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pointlessape's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.5
thebookslayer's review
adventurous
tense
fast-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
4.75
jaredkwheeler's review
4.0
Star Wars Legends Project #203
Background: The Hutt Gambit was written by [a:A.C. Crispin|61277|A.C. Crispin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1300121737p2/61277.jpg]. It was published in August 1997. It is the second of Crispin's Han Solo Trilogy.
The Hutt Gambit begins 5 years before the battle of Yavin, when Han Solo is in his mid-20s, and covers between a year and two years of time. This is about 5 years after the events of The Paradise Snare (my review). The main characters are Han Solo and Chewbacca. There are major appearances by Lando Calrissian, Boba Fett, and Jabba the Hutt. The novel is also absolutely stuffed with appearances and cameos by a huge host of characters, most of whom appear in later Star Wars stories as acquaintances from Han's past. I won't even attempt to list them all here. There are also cameos and minor roles for characters like Darth Vader and Vuffi Raa, and from several of the surviving characters from the previous novel, most notably Bria Tharen and Teroenza. The novel takes place most notably on Nar Shaddaa and Nal Hutta, as well as Corellia, Tatooine, Kessel, Ylesia, and more.
Summary: Booted from the Imperial Academy, his dreams in tatters, Han Solo finds himself down and out, and saddled with an unwelcome Wookiee companion who refuses to leave his side. But with the Ylesian Hutts still bent on murderous revenge, Han returns to a life of crime under the orders of his enemies' chief rivals: Jabba and Jiliac of the Desilijic Hutt clan. Han finds a new sense of community among the smugglers of Nar Shaddaa, but a conflict is brewing between the Hutts and the Empire and Han and his new family will soon find themselves in a desperate battle for their lives and their livelihoods.
Review: This has to be one of the most lore-heavy Star Wars novels ever written. It stitches together so many far-flung hints and fragments about Han Solo's pre-New Hope career as a smuggler, "deep cut" doesn't even begin to cover it all. And, what's more amazing, it threads them all around a couple of gripping narrative throughlines and it manages to be entertaining and look totally effortless doing so. I am in awe. The more I think about the sheer number of diversity of balls that this novel keeps in the air, the more amazed I get.
There's so much juicy Han Solo origin stuff here . . . His first meetings with Lando, Jabba, and Boba Fett, his first encounter with the Millennium Falcon, his first Kessel Run. The only scene that's notably missing is his first meeting with Chewbacca, which Crispin was barred by Lucas from depicting. And despite this being very much a prequel, it still follows up in very satisfying ways on the major events of the previous novel.
In light of how much work this story has to do, and how brilliantly it does that work, it might be the most impressive of the trilogy. But it's still a little bit like work to read, very much the middle chapter of this trilogy with all of the handicaps that implies. It remains my least favorite of one of the absolute best EU novel trilogies . . . which is to say, still better by a mile than a whole lot of what's out there.
A-
Background: The Hutt Gambit was written by [a:A.C. Crispin|61277|A.C. Crispin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1300121737p2/61277.jpg]. It was published in August 1997. It is the second of Crispin's Han Solo Trilogy.
The Hutt Gambit begins 5 years before the battle of Yavin, when Han Solo is in his mid-20s, and covers between a year and two years of time. This is about 5 years after the events of The Paradise Snare (my review). The main characters are Han Solo and Chewbacca. There are major appearances by Lando Calrissian, Boba Fett, and Jabba the Hutt. The novel is also absolutely stuffed with appearances and cameos by a huge host of characters, most of whom appear in later Star Wars stories as acquaintances from Han's past. I won't even attempt to list them all here. There are also cameos and minor roles for characters like Darth Vader and Vuffi Raa, and from several of the surviving characters from the previous novel, most notably Bria Tharen and Teroenza. The novel takes place most notably on Nar Shaddaa and Nal Hutta, as well as Corellia, Tatooine, Kessel, Ylesia, and more.
Summary: Booted from the Imperial Academy, his dreams in tatters, Han Solo finds himself down and out, and saddled with an unwelcome Wookiee companion who refuses to leave his side. But with the Ylesian Hutts still bent on murderous revenge, Han returns to a life of crime under the orders of his enemies' chief rivals: Jabba and Jiliac of the Desilijic Hutt clan. Han finds a new sense of community among the smugglers of Nar Shaddaa, but a conflict is brewing between the Hutts and the Empire and Han and his new family will soon find themselves in a desperate battle for their lives and their livelihoods.
Review: This has to be one of the most lore-heavy Star Wars novels ever written. It stitches together so many far-flung hints and fragments about Han Solo's pre-New Hope career as a smuggler, "deep cut" doesn't even begin to cover it all. And, what's more amazing, it threads them all around a couple of gripping narrative throughlines and it manages to be entertaining and look totally effortless doing so. I am in awe. The more I think about the sheer number of diversity of balls that this novel keeps in the air, the more amazed I get.
There's so much juicy Han Solo origin stuff here . . . His first meetings with Lando, Jabba, and Boba Fett, his first encounter with the Millennium Falcon, his first Kessel Run. The only scene that's notably missing is his first meeting with Chewbacca, which Crispin was barred by Lucas from depicting. And despite this being very much a prequel, it still follows up in very satisfying ways on the major events of the previous novel.
In light of how much work this story has to do, and how brilliantly it does that work, it might be the most impressive of the trilogy. But it's still a little bit like work to read, very much the middle chapter of this trilogy with all of the handicaps that implies. It remains my least favorite of one of the absolute best EU novel trilogies . . . which is to say, still better by a mile than a whole lot of what's out there.
A-
hvickers's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
jarichan's review
3.0
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.
stacielfisher's review
Absolutely 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.
rogue_leader's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
cassiflo24's review
adventurous
funny
informative
tense
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? Yes
4.0