, Han and Chewie did. Han was a crankypants much like yourself to the entire cast, and he was the same with Rey until they arrive on Takodana. Then he, oh shit. He offers her a job!

            Luke blows up the Death Star. The original Star Wars super weapon, pretty much by himself. He’s the one who effectively rescues Leia from the Death Star while Han and Chewie are running Stormtroopers in circles.

            And yes, CrankyMcCan’tMakeAnArgumentToSaveMyLifeBecauseI’maTroll, Luke has ALL sorts of flaws post Episode IV.

            Did you read the entirety of my two sentence reply to your stupid “Mary Sue” post? Fail, sir. As you always will.

    • July 13, 2016 at 1:06 pm
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      It was the first new Canon story with promised “lead up to the force Awakens” and besides a few hints, we hardly got anything that we wanted.

      I liked Aftermath though, and I’m pretty sure I’ll Enjoy Life Debt even more post TFA.

    • July 14, 2016 at 6:55 pm
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      Aftermath’s big problem was that there was very little on the Main characters in the Movies. It instead told a story of a regular flier and her family then created one too. Most people wanted their hero’s story not this one. Once the disappointment is over Wendig did make a viable story set in that Star Wars Universe.

  • July 12, 2016 at 11:36 pm
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    I didn’t really have a problem with the present tense in Aftermath it was the constant tortured similes — sometimes 3 or 4 to a page — that drove me crazy. Also the story itself was a dull nothing. It really felt rushed.

    From everything I’ve heard this is a lot better. I will probably give it a shot.

  • July 13, 2016 at 12:00 am
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    F books!
    Just kidding, but in all seriousness Star Wars is such a visual medium, I’d rather experience it through Movies, comics, cartoons, and video games.

    I’d rather be shown what a planet or character looks like instead of a half a page describing it.

    • July 13, 2016 at 1:56 am
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      Still, star wars books are pretty successful…

  • July 13, 2016 at 1:05 am
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    Bummed that the mysterious Grand Admiral wasn’t thrawn. Hopefully Mr. Rax turns out to be a great character in his own right.

  • July 13, 2016 at 7:09 pm
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    I downloaded the Kindle sample and it’s already about 500 times better than the previous book. I’ll buy & read it.

  • July 13, 2016 at 7:17 pm
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    Just finished it, really enjoyed it. May not be the best of the new Canon books but it really left me anticipating Empire’s End. Also i love Rae Sloane, such a great villain. And the lingering question is Rax someone with a small but significant role in Force Awakens(no, not Luke)

  • July 13, 2016 at 10:42 pm
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    The Rax revelation is the most interesting thing but the little adventure with Han was the main event. Its hard not to see some elements of other villains back stories influenced his background. They easily could fake people out though with Rax in not being the big S. I’m convinced its him. But others are clinging to the tomb rumor or he was imprisoned on Jakku. Which doesn’t make any sense. A Dark Side being/God is awakened years after the Empire falls. And he suddenly knows the story of the Chosen One, Vader, and Palpatine? He saw the rise and fall of the Republic so suddenly he awakens after the Empire has fallen without seeing the actual rise and fall of the Republic?

    Most of these people clinging to the rumors have written outlandish things online in the past few months anyway so I’m sure anything out there is going drive their imaginations wild without coercion.

    • July 15, 2016 at 4:08 pm
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      Hey man, can you help me? The prologue and epilogue is set 30 years
      prior to the book. Life Debt according to wookieepedia is set 36 years
      after Phantom Menace. So why the hell Galli at the ending meets with
      decrepitic Emperor Palpatine if 30 years before Life Debt there weren’t
      even the Clone Wars?

    • July 15, 2016 at 4:10 pm
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      BTW I just read the Prologue and epilogue of this book

  • July 13, 2016 at 10:46 pm
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    I enjoyed Aftermath and although I’m only a quarter way through, I’m really liking Life Debt. The one bit of Wendig I really don’t dig is the current TFA marvel adaptation. I swear if you hadn’t seen the film, it would make zero sense. It’s the worse Marvel Star Wars title yet – including Chewbacca!

  • July 14, 2016 at 6:49 pm
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    I really enjoyed Life Debt. It was a great staging for the Battle of Jakku. The liberation of Kashyyyk was the highlight of the book’s middle. Overall Grand Admiral Rae Sloan is a major part of our viewing of the Empire she controls in name only.

  • July 15, 2016 at 5:51 am
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    Ok, can somebody help me? The prologue and epilogue is set 30 years prior to the book. Life Debt according to wookieepedia is set 36 years after Phantom Menace. So why the hell Galli at the ending meets with decrepitic Emperor Palpatine if 30 years before Life Debt there weren’t even the Clone Wars?

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