Book 1 - 'Ambush at Corellia' by Roger MacBride Allen  

Bantam Press 1994  

Set 14 years after RotJ 

 book cover
Story -- the Solo clan (the twins are now 9, Anakin is 7) and Chewie are off for a vacation to Han's home planet of Corellia, where there is also a trade summit. But they show up to find the whole system on the brink of Civil War and a fanatical rebel leader threatening to blow up stars. Meanwhile, Luke is off with Lando on a rather unusual mission.

Original characters from the movies -- pretty good, in my humble opinion, although one or two things jarred a bit. Han is toting a blaster and getting into lots of trouble. Leia's getting stressed out with motherhood. Lando's pretty realistic, too.

New characters -- the characters of the Solo children are more developed. Mara Jade shows up (the real Mara, like in the Zahn books). Meet Tendra (not quite sure what to make of her; a bit 2-dimensional), Belindi Kalenda of New Republic Intelligence, and Ebrihim and his cool droid.
 
Cover art -- still no signs of ageing. But Han and that blaster ... oooooh!

Chicks -- Leia has some nice bits. Mara's back (yay!). Kalenda is a cool, resourceful, intelligent chick - I liked her.

Any good? -- quite good. Lots of character stuff, but could have done with a bit more action. I kind of got the feeling there wasn't really enough to fill 3 books.

Read it? -- yeah, why not.

Rating -- 6 out of 10
 

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