Star Wars Bookworms Book Club discussion

Post things to discuss for the first 6 chapters in this thread.

I will start by saying I have enjoyed almost every Star Wars book written. Over the last year I've gone back and read them in chronological order. So when the new canon books started to be released I sat aside my legends books to begin the new books.

Heir to the Jedi is not what I expected in the first few chapters. I had heard the hype about first person narration. I enjoy books in that style. But something about this seems off to me. Almost like I'm reading a version intended to have been the script to an old dark forces video game.

I hope as I continue reading I'll find the pacing to be more enjoyable. But for the first 6 chapters it's a bit rough.

After reading the excerpt that was released months ago, I wasn't looking too forward to this book. I bought it anyway, of course, because it's canon. I decided, though, that instead of reading it on my own, I'd read it to my kids. I think it's going to increase my enjoyment greatly. The clunky first-person narrative (Luke's brain thinks in awkward sentences, I guess) actually translates great when reading it to a 6 and 8 year old, and the kids really like it so far.

I can understand the thinking about the first person narrative being a bit clunky and off-putting but I must say that I really liked chapter three. I enjoyed it when Luke describes the dissection of Huulik’s Lightsaber and the internal components that make up the weapon. It’s also fascinating to see him try and figure out how to use the Force without a master to guide him. I wish that chapter could have gone on a bit longer.

My first post ever here at the SW Bookworms! I've enjoyed reading this book so far and the first person perspective on how Luke is dealing with trying to learn more about the Force and how he can harness it within him. I've also enjoyed the new Marvel SW series which sort of deals with this same issue with Luke. Does anyone have any information of whether this book take place before or after the events that are happening in the new Marvel series? I know they both take place after the battle of Yavin, but I am curious if the book or the comic series are first in the timeline.

Jason wrote: "My first post ever here at the SW Bookworms! I've enjoyed reading this book so far and the first person perspective on how Luke is dealing with trying to learn more about the Force and how he can ..."

I had the same question in mind going into this book -- Where does HttJ fall in the timeline compared to the new Marvel series? My thought so far is that this story happens before the comics.

Reason being, Luke mentions early on in the novel that he hasn't heard Ben's voice since the Battle of Yavin. But issue #1 of the Marvel series (SPOILER ALERT concerning the Marvel series below).....



....has Ben telling Luke to "RUN" from Vader. Although technically Luke doesn't acknowledge that he actually heard Ben's voice (and he doesn't follow the advice, lol). So I guess you could argue that it implies Ben is TRYING to speak to Luke, but Luke isn't hearing him. Kind of like Qui Gon's "Anakin, NO!" during the Sandpeople-slaughter scene in Ep II.

But the fact that Luke even confronts Vader in the Marvel issue supports that this novel occurs before that, at least in my mind. I would have to think that if Luke had any sort of run-in with Vader prior to the novel, it would have come up.

So in my own mind, I'm placing this novel sometime (very) soon after the Battle of Yavin, when Luke is literally fresh-off-the-farm. Then I'm assuming the Marvel series picks up very soon after the novel, once the band has all gotten back together. Probably a couple weeks time-lapse, from beginning to end, through the story of this novel?

If anyone else has a different theory, I'd love to hear your opinion! :)

anyone who was here for the truth at bakura discussion, did anyone elso love the fact that luke meets a girl and falls in love

Ben I had issue with all of those lines. But as someone pointed out this is coming from up high, it will make the books more accessible or something. This is the new normal.

Ben I had issue with all of those lines. But as someone pointed out this is coming from up high, it will make the books more accessible or something. This is the new normal.

I got the audio version from the library today, so finally got started. I love how it falls parallel to Splinter which I read last month , so with the new cannon it feels like alternate reality. Luke isn't as whiny although dealing with daddy issues. I too love it that he likes a girl and studied the rhodians lightsaber .

Ben wrote: "Was I the only person to take issue with the following from Chapter 6 (p.72): "Fex appeared from orbit to be a serene contrast to the angry planet, a cool soft plum scoop of ice cream." I bet Luk..."

In the interview with Shelly (check out the Forcecast to hear it, it's worth a listen), she referenced that they tried to "catch" such things, maybe they missed this one or didn't feel that it warranted removal. She talked about how they changed a passage where Luke talks about the Force referencing water. She had him (Hearne) change it to something more appropriate for someone from a sand planet/desert to think about. I'm not remembering where that occurred though.

The reference is actually right in the first couple pages. They changed the reference of water to sand

Luke describes Ackbar as having a "moist charisma." Ew gross

It was also stated in the Forcecast interview that this book takes place before the Marvel comic series.

In the first chapter, it states that Han and Chewie lost their reward money after the Battle at Yavin. Now they're broke and desperate. I don't recall them losing the reward money in ANH, so was this story told in an book (Legends or new canon)?

It was in the Marvel comic "Star Wars #7: New Planets, New Perils!". Of course those are a part of Legends currently. However until something new is written to contradict it, Legends is my cannon.

So I had heard some negative reaction early on about this book but 5 chapters in I'm enjoying it. I liked learning the canon version of things like what Rodia is like or how a lightsaber works