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Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy #2
The Hutt Gambit
Here is the second novel in the blockbuster new trilogy that reveals the never-before-told story of the young Han Solo. Set before the Star Wars(r) movie adventures, these books chronicle the coming-of-age of the galaxy's most famous con man, smuggler and thief.Solo is now a fugitive from the Imperial Navy. But he has made a valuable friend in a former Wookiee slave named Chewbacca, who has sworn Han a life debt. Han will need all the help he can get. For the Ylesian Hutts have dispatched the dreaded bounty hunter Boba Fett to track down the man who already outsmarted them once. But Han and Chewie find themselves in even bigger trouble when they agree to lend their services to the crime lords Jiliac and Jabba the Hutt. Suddenly the two smugglers are thrust into the middle of a battle between the might of the Empire and the treachery of their outlaw allies...a battle where even victory means death!Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1997
205 people are currently reading
3603 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Crispin
70 books314 followersAnn Carol Crispin (1950-2013) was an American science fiction writer, the author of over twenty published novels. She wrote professionally since 1983. She wrote several Star Trek and Star Wars novels, and created her own original science fiction series called Starbridge.
Crispin also served as Eastern Regional Director, and then Vice President, of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. With Victoria Strauss, she founded Writer Beware, a "watchdog" group that is part of SFWA that warns aspiring writers about the dangers of scam agents, editors, and publishers. Writer Beware was founded in 1998, and has assisted law enforcement and civil authorities in tracking and shutting down writing scams.
Crispin, who also wrote a prequel providing the back story for the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, died on September 6th, 2013 at the Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf, aged 63.
She was married to science fiction author Michael Capobianco.
Crispin also served as Eastern Regional Director, and then Vice President, of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. With Victoria Strauss, she founded Writer Beware, a "watchdog" group that is part of SFWA that warns aspiring writers about the dangers of scam agents, editors, and publishers. Writer Beware was founded in 1998, and has assisted law enforcement and civil authorities in tracking and shutting down writing scams.
Crispin, who also wrote a prequel providing the back story for the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, died on September 6th, 2013 at the Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf, aged 63.
She was married to science fiction author Michael Capobianco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
February 9, 2024
This was an enjoyable read. A C. Crispin really went for the more wacky decisions in this story. Its much more "goofy" in some areas than book 1 was. However, that doesn't mean it was bad, it just means its very different.
The biggest compliment I'll give this book is it is "fun". Much like the movie "Solo" (which I think this series fits tonally), this book is just a fun read. It may not be the highest of stakes, or even the most believable of stakes, and yet it is so entertaining to read. A strong positive for a book.
The story I hoped to follow actually doesn't appear to happen until book 3, specifically the stuff with Bria and Lando and the Millenium Falcon. All of them are present here in some way, but really only in cameo form, not much more than that. (There are some other fantastic cameos that I won't spoil here).
I saw some reveiws complaining about the "show-don't-tell" issues in this book, and I see where they're coming from. We don't see Han in the Academy, we hear about it. We don't see Han save Chewy, we hear about it. I think it would have been cool to get some flashback scenes like we did in book 1, but the story was still interesting here.
Han has several romantic relationships in this book, and between that and his swagger that he has throughout the book, he felt much more like "James Bond" here than he did in book 1, where he felt more like Indiana Jones (who will he feel like in book 3?)
The whole Hutt stuff was somewhat interesting, especially with the intrigue and backstabbing and infighting. But all I was really fascinated by was Teroenza, who has been and continues to be a standout character.
And the stuff with Jiliac the Hutt was just weird. Just absolutely bizzare.
The book's ending battle was ok, and I thought it was clever the way Crispin set it up. But it got so tense for that big ending scene where (redacted) shows up and just owns the scene (and without actually being seen by the audience).
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, despite some of the wacky decisions. Not quite as strong as book 1, but still entertaining nonetheless. I'll give this an 8.5 out of 10. Still really strong.
The biggest compliment I'll give this book is it is "fun". Much like the movie "Solo" (which I think this series fits tonally), this book is just a fun read. It may not be the highest of stakes, or even the most believable of stakes, and yet it is so entertaining to read. A strong positive for a book.
The story I hoped to follow actually doesn't appear to happen until book 3, specifically the stuff with Bria and Lando and the Millenium Falcon. All of them are present here in some way, but really only in cameo form, not much more than that. (There are some other fantastic cameos that I won't spoil here).
I saw some reveiws complaining about the "show-don't-tell" issues in this book, and I see where they're coming from. We don't see Han in the Academy, we hear about it. We don't see Han save Chewy, we hear about it. I think it would have been cool to get some flashback scenes like we did in book 1, but the story was still interesting here.
Han has several romantic relationships in this book, and between that and his swagger that he has throughout the book, he felt much more like "James Bond" here than he did in book 1, where he felt more like Indiana Jones (who will he feel like in book 3?)
The whole Hutt stuff was somewhat interesting, especially with the intrigue and backstabbing and infighting. But all I was really fascinated by was Teroenza, who has been and continues to be a standout character.
And the stuff with Jiliac the Hutt was just weird. Just absolutely bizzare.
The book's ending battle was ok, and I thought it was clever the way Crispin set it up. But it got so tense for that big ending scene where (redacted) shows up and just owns the scene (and without actually being seen by the audience).
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, despite some of the wacky decisions. Not quite as strong as book 1, but still entertaining nonetheless. I'll give this an 8.5 out of 10. Still really strong.
February 12, 2017
I still have issues with this Han Solo series: once again, it's all tell-don't-show in regards to Solo's imperial career and his rescue of Chewie from slavery (unforgivably covered in a matter of a few pages). Solo's first meeting with Lando is also rather perfunctory, and far less momentous than it could have been. But those complaints aside, this is a major leap in quality from the previous book. It's far more exciting and engaging a tale than "The Paradise Snare", and it manages to make Hutt society and politics -- never an interest of mine -- into something fascinating and compelling. Hopefully, this upward trend in quality continues in the final book of the Han Solo trilogy.
March 11, 2025
This felt like pure Star Wars, but I love how dark some parts of this series has been. I loved the last scene, when Han was on the other side of the door when Vader walked in to kill the Admiral, and having no idea who he was yet. That was really cool. And I'm happy they can make a full story about Han without him running into every single famous character either.
I also loved the Battle for Nar Shadda. I wasn't expecting to love that planet so much, but I do. I wonder who sent the mysterious message to the Imperials to lose on purpose though. Maybe Bria? This is definitely one of my favorite trilogies, if the third one is as good. It's so much better then the Solo film too.
I also loved the Battle for Nar Shadda. I wasn't expecting to love that planet so much, but I do. I wonder who sent the mysterious message to the Imperials to lose on purpose though. Maybe Bria? This is definitely one of my favorite trilogies, if the third one is as good. It's so much better then the Solo film too.
October 28, 2011
Reading (or in the case of Star Wars The Han Solo Trilogy rereading) Star Wars books, with all their cheesie craptasticness is a great reminder of just how bad George Lucas' universe is.
It is all contradictions and stock characters and pretty lights and bad plots and predictability and self-referential bullshit and unspeakable dialogue and sci-fantastic worlds. And that's exactly why we love them so much -- or at least why I do -- because they are drivel.
So when A.C. Crispin, who is obviously a fan of Han Solo, has her hero leading smugglers in an attack on an Imperial Fleet come to destroy Nar Shaddaa, it doesn't matter that it further damages his original trilogy character development (the worst damage was done by Lucas, after all, so the Creator himself set the precedent). And when Han comes up with the master plan that will help defeat the fleet (an ex-lover whose illusions would put David Copperfield to shame), and when Han is used by Jabba and Jiliac the Hutts to bribe the Admiral of the fleet, and when Han barely escapes from Boba Fett long before his Empire encounter with the bounty hunter (and makes him a mortal enemy by stealing his Mandalorian wrist darts), and when Han falls in love with the Millenium Falcon in about as banal a way as I can imagine, and when Han meets and befriends Lando Calrissian on the spot, who turns out to be a man who loves responsibility long before he becomes responsible for Cloud City, and when Han peaks out of a closet at a Darth Vader murder, it doesn't matter because its just as contradictory and silly as all Star Wars tales. And it's just as fun.
So I admit it ... I really, really liked The Hutt Gambit because I am a nostalgic git with no taste. But I'm okay with that.
It is all contradictions and stock characters and pretty lights and bad plots and predictability and self-referential bullshit and unspeakable dialogue and sci-fantastic worlds. And that's exactly why we love them so much -- or at least why I do -- because they are drivel.
So when A.C. Crispin, who is obviously a fan of Han Solo, has her hero leading smugglers in an attack on an Imperial Fleet come to destroy Nar Shaddaa, it doesn't matter that it further damages his original trilogy character development (the worst damage was done by Lucas, after all, so the Creator himself set the precedent). And when Han comes up with the master plan that will help defeat the fleet (an ex-lover whose illusions would put David Copperfield to shame), and when Han is used by Jabba and Jiliac the Hutts to bribe the Admiral of the fleet, and when Han barely escapes from Boba Fett long before his Empire encounter with the bounty hunter (and makes him a mortal enemy by stealing his Mandalorian wrist darts), and when Han falls in love with the Millenium Falcon in about as banal a way as I can imagine, and when Han meets and befriends Lando Calrissian on the spot, who turns out to be a man who loves responsibility long before he becomes responsible for Cloud City, and when Han peaks out of a closet at a Darth Vader murder, it doesn't matter because its just as contradictory and silly as all Star Wars tales. And it's just as fun.
So I admit it ... I really, really liked The Hutt Gambit because I am a nostalgic git with no taste. But I'm okay with that.
June 24, 2021
There’s less to tie this one into a coherent single plot like there was with The Paradise Snare, but The Hutt Gambit still has much going for it. Unlike Snare which took place over a few months, Gambit covers about two years, taking us from roughly 5 years before the Battle of Yavin, down to about 3 years beforehand. Events are more spaced out, and on top of that two trilogies of stories, written back in the very earliest days of Star Wars’ Expanded Universe of books – the Han Solo Adventures, published 1979, and the Lando Calrissian Adventures, published 1983 – take place right in the middle. Crispin must skip over the events of those books, and yet reference them pretty heavily given the interleaved time periods involved. If you haven’t read these early adventure stories – and I remember that I hadn’t when I read The Hutt Gambit for the first-time way back in the day – you are left with the distinct feeling that you’ve missed out on a sizeable chunk of story. It’s nice that Crispin is so attentive to interweaving with canon (or, what was then the canon), but it does give Gambit the feeling of some notable gaps. That’s probably the most significant bad point about this book. You can feel like you’re missing something.
The good point is that this feels much more like the Han Solo we know. This is not the teenager of Snare who, despite his street upbringing, has an awful lot of romance and a certain idealistic naivety to him, an uncertainty of what he is doing and where he is going. Gambit presents us with a Solo who has settled comfortably into his adult identity, who has confidence about striking out on his path of the smuggler’s life and his ability to handle what it can throw at him. He’s more cynical and wiser to the dangers, cons, and double-crosses that lie ahead. As a result, the character is more familiar to us and I think more likeable as we begin to recognise someone we know.
But I have to say I appreciated the world building and thought that was a huge bonus for this book. Yes, Crispin references characters originally presented by Vonda McIntyre in The Crystal Star but she makes them her own. Han’s old smuggling buddies in Crystal Star felt like they were missing a lot of context. Here they feel like Crispin’s own because she provides us with that context, shows us their personalities more extensively and exactly what dynamics the young Han had with them all. She spends a lot of time on literal world-building too, and Nar Shaddaa feels suitably dingy, I felt like I was slumming it along with Han and Chewie, but at the same time is really made and brought to life by the vibrancy of the characters and their vitality. Crispin succeeded in getting me invested in these colourful personalities, and so when the battle swings around, I cared quite a bit about the outcome.
Speaking of the battle, I think this was really well done, and not because it was the biggest or flashiest battle in Star Wars – because it clearly wasn’t, I mean the Imperial forces descending on them are paltry, kind of bottom of the barrel of what the Empire can muster. But it mattered firstly because as aforementioned Crispin vividly brought Nar Shaddaa’s inhabitants to life and you don’t want them to die, and second because the smugglers are a ramshackle group who can barely muster a defence against some of the worst the Empire can offer. That gives this battle huge tension! The big guns, the big names, even, are absent (well, apart from a teeny unnamed cameo), and yet people are afraid of the Empire, and there are unscrupulous folk all over the galaxy willing to serve. It shows what a monumental challenge any resistance – and the Rebel Alliance, later on – faces. That gives the battle a lot of meaning, and the clever thinking required to cajole a draw out of the situation is entertaining to read about.
I want to mention, finally, an element that was a surprising positive element to the story, and that is the Hutts. The impression we get of the Hutts in the original trilogy is, quite understandably, one of loathsome villains. And that they still are, Crispin doesn’t mess with what has been established. But by expanding on the species’ history and society, she actually makes reading about them interesting, and individual characters such as Jiliac, Jabba, and Durga, dare I say this, even somewhat likeable. There are moments when they struggle against unfair adversity, show clear intelligence, or appreciate or otherwise respect our hero, Han Solo. And I honestly feel this was a good thing, because instead of being stock villains, or worse, boring to read about, Crispin makes their parts quite fascinating and evokes a little empathy from the reader; the empathy of understanding while still disagreeing and condemning. Crispin deserves credit for that, I think. It’s kind of chilling to see the friendly relationship Han develops with them here, in light of how that will later turn into vicious hate.
Talk about the real Boba Fett: Fett gets his own chunk of page space in this book and we are explicitly told that he used to be Journeyman Protector Jaster Mereel before murdering someone cast him out and led him to becoming a bounty hunter and changing his name. I still prefer this to the clone nonsense. It feels far more impressive that he was just an ordinary guy who worked his way up from the bottom to become the deadly force that he became, rather than him just being a lesser copy of his dad. The former is way more badass than the latter.
I’d recommend this, to be sure. It makes my cut.
7 out of 10
The good point is that this feels much more like the Han Solo we know. This is not the teenager of Snare who, despite his street upbringing, has an awful lot of romance and a certain idealistic naivety to him, an uncertainty of what he is doing and where he is going. Gambit presents us with a Solo who has settled comfortably into his adult identity, who has confidence about striking out on his path of the smuggler’s life and his ability to handle what it can throw at him. He’s more cynical and wiser to the dangers, cons, and double-crosses that lie ahead. As a result, the character is more familiar to us and I think more likeable as we begin to recognise someone we know.
But I have to say I appreciated the world building and thought that was a huge bonus for this book. Yes, Crispin references characters originally presented by Vonda McIntyre in The Crystal Star but she makes them her own. Han’s old smuggling buddies in Crystal Star felt like they were missing a lot of context. Here they feel like Crispin’s own because she provides us with that context, shows us their personalities more extensively and exactly what dynamics the young Han had with them all. She spends a lot of time on literal world-building too, and Nar Shaddaa feels suitably dingy, I felt like I was slumming it along with Han and Chewie, but at the same time is really made and brought to life by the vibrancy of the characters and their vitality. Crispin succeeded in getting me invested in these colourful personalities, and so when the battle swings around, I cared quite a bit about the outcome.
Speaking of the battle, I think this was really well done, and not because it was the biggest or flashiest battle in Star Wars – because it clearly wasn’t, I mean the Imperial forces descending on them are paltry, kind of bottom of the barrel of what the Empire can muster. But it mattered firstly because as aforementioned Crispin vividly brought Nar Shaddaa’s inhabitants to life and you don’t want them to die, and second because the smugglers are a ramshackle group who can barely muster a defence against some of the worst the Empire can offer. That gives this battle huge tension! The big guns, the big names, even, are absent (well, apart from a teeny unnamed cameo), and yet people are afraid of the Empire, and there are unscrupulous folk all over the galaxy willing to serve. It shows what a monumental challenge any resistance – and the Rebel Alliance, later on – faces. That gives the battle a lot of meaning, and the clever thinking required to cajole a draw out of the situation is entertaining to read about.
I want to mention, finally, an element that was a surprising positive element to the story, and that is the Hutts. The impression we get of the Hutts in the original trilogy is, quite understandably, one of loathsome villains. And that they still are, Crispin doesn’t mess with what has been established. But by expanding on the species’ history and society, she actually makes reading about them interesting, and individual characters such as Jiliac, Jabba, and Durga, dare I say this, even somewhat likeable. There are moments when they struggle against unfair adversity, show clear intelligence, or appreciate or otherwise respect our hero, Han Solo. And I honestly feel this was a good thing, because instead of being stock villains, or worse, boring to read about, Crispin makes their parts quite fascinating and evokes a little empathy from the reader; the empathy of understanding while still disagreeing and condemning. Crispin deserves credit for that, I think. It’s kind of chilling to see the friendly relationship Han develops with them here, in light of how that will later turn into vicious hate.
Talk about the real Boba Fett: Fett gets his own chunk of page space in this book and we are explicitly told that he used to be Journeyman Protector Jaster Mereel before murdering someone cast him out and led him to becoming a bounty hunter and changing his name. I still prefer this to the clone nonsense. It feels far more impressive that he was just an ordinary guy who worked his way up from the bottom to become the deadly force that he became, rather than him just being a lesser copy of his dad. The former is way more badass than the latter.
I’d recommend this, to be sure. It makes my cut.
7 out of 10
August 9, 2016
5 stars
Nice to see Han and Bria. Also liked seeing Chewie and Lando. Han got his own ship. Yay!!!
Hope to read more Han Solo books!! Can't wait to read Rebel Dawn!!!!
Nice to see Han and Bria. Also liked seeing Chewie and Lando. Han got his own ship. Yay!!!
Hope to read more Han Solo books!! Can't wait to read Rebel Dawn!!!!
May 16, 2023
Got to page 86 and I found more reasons to NOT read this than to finish. May be my mood or maybe I just don't like what I've read so far (slow going, I thought) but I'll put it aside for now and hope to pick up later since I read the 1st in the series and liked it.
Why is it more often than not I find the Star Wars books hard to read and end up putting them down??
5/23 - Well, picked this back up and was determined to finish, which I did in a few days. The story didn't improve much as I found it a very uneven read. When it was slow going, it was really slow but then there were exciting bits which helped with the story.
Many things I did not like about this story, which I won't go into, but appreciated the mention of Lando and the ongoing relationship with Chewie plus the introduction of the Millennium Falcon.
I have one more to finish this trilogy but think I'll take a long break from getting to it.
Ultimately this is one book I'm glad I'm done with.
Why is it more often than not I find the Star Wars books hard to read and end up putting them down??
5/23 - Well, picked this back up and was determined to finish, which I did in a few days. The story didn't improve much as I found it a very uneven read. When it was slow going, it was really slow but then there were exciting bits which helped with the story.
Many things I did not like about this story, which I won't go into, but appreciated the mention of Lando and the ongoing relationship with Chewie plus the introduction of the Millennium Falcon.
I have one more to finish this trilogy but think I'll take a long break from getting to it.
Ultimately this is one book I'm glad I'm done with.
February 5, 2021
I own this book.
The Hutt Gambit starts with a crestfallen Han Solo who is exiled from the Imperial Navy following his brave yet also idiotic move to save a wookie from certain death. That wookie is now following him. Chewbecca swears he owes Han a life debt and won't leave his side until it is followed through. Han couldn't care less about this until he finds that having a co-pilot and a gunner is actually pretty helpful for a former Imperial turned smuggler. We meet an array of excellent characters in this book; including Xaverri and Salla, both former love interests of Han, we meet Jarik Solo, a young street urchin who claims he's related to Han, even though Han knows he isn't, he still takes him under his wing. This book was fast-paced, despite taking place over a series of years. We see Han and Chewie become best friends, we see them dealing with Nal Hutta and infiltrating an Imperial Dreadnaught. We also get a little sneak peak of Lord Vader in this book, which we all know I love to see.
As a neutral fan of Han Solo, these books really do add depth to his character in a way we don't see very much in Solo or the other movies. It's clear some of the inspiration for Qi'ra has come from Bria however. This really is an interesting and easy to read trilogy. I think AC Crispin is definitely a best selling sci-fi writer for a reason.
The Hutt Gambit starts with a crestfallen Han Solo who is exiled from the Imperial Navy following his brave yet also idiotic move to save a wookie from certain death. That wookie is now following him. Chewbecca swears he owes Han a life debt and won't leave his side until it is followed through. Han couldn't care less about this until he finds that having a co-pilot and a gunner is actually pretty helpful for a former Imperial turned smuggler. We meet an array of excellent characters in this book; including Xaverri and Salla, both former love interests of Han, we meet Jarik Solo, a young street urchin who claims he's related to Han, even though Han knows he isn't, he still takes him under his wing. This book was fast-paced, despite taking place over a series of years. We see Han and Chewie become best friends, we see them dealing with Nal Hutta and infiltrating an Imperial Dreadnaught. We also get a little sneak peak of Lord Vader in this book, which we all know I love to see.
As a neutral fan of Han Solo, these books really do add depth to his character in a way we don't see very much in Solo or the other movies. It's clear some of the inspiration for Qi'ra has come from Bria however. This really is an interesting and easy to read trilogy. I think AC Crispin is definitely a best selling sci-fi writer for a reason.
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January 2, 2024Absolutely loved Paradise Snare (1st book in this trilogy). Enjoyed this one but lost interest a few times. Overall loved how this author portrays Han,Lando, and Chewie. By the end of the book I was definitely excited to read the final book, Rebel Dawn.
October 7, 2025
(4.5 rounded up)
“The Hutt Gambit” picks up 5 years after “The Paradise Snare” and continues A.C. Crispin’s depiction of young(ish) Han Solo’s life in the now non-Canon Star Wars Legends timeline. In this one we see Han form his partnership with Chewbacca, have his first run ins with several classic Star Wars characters (Lando, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt) and falls in love with the Millennium Falcon.
The Hutt Gambit felt like a natural extension of the last book and improves on a lot of what Crispin had done with Han’s character. I will say it does open with one event I find to be not as good as the Canon depiction of Han’s early life in “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. The circumstances of Han’s meeting/befriending Chewbacca in the book I found to be nowhere as neat as they were in the Solo movie. I just much preferred the film’s version of Han and Chewie being forced to cooperate initially before Chewie came to trust Han and they started sticking together because they enjoy each other’s company. The off-screen rescue and life debt vow of the book I personally found to just be half baked for what’s supposed to be a momentous occasion in their lives and the Galaxy’s history. Besides that, I did think Han’s story was a bit all over the place in the first half and lacked clear focus.
Beyond these parts though I contend The Hutt Gambit was a pretty great Han Solo and Star Wars story. I liked how Han came into his own in the criminal underworld after his Imperial career and actually managed to impress the Hutts with his skills and overall audacity. The Hutt storyline was one of the book’s best, feeling very reminiscent of “Dune” and “Song of Ice and Fire” in all the backstabbing and scheming. I’m not too much of a Jabba fan but I do think this is one of the better stories about him as we see Jabba come to enjoy Han’s capabilities/antics and learning crime lord talents from his uncle/aunt (I’m sure certain sections of the fandom will hate that plot point). The return of last book’s cult scam in the Hutt storyline was a nice way to keep that going, as was the return of Bria. Still mostly prefer Qi’ra to Bria as “the one that got away” (although Han the Himbo in Legends means Han has plenty of girlfriends now in this book) but I did like the direction Crispin is taking Bria after the first book and I look forward to seeing where Crispin takes Bria’s story (I had her fate spoiled years ago but still looking forward to seeing how we get there). The book ultimately culminates in the Battle of Nar Shadda which I found to be a solid set piece (even if I think it should have been the Battle of Tanaab to tie in with that battle’s reference in the movies). We get ship combat action which as a fan of the X-Wing and Alphabet Squadron books I appreciate. Moreover we get to see Han both show off his talents/imagination as a pilot and his leadership potential. The whole battle just felt like a good example of the out-of-the-box thinking that has to be employed by Star Wars heroes in the face of overwhelming odds.
Besides Han’s development and her original storylines, Crispin does a nice job tying everything in with the other Star Wars stories from this era. There were some Legends continuity nods in the last book (i.e., Corran Horn’s dad) but I noticed more here, particularly Soontir Fel from the X-Wing books, having Han meet characters from “Dark Empire”, and firmly establishing when during the book it overlaps with “The Lando Calrissian Adventures”. Really the only continuity nod/cameo I didn’t appreciate was Vader’s even if it was harmless (it just brought little to Han’s story). All in all I really appreciated the smorgasborg of other Star Wars content alluded to here and it made me appreciate taking the time to read other Legends content (even those I didn't like so much) before this, it makes it clear Crispin loves the franchise and tying everything in satisfactorily.
Despite some nitpicks and small complaints, I really got sucked into reading “The Hutt Gambit”, with Crispin expertly building off the first book and delivering an extremely satisfactory Han Solo story that brings him closer to his movie storyline. If anything I think this could have worked as a Star Wars movie, specifically as a good basis for “Solo 2” with Han’s introduction to Jabba and subsequent association with the Hutt Clans’, following up on his ex’s Galaxy influencing storyline, etc. I’m really hoping that “Rebel Dawn” brings Crispin’s trilogy to a great ending.
“The Hutt Gambit” picks up 5 years after “The Paradise Snare” and continues A.C. Crispin’s depiction of young(ish) Han Solo’s life in the now non-Canon Star Wars Legends timeline. In this one we see Han form his partnership with Chewbacca, have his first run ins with several classic Star Wars characters (Lando, Boba Fett, Jabba the Hutt) and falls in love with the Millennium Falcon.
The Hutt Gambit felt like a natural extension of the last book and improves on a lot of what Crispin had done with Han’s character. I will say it does open with one event I find to be not as good as the Canon depiction of Han’s early life in “Solo: A Star Wars Story”. The circumstances of Han’s meeting/befriending Chewbacca in the book I found to be nowhere as neat as they were in the Solo movie. I just much preferred the film’s version of Han and Chewie being forced to cooperate initially before Chewie came to trust Han and they started sticking together because they enjoy each other’s company. The off-screen rescue and life debt vow of the book I personally found to just be half baked for what’s supposed to be a momentous occasion in their lives and the Galaxy’s history. Besides that, I did think Han’s story was a bit all over the place in the first half and lacked clear focus.
Beyond these parts though I contend The Hutt Gambit was a pretty great Han Solo and Star Wars story. I liked how Han came into his own in the criminal underworld after his Imperial career and actually managed to impress the Hutts with his skills and overall audacity. The Hutt storyline was one of the book’s best, feeling very reminiscent of “Dune” and “Song of Ice and Fire” in all the backstabbing and scheming. I’m not too much of a Jabba fan but I do think this is one of the better stories about him as we see Jabba come to enjoy Han’s capabilities/antics and learning crime lord talents from his uncle/aunt (I’m sure certain sections of the fandom will hate that plot point). The return of last book’s cult scam in the Hutt storyline was a nice way to keep that going, as was the return of Bria. Still mostly prefer Qi’ra to Bria as “the one that got away” (although Han the Himbo in Legends means Han has plenty of girlfriends now in this book) but I did like the direction Crispin is taking Bria after the first book and I look forward to seeing where Crispin takes Bria’s story (I had her fate spoiled years ago but still looking forward to seeing how we get there). The book ultimately culminates in the Battle of Nar Shadda which I found to be a solid set piece (even if I think it should have been the Battle of Tanaab to tie in with that battle’s reference in the movies). We get ship combat action which as a fan of the X-Wing and Alphabet Squadron books I appreciate. Moreover we get to see Han both show off his talents/imagination as a pilot and his leadership potential. The whole battle just felt like a good example of the out-of-the-box thinking that has to be employed by Star Wars heroes in the face of overwhelming odds.
Besides Han’s development and her original storylines, Crispin does a nice job tying everything in with the other Star Wars stories from this era. There were some Legends continuity nods in the last book (i.e., Corran Horn’s dad) but I noticed more here, particularly Soontir Fel from the X-Wing books, having Han meet characters from “Dark Empire”, and firmly establishing when during the book it overlaps with “The Lando Calrissian Adventures”. Really the only continuity nod/cameo I didn’t appreciate was Vader’s even if it was harmless (it just brought little to Han’s story). All in all I really appreciated the smorgasborg of other Star Wars content alluded to here and it made me appreciate taking the time to read other Legends content (even those I didn't like so much) before this, it makes it clear Crispin loves the franchise and tying everything in satisfactorily.
Despite some nitpicks and small complaints, I really got sucked into reading “The Hutt Gambit”, with Crispin expertly building off the first book and delivering an extremely satisfactory Han Solo story that brings him closer to his movie storyline. If anything I think this could have worked as a Star Wars movie, specifically as a good basis for “Solo 2” with Han’s introduction to Jabba and subsequent association with the Hutt Clans’, following up on his ex’s Galaxy influencing storyline, etc. I’m really hoping that “Rebel Dawn” brings Crispin’s trilogy to a great ending.
January 2, 2020
I loved this book. I have always loved Star Wars and this is no exception. I love seeing into the life of Han when he is younger and seeing how he met Chewie. I love the part where he meets Lando. I love how he meets Xaverri and how they end up working together later on. I love how she is able to create such a great illusion that it scares the Imperial force away. I love how we meet Jabba when he is younger and how we figure out what his and Han's relationship is. I love how Han gets through everything despite what he went through. Definitely a great read. 5/5 stars.
March 24, 2023
Auch nen gutes Buch. Vorallem die Schlacht von Nar Shadda und die Hutts. Auch die Szene, wo der Admiral von vader gekillt wurde war geil
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2023
Der zweite Band der Trilogie hat mir schon ein Stück besser gefallen als der erste, denn wir haben Chewie, Lando, Boba, schwangere Hutts und sehr viel weniger Romantik. Überhaupt denke ich, dass Bria nun wirklich ihr eigenes Buch verdient! Und dass diese Trilogie sehr viel besser zu Han Solo passt als der Film damals.
Da sich dieses Buch praktisch direkt an den ersten Teil anschliesst, empfehle ich dringend, mit dem ersten Band zu beginnen. Ansonsten geht mensch in der ganzen Handlung verloren.
Da sich dieses Buch praktisch direkt an den ersten Teil anschliesst, empfehle ich dringend, mit dem ersten Band zu beginnen. Ansonsten geht mensch in der ganzen Handlung verloren.
May 16, 2015
This takes place in the Legends universe and is the second book of a trilogy. The first one should be read to understand what is going on in this one. This takes place five years after the conclusion of the first book. Han did not make it at the Imperial Academy and he is trying to find his way in the galaxy. These are events that happen before A New Hope.
I really liked this one as it brought back the feelings I felt watching the very first movie in the theaters. I believe the author has a good grasp on Han's character and she does a good job with moving his character growth into the character we see in the movies. This book expounds on the events of the first novel but also gives us first introductions to many movie icons. We have the first sighting of the Millennium Falcon and Lando.
We also have the explanation of Han working for Jabba and how him and Boba Fett cross paths and their hatred of each other.
The only complaint I have of this book is the first meeting of Chewie and Han. Instead of it being a part of the novel it was explained as a flashback and it had a feeling of it being downplayed. For such and important aspect of this universe to not have a complete story is wrong. I wish the author devoted a couple of chapters to this event.
So far this trilogy has entertained me and I recommend it to all Star Wars fans. It isn't great literature put it does exactly what it is meant to do. It explains the origins of our favorite smuggler while the novel supplies the reader of a nostalgic feeling.
I really liked this one as it brought back the feelings I felt watching the very first movie in the theaters. I believe the author has a good grasp on Han's character and she does a good job with moving his character growth into the character we see in the movies. This book expounds on the events of the first novel but also gives us first introductions to many movie icons. We have the first sighting of the Millennium Falcon and Lando.
We also have the explanation of Han working for Jabba and how him and Boba Fett cross paths and their hatred of each other.
The only complaint I have of this book is the first meeting of Chewie and Han. Instead of it being a part of the novel it was explained as a flashback and it had a feeling of it being downplayed. For such and important aspect of this universe to not have a complete story is wrong. I wish the author devoted a couple of chapters to this event.
So far this trilogy has entertained me and I recommend it to all Star Wars fans. It isn't great literature put it does exactly what it is meant to do. It explains the origins of our favorite smuggler while the novel supplies the reader of a nostalgic feeling.
September 2, 2023
Another absolutely fantastic entry into this trilogy! If the third book sticks the landing, this could very well be one of the best sets of Star Wars books.
I loved just about everything here. First, the characters were all excellent once again. Han is just as fun and charming as ever, though much harder and more jaded than in the first book. Chewbacca also finally makes an appearance and is also lots of fun. Other side characters like Lando Calrissian, a few characters from The Paradise Snare, Boba Fett, and the Hutts also play into the book and are also wonderful—I particularly enjoyed Han’s interactions with the Hutts, as well as some connections with Lando and his trilogy by L. Neil Smith. There was also a very brief character cameo at the end, which I won’t spoil, which was absolutely excellent despite only lasting a few lines. The plot here was also enjoyable, with Han beginning to work with the Hutts as well juggling some other situations like a bounty on his head and trying to protect the people of Nar Shaddaa from an Imperial attack.
As for negatives, I only have one relatively minor nitpick. There’s a big battle at the end that’s built up over several chapters, and while I did like the buildup I found the battle itself to be somewhat underwhelming. It was still a solid action scene but it didn’t feel as exciting or impactful as I feel it could’ve. That’s really my only issue here.
Overall this was a fantastic book, perhaps even better than the first. I’ve been impressed by this trilogy so far and very much look forward to the third entry.
Rating: 9.5/10
I loved just about everything here. First, the characters were all excellent once again. Han is just as fun and charming as ever, though much harder and more jaded than in the first book. Chewbacca also finally makes an appearance and is also lots of fun. Other side characters like Lando Calrissian, a few characters from The Paradise Snare, Boba Fett, and the Hutts also play into the book and are also wonderful—I particularly enjoyed Han’s interactions with the Hutts, as well as some connections with Lando and his trilogy by L. Neil Smith. There was also a very brief character cameo at the end, which I won’t spoil, which was absolutely excellent despite only lasting a few lines. The plot here was also enjoyable, with Han beginning to work with the Hutts as well juggling some other situations like a bounty on his head and trying to protect the people of Nar Shaddaa from an Imperial attack.
As for negatives, I only have one relatively minor nitpick. There’s a big battle at the end that’s built up over several chapters, and while I did like the buildup I found the battle itself to be somewhat underwhelming. It was still a solid action scene but it didn’t feel as exciting or impactful as I feel it could’ve. That’s really my only issue here.
Overall this was a fantastic book, perhaps even better than the first. I’ve been impressed by this trilogy so far and very much look forward to the third entry.
Rating: 9.5/10
September 25, 2014
It's not a spoiler as I think so many people have seen Star Wars. Han Solo did not succeed in the Imperial Space Academy. He actually made lieutenant; but then he inteferred when a vicious admiral was disciplining a Wookie slave with a force whip.
Han expected punishment; he did NOT expect to be thrown out entirely. So what other job is there for a crack pilot than smuggling?
At first, Han is going to seek his future alone. But when Chewbacca saves him from severe injury in a bar fight, he decides that the 'fur-ball' might be handy and thier long freindship begains.
Soon employed on the Smuggler's Moon, Han and Chewie became caught up in battle. The Empire intends to wipe out the Smugglers Moon and leave nothing but ashes. Han must battle not only to save his livelihood, but also the many non-combatants who are trapped on the Smuggler's Moon---to whom the Empire will show no mercy.
The battle for the Smuggler's Moon takes up a large section of the book and it is fast paced and exciting. Also between battles we meet the bounty hunter, Bobba Fett; Lando Calrissian and an interesting cast of characters.
Agreat, fast paced asventure makes up the middle book of a good trilogy. Recommended for SF fans; Star Wars fans in particular.
Edited 9/25/14 to fix typos.
Han expected punishment; he did NOT expect to be thrown out entirely. So what other job is there for a crack pilot than smuggling?
At first, Han is going to seek his future alone. But when Chewbacca saves him from severe injury in a bar fight, he decides that the 'fur-ball' might be handy and thier long freindship begains.
Soon employed on the Smuggler's Moon, Han and Chewie became caught up in battle. The Empire intends to wipe out the Smugglers Moon and leave nothing but ashes. Han must battle not only to save his livelihood, but also the many non-combatants who are trapped on the Smuggler's Moon---to whom the Empire will show no mercy.
The battle for the Smuggler's Moon takes up a large section of the book and it is fast paced and exciting. Also between battles we meet the bounty hunter, Bobba Fett; Lando Calrissian and an interesting cast of characters.
Agreat, fast paced asventure makes up the middle book of a good trilogy. Recommended for SF fans; Star Wars fans in particular.
Edited 9/25/14 to fix typos.
March 19, 2020
There’s a lot of Hutts in here. I’m still not sure why this book is titled The Hutt Gambit other than the publisher took a bit of gamble assuming readers would like to read a lot about Hutts.
But Han and Chewie are here too. I give three stars because the middle of the book felt a lot like “Han Solo goes here then he goes there. Some Hutts. Han Solo makes friends and goes on a couple dates.”
But the last 70 pages or so had me hooked. Not as good as the first one but I am excited for the next one.
But Han and Chewie are here too. I give three stars because the middle of the book felt a lot like “Han Solo goes here then he goes there. Some Hutts. Han Solo makes friends and goes on a couple dates.”
But the last 70 pages or so had me hooked. Not as good as the first one but I am excited for the next one.
March 11, 2009
Fills gaps in Hans' past, but the meeting with Lando is too contrived. Nice to see that Han really is a scoundrel ... with issues. ;-)
And the whole Boba Fett business is completely out of sync with the Star Wars movie canon. It's not Crispin's fault; she wrote before Episodes Two and Three identified Jango and Boba jett.
And the whole Boba Fett business is completely out of sync with the Star Wars movie canon. It's not Crispin's fault; she wrote before Episodes Two and Three identified Jango and Boba jett.
January 9, 2020
Like I said in my review for The Paradise Snare, I’ll never get tired of learning more about Han Solo.
I went into this with zero expectations and only a desire to keep following his journey. I got what I wanted: a fun adventure in the Star Wars universe! I always have thought of Star Wars as a soap opera but in space, and this series is like getting a little minisode spin-off that isn’t canon but still 100% enjoyable.
Sure, it glazes over Han’s time in the Academy and how he saved Chewie, but Crispin has her own story and focus for this series. I still definitely want to keep an eye out for a book that covers that aspect of his life! Yet I still really enjoyed seeing how Han and Brie are both either avoiding or fighting the Ylesian slave business they escaped in the first novel. Chewie’s appearance in this series also made it incredibly fun to see what the duo got up to. I’m looking forward to seeing how it will all wrap up in the last book.
I think the facet of this series I enjoy the most is how Crispin highlights language. Han knows many a language and I always find it fascinating to learn which he can speak and which he can only understand. In a universe with so many alien species with different speech anatomy, it only makes sense that some languages just can’t be spoken by humans and vice versa. I appreciated the explanation on Hutt speech and gender as well.
Speaking of the Hutts, somehow I got sucked into the political drama of this. I ate up all the fights between the clans and liked seeing the hierarchy and reasoning behind what they do. Jabba, as a character, is (from what I can remember) not highly explained in the movies so it’s nice to gain some insight into how their systems work. The concept of Durga (another Hutt) being “abnormal” because he does things out of love for his parent instead of greed was fascinating. Also Hutts are Lords until they decide to have children and then become Ladies? How interesting. Exploring different Star Wars cultures is always fun!
Overall, I adore this series and can’t wait to see how it ends.
I went into this with zero expectations and only a desire to keep following his journey. I got what I wanted: a fun adventure in the Star Wars universe! I always have thought of Star Wars as a soap opera but in space, and this series is like getting a little minisode spin-off that isn’t canon but still 100% enjoyable.
Sure, it glazes over Han’s time in the Academy and how he saved Chewie, but Crispin has her own story and focus for this series. I still definitely want to keep an eye out for a book that covers that aspect of his life! Yet I still really enjoyed seeing how Han and Brie are both either avoiding or fighting the Ylesian slave business they escaped in the first novel. Chewie’s appearance in this series also made it incredibly fun to see what the duo got up to. I’m looking forward to seeing how it will all wrap up in the last book.
I think the facet of this series I enjoy the most is how Crispin highlights language. Han knows many a language and I always find it fascinating to learn which he can speak and which he can only understand. In a universe with so many alien species with different speech anatomy, it only makes sense that some languages just can’t be spoken by humans and vice versa. I appreciated the explanation on Hutt speech and gender as well.
Speaking of the Hutts, somehow I got sucked into the political drama of this. I ate up all the fights between the clans and liked seeing the hierarchy and reasoning behind what they do. Jabba, as a character, is (from what I can remember) not highly explained in the movies so it’s nice to gain some insight into how their systems work. The concept of Durga (another Hutt) being “abnormal” because he does things out of love for his parent instead of greed was fascinating. Also Hutts are Lords until they decide to have children and then become Ladies? How interesting. Exploring different Star Wars cultures is always fun!
Overall, I adore this series and can’t wait to see how it ends.
September 25, 2021
Whereas I distinctly enjoyed (admittedly in a somewhat light, pulpy way) the novel take on Han Solo's origin in the first book (with nostalgia and tropical setting even winning through on the re-read), this re-read made me realise this book simply isn't as good. The strongest thing I took away from it is that it feels very much like A.C. Crispin was commanded by higher-ups to make the second book "much more Han Solo, as Han Solo as possible, in fact".
So whereas the first seemed an interestingly independent take on Han Solo's origins, without anything shoehorned in to tie into the films, here we get SO much fanservice that it becomes kinda lame, and the plot suffers from it.
Think I'm exaggerating? In this one book alone, we are for the first time in this series introduced to: . I wouldn't have been surprised if Han didn't accidentally bump into Leia in his exploits.
It's all just too much for one book, especially as it's also trying to continue the story of its more unique predecessor. AND have a big climactic space battle - of which the leadup is only introduced most of the way through the book, and the battle itself ends on a hastily quickened whimper. It's simply juggling too much, and so it all feels too fast paced. In fact, the parts that would've been most interesting - Han's time in the Imperial Navy, and saving Chewbacca from slavery - aren't even part of the story, they are merely mentioned at the beginning, after-the-fact. All because there's no room for them.
Add to this that it all seems noticeably cheesier, especially all the backslapping dialogue among the smugglers, and the book is a clear step down from before.
So whereas the first seemed an interestingly independent take on Han Solo's origins, without anything shoehorned in to tie into the films, here we get SO much fanservice that it becomes kinda lame, and the plot suffers from it.
Think I'm exaggerating? In this one book alone, we are for the first time in this series introduced to: . I wouldn't have been surprised if Han didn't accidentally bump into Leia in his exploits.
It's all just too much for one book, especially as it's also trying to continue the story of its more unique predecessor. AND have a big climactic space battle - of which the leadup is only introduced most of the way through the book, and the battle itself ends on a hastily quickened whimper. It's simply juggling too much, and so it all feels too fast paced. In fact, the parts that would've been most interesting - Han's time in the Imperial Navy, and saving Chewbacca from slavery - aren't even part of the story, they are merely mentioned at the beginning, after-the-fact. All because there's no room for them.
Add to this that it all seems noticeably cheesier, especially all the backslapping dialogue among the smugglers, and the book is a clear step down from before.
December 5, 2022
I hadn't read this book since it first came out in 1997 and I really enjoyed it. Though the story is no longer canon, it has plenty of fun and plenty of interesting moments, since they no longer count.
Following the events of The Paradise Snare (which one should read before delving into this novel), Han and Chewie are looking for work. Han would like to work for one of the Hutts, but he knows that won't happen because he's too green. Looking up a friend and a former washout from the Imperial Navy, like himself, Han finds work and does well enough to draw the attention of the Hutts. Han meets young Jabba and begins to work for him and his uncle, then aunt (it's complicated). As he goes on various errands for the Hutts, Han finds and loses love twice and then finds himself thrust to a leadership position to help others. Lando Calrissian is encountered, as is his ship the Millennium Falcon, that Han falls in love with at first sight.
I enjoyed Han and Chewie's growing relationship, his being stalked by bounty hunters, the passages that focused on the Hutts--which was intriguing, and the climatic battle. I wasn't happy with two cameos, one extended in the middle of the book and other very brief at the end. I didn't want Han to meet or see either of these antagonists until doing so in the films. That extended cameo sequence came across as rather silly.
However, when all is said and done, I couldn't stop turning pages and I look forward to rereading the final book, Rebel Dawn, in this trilogy by Crispin.
Following the events of The Paradise Snare (which one should read before delving into this novel), Han and Chewie are looking for work. Han would like to work for one of the Hutts, but he knows that won't happen because he's too green. Looking up a friend and a former washout from the Imperial Navy, like himself, Han finds work and does well enough to draw the attention of the Hutts. Han meets young Jabba and begins to work for him and his uncle, then aunt (it's complicated). As he goes on various errands for the Hutts, Han finds and loses love twice and then finds himself thrust to a leadership position to help others. Lando Calrissian is encountered, as is his ship the Millennium Falcon, that Han falls in love with at first sight.
I enjoyed Han and Chewie's growing relationship, his being stalked by bounty hunters, the passages that focused on the Hutts--which was intriguing, and the climatic battle. I wasn't happy with two cameos, one extended in the middle of the book and other very brief at the end. I didn't want Han to meet or see either of these antagonists until doing so in the films. That extended cameo sequence came across as rather silly.
However, when all is said and done, I couldn't stop turning pages and I look forward to rereading the final book, Rebel Dawn, in this trilogy by Crispin.
June 27, 2020
In this fun space adventure, we get to see more of the Han we’re familiar with on screen as opposed to the child/teen character. He’s still quite young (and daring with the ladies) but the author definitely makes efforts towards familiarising us with his one-liners. It might be too obvious in some cases, but it serves a nostalgic purpose. We learn things like how Han came to wear his iconic clothes, what the Kessel Run actually is (or was), details about Slave I, Hutt gang relationships, and Han’s gambling background. I also learned that Hutts can change their own gender, or they could in the Star Wars EU. We’re introduced to Chewie, Boba Fett, Lando, Jabba the Hutt, and plenty of new characters all in this single story. The author does well packing all that in here while still moving along a good plot. It was kind of disappointing they skipped through Han’s years with the Imperial Navy, also him and Chewie had already met...elements I’d think you should discover/elaborate on within a trilogy about Han Solo pre-films. But overall, it’s a fun, light read with some star fleet action and a lot of ship names if you’re interested.
April 25, 2024
An excellent follow up to The Paradise Snare. I continue to adore Crispin's take on Solo, it feels so perfectly aligned with who he is on screen but with some added depth and nuance and growth.
At first I was a little disappointed that the scene where Han chooses to save Chewie happens "off screen" between books 1 and 2, but I eventually made my peace with it. Likewise, I was initially put off by surly drunk Han being a jerk to Chewie in the opening chapter...but he doesn't stay that way for long.
I had a much harder time believing .
But the ending and the amazing Battle of Nar Shadda more than made up for any minor quibbles I had. So far this trilogy is shaping up to be my favorite of the EU books.
At first I was a little disappointed that the scene where Han chooses to save Chewie happens "off screen" between books 1 and 2, but I eventually made my peace with it. Likewise, I was initially put off by surly drunk Han being a jerk to Chewie in the opening chapter...but he doesn't stay that way for long.
I had a much harder time believing .
But the ending and the amazing Battle of Nar Shadda more than made up for any minor quibbles I had. So far this trilogy is shaping up to be my favorite of the EU books.
March 4, 2025
Two stars feels very appropriate.
Another total letdown when it comes to dialogue. I'm not exaggerating when I say there were parts that felt like children's books. Rough go for a bit.
The actual story is pretty decent, it is cool to see Han's story fleshed out, I can appreciate that much.
Going to read the third, I've heard it's the best!
Another total letdown when it comes to dialogue. I'm not exaggerating when I say there were parts that felt like children's books. Rough go for a bit.
The actual story is pretty decent, it is cool to see Han's story fleshed out, I can appreciate that much.
Going to read the third, I've heard it's the best!
July 28, 2019
The cover isn't as good as the first book.
The story didn't interest me nearly as much as the first book which is just personal preference. The secondary characters were blah and the story seemed to wander and lack direction. I was glad to read about the introduction of Chewbacca and the appearance of Lando Calrissian. I loved the whole idea of Han in the Imperial army but you knew he wouldn't be in it long and as it is he lasted longer than I thought he would. I liked the reason he parted ways with the Imperial army and how it led to his tentative, growing friendship with Chewbacca.
Read it if you're a Star Wars fan, if you're a Han Solo fan, if you like sci-fi/fantasy, if you've read the first in the series. You might be able to read this as a stand alone book but it works much better if you read the books in order.
The story didn't interest me nearly as much as the first book which is just personal preference. The secondary characters were blah and the story seemed to wander and lack direction. I was glad to read about the introduction of Chewbacca and the appearance of Lando Calrissian. I loved the whole idea of Han in the Imperial army but you knew he wouldn't be in it long and as it is he lasted longer than I thought he would. I liked the reason he parted ways with the Imperial army and how it led to his tentative, growing friendship with Chewbacca.
Read it if you're a Star Wars fan, if you're a Han Solo fan, if you like sci-fi/fantasy, if you've read the first in the series. You might be able to read this as a stand alone book but it works much better if you read the books in order.
October 29, 2019
For some reason, I remember reading this series years ago and being generally unimpressed by it. This time around, I'm finding these books seriously addicting. The adventure and exploits are super fun, and Impressively insightful as an origins story.
August 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this one but I think that I preferred the previous book over this just slightly. I liked all of the tie-ins with Dark Empire especially giving some backstory to Salla and all of Han's smuggler friends. I also thought it was fun how Han met Lando and I loved how a lot of the early chapters start by mentioning how many more bounty hunters Han has taken out. It gives the sense that time has passed. I really enjoyed the big set piece battle at the end over Nar Shadda. Speaking of which the planet felt much more fleshed out in this book than Dark Empire (even though it had pictures to display how it looked). The moon almost felt like the lowest levels of Coruscant all over. It gave the book a gritty feeling. I thought the weakest part of the book was probably the Hutt intrigue sections. It was interesting in places but kind of lost me in others. But overall I liked it.
June 13, 2024
Tell-don’t-show is the name of the game. This is like a spark notes version of a Star Wars fan fic being told to you by your drunk friend in a loud bar.
February 16, 2025
A good read, fun to see how Han and Chewie met and how all the other characters fit into the greater story
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