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clarks_dad's review against another edition
3.0
A fun, short read. I've seen this categorized as YA fiction...if that's true, it's one of the better written books in the genre that I've read in a while. Then again, it is Rucka. Rucka manages to capture the atmosphere of Star Wars perfectly in this short tale. Smuggler's Run takes place between episodes IV and V—a clever bit of backstory to the "Bounty hunter we ran in to on Ord Mantell..." problems Han mentions in Empire Strikes Back. (And yes, I know the story doesn't take place on Ord Mantell and this is not the incident to which Han referred, but it does elaborate a bit upon the growing troubles his debt to Jabba are to cause him in the future.)
Han and Chewie agree to do Leia one last favor before striking out to settle their debts with Jabba. A key member of the rebellion has had his cover blown and finds himself in a shrinking Imperial net. Han and Chewie are to locate the spy and extract him from under the Imperials' noses.
Smuggler's Run doesn't do much to recharacterize or update the new Disney canon in any significant way. If you've seen Episode VII, there's some clever groundwork laid for the money troubles Han has when we see him again 30 years after Endor, but that's about it. Like most of the works to come out of Disney's EU factory, this one feels more like elaborate marketing and opportunism than story or character development. At least this time it was competently written. Still, rather forgettable. Read only if you need a quick Star Wars fix while waiting for Rogue One or the next saga film.
Han and Chewie agree to do Leia one last favor before striking out to settle their debts with Jabba. A key member of the rebellion has had his cover blown and finds himself in a shrinking Imperial net. Han and Chewie are to locate the spy and extract him from under the Imperials' noses.
Smuggler's Run doesn't do much to recharacterize or update the new Disney canon in any significant way. If you've seen Episode VII, there's some clever groundwork laid for the money troubles Han has when we see him again 30 years after Endor, but that's about it. Like most of the works to come out of Disney's EU factory, this one feels more like elaborate marketing and opportunism than story or character development. At least this time it was competently written. Still, rather forgettable. Read only if you need a quick Star Wars fix while waiting for Rogue One or the next saga film.
surfmonkey01's review against another edition
4.0
A simple read, as befits its children's novel status, but a fun one. Han and Chewie were perfectly in character, and this novel had so much more of the "fun" feel of classic Star Wars. A few interesting hints as to things we migh see in The Force Awakens are just icing on the proverbial cake.
coenobi's review against another edition
3.0
Finished this one over the weekend. Fun little story! Nothing special at all, but it's a nice, quick read. Greg Rucka really knows Han, though! That really impressed me. His way of speaking and mannerisms were perfect in this book.
sqeeker's review against another edition
3.0
- The hardest reviews to write are the ones where you don't have anything to say about the book. This is one of those books.
- It was a fun Han and Chewy adventure. That is all.
- I did like that old man Han is telling the tale and reminiscing of his younger rebel days.
- It was a fun Han and Chewy adventure. That is all.
- I did like that old man Han is telling the tale and reminiscing of his younger rebel days.
fisk42's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't going to try to read all of the Journey to the Force Awakens releases, and then it just kinda happened because I couldn't contain myself.
Despite the YA label and slim size this was a pretty enjoyable and satisfactory read. Similar to Slow Bullets which was released earlier this year, it was refreshing to read a full story without any bloat.
The framing story takes place somewhere between ROTJ and TFA. It features an older Han Solo telling a few young bucks about the good old days, which happen to have occurred between ANH and ESB. This book was enjoyable because, like many of the other books in the new canon, it is easy to imagine it happening in the Star Wars universe. Han's lines flow like Harrison Ford and his and Chewie's hi-jinks feel totally in character.
The only annoying thing about this book is having to wait until December to see what hints are contained within it.
Despite the YA label and slim size this was a pretty enjoyable and satisfactory read. Similar to Slow Bullets which was released earlier this year, it was refreshing to read a full story without any bloat.
The framing story takes place somewhere between ROTJ and TFA. It features an older Han Solo telling a few young bucks about the good old days, which happen to have occurred between ANH and ESB. This book was enjoyable because, like many of the other books in the new canon, it is easy to imagine it happening in the Star Wars universe. Han's lines flow like Harrison Ford and his and Chewie's hi-jinks feel totally in character.
The only annoying thing about this book is having to wait until December to see what hints are contained within it.
poppyparkes's review against another edition
3.0
This was a entertaining and well written quick read. Simple, engaging and plot driven, fully encapsulating the voices of Han and Chewie.
deathtrooper's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Alecia Beck is amazing the rest was okayish I guess. Not the best Han Solo and Chewbacca story out there, but for a cool ISB agent it is worth it.
The german translation is not really good tho, but it was free on Kindle unlimited
The german translation is not really good tho, but it was free on Kindle unlimited
neilrcoulter's review against another edition
3.0
As Star Wars books go, this one wasn't bad. It's very "lite," very inconsequential, but not terrible. Two comments:
1. When reading about how bad the Millennium Falcon looks, I wondered: how is it supposed to look? Is it supposed to be shiny chrome? battleship grey? walnut-paneled with brass fittings? I wish Episode 7 had shown us a Falcon that Han had meticulously restored to perfection. (I wish a lot of things about Episode 7 . . . )
2. The gimmick of referencing Chewbacca's medal from the end of Episode 4 has grown old. Time to find a new tiny detail to exploit.
1. When reading about how bad the Millennium Falcon looks, I wondered: how is it supposed to look? Is it supposed to be shiny chrome? battleship grey? walnut-paneled with brass fittings? I wish Episode 7 had shown us a Falcon that Han had meticulously restored to perfection. (I wish a lot of things about Episode 7 . . . )
2. The gimmick of referencing Chewbacca's medal from the end of Episode 4 has grown old. Time to find a new tiny detail to exploit.
chillvamp's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very interesting way of bridging the gap between episodes IV and V and showing how Han slowly goes from an "I stick my neck out for nobody" Rick type to someone who'll risk a horrible fate to keep a friend from the same.
His ploys & deceptions to stay just one step ahead throughout the whole story were tons of fun to read about, but I was especially struck by the quieter moments, for example when he is talking to Chewbacca about trust, how he's sure that all his friends know he'd risk everything for them and how they trust him implicitly, and then he realizes it's actually Chewie they trust, he's the moral backbone and insurance for them both. It was a very powerful pivotal moment for the character, and the beautiful thing is that even as Han is growing and coming to terms with some daunting thoughts he's still the bullshitting, reckless rogue we all love.
The framing narrative was especially fitting for this story, how it all ties together at the end, and the bouncer Curtis asking about the story's villain (which is what I was also curious about at the end) and how Han simply replies, "Tell you next time."
WHAT A TREAT. I definitely enjoyed this a lot, all my Han Solo feels forever :')
His ploys & deceptions to stay just one step ahead throughout the whole story were tons of fun to read about, but I was especially struck by the quieter moments, for example when he is talking to Chewbacca about trust, how he's sure that all his friends know he'd risk everything for them and how they trust him implicitly, and then he realizes it's actually Chewie they trust, he's the moral backbone and insurance for them both. It was a very powerful pivotal moment for the character, and the beautiful thing is that even as Han is growing and coming to terms with some daunting thoughts he's still the bullshitting, reckless rogue we all love.
The framing narrative was especially fitting for this story, how it all ties together at the end, and the bouncer Curtis asking about the story's villain (which is what I was also curious about at the end) and how Han simply replies, "Tell you next time."
WHAT A TREAT. I definitely enjoyed this a lot, all my Han Solo feels forever :')
draven_deathcrush's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence