I know, I know. It’s an egotistical thing to do; labeling my own review “fair and honest.” But with all the controversy surrounding this book, I felt it was necessary.
Allow me to explain:
In 2012, when mega-corporation Disney purchased the rights to Star Wars and laid out their plans to continue the franchise, the core fanbase was sent into a tizzy. On one side were those excited and optimistic for new adventures set in a galaxy far, far away. On the opposite end of the spectrum were those still reeling from the disappointment of the much-maligned prequels and nervous of further damage to their precious space epic.
Yet, Disney’s first major announcement involving the future of Star Wars brought a shimmer of hope to even the most jaded member of the Jar Jar hate club – a new trilogy of films set in the era after Return of the Jedi which would bring the original cast of characters together again was going into production.
However, for fans of the best-selling “Expanded Universe” series of books who were ready to see favorites such as Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade come to life on the big screen, that excitement quickly faded when, two years after acquiring the rights, Disney announced the official removal of the EU books from the new Star Wars canon.
Rather than delve into the world beyond Episode VI which had already been provided for them, the House of Mouse decided to wipe the slate clean and create their own Expanded Universe to play in. The first official entry novel is Aftermath by Chuck Wendig.
Before we get into the controversy, let’s talk about the book itself.
Set not long after the destruction of the second Death Star and the defeat of the evil Emperor and his apprentice Darth Vader at the hands of the Rebel Alliance, Aftermath finds the remnants of the Galactic Empire scattered and leaderless. It’s amid this turmoil that a small group of Imperials have reconvened on the outer rim planet of Akiva, where they set up a blockade and hope to lay low whilst plotting their next move. When ace Rebel pilot Wedge Antillies accidentally stumbles upon their group of Star Destroyers hovering above the planet’s atmosphere, he’s taken captive by enemy forces who plan to use his life as a bargaining chip should worse come to worse for the now shattered Empire. Luckily (yet unbeknownst) for Wedge, another Rebel recently arrived on Akiva’s surface – Norra Wexley, a local pilot who left behind her family to fight for a better future. She’s returned home in hopes of reconciling with her son, Timmin, a teenager with a gift for engineering who has spent the last few years without his mother’s presence building a reputation as small-time street hustler. As Norra tries to put the scars of war behind her and rebuild her family, she instead finds herself called to battle once more with the Galactic Empire, only this time, it’s close to home.
Others on Akiva also find themselves thrust into a conflict they didn’t plan on. There’s Jas – a bounty hunter who has followed the trail of a wanted corrupt banker right to the Empire’s secret meeting where she now sees her shot at a much bigger score. Also there’s Sinjir, a former Imperial officer who barely escaped the Battle of Endor with his life and has since come to the outer rim with the intention of drinking what remains of it into oblivion. These figures and more set the stage for the rebooted Star Wars Expanded Universe and are our first stop on the road to Episode VII.
Now: the controversy.
First: the obvious – jaded fans of the original EU who have gone so far as to start a Facebook group dedicated to ruining what Disney is trying to establish. Their first order of business has been to bombard Aftermath‘s amazon page with one star reviews. While part of me can relate to their bitterness, I find their methods of expression to be petty and non-productive. With the release of The Force Awakens quickly approaching, public interest in the post-RotJ Star Wars universe is at an all-time high. It feels to me like the effort these fans are putting into trashing a book most of them probably haven’t even read would be better spent raising awareness of their beloved original EU books. I myself have no nostalgic connection to said books and can attest that this review isn’t written out of spite and that I read Aftermath with an open mind.
Secondly: the absurd – readers offended that Aftermath features some homosexual characters. Yup. There’s a contingent of people who think Star Wars shouldn’t be gay. I’m not sure why they feel so passionate about their homophobic views, specifically when you consider the sexuality of the characters in question is only brought up briefly and with discretion, but whatever. It’s hardly worth mentioning. I only bring it up as a counterpoint to other reviews you may read.
Alright. With that silliness is out-of-the-way, let’s get to the actual review.
I found Aftermath to be a bit of a mixed bag – mostly due to the many interludes present between chapters of the main story. I realize these are included to give us a sample of what else to expect from this new Expanded Universe, but this rapid introduction of characters can be a tad overwhelming or even, in certain cases, more interesting than what’s happening on Akiva. It’s a lot of information to take in from one 364 page book and tends to shift too much of the focus away from the main characters.
Also, the main plot itself can drag at times, specifically during the Empire meeting(s). Those moments brought to mind the Senate hearings that plagued much of Episode I and slowed that film’s pace down to a crawl.
On a more positive note, author Chuck Wendig manages to find that difficult balance of exciting action and emotional character growth. You’ll come to like our ragtag group of protagonists (and maybe even a few of the antagonists) as they work their way to a thrilling final battle set in the stars.
Overall, Star Wars: Aftermath is good, if not underwhelming, especially when compared to the Marvel comics reboot which began earlier this year and is also part of the new official canon. These comics have been nothing short of excellent and you can expect a more detailed analysis of them here on the blog soon.
Star Wars: Aftermath
Author: Chuck Wendig
Rating: 3/5
Are you excited or apprehensive about the future of the Star Wars franchise? Were you a fan of the original Expanded Universe books? Let’s talk about it in the comments!
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