Bottleneck

Star Wars Disney Canon Short Stories

by John Jackson Miller

When Grand Moff Tarkin is tasked by Emperor Palpatine to investigate a dispute slowing Imperial production on a backwater planet, he expects an easy mission. Instead, Tarkin must forge a tense alliance with Count Vidian, the Empire’s newest rising star and a most capable rival. Matching wits and risking betrayal at every turn, the two powerful Imperials duel to gain the upper hand…and elude, at all costs, the price of failure.

Short story in The Rise of the Empire.

Genres: Star Wars, Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fiction

22 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2015

About the author

New 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.

Reviews

[Mike Markle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this short story anticipating a quick read I wouldn't enjoy much. I read a few spoiler free reviews that were critical of Tarkin's involvement in armor production and that it would be below The Grand Moff. In my opinion, it wasn't. I gave us another cool look into how Tarkin operates and that it's an impossible task to outsmart him. He is always two moves ahead.

I really enjoyed Count Vidian and I look forward to learning more about him. He was a great counter character to Tarkin.

As far as the story goes, I felt like the author took a subject that could be boring, turned it into a cool story about Day to day empire business and made it interesting. Also, the twists and turns the story took kept me involved. Solid 8/10, really liked it!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Respectable story that did an effective job of capturing Tarkin's speech and demeanor. A few connections to other characters were a nice bonus.

[Mayumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais uma mostra da mente estrategista de Tarkin nesse conto no livrão Star Wars: The Rise of the Empire, e ótima apresentação de Conde Vidian, principal "vilão" de A New Dawn, antes dos eventos do seu próprio livro.

Ótimas questões políticas são levantadas nesse livro, e acho que podemos concordar que o Império não se preocupa muito com o bem estar das pessoas nem dos planetas que ~anexa~. Mas apesar de só querer vantagem em toda empreitada, até o Império sabe que a questão de privatização ou imperialização deve ser analisada caso a caso.

[Ahdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story complimented A New Dawn, but didn't necessary dd much to the story or the characters. THe use of the Emperor felt kind of forced in this short story, yet it was cool to have him involved. All that to say, I read New Dawn and Tarkin a while back and certainly this story would have meant more to me had I read them around that time, but it likely would still feel like a DELETED SCENES feature if the book were a DVD.

[Jennifer Linsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though Mr. Miller speaks in his foreword to his book, A New Dawn, about all the creators of the current Star Wars branded content sitting at the same metaphorical table, in this story he presents a different, harder Tarkin than that presented by Mr. Luceno, whose book precedes the story in the omnibus edition. It is difficult, for example, to imagine Miller's Tarkin having the heartfelt discussion that Luceno's has with Darth Vader.

Still, the story is quite readable, and while trivial, a worthy addition to the Tarkin biography.

[Alternate Lore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly impressive short story that manages to do a lot over a short page count. There is a look inside the politics of the galaxy at this time, some exciting new characters, returning characters that stay true to their past appearances, a surprising twist, and a generous share of connections to other work. A much more effective Tarkin story then the eponymous book was.

[Richard L. Haas III · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Luceno’s Tarkin novel captures the essence of Grand Moff Tarkin a little too perfectly, often becoming extremely dry to read. John Jackson Miller, on the other hand, writes him just as well but it doesn’t come across as dry. Perhaps this had to do in part with the addition of Miller’s own character, Count Vidian, from A New Dawn— however the relationship and rivalry between Tarkin and Vidian paralleled Tarkin and Vader in the Tarkin novel a little too much for my taste. Regardless, the writing riveting and the pacing was extremely well done. You could tell Miller knew that this short would be published in between Tarkin and A New Dawn (theoretically being read in that order) and took extremely careful care and consideration in crafting the story. What we ended up with was a intriguing epilogue for Tarkin and a fascinating first introduction to Vidian. Side Note: Introducing Rae Sloane into this story could have felt forced but it was natural and masterfully done.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I see why the “Rise of the Empire” book went in the order that it did with this in between “Tarkin” and “A New Dawn”. Whoops. Probably should have read them as such instead of reading “A New Dawn” first...but I wanted more Kanera after finishing Rebels

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief interlude leading in to A New Dawn, taking in a few old 'friends' and introducing a new enemy.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really striking out with these Star Wars short stories.

[Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

proud to be union

[Tia Seitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short star wars story about Tarkin was a great addition to his novel. It was very well put together and tied the novel together with the next books in the canon time line.

[Caleb Sommerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice quick little story. Vidian is neat and more ruthless Tarkin is never a bad thing.

[Kurt Lorenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining in its own right, but also successful in being both an epilogue to Tarkin and a prologue to A New Dawn.

[Matthew Juffs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look into Tarkin and how he deals with issues with Imperial Suppliers and fellow colleagues.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief look at Tarkin in his younger years.

[Joe]

Short, sweet and very good! This story I would have liked longer to read more of, it was that good

[Adam Kiewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty interesting short story surrounding efficiency. its a good prelude to a new dawn

[Morten · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[hyperspace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have preferred if this was strictly an introduction to Count Vidian before A New Dawn. Tarkin's actions from the previous story (also named Tarkin) don't line up here. It's also hard to believe the sole Grand Moff, and more so the Emperor would be tasked with accelerating armor production.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but I really wished it was better.

[Jessamyn Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...