Scan barcode
jaredkwheeler's review against another edition
5.0
Star Wars Legends Project #224
Background: Rebel Dawn was written by [a:A.C. Crispin|61277|A.C. Crispin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1300121737p2/61277.jpg] and published in March 1998. It is the third book in Crispin's Han Solo Trilogy.
Rebel Dawn happens during the 2 years before the battle of Yavin, beginning about a year and a half after the end of The Hutt Gambit (my review). The main characters Han Solo and Chewbacca, along with Bria Tharen and Durga the Hutt. There are a whole raft of other characters as well, like Lando Calrissian, Boba Fett, and Jabba the Hutt, ranging from major appearances to minor cameos The story takes place on several planets, including Bespin, Kashyyyk, Ylesia, and Tatooine.
Summary: After winning the ship of his dreams in a game of sabacc, Han Solo really comes into his own as a smuggler, but the galaxy is changing and even the Millennium Falcon isn't fast enough to stay ahead forever. When Han's pre-smuggler past resurfaces and presents him with an opportunity too rich to pass up, he can't realize that the outcome could make or break the galaxy's future as well as his fortunes.
Review: Over a year before The Phantom Menace ever hit theaters in 1999, Crispin completed the real prequel trilogy. This series may be named for Han Solo, but by the time this third volume comes in for a landing, all of the expertly woven subplots have truly blossomed into a much larger story. Crispin pays off so much in this final book that she's been quietly setting up in the background, and she makes it look effortless. Rebel Dawn completes the story of how Han Solo became the man we meet in the first Star Wars movie, yes, but it also fleshes out the shifting balance of powers in the criminal underworld he inhabits and provides a front-row seat for the birth of the Rebellion.
This book's timeline necessitates gaps during which Han is off having Brian Daley's Han Solo Adventures, Han all but disappears for 100 pages right in the middle. There were a lot of bad ways to handle this, but Crispin uses it instead to broaden the scope of her whole trilogy so that, rather than a dull or annoying interlude, it suddenly feels like the story couldn't have existed any other way.
I could gush for several more paragraphs about what I think works so well about this novel and why, but I wouldn't want to rob anyone of the pleasure of discovering its many surprises for themselves. Zahn's Thrawn trilogy is widely regarded as the gold standard of the EU, but in my opinion this trilogy unquestionably belongs in the same league.
A+
Background: Rebel Dawn was written by [a:A.C. Crispin|61277|A.C. Crispin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1300121737p2/61277.jpg] and published in March 1998. It is the third book in Crispin's Han Solo Trilogy.
Rebel Dawn happens during the 2 years before the battle of Yavin, beginning about a year and a half after the end of The Hutt Gambit (my review). The main characters Han Solo and Chewbacca, along with Bria Tharen and Durga the Hutt. There are a whole raft of other characters as well, like Lando Calrissian, Boba Fett, and Jabba the Hutt, ranging from major appearances to minor cameos The story takes place on several planets, including Bespin, Kashyyyk, Ylesia, and Tatooine.
Summary: After winning the ship of his dreams in a game of sabacc, Han Solo really comes into his own as a smuggler, but the galaxy is changing and even the Millennium Falcon isn't fast enough to stay ahead forever. When Han's pre-smuggler past resurfaces and presents him with an opportunity too rich to pass up, he can't realize that the outcome could make or break the galaxy's future as well as his fortunes.
Review: Over a year before The Phantom Menace ever hit theaters in 1999, Crispin completed the real prequel trilogy. This series may be named for Han Solo, but by the time this third volume comes in for a landing, all of the expertly woven subplots have truly blossomed into a much larger story. Crispin pays off so much in this final book that she's been quietly setting up in the background, and she makes it look effortless. Rebel Dawn completes the story of how Han Solo became the man we meet in the first Star Wars movie, yes, but it also fleshes out the shifting balance of powers in the criminal underworld he inhabits and provides a front-row seat for the birth of the Rebellion.
This book's timeline necessitates gaps during which Han is off having Brian Daley's Han Solo Adventures, Han all but disappears for 100 pages right in the middle. There were a lot of bad ways to handle this, but Crispin uses it instead to broaden the scope of her whole trilogy so that, rather than a dull or annoying interlude, it suddenly feels like the story couldn't have existed any other way.
I could gush for several more paragraphs about what I think works so well about this novel and why, but I wouldn't want to rob anyone of the pleasure of discovering its many surprises for themselves. Zahn's Thrawn trilogy is widely regarded as the gold standard of the EU, but in my opinion this trilogy unquestionably belongs in the same league.
A+
cassiflo24's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jarichan's review against another edition
3.0
Dies ist eines der raren Beispiele, in welcher eine Reihe mit der Zeit immer besser wird. Der Abschlussband der Trilogie war somit auch mein Favorit, obwohl es zum Ende hin wieder ein wenig absackte. Aber noch immer frage ich mich, weshalb Disney sich entschied, diese Bücher aus dem Kanon zu werfen und durch diesen mickrigen Han Solo-Film ersetzt hat. Für all jene, die diesen Film auch nicht wirklich akzeptieren können, empfehle ich A.C. Crispins Trilogie. Die hat sehr viel mehr Han Solo in sich.
rogue_leader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
stacielfisher's review against another edition
Overall really enjoyed this trilogy. Felt like being with old friends. Han, Chewie, Lando, Boba Fett, Jabba. It was fun to see little snippets of the early stages of Rebel Alliance. There were some
cringe phrases and words I noticed in this book that I may have missed in the first two. “I’d rather be dead than crippled” and a few uses of the word “retarded” as an insult. Did not enjoy those parts.
cringe phrases and words I noticed in this book that I may have missed in the first two. “I’d rather be dead than crippled” and a few uses of the word “retarded” as an insult. Did not enjoy those parts.
franklc29's review against another edition
3.0
A very fun set of books that make you wish that Disney had gotten rid of the prequels and not actually good EU material. Great characters and well-known ones are mixed with new ones very well. Very enjoyable and kind of makes you wish they were longer
planetarypan's review against another edition
4.0
And it turns out just as you expected, except you now understand all the little things about Han from the original movies that were never very clear.
justin_wong's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.0