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crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
5.0
"To make the big money, you gotta be willing to take those risks."
Han has just been dishonorably discharged from the Imperial Navy for intervening on behalf of Chewbacca, a Wookiee slave. Now, he is unemployed and burdened with a Wookiee, insistent on staying at his side due to a "Life Debt". But Han is clever. He pulls himself up and begins to hone his piloting craft by working for the Hutts, keeping just ahead of the bounty hunters, and meeting people who will influence his life in the future. Oh, and finding the ship that he has his heart set on: the Millennium Falcon.
NOTE: Based on the actual novel (read years ago) and the audiobook.
I Liked:
Having Han team up with Chewie really makes this novel better than its predecessor (which had him team up with Muurgh, a Togorian, and Bria, his Corellian love interest). We get to go with them through their journey, to watch as Han improves his skill, learns his trade, makes an impression on those around him, and meet up with people we know from other novels.
I adored how Crispin really put effort into the continuity of this book. We have Xaverri from The Crystal Star, Salla Zend from Dark Empire, Vuffi Rah from the Lando Adventures, Smuggler's Run, the works. I was particularly impressed with how Crispin intertwined her story with Brian Daley's The Han Solo Adventures (seen even better in the next book, Rebel Dawn. This is true dedication, to work around another author's creation, to spend time paying homage and referencing it. And I applaud Crispin for it.
The novel is definitely more episodic, with not so much of a single emphasis, other than the Ylesia plot you might remember from The Paradise Snare. This works to the story's advantage. Han's life wouldn't be dictated like a "normal" story, and I appreciate the "lack of a plot".
As for the Ylesia plot and the Hutts, I really enjoyed it. It is impressive for her to take the task of making the Hutts interesting, and Crispin succeeded. I felt they were very much like the Corleone's from the Godfather while without being a complete ripoff.
One of my absolute favorite moments in the book was where Boba Fett nearly captures Han Solo and Lando Calrissian comes to the rescue. I love the introduction to Fett, I love how Calrissian was able to get the jump on him, and I love how it set up Fett's grudge against Han Solo. It really showed Fett being a human and not just a flat robot.
I Didn't Like:
The segment near the beginning where Han meets a fortune teller that basically relates how he will become in the movies was unnecessary and only made for a "wink-wink" to what happens to him.
I didn't care how "Hoth" was mentioned. I like continuity, but do so many people have to be aware of these "out of the way" worlds? With the way things go, Tatooine is more central to the galaxy than Coruscant (makes Luke's statement in A New Hope kinda absurd now), Endor is a by-word, and Bespin is as popular as our Disney World. Get real. Make up some new planets!
I wasn't too fond of the time hopping. This may be in part because of the editing of the audiobook (they always cut out stuff from them), but I still felt a little jerked around.
My last big complaint: how the heck did Vader not sense Han in the Imperial governor's office? Han should not have survived that incident.
Overall:
This novel is really clever. While The Paradise Snare had a mediocre romance and a plot heavily borrowed from Oliver Twist, this one was clever and showed that Crispin was good at producing her own story and integrating someone else's. This is the one of the best "middle trilogy" books I've read in Star Wars.
Han has just been dishonorably discharged from the Imperial Navy for intervening on behalf of Chewbacca, a Wookiee slave. Now, he is unemployed and burdened with a Wookiee, insistent on staying at his side due to a "Life Debt". But Han is clever. He pulls himself up and begins to hone his piloting craft by working for the Hutts, keeping just ahead of the bounty hunters, and meeting people who will influence his life in the future. Oh, and finding the ship that he has his heart set on: the Millennium Falcon.
NOTE: Based on the actual novel (read years ago) and the audiobook.
I Liked:
Having Han team up with Chewie really makes this novel better than its predecessor (which had him team up with Muurgh, a Togorian, and Bria, his Corellian love interest). We get to go with them through their journey, to watch as Han improves his skill, learns his trade, makes an impression on those around him, and meet up with people we know from other novels.
I adored how Crispin really put effort into the continuity of this book. We have Xaverri from The Crystal Star, Salla Zend from Dark Empire, Vuffi Rah from the Lando Adventures, Smuggler's Run, the works. I was particularly impressed with how Crispin intertwined her story with Brian Daley's The Han Solo Adventures (seen even better in the next book, Rebel Dawn. This is true dedication, to work around another author's creation, to spend time paying homage and referencing it. And I applaud Crispin for it.
The novel is definitely more episodic, with not so much of a single emphasis, other than the Ylesia plot you might remember from The Paradise Snare. This works to the story's advantage. Han's life wouldn't be dictated like a "normal" story, and I appreciate the "lack of a plot".
As for the Ylesia plot and the Hutts, I really enjoyed it. It is impressive for her to take the task of making the Hutts interesting, and Crispin succeeded. I felt they were very much like the Corleone's from the Godfather while without being a complete ripoff.
One of my absolute favorite moments in the book was where Boba Fett nearly captures Han Solo and Lando Calrissian comes to the rescue. I love the introduction to Fett, I love how Calrissian was able to get the jump on him, and I love how it set up Fett's grudge against Han Solo. It really showed Fett being a human and not just a flat robot.
I Didn't Like:
The segment near the beginning where Han meets a fortune teller that basically relates how he will become in the movies was unnecessary and only made for a "wink-wink" to what happens to him.
I didn't care how "Hoth" was mentioned. I like continuity, but do so many people have to be aware of these "out of the way" worlds? With the way things go, Tatooine is more central to the galaxy than Coruscant (makes Luke's statement in A New Hope kinda absurd now), Endor is a by-word, and Bespin is as popular as our Disney World. Get real. Make up some new planets!
I wasn't too fond of the time hopping. This may be in part because of the editing of the audiobook (they always cut out stuff from them), but I still felt a little jerked around.
My last big complaint: how the heck did Vader not sense Han in the Imperial governor's office? Han should not have survived that incident.
Overall:
This novel is really clever. While The Paradise Snare had a mediocre romance and a plot heavily borrowed from Oliver Twist, this one was clever and showed that Crispin was good at producing her own story and integrating someone else's. This is the one of the best "middle trilogy" books I've read in Star Wars.
jtashoff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
3.25
the_bitextual's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
A LOT better then the first one. I may give this a real read sometime again, one out of three ain't bad. Still not great, and 3 stars may be generous, but in this abridged form it's solid.
staubina's review against another edition
3.0
[b:The Hutt Gambit|598938|The Hutt Gambit (Star Wars The Han Solo Trilogy, #2)|A.C. Crispin|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176156137s/598938.jpg|1194985] was a fun read for anyone interested in the Star Wars universe. It was not a literary masterpiece, but it was a fun read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the history everyone's favorite smuggler Han Solo.
rakoerose's review against another edition
4.0
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.
fernlhf's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
markhartshorn's review against another edition
5.0
All I can say is the Hutts would give any modern gangsters a run for their money.
bookhoarding's review against another edition
4.0
Picked this up at a local library book sale and loved it. I'm Star Wars fan and this was my first hint at the expanded universe. Not only does it give you a taste of Han Solo's rebellious life, it doesn't make the reader feel lost. Yes, it mentions different worlds and people, and is part of a series, but it isn't crucial to read the other books in the series for this one to make sense. I thought it was a fantastic read for a sci-fi nerd.
sqeeker's review against another edition
4.0
- There was a lot of diplomacy and politics with the Hutts in this one. The stuff usual bores me, but this time it was very intriguing. I loved Han's role in everything.
- I LOVED the introduction to characters we all know and love. Han learning to accept Chewy as a partner was great to see. It was SO epic when Boba Fett hunted down Han Solo. Landa and the Falcon were very exciting to see. I can't wait to read about how Han gambles the Falcon away from Lando.
- I wish Bria's story had been explored a little more, but I'm sure she'll play a larger role later.
- I loved the first book better, but this one was epic in it's own way. I can't put these books down! They are SO good! I wish these were still canon.
- I LOVED the introduction to characters we all know and love. Han learning to accept Chewy as a partner was great to see. It was SO epic when Boba Fett hunted down Han Solo. Landa and the Falcon were very exciting to see. I can't wait to read about how Han gambles the Falcon away from Lando.
- I wish Bria's story had been explored a little more, but I'm sure she'll play a larger role later.
- I loved the first book better, but this one was epic in it's own way. I can't put these books down! They are SO good! I wish these were still canon.
tstreet's review against another edition
5.0
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.