Tatooine Ghost (Star Wars) (Hardcover)

The book raises views of central characters that are at odds with traditionally held opinions. The friends young Anakin had when he won the Boonta Eve Race make appearances and their memories and thoughts of the boy who became Vader are in opposition to those that Leia has brought with her on her mission to Tatooine. This story takes place less than a year after Leia was courted by Prince Isolder, and only several months after her marriage to everyone's favorite smuggler. Chewbacca of course is prominent, and shortly after you begin the book you will forget for 403 pages that he will be lost many years in to the future when the Vong enter the galaxy.

Troy Denning does a great job of bringing back the dialogue that reads so true to the original films. The adventure this book describes is hardly without its lethal dangers, but unlike the NJO series you need not constantly hold your breath for fear some catastrophe will strike a favorite character. These are the original heroes of Star Wars, they are still young, and while not invincible they almost seem that way.

The book answers all manner of questions that fans have been curious about, from why the headstones that appear in Episode II are not seen in Episode IV, and to the meaning of seemingly innocent dialogue from Episode II as well. Characters you think you know well turn out to be much different than imagined, and the author takes you to a certain Pod Racing stadium now falling apart that was once so special and so critical to the path of the future of the galaxy.

The book is not perfect but I gave it 5 stars for the method the author used to keep the interest of the reader so high. Leia is bombarded with information about people she never knew, and is forced to go places she has never been, and meet people that are familiar to fans but unknown to her. This book fills in the life stories of characters I never expected to find in the book, and it will require you to revaluate your opinions about characters you may have thought you knew.

The Empire with its Star Destroyers, the species that took the life of Anakin's mother, Stormtroopers, and a protocol droid that always manages to annoy those he is with, all play prominent roles in this tale. About the only familiar Star Wars sound you may miss is that of a lightsaber, but then there is Shadowcast, and it is as important to the New Republic in this story as any lightsaber would be.

This story lacks the epic scope of many of the better Star Wars novels, but trades it for a depth and wealth of detail that will have you feeling the heat of Tatooine's twin suns (I actually felt thirsty reading about Han's plight!). Also, the development of the prequels has meant that there is naturally a gap in the expanded universe between them and the classic trilogy, a gap that this book begins to close. Han and Leia's opinions on young Anakin's activities mean that we finally get to see the prequels and the classic trilogy sounding off against one another; for instance Han's assertion that had he been in Anakin situation (as of Episode II), he might also have slaughtered the Sand People. Another touching and enlightening part of the story is Leia's getting to know her grandmother through Shmi's own journal. All together, with the Imperials adding pace and the Squibs adding humour, this book is an excellent, well-rounded read.

*For fans of the EU, there's a wealth of subtle cameos including Teemto Pagalies, Ody Mandrell, Kitster and Wald from Episode II, the Darklighter family from 'The Bacta War' and (best of all) a brief appearance by Grand Admiral Thrawn!*