Renegade

Star Wars: Rebel Force #3

by Alex Wheeler

Deadly assassin X-7 has infiltrated the Rebel Alliance. Trained by ruthless Commander Rezi Soresh, X-7 is the best there is: he feels nothing and sees everything. Now, he's gunning for the ultimate prize: Luke Skywalker, the pilot that destroyed the Death Star. The seemingly clueless kid from Tatooine proves more resourceful and difficult to eliminate than X-7 could ever have imagined. Surrounded by friends and allies, and with a connection to the Force that grows stronger every day, Luke seems all but impervious to the usual tactics. But X-7 isn't done with him yet. This time, he knows how to bring Luke down. He'll shatter the trust that holds the Rebel Alliance together -- and manufacture the ultimate betrayal.

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Space, Adventure

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Scott Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book three of the Star Wars Rebel Force series by Alex Wheeler, “Renegade”, sees divisions happening within our group of heroes. After Luke is seriously injured in what appears to be a sabotaged speeder, all evidence points to Han as the perpetrator. Explosives are found in his cabin. Clearly, it’s a frame job, but who would want to frame Han and, more importantly, who would want to kill Luke?

The answer, of course, is Imperial assassin X-7, disguised as a Rebel named Tobin Elad. He’s discovered that Luke is the pilot who destroyed the Death Star, and he has been ordered to kill him. Unfortunately, Luke is elusive and exhibits some weird sixth sense that enables him to anticipate X-7’s every move. He’ll have to try harder next time. In the meantime, his frame-job of Han has succeeded in getting him out of the way, as Han and Chewie escape Yavin 4 in the Millenium Falcon for Force knows where.

But just as he’s about to finish Luke off for good, Luke and Leia take off for Tattooine. It is, according to Luke, the safest place to hide from the Empire, because who would expect Luke to go back to his crappy old desert home planet?

While there, Luke meets some of his old friends. Luke gets into a fight with one of his friends, Jaxson, who doesn’t like Luke’s pro-Rebellion comments. Then, a bounty hunter named Bossk, hired by Jabba the Hutt, interrupts their fun and kidnaps Luke and Jaxson.

Now Leia is forced to play the hero. She just wishes Han were here to help.

Meanwhile, it’s almost like Han is reading her mind...

More fun and excitement in this young adult series from 2009 that hits all the right notes for Star Wars fans...

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Luke and Leia return to Tatooine, Han Solo discovers that Tobin Elad is secretly working for the Empire and tries to prove his allegiance to the Rebellion, while Elad frames Solo for the attempted murder of Skywalker.

Although aimed at younger readers, this is an intriguing story which deals with some adult themes of trust and reliability.

[Ash Mustard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got so excited seeing Han Solo on this cover! I really love how each book cover is different and about different characters and still following the story line. But man X-7 is a jerk lol

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story that highlights the growing friendship between Han, Luke, and Leia.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Han Solo is framed and Luke and Leia visit Tattoine.

[Jack · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Rebel Force series ranks consistently lower on this website than the other books in the previous series. After the first two books I wasn't sure why, the first was good and the second was great. However now I'm beginning to understand, this book was bad.

I understand this is for kids, but that didn't effect the quality of Jedi Appreciate, Jedi Quest, or The Last of the Jedi. Those are some of the best fun pulpy adventure stories in the Star Wars EU. This is not that. This is just characters making db decisions because there was no other way to advance the plot.

The basic set up is Luke Skywalker is nearly killed in an explosion, and Han Solo is framed with said explosives. Leia naturally assumes that the man who raided the Death Star is guilty and an imperial spy. Not the random new guy who was the last to see Luke before the explosion. Why does she not suspect him? Because he fought a tie fighter and immediately wanted to join the rebellion. I guess Han helping destroy the Death Star wasn't convincing enough.

So naturally instead of talking things out, the characters all act stupid, argue and Luke and Han return to tattoine a planet that's being constantly used for how small it's supposed to be, and completely screw up the opening of Return of the Jedi where they talk about having never been back to Tattoine till then.

The book doesn't fit the movie continuity, just to return to a very overused planet, and make the main trio morons who go on very boring adventures with absolutely no stake.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Wars: Legends: Rebel Forece 03 Renegade by Alex Wheeler

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense

Fast-paced

Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes

3.75 Stars

I'm impressed by the ability the author uses...to pull character traits and flaws, to further the story...capturing moments of truth from the films, to make the story better.

This story was both for Luke and for Han. In this story, we fall in love with Han Solo, again. Even Princess Leia is being effected by this lovable scoundrel. Chewie even outed him, and his good deeds...so that bodes well, too.

The idea that you cannot go home, is shown out in this story. I loved how they made interactions with his "old" friends...didn't go as well as he hopred for, but it went exactly how is should've.

Love the morals that are embedded into the Star Wars lore, and all its characters. This galaxy, far, far away...never gets old.

I will be picking up, Star Wars: Legends: Rebel Force 04 Firefight.

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action and adventure

Han Solo and Chewbacca run their own mission to find out who is behind the attacks on Luke's life, while Luke and Leia pay their respects to his old friends. Their travels are as fraught with danger as ever, and a visit to Tatooine doesn't change that. Han gets a taste of his own medicine when he faces a double cross, Chewy proves again that he's more than a sidekick, and the rebellion lives to fight another day.

This is a great series to fill in the gaps between trilogy stories. Han and Chewy are given plenty of depth as they break off from the group. Luke is slowly maturing into the person he needs to be, while Leia gets the chance to show her steely resolve. The story is action packed and never lags. Insight into some of the villains background and strategies rounds it out.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is it with Tosche station? Every time it gets brought up, shit hits the fan.

And that’s no different in Renegade, the third book in Alex Wheeler’s Rebel Force series.
As seems to be the course, the gang shows up on Tatooine, and all hell breaks loose.

I’ve really enjoyed this series, and after 3 books, there’s little doubt in my mind that Wheeler is going to keep the story going in a direction that actually works and actually adds to the lore and history of Star Wars.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

X-7's Mission is Compromised

This was book 3 in the Rebel Force series. A fast paced, action packed series that features Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie and the droids after A New Hope and before The Empire Strikes Back. Assassin X-7's mission to kill Luke is comprised and with the help of former Jedi Padawan Ferus Olin, is exposed. More in the Empire are still looking for the pilot who destroyed the Death Star and Luke is still struggling to learn to use the Force. On to book 4.

[S.J. Saunders · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hidden enemy finally makes his move, and an ally stands to take the fall for it.

Aside from this being I think the fifth return by Luke to Tatooine between New Hope and Empire, this is a fun read that, oddly enough, makes Leia feel like the overpowered one, for once.

Enjoyable, but the wrongly accused hero we know is gonna be fine is a bit tired.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has two many mistakes and everything happens way too conveniently. I know it’s a kid’s book but kids are smarter than that right? Ferus just happens to know exactly where the “Commander” is, he happens to know exactly where Han is and how to contact him. Way too convenient.

[Gary Varga · Rating 4 out of 5]

In some ways the best of the Rebel Force book so far and in other the worst.

Great use of the characters from Tatooine which were edited out of A New Hope. Dreadful use of one from The Empire Strokes Back.

In general, a fun adventure book set in the Star Wars (EU/Legends) universe.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this instalment a tad frustrating, due to the lack of trust the other characters had in Han Solo. I did, however, appreciate Luke visiting his friends on Tatooine, because the Legends canon conspicuously lacked any interactions of this kind before 2009, when Renegade was published.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read!

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎵 Oh, Mama, I'm in fear of my life from the long arm of the law... 🎶

(That song is among my favorites; I can't hear or see the word "renegade" without being reminded of it.)

[Carl Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebel Force

Good story, it sounds like the old Han talking to Leia. Reminds me of the Empire Strikes Back. I'm going read the next book in the series.

[Melenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Wars Legends Project #231

Background: Renegade was written by Alex Wheeler and published in May of 2009. It is the third in the 6-book Rebel Force series, following Hostage (my review). Wheeler is the author of the whole series, which is his only listed Star Wars work, but there's a good chance this is actually another pen name for Jude Watson (see my previous review for details).

Renegade takes place a few weeks after the Battle of Yavin, beginning not long after the end of the previous book. The main characters are Han, Luke, and Leia, along with Chewie and the Imperial assassin X-7. There are also minor appearances by Luke's Tatooine friends, including Camie, Laze, and Windy. The story takes place mostly on Yavin IV and Tatooine.

Summary: X-7 has finally identified his target: Luke Skywalker, the pilot who destroyed the Death Star. But Luke turns out to be unexpectedly difficult to kill, so X-7 turns to a different plan: Frame Han Solo for an attempt on Luke's life, then pick off his target in the churn of chaos and mistrust that follows. This may be just the push Han needs to leave his new Rebellion friends behind forever, but how long will Luke and Leia last without him?

Review: There are a couple of interesting ideas behind the premise of this story. First, what happens if an Imperial saboteur targets the nascent relationship between the trio who are destined to become the inseparable heroes of the Rebellion? Second, we see Luke returning to Tatooine only a month or two after he left, but as a much different person. Both of these ideas are fine. The execution here is mostly subpar.

I think my biggest problem is two things I called out in my review of the first book: 1) It's just flatly nonsensical that the Rebel base is still on Yavin IV now that it's no longer a secret Rebel base. 2) Just as I predicted, it doesn't make any sense at all that X-7 can't kill Luke incredibly easily now that he knows that Luke is the target.

You know what would be more effective than a secret assassin bumping around Yavin IV trying to find an opportunity to catch Luke alone? A fleet of Star Destroyers executing an orbital bombardment. And there could absolutely be a reason why that doesn't happen, but it's the writer's job to fill that plot hole, not pretend it doesn't exist. I genuinely like the idea of framing Han for an attempt on Luke's life, but the reasoning behind it just doesn't make any sense. No idea should be considered so good that you go with it even if you can't make it seem plausible within the story.

The Tatooine stuff fares a bit better, except that (again) it doesn't really make sense that Luke and Leia would go there alone, and (again) there isn't a really good explanation for X-7's failure. There's a bit that I really enjoyed where Luke and a rival are forced to work together to survive, which reminded me of one of my favorite Rebels episodes ("The Honorable Ones"), along with the usual Tatooine adventures: Beggar's Canyon, Krayt Dragons, Jabba and his bounty hunters . . . That's all fine.

Ultimately it was just hard to stay invested in a story that doesn't feel very thought-through, particularly when it's crumbling along fault lines that I spotted 2 books ago. I don't know where the story goes from here, but this feels like a possible inflection point where we could bail on the things that haven't worked for the first half of the series . . . or just keep riding them all the way down into the ground. I feel like if Wheeler and Watson really are the same person, they'll make the right choice.

C

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

My biggest complaint with Hostage, the previous book in this series, was how badly Wheeler characterized Leia. He doesn't make anything better in Renegade, when the book starts with her accusing Han of trying to kill Luke. I get that Wheeler is trying to show the slow trust Leia gains for Han, but this was a bridge too far; even if she didn't trust Han, she never would have thought he had anything to do with harming Luke.

The other weird thing about the book is that it shows the Rebellion still has a base on Yavin 4. This makes no sense, since by the time this story takes place in the Expanded Universe, the Empire knows the Rebellion has a base there. Why would they stay? More to the point, why does the Empire not turn around and destroy the base on Yavin 4 the very next day? Sure, the Death Star wiped out a lot of their forces, but that wasn't all of them. It makes no sense to me.

To be fair, though, not a lot about the book makes sense. All of the characters make questionable decisions (more to carry the plot than to be true to the characters), so it's hard to buy into the drama and the plot when the characters don't carry it. By now, X-7 is outed as a member of the Empire and not the trusted member of the Rebellion he has become, so that subplot seems to have come to its end, though the character has not. We'll have to wait to see where Wheeler takes that part of the story.

The book is readable, but that's about the best I can say for it. When I was researching which EU books to read, this one came up near the bottom of the list for the juvenile works, and I can see why. I'd love to see what Jude Watson might have done with this era and these story ideas.

[Jaime K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not as good as the others. There were too many things going on and it felt disjointed.

Han left to go on some mission that didn't make much sense and Ferus was watching him, but the latter was only mentioned in one small paragraph - so it didn't even matter. Han meets up with a friend named Lore who's only in this book so doesn't seem to actually be in Han's past.

Luke heads to Tatooine for Biggs' memorial which doesn't even seem to happen, and while I like seeing him with his friends again, there was too much brandishing of his lightsaber towards the end. He also seems quite skilled, which doesn't fit very well with other novels around the same timeframe. Bossk chases after Luke and an acquaintance named Jaxson, but only to get to Han as per the instructions of Jabba.

Leia takes on and kills a krayt dragon in one shot while looking for Luke which is ridiculous.

X-7 is angry that his attempts to kill Luke have gone awry and is finally discovered thanks to Han. That was one of the best scenes.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to have to knock it down to a 3. Leia's character continued to be an annoying person that seemed like a pain. The other thing was the author had a "hidden" former Jedi protecting Leia growing up and he was close to her father. He knew the hidden truth about Leia and Luke. I thought that was a little too far from reality. He wasn't a Jedi for years before Order 66 came about, so why would he be involved? I get maybe he was friends with Ogana for a long time and he asked him to stick around and watch over her. It didn't necessary say that, but if you read between the lines I can possibly see it. What I think is farfetched is him knowing about Luke. No chance Organa told him that because the risk is to great.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series so far is getting a pretty consistent three stars from me. I did like the appearance by Bossk in this one. It was kind of cool to see him go up against Luke. There are still spoilers from all the movies in this so if you are reading to kids who haven't seen all the movies, prescreen it. The story is solid and enjoyable though. But of course the sense of danger isn't too strong since we already know what happens to everyone in the end. The last sentence of this one was worth the read though. Still, you have to wonder if they had all these adventures why were the people from them never mentioned in the movies. It's a fun read for a Star Wars fan though.

[Miss Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

X-7 tries to assassinate Luke and frames Han Solo. While Luke is unconscious and recovering, Leia interrogates Han about his involvement. Han protests his innocence and is highly insulted that she would think him capable of hurting Luke. Han takes the Millenium Falcon and goes on the run with Chewbacca. Along the way, they discover the truth about X-7. Meanwhile, Leia and Luke return to Tatooine for a memorial for Biggs. Brawls and races ensue. Luke puts to rest his lingering doubts about his place in the universe.

Han and Chewie show up just in time to prevent X-7 from finishing off Luke and once the crew is reunited, they head back to the Rebel base on Yavin 4.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know many readers preferred this book and called it the best of the series so far... I didn't feel that way, although I do love to see development of the Han Solo character. Maybe I wasn't as much in the mood this time or something, but I had a feeling of forced action in the book that made me feel like something was missing this time around. I hope book 4 draws me back in. If not, it might be time to leave the Star Wars universe for a while and read something else.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another change of pace from the other books in series. This one started less than promising with Han and Chewie leaving the scene, being framed for an attempt on Luke's life, but to me this scenario was a little silly and hard to believe. But, the story turns around and there's some good intriguing moments mixed with adventure. I liked the inclusion of Jabba, and I'm ready to read books 5 and 6 soon.

[Victor Orozco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good story. Assassin X-7 now knows it was Luke Skywalker that destroyed the Death Star and has been given the go ahead by his commander to kill him. Unfortunately he fails but manages to pin his assassination attempt on Han Solo. You get a very sad look at how Leia and the Alliance view Han but still Luke trusts Han. Eventually the truth is found out. C+

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one returned to having a lot of telling instead of showing. Not as bad as the first book, but certainly not as good as the second.
Unfortunately the copy that I checked out from the library is missing the second to last page. So I'm going to have to check out another copy to read that one page. Unfortunately there is no electronic resource available.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this down. A MUST-READ for Star Wars fans... when C3PO speaks, you hear his droid voice in your head! Characters are written true to the movie. Full of action, adventure, intrigue and romance. Not the best read-aloud though... too much internal dialogue and digression.

[Colleen Mertens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues the series and focuses on Han and X7. It is interesting to see how X7 is willing to use all the people around him and their past and current weaknesses to his advantage. It continues Han as the reluctant rebel and shows his stubbornness in many ways. Very fun book.