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goobdiddy's review against another edition
2.0
I read this for the sake of completion. These were probably written based on the script of Empire, so there is not a lot of character information to build on for Lando. These aren't terrible as sci-fi stories go, but not all that compelling either. A solid Meh.
jtashoff's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kb_208's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn't as good as the Han Solo Adventures, but it was ok. Not too much to say about it really. Just 3 different stories of Lando with his little droid Vuffi Raa. It is interesting in the fact that these were written back when there weren't many Star Wars books out; back in 83'. They're not bad, but not essential Star Wars reading.
mrmiffmiff's review against another edition
5.0
It appears to me that a lot of people disagree with me, but I loved this series. I'll fully agree it's not very Star Wars like as far as later material goes, but it IS classic sci-fi, and there's nothing wrong with that, especially when considering these books come from before Star Wars's Expanded Universe was truly established.
hstapp's review against another edition
3.0
The Adventures of Lando Calrissian is a trilogy of poorly written books. They remain interesting, however, and are not outside the realm of possibility in the star wars universe.
The main problem with the book is the shifting in time. In the second book we constantly alternate from lando playing sabaac with one group of people with various adventures he has had in the past. The structure makes absolutely no sense and is confusing. This continues into the third book, though it is not as bad there. I didn't notice it in the first book, so though it may be present it is not nearly as bad.
Despite this and other flaws I enjoyed the books.
What is with the statement that Lando doesn't smoke much then showing him smoking constantly though?
The main problem with the book is the shifting in time. In the second book we constantly alternate from lando playing sabaac with one group of people with various adventures he has had in the past. The structure makes absolutely no sense and is confusing. This continues into the third book, though it is not as bad there. I didn't notice it in the first book, so though it may be present it is not nearly as bad.
Despite this and other flaws I enjoyed the books.
What is with the statement that Lando doesn't smoke much then showing him smoking constantly though?
isd's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
0.5
I had tried to start reading this one about six times before I finally managed to read it. What bothers me the most is that these are practically not Star Wars stories at all. If the title was "Sir Reginald Wilson's Space Adventures" and all three Star Wars-y things (Lando Calrissian, Millennium Falcon, "droid") were replaced, no one would ever suspect a thing.
Lando is not in character at all. He calls every one "... old-something-or-other ...", his second running non-joke is "don't call me master!" which wasn't funny the first two times and certainly didn't improve over a hundred reiterations. The only funny thing was that he was described as a "not a smoker" and smoking or craving for smokes was what he did most of his time.
Both the first and the last story revolve around some random alien species and both are awful. The second story does not contain any silly monsters of the week and felt like a better story altogether. The bad guy - Rokur Gepta - is unfun and ridiculous. Gepta declared Calrissian his mortal nemesis, for having crossed his path too many times (once, being lured into a silly plot and just escaping).
The Mindharp of Sharu: -
The Flamewind of Oseon: *
The Starcave of Thonboka: half a star
In total this would've been a solid "it's ok" with two stars max, except for being completely not Star Wars. That annoyed me and drops the rating.
Lando is not in character at all. He calls every one "... old-something-or-other ...", his second running non-joke is "don't call me master!" which wasn't funny the first two times and certainly didn't improve over a hundred reiterations. The only funny thing was that he was described as a "not a smoker" and smoking or craving for smokes was what he did most of his time.
Both the first and the last story revolve around some random alien species and both are awful. The second story does not contain any silly monsters of the week and felt like a better story altogether. The bad guy - Rokur Gepta - is unfun and ridiculous. Gepta declared Calrissian his mortal nemesis, for having crossed his path too many times (once, being lured into a silly plot and just escaping).
The Mindharp of Sharu: -
The Flamewind of Oseon: *
The Starcave of Thonboka: half a star
In total this would've been a solid "it's ok" with two stars max, except for being completely not Star Wars. That annoyed me and drops the rating.
krogancuddler's review against another edition
I only finished the first book for 2 reasons. 1. The pretty endless racism. Not, to my knowledge, against Lando himself, but to a fantasy indigenous species. There is consistent slur usage and general colonialist attitudes. The twist does not improve this. They locked away their intelligence- what does that mean? These people have language and culture clearly demonstrated, but they're "stupid" and below the other species because....? The twist serves to justify the treatment of the people by the colonists and their enslavers, bc it implies "well they really are like that- at least right now".
2. The pacing of this book is horrendous. The first 120 pages the reader is slowly gaining information, but mostly more questions, no answers. Then the last 20 pages everything is answered at a breakneck pace. The answers are not simple or graceful enough for this to work. They are pretty complex, so slamming all of that into 20 pages just makes it feel cluttered and ridiculous. There was an instance of foreshadowing 10 pages before the foreshadowed incident happened, which gave literally no time for tension to build. The character relationships are similarly paced, where you are like "oh okay they like each other now?" And "oh okay we just forgave that??". Some of the way the characters figure out the answers to the questions just feel extremely stupid, which is just made worse by the fact we get at most 2 paragraphs to process it.
I spent 2 weeks trying to convince myself to read the rest, but tbh the first book left no good impression on me and I would have rated it 1 star. It does not feel worth it to continue.
2. The pacing of this book is horrendous. The first 120 pages the reader is slowly gaining information, but mostly more questions, no answers. Then the last 20 pages everything is answered at a breakneck pace. The answers are not simple or graceful enough for this to work. They are pretty complex, so slamming all of that into 20 pages just makes it feel cluttered and ridiculous. There was an instance of foreshadowing 10 pages before the foreshadowed incident happened, which gave literally no time for tension to build. The character relationships are similarly paced, where you are like "oh okay they like each other now?" And "oh okay we just forgave that??". Some of the way the characters figure out the answers to the questions just feel extremely stupid, which is just made worse by the fact we get at most 2 paragraphs to process it.
I spent 2 weeks trying to convince myself to read the rest, but tbh the first book left no good impression on me and I would have rated it 1 star. It does not feel worth it to continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Police brutality, and Racism
Moderate: Ableism, Slavery, and Colonisation
ehsjaysaunders's review against another edition
4.0
Some fun, classic adventures from a formative writer of the EU. Lando's past sure is wild!
4/5 Pioneering stories that still hold up!
4/5 Pioneering stories that still hold up!