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Star Wars Disney Canon Novel
A New Dawn
Ever since the Jedi were marked for death and forced to flee Coruscant, Kanan Jarrus has devoted himself to staying alive rather than serving the Force. Wandering the galaxy alone, from one anonymous job to another, he avoids trouble--especially with the Empire--at all costs. So when he discovers a deadly conflict brewing between ruthless Imperial forces and desperate revolutionaries, he's not about to get caught in the crossfire. Then the brutal death of a friend at the Empire's hands forces the ex-Jedi to make a choice: bow down to fear, or stand up and fight.
But Jarrus won't be fighting alone. Unlikely allies, including a bomb-throwing radical, a former Imperial surveillance agent, a vengeful security officer, and the mysterious Hera Syndulla--an agent provocateur with motives of her own--team up with Jarrus to challenge the Empire. As a crisis of apocalyptic proportions unfolds on the planet Gorse, they must stand together against one of the Emperor's most fearsome enforcers--for the sake of a world and its people.
But Jarrus won't be fighting alone. Unlikely allies, including a bomb-throwing radical, a former Imperial surveillance agent, a vengeful security officer, and the mysterious Hera Syndulla--an agent provocateur with motives of her own--team up with Jarrus to challenge the Empire. As a crisis of apocalyptic proportions unfolds on the planet Gorse, they must stand together against one of the Emperor's most fearsome enforcers--for the sake of a world and its people.
367 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2014
898 people are currently reading
11096 people want to read
About the author
John Jackson Miller
344 books986 followersNew York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in science fiction. His Star Trek novels include the Discovery – Die Standing, the acclaimed novel Discovery — The Enterprise War, the Prey trilogy, and Takedown. His Star Wars novels include A New Dawn, Kenobi, Knight Errant, Lost Tribe of the Sith, and the Knights of the Old Republic comics, available from Marvel as Legends: The Old Republic.
He’s written comics and prose for Halo, Iron Man, Simpsons, Conan, Planet of the Apes, and Mass Effect, with recent graphic novels for Battlestar Galactica, Dumbo, and The Lion King. Production notes on all his works can be found at his fiction site.
He is also a comics industry historian, specializing in studying comic-book circulation as presented on his website, Comichron.. He also coauthored the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.
He’s written comics and prose for Halo, Iron Man, Simpsons, Conan, Planet of the Apes, and Mass Effect, with recent graphic novels for Battlestar Galactica, Dumbo, and The Lion King. Production notes on all his works can be found at his fiction site.
He is also a comics industry historian, specializing in studying comic-book circulation as presented on his website, Comichron.. He also coauthored the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,636 reviews
January 6, 2016
A long time ago in a galaxy, far far away...
...a new expanded universe is born...again!
TURMOIL HAS ENGULFED THE EXPANDED UNIVERSE OF STAR WARS
For those who didn't know, let me explain that this novel, A New Dawn, is the first official book printed by Lucasfilms now under the control of the Disney Emp...Er, I mean... Company.
The official statement is that you don't need to have read any previous novel, only having watched the 6 films, to be able to understand what you read in the following novels to be printed from now on. (Now, this sounds good. Now. But, let's see how it will be in 5 years from now when, yet again, you would need to read several novels to be able to engage any new printing material).
In my case, I don't care if the novels are canonical or not. I just want to read good stories. So, while I'll do my best to read the novels of this "new" expanded universe, which it would pick my interest. I still want to read several novels previously published since I want to read those stories, and the canon can go to the dark side of Mustafar.
Anyway, the canonicity of any novel against the mighty force of films and TV, have been always a blurry area in any franchise, and now Star Wars, one of the pioneers in the tendency of having "expanded universes" is joining to the club of questionable canonicity in its printed material.
I guess that by now, any novel set in the time previous (and between) the prequel trilogy can be still called canonical, but any book set after the events of The Return of the Jedi will have to be considered like a parallel universe or something like that depending of what would happen in Episode VII and following movies.
THAT BOY IS OUR LAST HOPE // NO. THERE IS ANOTHER
And now commenting about the novel at hand, yes, when you thought that you knew the heroes of the rebellion... Pow! Bam! Kapow!... you have heroes of the rebellion that you NEVER heard about, not even on the battle of Endor, when finally you see that Leia wasn't the only woman in the galaxy. But, hey, it's canonical! So, it's okay!
This novel, A New Dawn, is set 8 years after Revenge of the Sith, 6 years of Rebels (an incoming new animated TV series, that yes... it's canonical!), and 11 years before of A New Hope.
While the cover art featuring CGI animated character may give the idea of being a light novel oriented for younger readers, I can assure that this is definitely a novel with a tone oriented for adult readers (but surely any younger reader can enjoy it too).
A new planet is introduced: Gorse, which along with its moon, Cynda, are an valuable site of mining operations to get Thorilide, a key mineral in the process of the contruction of Star Destroyers.
THESE AREN'T THE DROIDS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
The main characters in the novel are: (and no, there aren't droids!!!)
Caleb Dume a.k.a. Kanan Jarrus
He is a human man. He was a young Padawan when the Order 66 was sent, but he was lucky to receive the warning message from Obi-Wan Kenobi (Mmh... this one can be related to the Old Ben Kenobi? Duh!), and now he is a nomad trying to keep a low profile to avoid being detected by Imperial agents. I liked him. He is cool. But, I have to admit that he is not that original as a character since they only merged Luke and Han and voilá, you have Caleb/Kanan!
Also, his vessel, the Expedient, a cargo mining transport. It's a ramshakle ship, in other words a smaller kind of vessel in the style of the Millenium Falcon.
Hera Syndulla
She is a Twi'lek woman. She is mysterious. You don't get to know much about her, even her surname is mentioned like one time in the book if I remember well! She is travelling doing surveillance of the Imperial actitivities and taking notes of any potential people to be part of a future rebellion. Again, I like her. Again, she is cool. And again she is not that original as a character since she is basically a Leia with "alien" looks.
Zaluna Myder
She is a Sullustan woman, who works in a private company which gives video surveillance service to the Empire. I like her. She is a great character and definitely original.
Skelly
He is a human man. Easily one of the most interesting characters in the novel. He is quite crazy and impulsive but definitely the most original character developed in the book.
Captain Rae Sloane
She is a human woman, with dark skin. She is the temporary captain of the Star Destroyer Ultimatum. She is an ambitious officer looking for a permanent command. She is smart and cunning. While she is capable to execute orders without questioning the morals behind of them, she is hardly a heartless character. She does her duty, but it doesn't mean that she has to enjoy it.
Definitely, she is my favorite character in the book!
Count Denetrius Vidian
He is a high ranking civilian in the Empire, and currently, the favorite expert in efficiency of the Emperor Palpatine. He is ruthless and full of secrets. He is a cyborg and he takes a good advantage of it, using his mechanical enhancements to the fullest. I like the character but he is not very original neither, since it's like a Darth Vader without the Force. Even his initials Denetrius Vidian are the same as with Darth Vader.
HE'S THE BRAINS, SWEETHEART!
At the end, I think that John Jackson Miller, the author, did a great work in this novel, presenting a story with a scope just like any Star Wars movie. He does a superb job developing the characters, establishing their motivations in an impeccable way. Creating priceless interaction between all the characters.
And while the two main heroes are hardly any original on their basic conceptions, that's not fault of Miller, since they were created by Lucasfilms for the incoming TV animated series Rebels, and he only was granted permission of introduce them on the book.
Definitely I think that any Star Wars fan and/or science fiction enthusiast in general, will enjoy reading this novel.
...a new expanded universe is born...again!
TURMOIL HAS ENGULFED THE EXPANDED UNIVERSE OF STAR WARS
For those who didn't know, let me explain that this novel, A New Dawn, is the first official book printed by Lucasfilms now under the control of the Disney Emp...Er, I mean... Company.
The official statement is that you don't need to have read any previous novel, only having watched the 6 films, to be able to understand what you read in the following novels to be printed from now on. (Now, this sounds good. Now. But, let's see how it will be in 5 years from now when, yet again, you would need to read several novels to be able to engage any new printing material).
In my case, I don't care if the novels are canonical or not. I just want to read good stories. So, while I'll do my best to read the novels of this "new" expanded universe, which it would pick my interest. I still want to read several novels previously published since I want to read those stories, and the canon can go to the dark side of Mustafar.
Anyway, the canonicity of any novel against the mighty force of films and TV, have been always a blurry area in any franchise, and now Star Wars, one of the pioneers in the tendency of having "expanded universes" is joining to the club of questionable canonicity in its printed material.
I guess that by now, any novel set in the time previous (and between) the prequel trilogy can be still called canonical, but any book set after the events of The Return of the Jedi will have to be considered like a parallel universe or something like that depending of what would happen in Episode VII and following movies.
THAT BOY IS OUR LAST HOPE // NO. THERE IS ANOTHER
And now commenting about the novel at hand, yes, when you thought that you knew the heroes of the rebellion... Pow! Bam! Kapow!... you have heroes of the rebellion that you NEVER heard about, not even on the battle of Endor, when finally you see that Leia wasn't the only woman in the galaxy. But, hey, it's canonical! So, it's okay!
This novel, A New Dawn, is set 8 years after Revenge of the Sith, 6 years of Rebels (an incoming new animated TV series, that yes... it's canonical!), and 11 years before of A New Hope.
While the cover art featuring CGI animated character may give the idea of being a light novel oriented for younger readers, I can assure that this is definitely a novel with a tone oriented for adult readers (but surely any younger reader can enjoy it too).
A new planet is introduced: Gorse, which along with its moon, Cynda, are an valuable site of mining operations to get Thorilide, a key mineral in the process of the contruction of Star Destroyers.
THESE AREN'T THE DROIDS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
The main characters in the novel are: (and no, there aren't droids!!!)
Caleb Dume a.k.a. Kanan Jarrus
He is a human man. He was a young Padawan when the Order 66 was sent, but he was lucky to receive the warning message from Obi-Wan Kenobi (Mmh... this one can be related to the Old Ben Kenobi? Duh!), and now he is a nomad trying to keep a low profile to avoid being detected by Imperial agents. I liked him. He is cool. But, I have to admit that he is not that original as a character since they only merged Luke and Han and voilá, you have Caleb/Kanan!
Also, his vessel, the Expedient, a cargo mining transport. It's a ramshakle ship, in other words a smaller kind of vessel in the style of the Millenium Falcon.
Hera Syndulla
She is a Twi'lek woman. She is mysterious. You don't get to know much about her, even her surname is mentioned like one time in the book if I remember well! She is travelling doing surveillance of the Imperial actitivities and taking notes of any potential people to be part of a future rebellion. Again, I like her. Again, she is cool. And again she is not that original as a character since she is basically a Leia with "alien" looks.
Zaluna Myder
She is a Sullustan woman, who works in a private company which gives video surveillance service to the Empire. I like her. She is a great character and definitely original.
Skelly
He is a human man. Easily one of the most interesting characters in the novel. He is quite crazy and impulsive but definitely the most original character developed in the book.
Captain Rae Sloane
She is a human woman, with dark skin. She is the temporary captain of the Star Destroyer Ultimatum. She is an ambitious officer looking for a permanent command. She is smart and cunning. While she is capable to execute orders without questioning the morals behind of them, she is hardly a heartless character. She does her duty, but it doesn't mean that she has to enjoy it.
Definitely, she is my favorite character in the book!
Count Denetrius Vidian
He is a high ranking civilian in the Empire, and currently, the favorite expert in efficiency of the Emperor Palpatine. He is ruthless and full of secrets. He is a cyborg and he takes a good advantage of it, using his mechanical enhancements to the fullest. I like the character but he is not very original neither, since it's like a Darth Vader without the Force. Even his initials Denetrius Vidian are the same as with Darth Vader.
HE'S THE BRAINS, SWEETHEART!
At the end, I think that John Jackson Miller, the author, did a great work in this novel, presenting a story with a scope just like any Star Wars movie. He does a superb job developing the characters, establishing their motivations in an impeccable way. Creating priceless interaction between all the characters.
And while the two main heroes are hardly any original on their basic conceptions, that's not fault of Miller, since they were created by Lucasfilms for the incoming TV animated series Rebels, and he only was granted permission of introduce them on the book.
Definitely I think that any Star Wars fan and/or science fiction enthusiast in general, will enjoy reading this novel.
February 7, 2017
Before Kanan and Hera became perpetually exasperated space-parents to their motley crew of rebels, they were a brawling, drunken ex-padawan and a rebel spy looking for possible recruits to the cause.
This is a fun look at how Kanan and Hera met, and it reads a lot like an extended version of Rebels. It bogs down in a few places, but is especially tense and fun at the end.
This is a fun look at how Kanan and Hera met, and it reads a lot like an extended version of Rebels. It bogs down in a few places, but is especially tense and fun at the end.
September 13, 2015
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/11/11/r...
Like many Star Wars fans, I was initially disappointed by the news earlier this year that Lucasfilm has pretty much nuked most of the franchise’s Expanded Universe, declaring all of it as no longer official canon. But after some thinking, I’ve come to terms with it and now actually believe that it was a wise decision. Having ballooned into this humongous bloated entity after all these years, if anything needed a hard reset it was the Star Wars EU. And having been a long time reader of Marvel and DC comics, I’ve grown more accustomed to stuff like retcons and massive wipes by now.
Besides, I can finally give up the New Jedi Order for good without feeling guilty about stalling halfway through the series since like forever. Move over, old school stuff, it’s time for new stories. Time for the very aptly named A New Dawn.
As the first Star Wars novel integrating input from the Lucasfilm Story Group, A New Dawn is set in the time between the movies Episode III and IV, not long after the fall of the Republic and the legendary Jedi.
It probably also behooves me to mention that I’m currently following the new animated series Star Wars Rebels, which had a role in motivating me to pick up this book. I’m enjoying what I’ve seen so far, so it was only natural that I was interested in reading this. It serves as a prequel to the show, taking place roughly six years before the events in the first episode, and two of the lead characters are featured as protagonist in the book as well. Essentially, it tells the story of how the former Jedi Kanan Jarrus and the Twi’lek rebel Hera Syndulla first met.
That said, you don’t need to know anything about the show to read the book. In fact, I find that the two are completely different in tone and vibe. The show feels geared more towards a younger audience; being on the Disney X-D channel and all, that’s perhaps not too surprising. The book, on the other hand, is more mature, and I’m guessing most people who read it will agree that John Jackson Miller did not dial anything down.
Still, I can’t describe A New Dawn as anything other than standard Star Wars fare, in terms of the quality of writing and story. This was a slight downer, given the publication significance of this book and the fact it marks a new beginning, I had hoped for something a little more…well, just MORE. But on the bright side, it should make readers of Star Wars fiction feel right at home. You have the very recognizable character types, such as the Jedi-in-exile and hotshot starship pilot. You have a ruthless villain and Imperial tyranny. You have sweeping battles in space and the spark of rebellion. So on second thought, being the same-old-same-old might not be such a bad thing.
I also loved the characters. They’re the best aspect of this book, and not just because I really like Kanan and Hera from the animated series (though that helped). John Jackson Miller goes into the background of both characters, giving us great insight into their personalities and motivations. On the show, they’re not only the leaders of their crew but almost like the father and mother figures, and I can appreciate the nature of their partnership so much more after reading this. Other supporting characters that I’ve only met for the first time in the novel were well-written as well, most notably the former Clone Wars veteran and conspiracy theorist Skelly, whose persona is as volatile as the incendiary devices he loves so much.
All told, this wasn’t a bad book, but it’s also unlikely that it’s going to end up on my shelf of favorite Star Wars novels. Still, I enjoyed it well enough. While A New Dawn had a decent story that was entertaining but not all that memorable, the strength really goes to the characters rather than plot, and that’s a huge redeeming factor. It would also make a great jumping on point for new fans, which is why I think all the more a shame that it wasn’t more special, but I think the majority of readers will like it just fine and won’t be too disappointed, which is where I’m standing.
Like many Star Wars fans, I was initially disappointed by the news earlier this year that Lucasfilm has pretty much nuked most of the franchise’s Expanded Universe, declaring all of it as no longer official canon. But after some thinking, I’ve come to terms with it and now actually believe that it was a wise decision. Having ballooned into this humongous bloated entity after all these years, if anything needed a hard reset it was the Star Wars EU. And having been a long time reader of Marvel and DC comics, I’ve grown more accustomed to stuff like retcons and massive wipes by now.
Besides, I can finally give up the New Jedi Order for good without feeling guilty about stalling halfway through the series since like forever. Move over, old school stuff, it’s time for new stories. Time for the very aptly named A New Dawn.
As the first Star Wars novel integrating input from the Lucasfilm Story Group, A New Dawn is set in the time between the movies Episode III and IV, not long after the fall of the Republic and the legendary Jedi.
It probably also behooves me to mention that I’m currently following the new animated series Star Wars Rebels, which had a role in motivating me to pick up this book. I’m enjoying what I’ve seen so far, so it was only natural that I was interested in reading this. It serves as a prequel to the show, taking place roughly six years before the events in the first episode, and two of the lead characters are featured as protagonist in the book as well. Essentially, it tells the story of how the former Jedi Kanan Jarrus and the Twi’lek rebel Hera Syndulla first met.
That said, you don’t need to know anything about the show to read the book. In fact, I find that the two are completely different in tone and vibe. The show feels geared more towards a younger audience; being on the Disney X-D channel and all, that’s perhaps not too surprising. The book, on the other hand, is more mature, and I’m guessing most people who read it will agree that John Jackson Miller did not dial anything down.
Still, I can’t describe A New Dawn as anything other than standard Star Wars fare, in terms of the quality of writing and story. This was a slight downer, given the publication significance of this book and the fact it marks a new beginning, I had hoped for something a little more…well, just MORE. But on the bright side, it should make readers of Star Wars fiction feel right at home. You have the very recognizable character types, such as the Jedi-in-exile and hotshot starship pilot. You have a ruthless villain and Imperial tyranny. You have sweeping battles in space and the spark of rebellion. So on second thought, being the same-old-same-old might not be such a bad thing.
I also loved the characters. They’re the best aspect of this book, and not just because I really like Kanan and Hera from the animated series (though that helped). John Jackson Miller goes into the background of both characters, giving us great insight into their personalities and motivations. On the show, they’re not only the leaders of their crew but almost like the father and mother figures, and I can appreciate the nature of their partnership so much more after reading this. Other supporting characters that I’ve only met for the first time in the novel were well-written as well, most notably the former Clone Wars veteran and conspiracy theorist Skelly, whose persona is as volatile as the incendiary devices he loves so much.
All told, this wasn’t a bad book, but it’s also unlikely that it’s going to end up on my shelf of favorite Star Wars novels. Still, I enjoyed it well enough. While A New Dawn had a decent story that was entertaining but not all that memorable, the strength really goes to the characters rather than plot, and that’s a huge redeeming factor. It would also make a great jumping on point for new fans, which is why I think all the more a shame that it wasn’t more special, but I think the majority of readers will like it just fine and won’t be too disappointed, which is where I’m standing.
September 11, 2014
I kept falling asleep as I read this book. that speaks volumes. Yes, when it comes down to it, the plot is a total snooze fest.
It still felt like a story for kids or teens who don't read sophisticated science fiction.
The story was convoluted, with events happening conveniently, just so the plot would work, not because it would make sense.
You can tell the author tries to address the gender issues that have come up in the Star Wars universe by including female characters in important roles. However, he does mention regularly how attractive they are. I don't know how much of a plot point it was that the star destroyer captain was hot? It's great to see more women being included for sure though.
The female storm troopers seemed out of place in a misogynistic empire as well.
There was also an attempt to be more "grown up" with a few shocking deaths, but the plot was in no way sophisticated.
A few bright points were, that it did feel like the Star Wars universe and the tie in with the end of the Jedi regime was interesting.
As a Star Wars fan for many years, I was excited for the new beginning of Star Wars literature, but unfortunately I found it a bit of a let down.
It still felt like a story for kids or teens who don't read sophisticated science fiction.
The story was convoluted, with events happening conveniently, just so the plot would work, not because it would make sense.
You can tell the author tries to address the gender issues that have come up in the Star Wars universe by including female characters in important roles. However, he does mention regularly how attractive they are. I don't know how much of a plot point it was that the star destroyer captain was hot? It's great to see more women being included for sure though.
The female storm troopers seemed out of place in a misogynistic empire as well.
There was also an attempt to be more "grown up" with a few shocking deaths, but the plot was in no way sophisticated.
A few bright points were, that it did feel like the Star Wars universe and the tie in with the end of the Jedi regime was interesting.
As a Star Wars fan for many years, I was excited for the new beginning of Star Wars literature, but unfortunately I found it a bit of a let down.
November 4, 2023
Kanan & Hera forever 💚
April 4, 2017
Having just started watching Star Wars Rebels, and being intrigued by the formation of the SW Story Group earlier this year, I was excited to pick this up (read and listened to through Audible). I have to admit, having JJM's name on the cover helped - I actually didn't find the art on the cover that appealing at all; too "cartoony", despite the fact that I knew it was a tie in to Rebels - as I knew what kind of ride I was in for (I loved Kenobi).
And what a ride it was!
Worldbuilding, well, what can I say? It's awesome - and already built! Taking place between Ep III and Ep IV right after the smoke had cleared from Order 66.
Characterization, once again (as was the case with Kenobi), was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the introduction of a new "master villain" during the time of Vader.
Setting was all right - nothing to ring any bells about, in my opinion. Mining colony, problems, some interesting capital ships and a twist (no spoilers).
Pacing was strong. There wasn't many instances where I found myself begging for things to speed up or slow down. I will admit, though, and this is my own fault, I thought there was a flashback/flash forward scene about 2/3 of the way through that was mildly confusing - message me if you want to discuss or know more (don't want to ruin any plot points).
And lastly... narration: Marc Thompson.
Bam!
Eight stars out of five! He was outstanding in Scoundrels (see my review) and continued to deliver in spades with A New Dawn. From character voices ranging from what I'd call Droopy (Zaluna) to Han Solo 'light' (Kanan) to awesome super villain (Vidian) to Columbo (Skelly), combined with the subtle, but tasteful FX, I couldn't hit the Audible "Add to Cart" button fast enough. Always a sure bet for entertainment in my opinion.
Welcome new Star Wars "EU", you've certainly got me hooked!
Now... Luceno's "Tarkin" awaits!
And what a ride it was!
Worldbuilding, well, what can I say? It's awesome - and already built! Taking place between Ep III and Ep IV right after the smoke had cleared from Order 66.
Characterization, once again (as was the case with Kenobi), was excellent. I particularly enjoyed the introduction of a new "master villain" during the time of Vader.
Setting was all right - nothing to ring any bells about, in my opinion. Mining colony, problems, some interesting capital ships and a twist (no spoilers).
Pacing was strong. There wasn't many instances where I found myself begging for things to speed up or slow down. I will admit, though, and this is my own fault, I thought there was a flashback/flash forward scene about 2/3 of the way through that was mildly confusing - message me if you want to discuss or know more (don't want to ruin any plot points).
And lastly... narration: Marc Thompson.
Bam!
Eight stars out of five! He was outstanding in Scoundrels (see my review) and continued to deliver in spades with A New Dawn. From character voices ranging from what I'd call Droopy (Zaluna) to Han Solo 'light' (Kanan) to awesome super villain (Vidian) to Columbo (Skelly), combined with the subtle, but tasteful FX, I couldn't hit the Audible "Add to Cart" button fast enough. Always a sure bet for entertainment in my opinion.
Welcome new Star Wars "EU", you've certainly got me hooked!
Now... Luceno's "Tarkin" awaits!
January 22, 2016
E ovo je vec daleko zabavnija knjiga u odnosu na Tarkina. Relativno mracna (za SW standarde) na momente, a onda opet na momente naivna kada smo sa glavnim likovima i njihovim resenjima za akciju. Ali sve je lepo napisano, lako se cita i drzi paznju. Likovi su interesantni i relativno dobro razradjeni, sa dovoljno dubine ali opet da ostne dovoljno misterije za otkrivanje. Negativac je pravi zloca bez grize savesti, prosto je zadovoljstvo imati nekoga ko je samo zao a da ne bude neshvacen ili da ga ljudi ne razumeju itd. Osvezenje za mene :)
Jedino jos sto me je malo nerviralo je sto je glavni lik manje vise kopija Han Soloa, barem po ponasanju. Al dobro mogo je da bude i kopija Jar Jar-a tako da se nezalim previse :P
Ako vam se cita neki SW roman pun avanture i akcije samo navalite.
Jedino jos sto me je malo nerviralo je sto je glavni lik manje vise kopija Han Soloa, barem po ponasanju. Al dobro mogo je da bude i kopija Jar Jar-a tako da se nezalim previse :P
Ako vam se cita neki SW roman pun avanture i akcije samo navalite.
April 29, 2015
This book gets a solid 3 stars. Picked up an arc from sdcc and zoomed through it. I was also at the rebels premier screening so this is coming from the perspective of having seen the first episode of rebels before reading this.
The Good:
- It made me care more about Kanan, and he seemed in character with the cartoon. He definitely has the lovable rogue thing going on, more good natured than han solo but similar in ways. He likes the ladies which felt a bit annoying and objectifying at times. Hopefully he will mature out of that. You only got stuff like that when you were in his pov.
- Female stormtroopers
- A lot of female characters in general, a great effort was clearly made, which pleases me greatly. Random imperials were just as often female as they were male, and there were a number of nonimperial female characters. The ground supervisor of the particular mining operation was a female besalisk. Of course we have Hera. There is a female sullustan from a surveillance outfit. The core group of heroes in this is comprised of Kanan, Hera, this sullustan woman (Zaluna), and a human guy named Skelly, so it's 50:50 male female which is nice. The captain of the star destroyer is a human woman of color and plays a large role.
- No romantic subplot. Kanan does like Hera but she gently keeps him at arms length.
- Hera is a strong character, strong in morals and the leader. She definitely came off as the leader in the cartoon. The rebels are HER crew, carefully chosen by her because of their integrity. The rebellion is her first love and anyone who doesn't measure up isn't worth her time.
The Bad:
- Super stereotypical villain with zero grey and zero likeable qualities.
- Takes a long time to pass the bechdel test despite there being a lot of female characters. I think like a solid 80 pages. But once things get rolling it does constantly, so there's that.
- The first half of the book teases with Hera moments. She should have been front and center much more quickly. This book is definitely more about Kanan than it is about Hera. It's not really even.
- Way too much POV flipping. Should have stuck to Kanan and Hera. I have a pet peeve about writers thinking readers are interested in the pov of every minor character. Ugh! I especially hate villain povs because they are always these long laborious internal monologues and spoil all the plot points before they happen.
- Seriously, WAY TOO MUCH TIME IN THE VILLAIN'S HEAD. He is not a complex character but we are treated to pages and pages and paaaaages of his thoughts and it's so unnecessary. We got the type of person he was from like. The first two pages with him. Considering he's a one-off for this book, I don't really get why the author thought it was important for us to know him through and through, especially when there wasn't that much to know.
- The actual plot could have been a lot more relevant and interesting.
- Hera's beauty was remarked upon too often and it was annoying. Females aren't mythical creatures. Geesh!
My overall opinions:
-The plot of this book is very meh and 'big deal!'. Basically its just the empire flaunting some power over some mining planet, with this one particular guy flaunting even more power than the empire is aware of, and our heroes attempt to save the planet and its few (??) inhabitants from destruction at the hands of this corporate tyrant. They are basically flung together to accomplish this, they save the day, Kanan and Hera leave together... but really who cares? I would have much preferred this prequel have more weight on the characters, inform more of who they are, have more relevance to the show rather than just being "this is where Kanan and Hera meet"...I would rather it not just be like an episodic adventure with no real long term implications on the characters. Maybe it would have been too much of a spoiler, but a prequel that actually got into Hera and/or Kanan's being wronged by the empire in the first place would have been much more interesting. We do learn a little about Kanan's past, but it just made me wish the book had been about that instead of this random thing.
Final thoughts:
Check it out of you want, but you aren't missing much by passing it up. You certainly don't need to read it before watching rebels, I don't think it really enhances it much. It's just a random adventure.
The Good:
- It made me care more about Kanan, and he seemed in character with the cartoon. He definitely has the lovable rogue thing going on, more good natured than han solo but similar in ways. He likes the ladies which felt a bit annoying and objectifying at times. Hopefully he will mature out of that. You only got stuff like that when you were in his pov.
- Female stormtroopers
- A lot of female characters in general, a great effort was clearly made, which pleases me greatly. Random imperials were just as often female as they were male, and there were a number of nonimperial female characters. The ground supervisor of the particular mining operation was a female besalisk. Of course we have Hera. There is a female sullustan from a surveillance outfit. The core group of heroes in this is comprised of Kanan, Hera, this sullustan woman (Zaluna), and a human guy named Skelly, so it's 50:50 male female which is nice. The captain of the star destroyer is a human woman of color and plays a large role.
- No romantic subplot. Kanan does like Hera but she gently keeps him at arms length.
- Hera is a strong character, strong in morals and the leader. She definitely came off as the leader in the cartoon. The rebels are HER crew, carefully chosen by her because of their integrity. The rebellion is her first love and anyone who doesn't measure up isn't worth her time.
The Bad:
- Super stereotypical villain with zero grey and zero likeable qualities.
- Takes a long time to pass the bechdel test despite there being a lot of female characters. I think like a solid 80 pages. But once things get rolling it does constantly, so there's that.
- The first half of the book teases with Hera moments. She should have been front and center much more quickly. This book is definitely more about Kanan than it is about Hera. It's not really even.
- Way too much POV flipping. Should have stuck to Kanan and Hera. I have a pet peeve about writers thinking readers are interested in the pov of every minor character. Ugh! I especially hate villain povs because they are always these long laborious internal monologues and spoil all the plot points before they happen.
- Seriously, WAY TOO MUCH TIME IN THE VILLAIN'S HEAD. He is not a complex character but we are treated to pages and pages and paaaaages of his thoughts and it's so unnecessary. We got the type of person he was from like. The first two pages with him. Considering he's a one-off for this book, I don't really get why the author thought it was important for us to know him through and through, especially when there wasn't that much to know.
- The actual plot could have been a lot more relevant and interesting.
- Hera's beauty was remarked upon too often and it was annoying. Females aren't mythical creatures. Geesh!
My overall opinions:
-The plot of this book is very meh and 'big deal!'. Basically its just the empire flaunting some power over some mining planet, with this one particular guy flaunting even more power than the empire is aware of, and our heroes attempt to save the planet and its few (??) inhabitants from destruction at the hands of this corporate tyrant. They are basically flung together to accomplish this, they save the day, Kanan and Hera leave together... but really who cares? I would have much preferred this prequel have more weight on the characters, inform more of who they are, have more relevance to the show rather than just being "this is where Kanan and Hera meet"...I would rather it not just be like an episodic adventure with no real long term implications on the characters. Maybe it would have been too much of a spoiler, but a prequel that actually got into Hera and/or Kanan's being wronged by the empire in the first place would have been much more interesting. We do learn a little about Kanan's past, but it just made me wish the book had been about that instead of this random thing.
Final thoughts:
Check it out of you want, but you aren't missing much by passing it up. You certainly don't need to read it before watching rebels, I don't think it really enhances it much. It's just a random adventure.
September 8, 2016
As part of my quest to read The Rise of the Empire in order, I ended up getting the chance reread the first novel that is officially considered part of the Star Wars canon, John Jackson Miller’s A New Dawn. Normally, when I update reviews, I would consider keeping the old review if my opinions changed significantly enough. However, I don’t need to do that with A New Dawn because my opinion remains largely the same: I love this book. Before Claudia Grey came along with her phenomenal Star Wars debut Lost Stars, this was my favorite star wars novel that was part of Lucasfilm’s official canon.
This is a prime example of how to do a Star Wars spinoff novel. Many fans give this distinction to Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire, and while I wholeheartedly agree with them that it is a great book and a groundbreaking classic for the Star Wars franchise, A New Dawn had a much harder task.
Heir to the Empire had the advantage of being new and have a similar sense of discovery and tension to the movies when it came out in 1991. Before the release of this book, there was a relative lack of Star Wars material outside the Original Trilogy. Also, it actually continued the story after the films, so we didn’t know what would happen to Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, or our other favorite classic characters from the Original Trilogy.
A New Dawn had two key disadvantages. At the time of the book’s release, many Star Wars Stories outside the main saga movies existed, so it didn't have the novelty of Heir to the Empire. Some fans actually consider works such as Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy (which included Heir to the Empire), Bioware’s Knights of the Old Republic RPG video games, and/or either of the animated TV shows based around the Clone Wars to be even better than the movies. It was also the first book to be released after Lucasfilm rebooted the expanded universe, rendering everything outside Episodes I-VI and the CGI animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars non canon. Some particularly despicable fans actively wanted to see A New Dawn fail. While it never reached the success of the Thrawn Trilogy, it hasn’t stopped the release of the new novels and the book did reach the New York Times Bestseller list.
Second, A New Dawn simply doesn’t have the same narrative advantage that Heir to the Empire did when it was released, in that we knew how it would end. Kanan and Hera were not going to get killed or crippled because the book takes place before Star Wars Rebels, where the two characters were alive and well and already working together. A friend of mine on this site, Sam Quixote (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...), who prolifically reviews comic books, points out a similar criticism to many new Star Wars comics that are released: that they don’t need to exist. The same sentiment can be applied to A New Dawn. However, while Sam's point is valid, I can't hold that against this novel, or any of the new books, comics, TV series, video games, or spinoff films that contain stories, because I go into these materials knowing just that. None of them need to exist, and they are all made simply for lucasfilm to scrape our pockets clean of our hard earned cash. I can exclusively watch the Original Trilogy, the Force Awakens, soon to be Episodes VIII and IX, even the prequels, and get a basic understanding of the main plot points and character motivations. Even if these other materials present interesting lore and backstories that add to the star wars universe or introduce memorable stories and characters, the main saga films were good (or bad) movies, and still are good (or bad) movies.
So with that out of the way, now lets actually get into the book. I already said I love it, so why is that?
THE STORY: Kanan Jarrus, formerly the jedi padawan Caleb Dume, has survived order 66 and is now living as a scoundrel, constantly moving between planets, jobs, and people to avoid detection by the Empire. Things quickly change while he is working miner on the planet Gorse, collecting thorillide from it’s moon, Cynda. Kanan decides to pack his belongings and leave Gorse after an industrial accident where he had to resort to using the force to save his own life. Around the same time, businessman who works for the Emperor named Count Vidian arrives to squeeze more output out of Gorse’s mining companies. Also, an attractive, mysterious twi’lek woman named Hera Syndulla comes to Gorse to acquire a data cube from a dissident, as well as learn more about Vidian.
A series of events leads to Kanan and Hera teaming up against the malicious Count, joined by a crazed Clone Wars veteran named Skelly and surveillance worker named Zaluna.
THE BAD: Miller constantly shifts POVs between his characters, and it results in a sluggish pace for the first third of the book. While it was intended to build and build until the climax where they all come together, I can understand if it perturbs other readers.
I also do not understand why Chopper is not in this novel. I mean, the Ghost makes an appearance, so why doesn’t Hera’s grouchy astromech droid show up, especially when he was already with her well before this book takes place? Small nitpick, but still strange.
That’s about it folks. Other than that, this book is great.
THE GOOD: This book gets better every time I read it.
Even though the POV changes very frequently between a large roster of characters, for me, it really works. The characters get well developed and it all builds up to an awesome third act. And I think for me the reason why it works is because of the writing. It makes all the subplots come together very well to form one epic story. The action scenes are very exciting due to the crisp and quick way that Miller makes them leap off the page. Even when the book is in its slow sections, Miller’s incredibly entertaining dialogue keeps me invested and interested in all of the major characters, even though I have to keep track of so many.
I also think many readers will appreciate the diversity of characters in this book, and they aren't stereotypes. We got humans both male and female, light skinned and dark skinned, aliens both male and female, and cyborgs. While Hera might be just a tad objectified in some scenes, it's only when the book focuses on Kanan's point of view, and it works just fine because that's part of Kanan's characterization in A New Dawn. Even then, despite being a female twi'lek, Hera is never truly sexualized- they never put her in a dancer's outfit or force her to be a sex slave.
Speaking of which, lets take a look at the best part of this book by far, and why I keep coming back to it: The Characters.
Kanan’s character is excellently rendered. I think Miller did a great job portraying the duality between his present as Kanan Jarrus and his past as Caleb Dume. Once a jedi, because the Empire has outlawed them, Kanan has chosen to live like a roughneck scoundrel- drinking, brawling, and acting like a prick towards women in order to hide his jedi identity from an empire that would otherwise want to kill him. This is why I think the way he acts toward Hera is compelling. Sure it can feel cliché when he is drawn to her vexing beauty, but I think Miller made it work perfectly, much like Lost Stars took some YA tropes that would otherwise be annoying and made them work. And yet, he still can’t escape who he really is. Caleb always tries to break out and be the superhero that kids fantasize who the jedi are. This is another reason why I think Kanan’s infatuation with Hera was compelling. He sees himself going against the man he wants to be by doing good deeds, and he justifies it with “oh, it’s because Hera is so attractive”. While normally it would be an irritating and cringeworthy trope, here it works because it often ends up being a way to hide that fact that Kanan is fighting his past self.
Hera is also very well done, capturing that patient and motherly personality from the Rebels TV show, but still knows when to be firm an get things done. I also like the way she responds to Kanan, intrigued by what she sees as his unique ability to perform exceptional, but not superhuman, feats, but keeping him at a distance when he tries to flirt with her.
The other two heroes are memorable as well. Skelly is very interesting in his need to protect Cynda, yet his craziness and unpredictability makes him dangerous. I think the arc that Zaluna goes through is strong, and she ends up being a great character.
The villain characters are also very well done. Personally, I think Count Vidian is the most underrated character in a Star Wars book. While he doesn’t quite get to the level of Grand Admiral Thrawn or Darth Plagueis in terms of expanded universe villains, I don’t understand why so many reviewers complain that he is stereotypical or one- dimensional. I think he is creepy and quite intimidating, with an interesting and believable backstory. I also think his motivations for being a villain are strong. Not only does he have to deal with the relentless standards set by the emperor, he also has Baron Danthe actively attempting to undermine him (Just throwing it out there, whenever the character of Lero Danthe appears in this book, I end up thinking of Donald Trump! XD). And then, when his plan is set in motion, I like how it makes perfect sense and ends up quite diabolical.
Rae Sloane is quickly turning into one of the most interesting characters the rebooted expanded universe has to offer. I like how she may be determined to rise through the ranks, but she is devoted to the empire and is not the stereotypical officer that cackles with laughter or twirls a mustache. She plays by the rules, but her resourcefulness and practicality makes her intelligent and cunning.
The worldbuilding is great. I think the new places Miller introduces in this book are unique and fascinating, and reminiscent of the feeling of discovering new worlds when reading Heir to the Empire. I also really like how A New Dawn explores the brutal and relentless power structure of the galactic empire and what life is like for the galaxy’s ordinary citizens. John Jackson Miller uses his characters to really bring the period between Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Rebels to light. Through Kanan we get a glimpse of the hardships that a survivor of Order 66 must go through. Hera’s character shows us what being a rebel was like before the Rebel Alliance. Skelly provides insight on how the Clone Wars impacted the average person in the galaxy, as well as what the war itself meant for the everyman. And again, the structure of the Empire and what it is like to have rank and importance is fleshed out through the characters of Sloane and Vidian.
THE CONCLUSION: Star Wars: A New Dawn is one of those novels that I can read over and over and never get tired of it. I will always enjoy the witty and funny lines of dialogue, the fun and exciting action sequences, the epic story, and the complex and memorable characters.
This novel proves that spin-off tie in novels, even though they are just meant to flesh things out, can still be well written and tell epic stories with compelling character arcs. A New Dawn is a must read for those who watch Star Wars Rebels, but for even without the TV series it still works as a good story with great characters and writing.
It’s about time for Kanan to start being a jedi again, because the force is with him. And it’s without a doubt strong with this novel.
This is a prime example of how to do a Star Wars spinoff novel. Many fans give this distinction to Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire, and while I wholeheartedly agree with them that it is a great book and a groundbreaking classic for the Star Wars franchise, A New Dawn had a much harder task.
Heir to the Empire had the advantage of being new and have a similar sense of discovery and tension to the movies when it came out in 1991. Before the release of this book, there was a relative lack of Star Wars material outside the Original Trilogy. Also, it actually continued the story after the films, so we didn’t know what would happen to Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, or our other favorite classic characters from the Original Trilogy.
A New Dawn had two key disadvantages. At the time of the book’s release, many Star Wars Stories outside the main saga movies existed, so it didn't have the novelty of Heir to the Empire. Some fans actually consider works such as Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy (which included Heir to the Empire), Bioware’s Knights of the Old Republic RPG video games, and/or either of the animated TV shows based around the Clone Wars to be even better than the movies. It was also the first book to be released after Lucasfilm rebooted the expanded universe, rendering everything outside Episodes I-VI and the CGI animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars non canon. Some particularly despicable fans actively wanted to see A New Dawn fail. While it never reached the success of the Thrawn Trilogy, it hasn’t stopped the release of the new novels and the book did reach the New York Times Bestseller list.
Second, A New Dawn simply doesn’t have the same narrative advantage that Heir to the Empire did when it was released, in that we knew how it would end. Kanan and Hera were not going to get killed or crippled because the book takes place before Star Wars Rebels, where the two characters were alive and well and already working together. A friend of mine on this site, Sam Quixote (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...), who prolifically reviews comic books, points out a similar criticism to many new Star Wars comics that are released: that they don’t need to exist. The same sentiment can be applied to A New Dawn. However, while Sam's point is valid, I can't hold that against this novel, or any of the new books, comics, TV series, video games, or spinoff films that contain stories, because I go into these materials knowing just that. None of them need to exist, and they are all made simply for lucasfilm to scrape our pockets clean of our hard earned cash. I can exclusively watch the Original Trilogy, the Force Awakens, soon to be Episodes VIII and IX, even the prequels, and get a basic understanding of the main plot points and character motivations. Even if these other materials present interesting lore and backstories that add to the star wars universe or introduce memorable stories and characters, the main saga films were good (or bad) movies, and still are good (or bad) movies.
So with that out of the way, now lets actually get into the book. I already said I love it, so why is that?
THE STORY: Kanan Jarrus, formerly the jedi padawan Caleb Dume, has survived order 66 and is now living as a scoundrel, constantly moving between planets, jobs, and people to avoid detection by the Empire. Things quickly change while he is working miner on the planet Gorse, collecting thorillide from it’s moon, Cynda. Kanan decides to pack his belongings and leave Gorse after an industrial accident where he had to resort to using the force to save his own life. Around the same time, businessman who works for the Emperor named Count Vidian arrives to squeeze more output out of Gorse’s mining companies. Also, an attractive, mysterious twi’lek woman named Hera Syndulla comes to Gorse to acquire a data cube from a dissident, as well as learn more about Vidian.
A series of events leads to Kanan and Hera teaming up against the malicious Count, joined by a crazed Clone Wars veteran named Skelly and surveillance worker named Zaluna.
THE BAD: Miller constantly shifts POVs between his characters, and it results in a sluggish pace for the first third of the book. While it was intended to build and build until the climax where they all come together, I can understand if it perturbs other readers.
I also do not understand why Chopper is not in this novel. I mean, the Ghost makes an appearance, so why doesn’t Hera’s grouchy astromech droid show up, especially when he was already with her well before this book takes place? Small nitpick, but still strange.
That’s about it folks. Other than that, this book is great.
THE GOOD: This book gets better every time I read it.
Even though the POV changes very frequently between a large roster of characters, for me, it really works. The characters get well developed and it all builds up to an awesome third act. And I think for me the reason why it works is because of the writing. It makes all the subplots come together very well to form one epic story. The action scenes are very exciting due to the crisp and quick way that Miller makes them leap off the page. Even when the book is in its slow sections, Miller’s incredibly entertaining dialogue keeps me invested and interested in all of the major characters, even though I have to keep track of so many.
I also think many readers will appreciate the diversity of characters in this book, and they aren't stereotypes. We got humans both male and female, light skinned and dark skinned, aliens both male and female, and cyborgs. While Hera might be just a tad objectified in some scenes, it's only when the book focuses on Kanan's point of view, and it works just fine because that's part of Kanan's characterization in A New Dawn. Even then, despite being a female twi'lek, Hera is never truly sexualized- they never put her in a dancer's outfit or force her to be a sex slave.
Speaking of which, lets take a look at the best part of this book by far, and why I keep coming back to it: The Characters.
Kanan’s character is excellently rendered. I think Miller did a great job portraying the duality between his present as Kanan Jarrus and his past as Caleb Dume. Once a jedi, because the Empire has outlawed them, Kanan has chosen to live like a roughneck scoundrel- drinking, brawling, and acting like a prick towards women in order to hide his jedi identity from an empire that would otherwise want to kill him. This is why I think the way he acts toward Hera is compelling. Sure it can feel cliché when he is drawn to her vexing beauty, but I think Miller made it work perfectly, much like Lost Stars took some YA tropes that would otherwise be annoying and made them work. And yet, he still can’t escape who he really is. Caleb always tries to break out and be the superhero that kids fantasize who the jedi are. This is another reason why I think Kanan’s infatuation with Hera was compelling. He sees himself going against the man he wants to be by doing good deeds, and he justifies it with “oh, it’s because Hera is so attractive”. While normally it would be an irritating and cringeworthy trope, here it works because it often ends up being a way to hide that fact that Kanan is fighting his past self.
Hera is also very well done, capturing that patient and motherly personality from the Rebels TV show, but still knows when to be firm an get things done. I also like the way she responds to Kanan, intrigued by what she sees as his unique ability to perform exceptional, but not superhuman, feats, but keeping him at a distance when he tries to flirt with her.
The other two heroes are memorable as well. Skelly is very interesting in his need to protect Cynda, yet his craziness and unpredictability makes him dangerous. I think the arc that Zaluna goes through is strong, and she ends up being a great character.
The villain characters are also very well done. Personally, I think Count Vidian is the most underrated character in a Star Wars book. While he doesn’t quite get to the level of Grand Admiral Thrawn or Darth Plagueis in terms of expanded universe villains, I don’t understand why so many reviewers complain that he is stereotypical or one- dimensional. I think he is creepy and quite intimidating, with an interesting and believable backstory. I also think his motivations for being a villain are strong. Not only does he have to deal with the relentless standards set by the emperor, he also has Baron Danthe actively attempting to undermine him (Just throwing it out there, whenever the character of Lero Danthe appears in this book, I end up thinking of Donald Trump! XD). And then, when his plan is set in motion, I like how it makes perfect sense and ends up quite diabolical.
Rae Sloane is quickly turning into one of the most interesting characters the rebooted expanded universe has to offer. I like how she may be determined to rise through the ranks, but she is devoted to the empire and is not the stereotypical officer that cackles with laughter or twirls a mustache. She plays by the rules, but her resourcefulness and practicality makes her intelligent and cunning.
The worldbuilding is great. I think the new places Miller introduces in this book are unique and fascinating, and reminiscent of the feeling of discovering new worlds when reading Heir to the Empire. I also really like how A New Dawn explores the brutal and relentless power structure of the galactic empire and what life is like for the galaxy’s ordinary citizens. John Jackson Miller uses his characters to really bring the period between Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Rebels to light. Through Kanan we get a glimpse of the hardships that a survivor of Order 66 must go through. Hera’s character shows us what being a rebel was like before the Rebel Alliance. Skelly provides insight on how the Clone Wars impacted the average person in the galaxy, as well as what the war itself meant for the everyman. And again, the structure of the Empire and what it is like to have rank and importance is fleshed out through the characters of Sloane and Vidian.
THE CONCLUSION: Star Wars: A New Dawn is one of those novels that I can read over and over and never get tired of it. I will always enjoy the witty and funny lines of dialogue, the fun and exciting action sequences, the epic story, and the complex and memorable characters.
This novel proves that spin-off tie in novels, even though they are just meant to flesh things out, can still be well written and tell epic stories with compelling character arcs. A New Dawn is a must read for those who watch Star Wars Rebels, but for even without the TV series it still works as a good story with great characters and writing.
It’s about time for Kanan to start being a jedi again, because the force is with him. And it’s without a doubt strong with this novel.
February 20, 2025
It was a little slow to start but once it got to the point it was INCREDIBLE. I couldn’t stop reading. I might be biased because of my deep affection for Kanan and Hera but I really thought this was a great story. I love seeing these characters in a timeline I haven’t seen them in before. I was especially drawn to Kanan’s perspective as he tries to find his place in the galaxy as an Order 66 survivor. Kanan and Hera meet in this book!!! The main villain is REALLY cool. The side characters are easy to track and all feel important and necessary. I was absolutely in tears at the end.
my only complaint is that there was no chopper 🤭
I also really enjoyed the part written by Dave Filoni - which also made me tear up a bit.
my only complaint is that there was no chopper 🤭
I also really enjoyed the part written by Dave Filoni - which also made me tear up a bit.
July 1, 2021
HERA AND KANAN BEST STAR WARS COUPLE !!!!!! <3 <3
September 20, 2014
"A New Dawn" introduces us to the reboot of the Star Wars Extended Universe and features two characters of the upcoming animated series Star Wars Rebels.
The novel is set between the third and fourth movie during the glory days of the Empire. The focus is on a planet without rotation and its accompanying moon, which is one of the main provider's of thorilide, a resource the Empire needs to build its Star Destroyers.
Count Vidian, half man, half cyborg, is sent there on behalf of the Emperor to increase efficiency.
The novel features six main characters. Most prominent of them are the two heroes of the upcoming series Star Wars Rebels.
We have Caleb, who was a Jedi in training when the Empire took over the Republic and now lives in hiding by working as a pilot under an alias.
The second character is Hera, who already works for the forming rebellion and wants to investigate why Count Vidian is sent to the planet Cynda.
In addition we also have Skelly, a former Clone Wars veteran who is an expert in explosives but is disregarded by his surroundings for being a conspiracy theorist.
And, last but not least on the heroes' side there is Zaluna, who works as a security analyst on Cynda.
But we also get insight into the Empire's perspective. In addition to Count Vidian, the novel also features Capt. Sloane, the interim commander of the Star Destroyer Ultimatum on which Count Vidian arrives.
Overall the novel is a fast paced action-adventure with some of the typical Star Wars ingredients like fighting scenes, chases and light banter.
The writing itself is solid, but not remarkable in any way. The novel is also light on themes, but on a closer look has a bit of social commentary on the whole consulting industry, cause Count Vidian acts a lot like a consultant on speed trying to make production more efficient, no matter the cost.
Personally I would have loved to see a bigger scheme/plot and would have liked a bit more of star hopping, cause the novel mainly stays in one system and could have made more use of the vast Star Wars universe.
Therefore its impact as the first book of a new era could have been bigger, but for the purpose of introducing the new Star Wars Rebels characters it did its job really well.
A solid light read, if you're looking for action with a Star Wars flair, but not a groundshaking novel that will imprint largely on the new Extended Universe.
The novel is set between the third and fourth movie during the glory days of the Empire. The focus is on a planet without rotation and its accompanying moon, which is one of the main provider's of thorilide, a resource the Empire needs to build its Star Destroyers.
Count Vidian, half man, half cyborg, is sent there on behalf of the Emperor to increase efficiency.
The novel features six main characters. Most prominent of them are the two heroes of the upcoming series Star Wars Rebels.
We have Caleb, who was a Jedi in training when the Empire took over the Republic and now lives in hiding by working as a pilot under an alias.
The second character is Hera, who already works for the forming rebellion and wants to investigate why Count Vidian is sent to the planet Cynda.
In addition we also have Skelly, a former Clone Wars veteran who is an expert in explosives but is disregarded by his surroundings for being a conspiracy theorist.
And, last but not least on the heroes' side there is Zaluna, who works as a security analyst on Cynda.
But we also get insight into the Empire's perspective. In addition to Count Vidian, the novel also features Capt. Sloane, the interim commander of the Star Destroyer Ultimatum on which Count Vidian arrives.
Overall the novel is a fast paced action-adventure with some of the typical Star Wars ingredients like fighting scenes, chases and light banter.
The writing itself is solid, but not remarkable in any way. The novel is also light on themes, but on a closer look has a bit of social commentary on the whole consulting industry, cause Count Vidian acts a lot like a consultant on speed trying to make production more efficient, no matter the cost.
Personally I would have loved to see a bigger scheme/plot and would have liked a bit more of star hopping, cause the novel mainly stays in one system and could have made more use of the vast Star Wars universe.
Therefore its impact as the first book of a new era could have been bigger, but for the purpose of introducing the new Star Wars Rebels characters it did its job really well.
A solid light read, if you're looking for action with a Star Wars flair, but not a groundshaking novel that will imprint largely on the new Extended Universe.
September 2, 2014
I've read fanfic that was worth more than this book...
It makes me feel really old to say this but it's probably been eight years since I picked up and read a Star Wars book that wasn't for my kids. Growing up I had always liked Star Wars but honestly, I didn't become a fan until the 90's when I was loaned the Thrawn Trilogy. I owe my adulthood passion for SW to the Expanded Universe but once I hit the NJO I just lost my interest in it. Fast forward to the announcement that one of my favorite authors (Kevin Hearne) was writing an EU and I decided maybe it was time to see what was new in the EU. I figured A NEW DAWN sounded like a good starting point... I really hate it when I'm wrong.
While I certainly expected a certain kid-ish quality since AND leads into the animated Star Wars Rebels series, I didn't expect it to be so bland. We get a pretty lame villain and a very personality-less intro to Kanan and Hera. Looking at the blurb now I realize it doesn't tell you anything about the actual plot of AND and that's probably because it really doesn't have one. I'm still trying to figure out why I finished all 400 pages of back-and-forthing between a moon and a planet where mining and refining are all that really seems to be going on. Yep, there're a few blaster battles... but the cover is totally deceptive in terms of Kanan. Don't go in expecting Jedi awesomeness. In fact, if you lean toward Jedi/Sith adventures this is not the book for you. The dialog is plodding and even worse than the film dialog.
Let me just say it... this book is a snoozer that should not have taken me 3 days to finish. It might be okay for a kid with a lot of patience and nothing better to do but I can't think of a single one of my pack of rabid SW fan friends that I would recommend this to. If the animated series is going to be this bad I might cry. Instead I'll keep waiting for HEIR TO THE JEDI, at least I know Hearne can't write great dialog that can speed along a slow plot.
Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.
It makes me feel really old to say this but it's probably been eight years since I picked up and read a Star Wars book that wasn't for my kids. Growing up I had always liked Star Wars but honestly, I didn't become a fan until the 90's when I was loaned the Thrawn Trilogy. I owe my adulthood passion for SW to the Expanded Universe but once I hit the NJO I just lost my interest in it. Fast forward to the announcement that one of my favorite authors (Kevin Hearne) was writing an EU and I decided maybe it was time to see what was new in the EU. I figured A NEW DAWN sounded like a good starting point... I really hate it when I'm wrong.
While I certainly expected a certain kid-ish quality since AND leads into the animated Star Wars Rebels series, I didn't expect it to be so bland. We get a pretty lame villain and a very personality-less intro to Kanan and Hera. Looking at the blurb now I realize it doesn't tell you anything about the actual plot of AND and that's probably because it really doesn't have one. I'm still trying to figure out why I finished all 400 pages of back-and-forthing between a moon and a planet where mining and refining are all that really seems to be going on. Yep, there're a few blaster battles... but the cover is totally deceptive in terms of Kanan. Don't go in expecting Jedi awesomeness. In fact, if you lean toward Jedi/Sith adventures this is not the book for you. The dialog is plodding and even worse than the film dialog.
Let me just say it... this book is a snoozer that should not have taken me 3 days to finish. It might be okay for a kid with a lot of patience and nothing better to do but I can't think of a single one of my pack of rabid SW fan friends that I would recommend this to. If the animated series is going to be this bad I might cry. Instead I'll keep waiting for HEIR TO THE JEDI, at least I know Hearne can't write great dialog that can speed along a slow plot.
Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.
March 1, 2018
After the last few episodes of Rebels, I needed this :(
November 30, 2014
As someone online on tvtropes noted, A New Dawn is a good title for this book in a meta-sense. In-story, this is about the beginnings of rebellion against the Empire, and of Kanan Jarrus taking his life in a new direction, but as a the first book in the new Star Wars "canon" since Disney took over, the title is quite apt.
The story takes place about eight years after Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and about six years prior to the start of the Star Wars: Rebels animated series. Since Kanan and Hera, the two main protagonists of the novel are two of the characters on Rebels, this is obviously more of a prequel novel than anything else.
The novel follows the exploits of Kanan Jarrus, who holds a secret - he is the Jedi Caleb Dume, a Padawan of Jedi Master Depa Bilaba, who gave her life to save Kanan from the clones who turned on them at Palpatine's orders.
A quick note here. It should be stated that, according to one of the showrunners of Rebels, the clones had no choice in the matter due to stuff implanted in them at birth. They HAD to kill the Jedi when given the code by Palpatine. As of this time the book takes place, not just volunteers like Skelly, but actual clone troopers are not just dealing with clone illnesses like those dealt with in the also Canon Star Wars: The Clone Wars series, but also immense guilt over murdering the Jedi against their own will. Moreover, with his grip on the galaxy seemingly solidified, Palpatine's Empire is starting to show it's true colors. The galaxy is a hugely horrific, brutal place to live under the Empire.
Anyways, as of the moment the story opens, Kanan is in a sorry state. He is a cynic who hates his past life and wants to just hop from place to place to avoid detection and survive. Having been on the run for nearly a decade has turned him into a womanizing, selfish man. At least, that is what he wants it to make him. Underneath that cold, self-centered exterior is the idealistic super-hero wannabe, Caleb.
When a troublemaker forces Kanan to use the Force to save himself and others, he decides to leave his current planet of choice, Gorse, and go find work elsewhere. He already has stayed longer than he should have, he muses, and so on his way he goes. Then he sees a beautiful Twilek woman named Hera, and is swept up in an insane adventure with her, and other characters, doing a very "Caleb" thing, much to his chagrin.
Hera is the second main character, and she manages to get under Kanan's skin, much to her amusement, chagrin, and (when Kanan proves to be useful for stopping the plans of the Empire) pleasure. It's funny to see her go from someone who is annoyed, but amused, at Kanan's flirting, to someone who is intrigued, though not romantically interested, with him.
What made Hera cool is that she is badass. She is not to Kanan's level, given Kanan's old training and access to the Force, but she is skilled enough that you might conclude she'd outstrip him if he wasn't a Jedi. She is more idealistic than Kanan, but has a strange cynicism in her own way. It's hard to explain how without being too spoilery, but just suffice it to say that she must learn that not everything in life can be second-fiddle to her crusade.
I said earlier that Kanan has the super-hero wannabe inside in his old "Caleb Dume" identity. I can kinda empathize. When I went in the Army, I was the uber-patriotic guy, and still am I would argue, but I had rose-colored blinders on then that have since been lifted. I thought it would be heroic and being the "good guy". Actual war dissuaded me of that notion. It's hard, harsh, difficult, nerve-wracking, guilt inducing, so on. Real-world war heroes are not like comic book folks, but they are fallible because they are real. I am more jaded now, and I didn't have a galaxy-spanning Empire try to murder me.
The story was half-introductory adventure and half-mystery. Since the bad guy is a political servant of the Emperor trying to gain more influence on Coruscant (the capital world), he naturally has others nipping at his heels. The heroes end up exploiting this to make headway in stopping the bad guy. Some might find the ending kinda sudden, but if they view it as political intrigue and study how such things go in real-life authoritarian or totalitarian regimes, it actually has some realism... uh, other than the sci-fi/fantasy stuff, I mean.
The reason I didn't give this book the highest rating, despite enjoying it so much was because the story started out a tad slow. It picked up in interest about a hundred pages through or so. Then it was fun.
The only problem I have with the bad guy is that he is almost cartoonish in his villainy. I almost expected him to grow a cybernetic mustache to twirl. He was a bit cliched, and that hurt the novel. Other than that, the characters were fun and kinda realistic to who they were in this environment. If you stripped away the fantastical elements, they make sense given their histories and what not.
I loved this first entry in the new, integrated (movies, television, books, so on) Star Wars Canon, and I heartily recommend it and the Star Wars: Rebels series, by the by. Good stuff.
The story takes place about eight years after Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and about six years prior to the start of the Star Wars: Rebels animated series. Since Kanan and Hera, the two main protagonists of the novel are two of the characters on Rebels, this is obviously more of a prequel novel than anything else.
The novel follows the exploits of Kanan Jarrus, who holds a secret - he is the Jedi Caleb Dume, a Padawan of Jedi Master Depa Bilaba, who gave her life to save Kanan from the clones who turned on them at Palpatine's orders.
A quick note here. It should be stated that, according to one of the showrunners of Rebels, the clones had no choice in the matter due to stuff implanted in them at birth. They HAD to kill the Jedi when given the code by Palpatine. As of this time the book takes place, not just volunteers like Skelly, but actual clone troopers are not just dealing with clone illnesses like those dealt with in the also Canon Star Wars: The Clone Wars series, but also immense guilt over murdering the Jedi against their own will. Moreover, with his grip on the galaxy seemingly solidified, Palpatine's Empire is starting to show it's true colors. The galaxy is a hugely horrific, brutal place to live under the Empire.
Anyways, as of the moment the story opens, Kanan is in a sorry state. He is a cynic who hates his past life and wants to just hop from place to place to avoid detection and survive. Having been on the run for nearly a decade has turned him into a womanizing, selfish man. At least, that is what he wants it to make him. Underneath that cold, self-centered exterior is the idealistic super-hero wannabe, Caleb.
When a troublemaker forces Kanan to use the Force to save himself and others, he decides to leave his current planet of choice, Gorse, and go find work elsewhere. He already has stayed longer than he should have, he muses, and so on his way he goes. Then he sees a beautiful Twilek woman named Hera, and is swept up in an insane adventure with her, and other characters, doing a very "Caleb" thing, much to his chagrin.
Hera is the second main character, and she manages to get under Kanan's skin, much to her amusement, chagrin, and (when Kanan proves to be useful for stopping the plans of the Empire) pleasure. It's funny to see her go from someone who is annoyed, but amused, at Kanan's flirting, to someone who is intrigued, though not romantically interested, with him.
What made Hera cool is that she is badass. She is not to Kanan's level, given Kanan's old training and access to the Force, but she is skilled enough that you might conclude she'd outstrip him if he wasn't a Jedi. She is more idealistic than Kanan, but has a strange cynicism in her own way. It's hard to explain how without being too spoilery, but just suffice it to say that she must learn that not everything in life can be second-fiddle to her crusade.
I said earlier that Kanan has the super-hero wannabe inside in his old "Caleb Dume" identity. I can kinda empathize. When I went in the Army, I was the uber-patriotic guy, and still am I would argue, but I had rose-colored blinders on then that have since been lifted. I thought it would be heroic and being the "good guy". Actual war dissuaded me of that notion. It's hard, harsh, difficult, nerve-wracking, guilt inducing, so on. Real-world war heroes are not like comic book folks, but they are fallible because they are real. I am more jaded now, and I didn't have a galaxy-spanning Empire try to murder me.
The story was half-introductory adventure and half-mystery. Since the bad guy is a political servant of the Emperor trying to gain more influence on Coruscant (the capital world), he naturally has others nipping at his heels. The heroes end up exploiting this to make headway in stopping the bad guy. Some might find the ending kinda sudden, but if they view it as political intrigue and study how such things go in real-life authoritarian or totalitarian regimes, it actually has some realism... uh, other than the sci-fi/fantasy stuff, I mean.
The reason I didn't give this book the highest rating, despite enjoying it so much was because the story started out a tad slow. It picked up in interest about a hundred pages through or so. Then it was fun.
The only problem I have with the bad guy is that he is almost cartoonish in his villainy. I almost expected him to grow a cybernetic mustache to twirl. He was a bit cliched, and that hurt the novel. Other than that, the characters were fun and kinda realistic to who they were in this environment. If you stripped away the fantastical elements, they make sense given their histories and what not.
I loved this first entry in the new, integrated (movies, television, books, so on) Star Wars Canon, and I heartily recommend it and the Star Wars: Rebels series, by the by. Good stuff.
February 22, 2022
what a fantastic book , i watched the series a few years ago witch is fantastic , the author must have loved it to , to be able to write a prequel as brilliant as this theres a pretty big twist ( at least it seemed that way to me ) witch is fantastic , it now makes me to want to watch it all over again , however after watching the attack of the clones i will be watching the clone wars
August 11, 2023
If you watch Disney XD’s TV show “Star Wars Rebels”, you are probably a Star Wars fan. And a nerd. And someone who likes cartoons.
If that sounded insulting, it wasn’t meant to be. I happen to be all three of those things. (Strangely enough, though, I do NOT watch “Star Wars Rebels”, and I should. At least, according to most people I know. I’ve been told I need to watch it. I’ve been told I need to watch “Game of Thrones”, too, but I haven’t. Other TV shows I have been told to watch in the past: “The Wire”, “Entourage”, “Mad Men”, “Breaking Bad”, and “True Detective”. Seriously, everybody I know has told me to watch at least three of those shows. Well, not everybody. There’s this chick with purple hair who works as a cashier at Giant Eagle who has never told me to watch any of those shows. To be fair, she has never told me anything. She remains extremely quiet whenever I go through her lane, quietly staring at me with this eerie intensity and fear and judgment, like I have just committed this heinous crime and she was the only witness and she knows that I know and she is just waiting for the day that I snap. I could be totally misreading that, though. It’s more likely that she’s just shy and doesn’t really talk to anybody.)
Most of my co-workers have told me I need to watch “Breaking Bad”, but many of them are Trump supporters, so I’m a bit leery. The truth is, I’m a bit leery when anybody tells me that I “need” to watch anything on television. Nobody “needs” to watch TV. It’s not like one will shrivel up and die if the TV is off in your house for more than three months. I once lived four years without TV, and I’m fine. (That’s a lie. The truth is, I didn’t have cable. I did, however, have a DVD player. I still managed to watch a lot of television without cable, so if I gave the impression that I lived four years not watching anything on a TV screen, I’m sorry. I don’t want to be one of those dicks who sounds like a pretentious asshole by saying that TV rots the brain and I would never own a TV and I would never let my kids watch TV because it rots the brain and lowers one’s IQ and yadda yadda blah blah blah.)
Truth is: I have a kid now, and I let her watch a lot of television. (That sounds bad. I don’t let her watch a lot a lot. Like, what is too much? It’s not like my wife and I are using TV as a baby-sitter. We’re not setting her in front of the boob tube for hours at a time, letting her suck on the teat of brainless programming and shiny visuals. We watch educational stuff: “Sesame Street”, “Little Einsteins”, “Paw Patrol”, and a lot of Disney/Pixar movies. They’re pretty educational, right? Okay, maybe not totally educational, but they’re pretty family-friendly. At least we don’t let her watch “The Walking Dead” or shit like that. Not that “The Walking Dead” is shit or anything...)
I’m rambling.
I think I’m just dreading writing a review for John Jackson Miller’s novel “A New Dawn”, a book that I was hoping to really like, as it is a “prequel” novel to “Star Wars Rebels”, a TV show that I don't watch but that I have been told that I would love, being a Star Wars fan and a nerd and someone who likes cartoons.
The book’s not awful. Let me start there. It’s not even that bad. Parts of it are actually pretty good. It’s not great, though. It could be better.
Ugh.
For a review, that just sucks. I mean, it sounds like I hated it, which I totally didn’t.
Okay, let me start over---
John Jackson Miller’s “A New Dawn” is one of several books in the official New Canon that has been commissioned and approved by producer J.J. Abrams and his team. It’s meant to be a direct tie-in with both the TV series “Star Wars Rebels” and the new films. The idea is to have continuity among the stories, so that all the new novels fit within the same timeline.
It’s a nifty idea, although the one problem I have had with all the recent New Canon books is that there is too much editorial oversight and not enough freedom. The books seem constricted in a way that some of the Old Canon books weren’t, as if the new authors are given very little to actually work with. They are given a huge sandbox to play in but being told that they have to stay in only one section and not to deviate too far from the approved form of “play” allowed them.
The results are books that are somewhat boring and pointless, with not a lot of character development, even among new characters totally unrelated to the new films. It would not be wrong to say that these books in the New Canon are less novels than they are marketing and advertising copy meant to sell box office tickets or boost ratings.
That may seem harsh, but it’s something I’ve noticed and felt about these latest offerings. “A New Dawn”, while better than some I’ve read thus far, is no different. Its sole purpose, in my opinion, is to get readers psyched about watching “Rebels” and to gain a bigger audience for that show. In itself, that’s not necessarily a shitty purpose. Unfortunately, those in charge aren’t really focusing on too much else, like quality of story.
I don’t have much else to say, other than the fact that I have liked the attempts at interjecting some clever liberal political commentary in some of these books. Most notably, in “A New Dawn”, the villain---an Imperial cyborg named Count Denetrius Vidian---embodies a sharp and caustic criticism of free-market capitalism. His character was a human who played by the rules of the capitalist system during the Clone Wars and, in fact, tried to right some of the systemic wrongs within the corrupt corporate structures that paved the way for the Empire. His attempts at fighting the system, however, nearly got him killed, and it was his revelation, that to truly beat the system one must become a part of the system and to be as corrupt---if not moreso---as his enemies in order to get ahead within the system, that “saves” him.
The ultimate irony is that (SPOILER ALERT!!!!) it turns out that Vidian was a safety inspector who now wants to cause an industrial accident just to prove a political point and move himself up the Imperial chain of command. Vidian represents a not-so-subtle extrapolation of how far free-market capitalists will go to drive profit.
The book also gives Admiral Rae Sloane---one of the few female Imperial officers of high rank---a bigger part than in other books. She’s an interesting character, and one that I think should be developed further.
The romantic relationship between Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla is merely hinted at in this book. I can only imagine that it is utilized to fuller effect in the TV series, unless they do the whole “Moonlighting” thing, in which case: poo.
If that sounded insulting, it wasn’t meant to be. I happen to be all three of those things. (Strangely enough, though, I do NOT watch “Star Wars Rebels”, and I should. At least, according to most people I know. I’ve been told I need to watch it. I’ve been told I need to watch “Game of Thrones”, too, but I haven’t. Other TV shows I have been told to watch in the past: “The Wire”, “Entourage”, “Mad Men”, “Breaking Bad”, and “True Detective”. Seriously, everybody I know has told me to watch at least three of those shows. Well, not everybody. There’s this chick with purple hair who works as a cashier at Giant Eagle who has never told me to watch any of those shows. To be fair, she has never told me anything. She remains extremely quiet whenever I go through her lane, quietly staring at me with this eerie intensity and fear and judgment, like I have just committed this heinous crime and she was the only witness and she knows that I know and she is just waiting for the day that I snap. I could be totally misreading that, though. It’s more likely that she’s just shy and doesn’t really talk to anybody.)
Most of my co-workers have told me I need to watch “Breaking Bad”, but many of them are Trump supporters, so I’m a bit leery. The truth is, I’m a bit leery when anybody tells me that I “need” to watch anything on television. Nobody “needs” to watch TV. It’s not like one will shrivel up and die if the TV is off in your house for more than three months. I once lived four years without TV, and I’m fine. (That’s a lie. The truth is, I didn’t have cable. I did, however, have a DVD player. I still managed to watch a lot of television without cable, so if I gave the impression that I lived four years not watching anything on a TV screen, I’m sorry. I don’t want to be one of those dicks who sounds like a pretentious asshole by saying that TV rots the brain and I would never own a TV and I would never let my kids watch TV because it rots the brain and lowers one’s IQ and yadda yadda blah blah blah.)
Truth is: I have a kid now, and I let her watch a lot of television. (That sounds bad. I don’t let her watch a lot a lot. Like, what is too much? It’s not like my wife and I are using TV as a baby-sitter. We’re not setting her in front of the boob tube for hours at a time, letting her suck on the teat of brainless programming and shiny visuals. We watch educational stuff: “Sesame Street”, “Little Einsteins”, “Paw Patrol”, and a lot of Disney/Pixar movies. They’re pretty educational, right? Okay, maybe not totally educational, but they’re pretty family-friendly. At least we don’t let her watch “The Walking Dead” or shit like that. Not that “The Walking Dead” is shit or anything...)
I’m rambling.
I think I’m just dreading writing a review for John Jackson Miller’s novel “A New Dawn”, a book that I was hoping to really like, as it is a “prequel” novel to “Star Wars Rebels”, a TV show that I don't watch but that I have been told that I would love, being a Star Wars fan and a nerd and someone who likes cartoons.
The book’s not awful. Let me start there. It’s not even that bad. Parts of it are actually pretty good. It’s not great, though. It could be better.
Ugh.
For a review, that just sucks. I mean, it sounds like I hated it, which I totally didn’t.
Okay, let me start over---
John Jackson Miller’s “A New Dawn” is one of several books in the official New Canon that has been commissioned and approved by producer J.J. Abrams and his team. It’s meant to be a direct tie-in with both the TV series “Star Wars Rebels” and the new films. The idea is to have continuity among the stories, so that all the new novels fit within the same timeline.
It’s a nifty idea, although the one problem I have had with all the recent New Canon books is that there is too much editorial oversight and not enough freedom. The books seem constricted in a way that some of the Old Canon books weren’t, as if the new authors are given very little to actually work with. They are given a huge sandbox to play in but being told that they have to stay in only one section and not to deviate too far from the approved form of “play” allowed them.
The results are books that are somewhat boring and pointless, with not a lot of character development, even among new characters totally unrelated to the new films. It would not be wrong to say that these books in the New Canon are less novels than they are marketing and advertising copy meant to sell box office tickets or boost ratings.
That may seem harsh, but it’s something I’ve noticed and felt about these latest offerings. “A New Dawn”, while better than some I’ve read thus far, is no different. Its sole purpose, in my opinion, is to get readers psyched about watching “Rebels” and to gain a bigger audience for that show. In itself, that’s not necessarily a shitty purpose. Unfortunately, those in charge aren’t really focusing on too much else, like quality of story.
I don’t have much else to say, other than the fact that I have liked the attempts at interjecting some clever liberal political commentary in some of these books. Most notably, in “A New Dawn”, the villain---an Imperial cyborg named Count Denetrius Vidian---embodies a sharp and caustic criticism of free-market capitalism. His character was a human who played by the rules of the capitalist system during the Clone Wars and, in fact, tried to right some of the systemic wrongs within the corrupt corporate structures that paved the way for the Empire. His attempts at fighting the system, however, nearly got him killed, and it was his revelation, that to truly beat the system one must become a part of the system and to be as corrupt---if not moreso---as his enemies in order to get ahead within the system, that “saves” him.
The ultimate irony is that (SPOILER ALERT!!!!) it turns out that Vidian was a safety inspector who now wants to cause an industrial accident just to prove a political point and move himself up the Imperial chain of command. Vidian represents a not-so-subtle extrapolation of how far free-market capitalists will go to drive profit.
The book also gives Admiral Rae Sloane---one of the few female Imperial officers of high rank---a bigger part than in other books. She’s an interesting character, and one that I think should be developed further.
The romantic relationship between Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla is merely hinted at in this book. I can only imagine that it is utilized to fuller effect in the TV series, unless they do the whole “Moonlighting” thing, in which case: poo.
August 2, 2017
A very entertaining audiobook, with a strong set of characters, a well-defined setting and exciting music and effects used appropriately to enhance the listening experience.
My main complaint? I'm quite disappointed that Count Vidian died at the end, I thought he was a terrific Star Wars villain for the 21st century- an unflinching, number-crunching psycho who presents both a mental and a physical threat to the nascent rebels.
If the intention behind this book was to spur my interest in watching the new Rebels TV series I think it might be mission accomplished!
My main complaint? I'm quite disappointed that Count Vidian died at the end, I thought he was a terrific Star Wars villain for the 21st century- an unflinching, number-crunching psycho who presents both a mental and a physical threat to the nascent rebels.
If the intention behind this book was to spur my interest in watching the new Rebels TV series I think it might be mission accomplished!
July 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Star Wars: A New Dawn is a solid prequel with well-developed characters, a strong third act, and Count Vidian as a compelling and ruthless villain. The book offers great insight into Kanan and Hera before Rebels, showing the early spark of rebellion and their growing connection. It’s a rewarding read for fans of the series.
9 out of 10
Star Wars: A New Dawn is a solid prequel with well-developed characters, a strong third act, and Count Vidian as a compelling and ruthless villain. The book offers great insight into Kanan and Hera before Rebels, showing the early spark of rebellion and their growing connection. It’s a rewarding read for fans of the series.
9 out of 10
May 2, 2018
Not bad...but I've read better. They should have left the Expanded Universe as it was.
September 6, 2022
absolutely loved seeing the dynamic between mom and dad be just the same as in the show. i love them so much 🥰
December 28, 2017
I've fallen down a Star Wars k-hole lately, and I'm not fighting it. That includes finally-FINALLY-tackling the Expanded Universe (or, Star Wars Legends if it's pre-April, 2014.) The only Star Wars novels I had read previously were novelizations of the original trilogy that I read around the time they came out.
This is a story in the Star Wars Rebels timeline, which means it's automatically in canon (at least, for now it is), and tells the story of how Kanan met Hera. This is before Sabine, Zeb and Chopper joined the Ghost crew, which is good news to all of the people who hate Chopper. Kanan hasn't come to terms with his Jedi trainee past and the trauma of Order 66, and is living under the radar in various roughneck jobs far from Coruscant. Then an Imperial efficiency expert comes to the mining colony he's made his latest of temporary homes, and workers there start dying because the Empire sucks. That's not just a blithe putdown. Miller really puts some detail into what life would be like in an evil Galactic dictatorship that the movies only scratch the surface on: constant surveillance, disregard of life, unrealistic and unrelenting quotas, environmental destruction.
The surveillance expert's visit also brings Hera, whom Kanan finds just mysterious and hot enough to get dragged into her plot to foil the Empire's plan, whatever it is. The novels can really delve deeply into a world that is made for deep dives better than even a TV show can. As Star Wars typically functions at such an archetypal level, it was nice to explore the motivations of ordinary citizens and the ordinary motivations of extraordinary citizens. It's also nice to see lusty, drunken Kanan, as Jedis can sometimes be dry, lugubrious characters otherwise.
The plot is intricate and thoughtful enough to be entertaining, and Miller can write action sequences very well. I really enjoyed this book. Alas, my reserve for one of Miller's other books (Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories) still hasn't come in because some butthole seems to have lost or stolen the one copy my local library had. I could make some joke about it having fallen into a nest of gondarks, but I'm not THAT big of a nerd.
It's hard to know where to begin in the Star Wars-verse, and some of the novels are probably terrible. Here is an article with some good starting recommendations that I used as my guide.
ETA: As I look back on this, it's still one of my favorite Star Wars novels I've read to date. I really like Rebels, but it's not like it's my all-time favorite property in the canon. This book was just kind of a perfect story though. I'm bumping this up a star.
This is a story in the Star Wars Rebels timeline, which means it's automatically in canon (at least, for now it is), and tells the story of how Kanan met Hera. This is before Sabine, Zeb and Chopper joined the Ghost crew, which is good news to all of the people who hate Chopper. Kanan hasn't come to terms with his Jedi trainee past and the trauma of Order 66, and is living under the radar in various roughneck jobs far from Coruscant. Then an Imperial efficiency expert comes to the mining colony he's made his latest of temporary homes, and workers there start dying because the Empire sucks. That's not just a blithe putdown. Miller really puts some detail into what life would be like in an evil Galactic dictatorship that the movies only scratch the surface on: constant surveillance, disregard of life, unrealistic and unrelenting quotas, environmental destruction.
The surveillance expert's visit also brings Hera, whom Kanan finds just mysterious and hot enough to get dragged into her plot to foil the Empire's plan, whatever it is. The novels can really delve deeply into a world that is made for deep dives better than even a TV show can. As Star Wars typically functions at such an archetypal level, it was nice to explore the motivations of ordinary citizens and the ordinary motivations of extraordinary citizens. It's also nice to see lusty, drunken Kanan, as Jedis can sometimes be dry, lugubrious characters otherwise.
The plot is intricate and thoughtful enough to be entertaining, and Miller can write action sequences very well. I really enjoyed this book. Alas, my reserve for one of Miller's other books (Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories) still hasn't come in because some butthole seems to have lost or stolen the one copy my local library had. I could make some joke about it having fallen into a nest of gondarks, but I'm not THAT big of a nerd.
It's hard to know where to begin in the Star Wars-verse, and some of the novels are probably terrible. Here is an article with some good starting recommendations that I used as my guide.
ETA: As I look back on this, it's still one of my favorite Star Wars novels I've read to date. I really like Rebels, but it's not like it's my all-time favorite property in the canon. This book was just kind of a perfect story though. I'm bumping this up a star.
July 4, 2018
“Or maybe it’s time for people to be their own Jedi. They weren’t gods — just people like us, who saw a need. If they could find a way, I’m sure we can.”
It took me FOREVER to get through this book, but I don't think it was the book's problem. I think it was just bad luck and exhaustion this month. But, the plot did move pretty slowly in this novel. Sometimes I finished a chapter and wasn't begging to read the next one.
However, this still was a really amazing read for me. Every time I began reading, I returned to the Star Wars world that I know and love and really appreciated the backstory given to Kanan and Hera here. I grew to care so much about the secondary characters too.
The Star Wars Rebels final season destroyed me in the best way. And reading this after viewing the final episode was certainly an emotional experience. Knowing how Kanan and Hera's relationship would develop and seeing now how they first met and became partners.... MY HEART.
Hera was so believable as a younger version of herself - a spirited rogue rebel, subconsciously looking for a team and another mission. More shocking was Kanan's characterization - a bit of a scoundrel, moving from place to place and trying not to care too much about the Empire or other people. I loved seeing the "real Kanan" (or should I say Caleb) come through in bits and pieces. He is always willing to save those who he cares about and I love that by the end of A NEW DAWN, he has found a companion in Hera who inspires him to continue a Jedi like mission.. even if he can't be the Jedi he once was.
I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, even though it did kill some of the suspense in certain parts.
One of my small critiques is that Kanan's dialogue sometimes sounded too much like Han. Like, weirdly similar to something Han would say in New Hope era. And I am not sure how much I enjoyed the plot being entirely around the two planets of Gorse and Cynda. I would have appreciated a bit of perspective from other worlds or a bit more interplanetary movement. But I understand how staying in that system really impacted the story.
Basically, I highly recommend for Rebels fans and those looking for a grounded Star Wars story with riveting characters from the Empire. Rae Sloan is amaaazzzinnngg. Hera and Kanan break my heart.
3.75 stars.
August 1, 2020
This book did it’s job in telling a story I didn’t want to stop. But there were a lot of areas where it could have been so much better. The writing style was not easy to follow, and it was more telling than showing. I also am so confused about what the book was even about. The plot was not interesting at all. The only thing that kept me going was wondering how it was going to lead into Rebels. Even then, it wasn’t completely satisfying. Kanan and Hera were done well, and the Star Wars vibe was definitely there, but I find myself disappointed.
February 3, 2024
Loved hearing more about how Hera and Kanan met 😭🥹 Kanan is underrated my opinion and this showed more of his character and what he did just to follow Hera. Even if you didn’t watch rebels this would be a good read and adds on to their story. A little slow at t imes but I loved every second of this and the villain was very interesting to read about. Star Wars audiobooks >>>>>>
January 11, 2023
A New Dawn was the first novel of the Disney canon. It set the standard for the canon in telling a small story focusing on the characters. The drawback of this style of storytelling is that it can be hit or miss depending on how the reader feels about the characters. Unfortunately, the supporting cast in this book was very uninteresting to me. Also, I had certain expectations for this novel considering that I read it after watching Rebels. Kanan is great. Hera is great. But it really wasn't the story I wanted.
I listened most of this book through the audiobook on a long drive. With all the constant POV switches, it was not a pleasant experience and part of the reason why I don't look back at this book favourably.
Kanan being a drunk idiot miner was probably my favourite part of the book. But the whole idea of the small guys trying to kill a cyborg villain seems a little bit too recycled.
I don't hate this book. But I certainly didn't like it either. Which is a shame because I really enjoy John Jackson Miller's other Star Wars works.
3 stars.
I listened most of this book through the audiobook on a long drive. With all the constant POV switches, it was not a pleasant experience and part of the reason why I don't look back at this book favourably.
Kanan being a drunk idiot miner was probably my favourite part of the book. But the whole idea of the small guys trying to kill a cyborg villain seems a little bit too recycled.
I don't hate this book. But I certainly didn't like it either. Which is a shame because I really enjoy John Jackson Miller's other Star Wars works.
3 stars.
January 15, 2016
Pretty solid. Reasonably entertaining, but not particularly compelling or memorable, with solid characters. Expected at least some lightsaber action based on the cover but nope, it stayed locked in a container the entire book and was only mentioned once or twice.
All told, A New Dawn didn't feel as Star Wars-y as I'd hoped, though maybe it's because it's based in a period I haven't read much into (between III and IV), where the Star Wars we know and love via space battles, different worlds, and saber duels is kind of in limbo.
Of course Marc Thompson was great, as was the audio production in general. Vidian sounded an awful lot like Thrawn, and I'm not sure whether it's a Thompson thing or an intentional thing.
All told, A New Dawn didn't feel as Star Wars-y as I'd hoped, though maybe it's because it's based in a period I haven't read much into (between III and IV), where the Star Wars we know and love via space battles, different worlds, and saber duels is kind of in limbo.
Of course Marc Thompson was great, as was the audio production in general. Vidian sounded an awful lot like Thrawn, and I'm not sure whether it's a Thompson thing or an intentional thing.
March 13, 2022
THIS BOOK MADE ME SO HAPPY.
With all the trappings of a good Star Wars story, Marc Thompson’s superb narration, and some of my absolute favorite Star Wars characters ever, A New Dawn was an absolutely wonderful read.
Star Wars: Rebels fans, you need this one.
And now I desperately need another book about Kanan and Hera’s adventures prior to Rebels, as well as the story of how Zeb and Sabine joined the crew. Please, please, please, Star Wars authors?
4.5 stars! Longer review to come, hopefully!
With all the trappings of a good Star Wars story, Marc Thompson’s superb narration, and some of my absolute favorite Star Wars characters ever, A New Dawn was an absolutely wonderful read.
Star Wars: Rebels fans, you need this one.
And now I desperately need another book about Kanan and Hera’s adventures prior to Rebels, as well as the story of how Zeb and Sabine joined the crew. Please, please, please, Star Wars authors?
4.5 stars! Longer review to come, hopefully!
August 8, 2015
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A New Dawn is a great title for this book in a symbolic sense. It plays off the fact that this is the very first in a series of new canon Star Wars novels, and what with the very first released Star Wars film being titled A New Hope, the title of the book also plays off fan nostalgia. It's also the dawn of a new Star Wars franchise in that the characters introduced here will be further developed in the Star Wars: Rebels cartoon. But thematically, the title seems forced (pun intended). Twi'lek youth Hera Syndulla is in search of, what we come to find out, other like-minded individuals with a yearning to take the Empire down. She wants to insight a galaxy-wide rebellion, although for most of the book she seems under the impression that the people aren't quite ready yet. When she realizes that there are, in fact, other rebellious individuals ready to heed her call to arms out there, only then does she refer to this as a 'new dawn.' And that just doesn't feel right. It also seems a bit odd after reading Lords of the Sith, where we find that the rebellion has already taken root against the Empire (thanks to her very own father laying down the first seeds). This review contains some minor spoilers.
A New Dawn does begin quite powerfully however. We discover Caleb Dume's origins as a character, particularly the fact that he was a promising padawan of the Jedi at the time when Order 66 went into affect and nearly wiped out all Jedi. We learn that it was a young Caleb Dume that originally gave Obi-Wan the idea to warn the Jedi away from the Temple, if there were ever cause for worry. It was an emotional beginning to the novel, one that ultimately put me in the best of mindsets for the rest of story to come.
We jump forward over a decade later to the planet Gorse, where Caleb Dume (now under the alias of Kanan Jarrus) flies a cargo-carrier for a living from the planet Gorse to it's moon Cynda, a menial job that should help him avoid detection amongst the Empire. He's long abandoned any thoughts on a return to taking Jedi action. But inevitably he is thrown into situations that occasionally require him to tap into the Force for aid. Unfortunately the book has very little of this, and even less lightsaber action. He's more of an over-cocky Han Solo type of character.
We learn that the Empire's mining of thorilide aids in the production of starships, particularly as a shock absorber for their turbolasers. The increased output required of the workers on Cynda could be hinting at the Empire's preparation of their Death Star program, but this is never mentioned outright. But one (extremely annoying) human, Skelly, realizes the increased mining output is essentially crippling the brittle moon, and would likely blow it up if the Empire kept at it. Nobody believes him, odd enough. Even after showing his calculations to a number of other individuals, they all seemed to disregard him as crazy. Of course, this is the setup for the eventual climax of the novel. Also a bit unnaturally forced.
The villain of the book was a strong one. Many times, especially when it comes to Star Wars, the story is only as good as the villain is bad. Count Denetrius Vidian is a cyborg, like Grievous before him, but we actually learn more about his past than we do with Grievous (at least Episode III's iteration of the character). He's augmented himself with the latest and greatest of just about everything to increase efficiency and productivity. In charge of meeting the Empire's insane thorilide quota, he is a one man reign of terror. And he causes plenty of trouble for our rebels.
Ultimately, despite a strong opening and closing, the meat of the novel just wasn't as interesting as it probably should have been. I couldn't find it in me to invest much in the characters, and I kind of wished the villain succeeded. The threat itself, while interesting, made for a slow and scattered plot.
A New Dawn is a great title for this book in a symbolic sense. It plays off the fact that this is the very first in a series of new canon Star Wars novels, and what with the very first released Star Wars film being titled A New Hope, the title of the book also plays off fan nostalgia. It's also the dawn of a new Star Wars franchise in that the characters introduced here will be further developed in the Star Wars: Rebels cartoon. But thematically, the title seems forced (pun intended). Twi'lek youth Hera Syndulla is in search of, what we come to find out, other like-minded individuals with a yearning to take the Empire down. She wants to insight a galaxy-wide rebellion, although for most of the book she seems under the impression that the people aren't quite ready yet. When she realizes that there are, in fact, other rebellious individuals ready to heed her call to arms out there, only then does she refer to this as a 'new dawn.' And that just doesn't feel right. It also seems a bit odd after reading Lords of the Sith, where we find that the rebellion has already taken root against the Empire (thanks to her very own father laying down the first seeds). This review contains some minor spoilers.
A New Dawn does begin quite powerfully however. We discover Caleb Dume's origins as a character, particularly the fact that he was a promising padawan of the Jedi at the time when Order 66 went into affect and nearly wiped out all Jedi. We learn that it was a young Caleb Dume that originally gave Obi-Wan the idea to warn the Jedi away from the Temple, if there were ever cause for worry. It was an emotional beginning to the novel, one that ultimately put me in the best of mindsets for the rest of story to come.
We jump forward over a decade later to the planet Gorse, where Caleb Dume (now under the alias of Kanan Jarrus) flies a cargo-carrier for a living from the planet Gorse to it's moon Cynda, a menial job that should help him avoid detection amongst the Empire. He's long abandoned any thoughts on a return to taking Jedi action. But inevitably he is thrown into situations that occasionally require him to tap into the Force for aid. Unfortunately the book has very little of this, and even less lightsaber action. He's more of an over-cocky Han Solo type of character.
We learn that the Empire's mining of thorilide aids in the production of starships, particularly as a shock absorber for their turbolasers. The increased output required of the workers on Cynda could be hinting at the Empire's preparation of their Death Star program, but this is never mentioned outright. But one (extremely annoying) human, Skelly, realizes the increased mining output is essentially crippling the brittle moon, and would likely blow it up if the Empire kept at it. Nobody believes him, odd enough. Even after showing his calculations to a number of other individuals, they all seemed to disregard him as crazy. Of course, this is the setup for the eventual climax of the novel. Also a bit unnaturally forced.
The villain of the book was a strong one. Many times, especially when it comes to Star Wars, the story is only as good as the villain is bad. Count Denetrius Vidian is a cyborg, like Grievous before him, but we actually learn more about his past than we do with Grievous (at least Episode III's iteration of the character). He's augmented himself with the latest and greatest of just about everything to increase efficiency and productivity. In charge of meeting the Empire's insane thorilide quota, he is a one man reign of terror. And he causes plenty of trouble for our rebels.
Ultimately, despite a strong opening and closing, the meat of the novel just wasn't as interesting as it probably should have been. I couldn't find it in me to invest much in the characters, and I kind of wished the villain succeeded. The threat itself, while interesting, made for a slow and scattered plot.
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October 16, 2019
"Or maybe it's time for people to be their own Jedi. They weren’t gods — just people like us, who saw a need. If they could find a way, I’m sure we can."
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