odin45mp 's review for:

Scoundrels by Timothy Zahn

2.0

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This book, like most of the other stories that take place between Episodes IV and V, lacks teeth. There are no stakes because we know right where the characters end up. In this case, it starts off with a weak premise

Spoiler

(Han loses his money from transporting Luke and Obi-Wan to Alderaan and rescuing Leia because he was caught by pirates)

and thus he gambles on a caper with a big payoff. It's Ocean's Eleven in the Star Wars universe. One of the biggest issues I have with the story, just like the cover shows, is that Lando is involved. The impression we get in The Empire Strikes Back is that Han and Lando haven't seen each other for years, probably since Han won the Falcon from him. It feels awkward having them team up here, and it could have been handled better. Several new characters are introduced, but I can only tell you a couple things about 2 of them. The rest are more or less blank templates to fulfill a role in the story, with no personality or character of their own.

The writing was competent, but didn't transport me to a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away like many of Zahn's other books have done. I don't know if he changed, or if I changed, but the magic wasn't there this time. I also feel like the twist at the end wasn't needed and felt done to check a box or to please some editor, rather than for the actual needs of the story or to play out character motivations. It bothered me.

I wouldn't recommend it.