Star Wars Bookworms Book Club discussion

Please do not post spoilers from later chapters in this discussion

Anybody notice how gruesome and violent this book is? The whole scene in the Supervisor's office was messed up! Between the eye stabbing and the Leia on the floor beatdown I am a little disturbed.

I just finished Chapter 6 and I must say, I am enjoying this novel much more than I thought I would. After hearing about the novel from others who had read it, I expected it to seem foreign and out of place, but it feel more or less like Star Wars. It is odd seeing the dynamic of Luke and Leia's relationship pre empire and jedi revelations, however I have found this pretty easy to look past so far. The characters of Grammel and Halla have so far kept my attention. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the novel.

I'm really enjoying the novel more than I thought too, Mike.

Grammel is a more violent, crazy Imperial officer than usual which helps to make this an unique, somewhat terrifying story in Star Wars lore.

I'm really interested in finding out more about Halla. Her use of Force powers makes me wonder if she's a former Jedi, and if not, then what is she?

I'm having a hard time buying the fact that Luke can speak and translate the language used by the Yuzzem so easily. It's explained that he never met this species, but he used to read about them when he was a bored farm boy on Tatooine. I wish it were only that easy to learn a foreign language and use it years later like that.

I like the callback to Leia's interrogation from A New Hope, and how terrified she is of being interrogated like that again. It really drives home how traumatic that experience was for her. I'm not sure she would be one to faint about it like she did, so I'm hoping she takes a stronger leadership role as the book progresses.

I just finished chapter 4 and I gotta say I wish Leia would get off her high horse and shut up once in a while. It seems like all the trouble Luke and Leia are getting into is brought on by her high and mighty attitude toward everyone and everything. She insults Grammel's manners and capacity for learning and calls him incompetent. She almost reveals herself as the Princess on a couple occasions. "Do you have any idea who I am?" She better hope they don't! And she kicks Luke into the mud which sparks the fight that attracts the miners.

Ugh, I've never been a big Leia fan and this book just makes me dislike her completely.

I enjoy seeing Leia as bit of a Princess brat. It shows she still has some growing up to do.

In regards to Leia and her behavior, we have to remember that not only is she young, but she also has just recently witnessed the destruction of her planet and the genocide of her people. I always thought that Episode IV, never showed her truly in mourning because she simply didn't have the time. She had to remain strong for the cause. After the destruction of the Death Star, she now can breath a bit and better go through that process of grieving. It's one reason I'm excited about the new Marvel comics in this period as I hope they explore this part of her. So, in short, I think the angry, "bratty" Leia we see here should be given some leeway and be viewed with understanding.