Edge of the Galaxy

Star Wars Rebels: Servants of the Empire #1

by Jason Fry

Zare Leonis seems destined to become a poster boy for the Empire. His sister, Dhara, has been accepted into the esteemed Imperial Academy on Lothal, and Zare is confident he'll join her in a year's time. But a year can bring plenty of unwelcome changes. Not only does he begin to uncover the Empire's destructive plans for Lothal and the livelihood of its people, but his unease hits home when Dhara mysteriously goes missing. Zare is forced to question everything and rethink what it means to be a good servant of the Empire.

This first book in an original series gives readers an insider's look into a different part of the world of Star Wars Rebels.

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fantasy, Childrens

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

I am the author of The Jupiter Pirates series published by HarperCollins -- visit the official site at http://jupiterpirates.com.

In addition to Jupiter Pirates, I've written or co-written more than 30 novels and short stories set in the Star Wars galaxy, including The Essential Atlas, The Essential Guide to Warfare, The Weapon of a Jedi, and the Servants of the Empire quartet.

I spent more than 12 years at The Wall Street Journal Online, where I wrote or co-wrote the Real Time and Daily Fix columns. My non-fiction work has appeared on ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports, Poynter.org, Deadspin and Baseball Prospectus. I blog about the New York Mets at Faith and Fear in Flushing and live in Brooklyn with my wife and son.

Reviews

[Sophie_The_Jedi_Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

Wow, I was surprised by how much fun I had with this one. Coming from Ezra's Gamble, I was expecting this to be more middle-grade and casual, but that was not what I read in here at all. This was a fantastic backstory into Zare Leonis. The side characters were also great, and I loved the displays of the Empire abusing their rule and the subplot of them being anti-alien as well. The school year format of this was also really great to follow. I can't wait to get into the next book; I loved this. 4.5/5 stars.

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is based on a story arc from the cartoon series. This is actually a prequel to that episode. One does not need to view that episode to read this book.

In that episode we meet Zare Leonis who is an Imperial cadet. Truthfully, he is a spy for the rebels and is searching for his missing sister. In this book, we get to know his sister as well as Zare's disillusionment with the Empire. This all takes place during a sports season that Zare is a participant.

This was a quick read that fits in nicely with the show. For a short read we do gain access to many aspects like friendship, government conspiracy, and racism. I did wish there was less sports coverage so the author could concentrate on these aspects. I also believe this book fits in nicely with the whole universe as we see the Empire wield its power and tighten its grip on planets but in the process start to lose people's loyalty.

This is the first book of a series and I am looking forward to continuing this series. It isn't complicated reading and this can be enjoyed by fans of all ages.

[ambyr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is better than it has any right to be. I've read other middle-grade Star Wars books and been unimpressed, but this offers a surprisingly nuanced kids' eye-view of what creeping fascism looks like and why people do and don't choose to resist. That it does so heavily through the vehicle of space-football--I mean, grav-ball--is, okay, a little tedious to this adult reader, and I admit I skimmed past the various play-by-plays of games. But I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to a young reader and I'm excited to see where the series goes once its football days are behind it.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rebels/Rogue One era is my favorite part of Star Wars. It's very interesting to see how the galaxy recovers from the Clone Wars, and how the rebellion against the Empire develops. This book series was highly recommended from a GR friend, and I looked forward to getting back in the Rebels world and Lothal.

It's interesting to see the Empire slowly crushing a planet through bureaucracy and propaganda rather than through outright warfare. This first novel in the series asks the basic question: When is it right to begin fighting against the government? Characters respond in a variety of ways, and each character's response makes sense and feels true within the story. Jason Fry has set up an intriguing narrative.

The main protagonist of the series is Zare Leonis, who will eventually connect with Ezra Bridger in the Rebels series. This is his backstory, explaining how he came to the Imperial Academy on Lothal, and why he is the way he is when Ezra finds him. Within this short book are themes of rebellion and submission, family obedience and conflict, leadership and sacrifice, patience and action, and social status and immigration. That's a lot of material for a "young readers" Star Wars book. I'm glad to see someone beginning to write Star Wars stories with that kind of complexity.

My only disappointment in this book is the focus on football. Yes, it's call "grav-ball" on Lothal, but from the descriptions, it's basically American football. If sports was going to be such a focus of this book, then I would have liked a more creative imagining of the game. Make something about it different from football.

I'd like to read the rest of the series, but alas, this is a case where the public library has failed me: they only have the first book. :(

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, Jason Fry! Impress me!

This is definitely a kids' book. Zare, the protagonist, is young. The writing is young and fast. But the writing is by no means simple or casual. This is the ground-level view of the empire and all its terrifying, mundane evils that permeate even small towns trying to live their lives. We're talking agriculture, revised history, sustainability vs profitability of resources, racism in positions of power, why everyday people cooperate with corrupt rule. The fact that all this laid out during a high school drama where Zare is on the football team was very odd in a Star Wars book. On the other hand, Fry did so well with the normal civilian understanding of the Empire that I found it charming, actually.

[Jon Huff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. A simple, quick read. But I was drawn in by the characters and plot. I look forward to the next one.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was such a mixed bag of really in depth insight to being an Imperial child and just middle grade drivel.
Zare really only wants to go to the Academy and become an Imperial officer like his sister before him. However, he starts to see behind the veil the Empire enforces when he sees his friends orchards completely destroyed for a mining expedition that could have saved the land and homes of peaceful farmers, the racist undertones of his athletic director, and the utter helplessness to stop any of it.

And that’s where the book sort of fails. It was a great setup of a younger protagonist grappling with truths he believes his whole life being lies. His entire way of life has been flipped. But there was so much time spent on sports as the framing device for these lessons…and it’s for grav-ball, a made up sport that I still don’t understand. I like the weight and impact that they were telling as a rebel was born in Zare…but the sports. Ugh. Otherwise a really deep middle grade book.

[David "Dax" Costantini · Rating 4 out of 5]

"And then I will help those Rebels bring the Empire down."
Frase meravigliosa che descrive perfettamente quel sentimento naturale che nasce dall'oppressione e dal dolore di chi vive per sopravvivere all'Impero.
Uno dei migliori libri canonici di Star Wars finora.
Riesce a dare uno scorcio di ciò che si vive fuori dalla solita guerra nello spazio e dal contesto Jedi/Sith. Forse sarà che non sono fan di Star Wars ma sento il bisogno di avere opere di questo tipo. Opere che mostrano anche l'altra faccia della medaglia e non opere che relegano tutto ciò a banali scene in cui vedi solo una frazione di tutto il male provocato dagli effetti di quello che succede nella Galassia lontana lontana.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, having read Ezra's Gamble first, I went into this thinking it was going to be a light-hearted kind of story, the one you'd expect for a book written for younger readers. Instead, this feels closer to a YA novel, or even an adult novel when you get right down to it. It's heavy, it has theme, and it takes a very mature look at what it means to be an average person in the Empire.

I'm really hoping my feelings on the book aren't due to my lowered expectations. If the rest of the series doesn't measure up to this one, I'm going to be disappointed.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zare Leonis should be a poster boy for the Empire, but he soon begins to question their motives when his sister disappears.

Fry's novel is in keeping with the series and is an entertaining read.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a soft spot for YA books and Star Wars has always fit well into that tradition.

I was going to pass on this initially. I was not a fan of Ezra's gamble and I'm not 100% sold on Rebels yet, in general. (I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would, but it has some real issues that are bothering me...) I read some really positive things about this, though, and it convinced me to give it a try. I'm very glad that I did.

Fry deftly handles the politics of the new Empire coming to an outer rim planet - far better than the adult novels have so far, honestly. It's basically a coming-of-age tale that hits on racism, classism, authority and the concept of real brainwashing. And it does all of this wrapped in an entertaining page turner of a novel.

Definitely worth checking out. It's a really enjoyable read.

Reread in 2019 (not part of my reread project...). Still loved this one (and interesting that I wasn't sold on Rebels when this came out as I really came around on this show...) and feel like it is one of Fry's best books. He has such great characters...

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been hungry for more information on the Leonis siblings ever since their brief cameo in Star Wars Rebels, and this book - the first of a quartet - does not disappoint. For a junior novel, it doesn't shy away from politics, economics, or even bigotry ("I have no issues with aliens myself," says one blatantly Space Racist character, "some of my best friends are nonhuman," like ACTUALLY.) It's heavy on the sports, sure, but I can absolutely see that appealing to the reluctant reader.

And, of course, the relationship between Zare Leonis and his sister Dhara - his catalyst for joining the Rebellion - is everything I hoped it would be.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far surpassed my expectations. I had heard it was a sports novel rip-off of Ender's Game, and admittedly the sports-heavy sections were not my cup of tea. Overall it ended up being much more poignant than I had anticipated, as the story of a young boy coming to understand the injustices of society and government. Even managed to touch on racism in a way that befits the tone of the book. It's certainly no masterpiece of literature, but it's pretty okay for a Star Wars book geared towards 12-year-olds.

[StanSwitek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always had a soft spot for the YA Star Wars books, like Last of the Jedi, Galaxy of Fear etc. this was a quick read, but Jason Fry packs a lot of characterization into 172 pages. This is Zare Leonis' real origin story and this had the feeling that this is only the beginning of his journey. It shows a lot of the day to day corruption of the Empire that has ruined Lothal.

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to this era in the Star Wars universe (between movie III and movie IV) from the side of people who still believe the Empire is there to help. Looking forward to reading more of these.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent middle grade Star Wars adventure. It's a prelude to the Rebels cartoon (the main character Zare appears in "Breaking Ranks", S01E04), but you don't need to know anything about the show to enjoy this book.

[Cailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tie-in and backstory. Adds richness to the world of Rebels.

[Richard L. Haas III · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is a prequel to the Star Wars: Rebels episode “Breaking Ranks” in the first season, it is completely unnecessary to have seen that episode or any episode, really, of Rebels. That may not fully be the case for the other books in this series but it certainly is for this one.

For a junior novel, I was shocked at how good it was. But again, I feel like this is a testament to the writing. Jason Fry knows Star Wars front to back and recognizes that there is no need to “dumb it down” for children because the films don’t do it so why should he? I can’t stress this enough for authors of middle and lower grade books for kids— writing for kids isn’t an excuse for poor writing. Fry, on the other hand, nails it and writes a story that I can confidently say both kids and adults will enjoy this read.

Personally, one of my favorite things about this book is it acts as a way for kids to fully grasp the negative aspect of the Empire as not just “the bad guys” but as a totalitarian military dictatorship under an absolute monarchy. An easy comparison one can make is a dystopian teen novel in the vain of Divergent, The Giver, Hunger Games, or Maze Runner. Applying that theme to Star Wars is absolutely brilliant because that is essentially what the Empire is, but often that oppression is often glossed over. So seeing that dystopia from the perspective of people inside the imperial military— cadets or soldiers— helps paint a bigger and clearer picture of how the Empire operates.

Another notion strengthened in this novel Fry tackles was the concept of racism (which is brought to the forefront with speciesism towards aliens and non-humans). Combating racism has always been an underlying theme in Star Wars— whether it was intentional or not. From the original film you see aliens on the side of the Rebels but all of the Imperials are human and often speak with a British accent. Of course part of that had to do with filming in Great Britain and not having the budget to make tons and tons of aliens, but it’s something that the community have embraced in both Legends and Canon continuities: Palpatine is overtly speciesist, therefore so is the Empire. It’s a rarity, but Palpatine has been known to place non-humans in power (such as Mas Amedda, The Grand Inquisitor, and of course, Grand Admiral Thrawn) but does not allow them to becomes stormtroopers or even fully diverse with humans. Seeing this reflected in the novel by having alien grav-ball players be pushed out because of their species was absolutely good thing to add from a writing standpoint— not only to appease logical canon junkies such as myself, but so kids can learn how to combat racism when or if it comes their way or to others around them. It’s another way of teaching right and wrong; the way it was written was extremely tasteful and well done.

On a more positive note, the book has tons of diverse concepts that many different kids and teens can gravitate towards: everything from politics, to sports, computer tech, romance, military and even farming. It’s got something for everyone. Additionally, I think it’s a fantastic extension of Rebels. We are introduced to Zare there, but he is completely fleshed out in the novel(s) and it helps add addition context to episodes that feature him and his story.

I think the only things I didn’t like the book were really give-and-take problems. Such as grav-ball. The inclusion of the sport was important for a lot of plot reasons as well as reasons to draw kids in who love sports. So I understand that. But as someone who isn’t big into sports, it was kind of hard to follow what the actual sport was. However, once I just imagined it to be space soccer, it flowed a lot better. So that’s nearly a non issue. The next issue is debatable. The back of the book literally spoils a plot point with Zare’s sister that doesn’t even happen until the end of the book. That’s not right, but I can’t really fault the book itself for it, so it’s alright I guess, but nearly everything else hit the mark to with near perfect precision.

[Kelvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, I try to tell people the Junior Star Wars lineup books are surprisingly good compared to its YA and Adult lineup series. I say that for many reasons but the main reasons I enjoy this book more so than the mainstream lineup is that these books touch base on the average galactic citizen and that the stories are often contained on a much smaller scale but pack a huge punch.

So in Servant to the Empire there are no Jedi, Sith, no Force or Senators, and Bounty Hunters—there is no grand overarching story to save the galaxy from the faceless evil empire that is often portrayed throughout Star Wars. Instead, the story focuses on the people behind that faceless evil empire, and we are quick to find out that these people are just… people.

For the most part, I like how Fray portrays the people who support the Empire as ambivalent. Sure, you got your standard diehard Empire lovers here and there, but for the most part, most people during this Imperial Era are just ‘eh, whatever’ about the Empire. Many just see it as the Republic but with tighter security and more bureaucracy and that’s it. The Empire isn’t portrayed as the usual faceless, autocracy as it’s usually shown in the movies and TV shows, here it’s portrayed as a pretty realistic political system, with people trying to use the system for the betterment of peoples’ lives and those who try to use the system for personal gain, AKA corruption. And I like that. I like that because that’s exactly how politics has been since the dawn of time, be it nonfiction or fiction.

This junior novel touches base on a lot of real-world themes most of the adult lineup novels don’t even come close to covering. It’s almost like opposite day or something. Here this book goes deep into themes like colonialism, classism, racism, political corruption that isn’t the typical on-the-nose Ponzi scheme or literal assassination attempts, but just some low-rent bureaucrat trying to get his own way into things by abusing his reputation, thinking too highly of himself and throwing off all types of passive-aggressive vibes throughout the novel.

In the end, it’s a solid quick read and you don’t even have to be a big Star Wars fan to get into this. But if you are a fan, then you will really apricate this book.

[DAYADEW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the things I expected this book to be, "sports story" never came to mind. Granted, it would be space sports story, but still. And I, who could never throw/kick/serve/successfully dodge a ball to save a life was kinda stuggling with the sports terms—space-ness aside—to understand a game that sounded like American football... in space.

Not too lengthy like the other novels (A New Dawn) so it's much easier to chew, but not as basic as the novelizations of Rebels season one, so it's no less enjoyable and in-depth. Aside from the "life lessons" it implants, i.e., destruction of natural environment (Filoni did say he was inspired by Princess Mononoke), a government that does more harm than good, and speciesism (is this a word? I dunno how else to call it), despite the fact that said gentlebeing doing the specisism is himself a Duros (can someone explain this to me? I am honestly confused. Aren't Duros non-humans as well? isn't he playing himself?) what I like about this is that it wipes the black and white of Imps and rebels. Show me more grey! There are people in the Empire who aren't evil for the sake of being evil, and misguided characters who genuinely think they're doing the right thing.
It's a point of view from the other side of the fence, which I seriously WISH Rebels and probably the whole Star Wars cinematic universe would show more of, because being part of the Empire doesn't always automatically make anyone a bad person.

Strong female character? Yes, please! I'm liking Merei more and more by the minute, and I like how she realistically specializes at one thing unlike some female characters loaded with so many capabilities that there's no more room for personality or, God forbid, flaws *coughcoughSabinecoughcough*

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since no new comics have been coming out lately, I've been using the time I would normally be reading those to catch up on some of the older Star Wars junior novels. I went into Edge of the Galaxy not knowing anything about the series other than the fact that it tied into the Rebels TV show somehow. I came out excited to continue the series and learn more about this new cast of characters.

The story takes place on Lothal, one of the main settings in Rebels, and from the looks of things the events of the show haven't started yet. The protagonist, Zare Leonis, is fourteen and has just moved to the planet with his parents and sister after having lived on space stations for most of his life previously. We see through his eyes as he learns about his new home and starts to realize that the Empire might not be the force of good everyone seems to think it is.

This is definitely an interesting take on Star Wars, since there's a lot of focus on school and sports, which isn't something you usually see, except maybe for the Imperial Academy. It's nice to get some new insight and perspectives on how the Star Wars galaxy maybe isn't so much different from our own. Of course there's the rising sense of unease about the Empire, and by the end of the narrative things have escalated significantly, which just makes me more excited to read the next installment.

Being a junior novel, I didn't have the highest expectations for the book, but was pleasantly surprised. I really found myself quite invested in the characters, worried about them, and wanting to know what happens next. If you enjoyed Star Wars Rebels or are a Star Wars fan in general, I think you'll appreciate Edge of the Galaxy.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always afraid when it comes to the new canon Star Wars stuff. The entire run has been one of the most inconsistent batches of books probably ever published. This was even more true in 2014, when Disney and LucasFilm were so eager to get stuff out after their merger, that it was pretty obvious quality control was the last thing on anyone's mind. It's a bit of surprise then, that one of (if not the first new canon story is actually pretty good.

Part of that is because this particular series of Star Wars stuff isn't mired in the craptastic Skywalker saga. Unlike that disaster of a story, the Rebels timeline makes sense. Yes, this particular segment of Star Wars is geared towards younger fans, but the story it's trying to tell has bearing on the entire franchise and ties in with the original films...unlike the new trilogy.

Edge of the Galaxy is also good because, unlike a lot of these YA/young readers stories, Fry's character of Zare and his friends are all teenagers. In other words, characters that fans can relate to. There's no pointless gender politics, no agendas, none of the PC BS that the new canon has ramrodded down everyone's throats. Most kids reading these stories just want to be entertained, or put themselves in the character's shoes, not be preached at.

And finally, Edge of the Galaxy is just a good story. It's entertaining, and sets up what eventually will lead to the Rebel Alliance in a way that makes sense.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the first in a four-book series that follows a character who’s in Rebels briefly (Zare Leonis, who’s in the episode in season 1 when Ezra infiltrates the Imperial Academy). In this book, you find out about Zaire’s background, his last year of school before entering the Academy, and his relationship with his sister.

I was expecting this to be a younger writing style like the other Rebels books I’ve read, but it actually fits a wider age range than I thought it would; the main character is 14/15, and it covers a lot as you see Zare’s path from being loyal to the Empire to doubting it to knowing it does evil. I would say upper middle grade and even junior high or early high school would all enjoy it. (There a little kissing which is more common in YA books than middle grade, which is part of what gives it the slightly older feel.) The content is original and interesting, and you really don’t even have to have watched Rebels to understand and enjoy this book.

The one thing I didn’t really enjoy in the book was that there are rather extensive descriptions of “grav ball” matches, which are thinly disguised American football games. It does eventually become relevant to the plot, but I honestly skimmed those parts quite a bit. But other than that: I enjoyed this book more than I expected as an adult, and am interested to see where the other books go with Zare’s character.

[Edith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro cae en la categoria Junior Novels y en algún momento de la saga hace un "crossover" con Rebels. Tenía curiosidad y temor sobre que iba a leer pero la verdad no me decepcionó. Creo que la única razón por la que la califican de Junior Novels es porque el número de paginas es mucho menor a una novela normal. Siento que la saga debe estar escrita como un sólo libro y luego la dividieron en cuatro partes. En fin. Si, este libro es la introducción a la vida de Zare Leonis antes de ser aceptado por la academia del Imperio. Sus peripecias en la escuela que funciona como highschool y sus problemas con el grav ball, una especie de futboll americano. Esto ocupa la mayor parte del libro pero es muy interesante como, a través de los ojos de Zare, poco a poco van mostrando la corrupción y destrucción que causa el Imperio al planeta Lothal, y los primeros destellos de una rebelión en ese planeta. Como digo este libro podrá parecer a muchos como paja pero podría apostar que ésta será una saga muy obscura donde un niño de 15 años tendrá que tomar decisiones difíciles para enfrentar al Imperio y encontrar a su hermana. Los demás libros por favor.

[Silver Keeper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The expansion of the Empire from the point of view of the young students of Lothal, the planet of the Outer Rim noted among the fans primary thanks to Rebels, the animated series.
Light school drama (sport competitions, crushes, conflicts with the parents, etc) under the shadow of the Emperor and his subordinates. This time, in the beginning, they aren't an oppressive military force to fight with blasters in a civil war but insidious managers and racist teachers. They can fool the good citizens with promises of progress and minimizing they damages to the environment and the people of Lothal.
This facade is not prolonged for too long, not for the protagonist, but it's interesting to read this kind of stories.

This is part 1 of 4, without an ending.
I hope to see more of this kind "light drama" before the civil war and the cross over with the animated series.
The evil showed in this novel for kids is more real and dangerous than the classic armed stormtrooper or the powerwul Sith Lord.

[Ahdom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am finally going back and reading the chapter books that correlate to the Rebels series. So far, I have enjoyed books adapted from the show as they add the value of character insight. However, my favorites have been the books that are original stories. Jason Fry does a great job on this book, which is a prequel to the Rebels series and is part of a 4 book series that center around Zare Leonis. This book kicks off the series and adds a complexity to the character that you simply cannot get from the show. These are great books for kids, but are great if you just can't get enough Star Wars or love the Rebels series. I am rewatching Rebels and as I do, I am reading the books. This makes a more complete experience for me as I move through episodes. I plan to follow this entire series as I complete my trek through the new canon.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by Jason Fry! I have been really enjoying this series... I read book 2, book 3, and then book 1 unintentionally. Although I read them out of order I was still able to follow the story effectively; most likely because I have seen the Rebels tv show. I absolutely loved learning more about Zare's character and seeing his background story more in depth, which was only briefly mentioned in a couple episodes of the tv show Rebels. I can't wait to read the last book in this series!!! :D

[Leensey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find myself a new favorite character in Zare Leonis.

I vaguely recall seeing his appearance in Star Wars Rebels, but this novel brought a great backstory for him.

I love that he genuinely cares, thought that the Empire was the key to peace and prosperity, but also that he didn't just accept their oppressive ways once he saw the truth for himself. He is a brave and bold character with relatable struggles.

I look forward to the next installments and I hope that he and Dhara find their way back to each other and help the Rebellion in taking the Empire down.

[Graham Tomlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book, the story revolves around all new characters who's lives become overshadowed by the overwhelming might of the Empire. Based on Ezras home planet of Lothal we see how the Empire is initially seen as a kind benefactor to the people but as they begin to see the true nature of the Empire throughout the story their opinions begin to change. A surprisingly adult theme for a young adult novel. Recommended

[Joss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Other readers have shared how pleasantly surprised they had been by this short book, although it is marketed for a young audience. I agree. But I personally did not care for the American-football-like sports game, as important as it was to the story. This might be the first time that I feel this much of an «American-ness» to Star Wars, and it threw me off a bit. But that did not bother me enough to make me dislike it, and the overall story connects nicely to the Rebels animated series.