Hard Merchandise (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 3) [Mass Market Paperback]

K.W. Jeter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 1999

Boba Fett fears only one enemy--the one he cannot see....

Feared and admired, respected and despised, Boba Fett enjoys a dubious reputation as the galaxy's most successful bounty hunter. Yet even a man like Boba Fett can have one too many enemies....

When Boba Fett stumbles across evidence implicating Prince Xizor in the murder of Luke Skywalker's aunt and uncle, Fett makes himself an enemy even he fears: the unknown mastermind behind a monstrous deception, who will kill to hide his tracks. Fett also finds himself in possession of an amnesiac young woman named Neelah, who may be the key to the mystery--or a decoy leading Fett into a murderous ambush. Fett's last hope is to run through the list of Xizor's hidden enemies. And since Xizor's hidden enemies are almost as legion as Fett's, the chance of survival is slim--even for someone as skilled and relentless as Boba Fett.



© 1999 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM.  All rights reserved.  Used under authorization.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A ruthless enemy threatens Boba Fett with a fate worse than death. . .

From the Inside Flap

Boba Fett fears only one enemy--the one he cannot see....

Feared and admired, respected and despised, Boba Fett enjoys a dubious reputation as the galaxy's most successful bounty hunter. Yet even a man like Boba Fett can have one too many enemies....

When Boba Fett stumbles across evidence implicating Prince Xizor in the murder of Luke Skywalker's aunt and uncle, Fett makes himself an enemy even he fears: the unknown mastermind behind a monstrous deception, who will kill to hide his tracks. Fett also finds himself in possession of an amnesiac young woman named Neelah, who may be the key to the mystery--or a decoy leading Fett into a murderous ambush. Fett's last hope is to run through the list of Xizor's hidden enemies. And since Xizor's hidden enemies are almost as legion as Fett's, the chance of survival is slim--even for someone as skilled and relentless as Boba Fett.



© 1999 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM.  All rights reserved.  Used under authorization.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Spectra; Reprint edition (July 6, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 055357891X
• ISBN-13: 978-0553578911
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent, July 21, 1999

By 

"feeler" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hard Merchandise (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was a great conclusion to the series. I really was enthralled with this book. It had a lot of surprises which kept the story line interesting and suspenseful. I think that this trilogy was a good portrayal of boba Fett and for those who think not, Stop reading those stupid comics!! I have a point to make regarding these books. I am a blind reader who relys on the audio version of books to stay on top of current titles. Though the audio version of Star wars books are usually abridged, they usually come with sound effects and music which turns the book into a kind of audio movie. I think the trade off is worth it and would rather listen to an abridged version which basically tells the main story rather then read a full version with additional yet unnecessary passages. I say this because I find when listening to these books they really put you in the Star Wars universe and you don't get bored! Take my advise and listen to a few, you'll be glad you did!! Maybe then you wouldn't find some of SW books too long or boring!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The most satisfying of the Bounty Hunter books, May 31, 2004

By 

J. K. Moser "JKM" (Flemington, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hard Merchandise (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Hard Merchandise : Star Wars: Book 3 of The Bounty Hunter Wars
by K.W. Jeter continues the story of Boba Fett, Neelah and Dengar after the battle on Tatooine. This book had the most surprises and was really unique in both the style and tone. I really enjoyed reading it. Overall the only problem I really had with the series was the characterization of Dengar as a not so brutal bounty hunter, something that takes away a little from the character. Other than that I have to give Jeter high marks for effort. He took the most mysterious and one of the most cherished characters in the Star Wars universe and crafted a well-written tale that did not totally destroy the perception of that character. Well done Mr. Jeter.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Bounty Hunter Wars limps to an ending, November 1, 2007

By 

Andrew Pruette "Rancors Love to Read" (U.S.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hard Merchandise (Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter Wars, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Hard Merchandise is the conclusion of K. W. Jeter's The Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy. Boba Fett is back in action, although lacking his beloved ship Slave I, and he wants to know who tried to bomb him on Tatooine and why. Adding to the mystery is a cryptic recording of the slaughter of Owen and Beru Lars by Imperial Stormtroopers that we saw the aftermath of in A New Hope. The specialized smell sensors used add to the recording a sign indicating Prince Xizor might have been involved in this tragic event. None of the characters really believe that's true, but Fett smells credits at the end of the trail and wants to find out where the recording originated and why someone would want to implicate Xizor.

I haven't mentioned much in my other two reviews of this trilogy about Neelah, the escaped slave from Jabba's Palace. This is partially because her story unfolds painfully slowly, and it's only in this volume that she gets any answers about her mysterious amnesia. When she does get them, they're not particularly revelatory. We also find out the extent of Kuat of Kuat's plotting and why he is so keen on having Fett eliminated.

The theme of Boba Fett as super-human bounty hunter continues even more strongly in this book. By the end, he's piloting a Star Destroyer by himself! His gaining the upper-hand in almost every scene becomes boringly predictable, and even when it appears he might have been bested by Black Sun at the climax, it's almost certain that he'll win when he takes on the entire organization, based on his characterization here. It's lucky for Dengar that he plans to retire, based on the competency level Jeter grants him.

I simply felt worn out at the end of this trilogy from the endless repetition of names, descriptions, dialogue, and character motivations. There are some entertaining sections and the kernels of a good single book lurking in here, but the trilogy is too drawn out for me to recommend.