Customer Reviews

Star Wars: The Han Solo Adventures (Star Wars (Random House Paperback))

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"The Han Solo Adventures" is a Three-in-One novel that takes three novels about Han Solo and brings them together in one volume. These novels are set before "Star Wars: A New Hope" and feature a younger Han Solo than we see in the movies. While these books were written before the Original Trilogy had even finished, they fit in very well into the Extended Universe, mostly because nothing that happens in these books has any bearing on the rest of the Star Wars story. The title for this collection is perfect, these are just three Han Solo Adventures.

Unlike most of the other Star Wars novels, the main villain here is not the Empire but rather a completely unrelated entity called the Corporate Sector Authority. Being short on credits again, Han and Chewie take on a job to find a missing mechanic. That sounds simple enough, but this mechanic is one that made many of the major modifications to the Falcon and he operates outside of the law like many smugglers. This search for the mechanic takes Han into the Corporate Sector, an uninhabited section of the galaxy which is used for mining and is controlled by the Corporate Sector Authority. "Han Solo at Star's End" covers this story. Han fights the Espos (the military/police force of the Corporate Authority), rescues prisoners, and gets into tight situations.

"Han Solo's Revenge" has Han and Chewie taking on a smuggling mission, but the cargo ends up being slaves. Since Han refuses to have anything to do with the slave trade, what follows is double-crosses by the slavers and then by Han as he tries to fight back and get himself out of this mess. This is also a bit of a revenge novel with Han's grudge against slavers of all kinds.

The final novel in this collection is "Han Solo and the Lost Legacy". This novel takes Han and Chewie on an adventure to find a mythical treasure hidden on a new planet. Comparing this to Indiana Jones would not be out of the question as this is the type of adventure it is, even set in the Star Wars Universe. At times, this novel seemed to be just a bit too silly because of the treasure hunting aspect of it.

Brian Daley did a good job writing these stories. This was before there was an Extended Universe (except for "Splinter of the Mind's Eye") and we get to see Han and Chewie go on three new adventures. We seldom get to see a younger Han except as he relates to Luke and Leia, so these books are nice for that reason. They are also fairly well written (especially compared to the 3-in-1 Lando Calrissian book). My biggest problem is just that these aren't connected to anything else in Star Wars. The Corporate Sector, while a good villain and a change of pace from the Empire, is never re-visited again (though I understand that the New Jedi Order series finally mentions it), and while the stakes are high for the characters, we know that the two important characters are going to make it. A.C. Crispin does a very good job tying these three books into her Han trilogy (which she wrote some 15 years after Daley), but does a better job at telling an interesting story and explaining Han Solo. Brian Daley just has Han being Han. These are well written, but not quite as interesting or exciting as I had hoped. The first book is best and the quality drops throughout each story. Still, there are only 6 books that deal with a younger Han Solo, so if that is an era you are interested in, this is one of your only chances to visit with a younger Han and go on an adventure.

-Joe Sherry

Long before Timothy Zahn wrote the the book that started the Star Wars book craze (HEIR TO THE EMPIRE), long before fans knew anything about the Star Wars Expanded Universe, before THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI, and just a few years after the release of STAR WARS, Brian Daley wrote a trilogy of books dealing with some of Han Solo's escapades several years before STAR WARS. The books were some of the first and at the time very few items items that people could buy to learn more about two of their favorite Star Wars characters: Han Solo and Chewbacca. These books: HAN SOLO AT STAR' END; HAN SOLO'S REVENGE; and HAN SOLO AND THE LOST LEGACY were eventually collected together and sold in one volume as THE HAN SOLO ADVENTURES. These stories take place a few years before STAR WARS and are rarely mentioned in the Star Wars canon. The bad guys aren't Stormtroopers from the Empire, but are soldiers of the Corporate Sector (the real reason behind this is because Lucas didn't have things figured out yet and didn't want anyone tinkering with the Stormtroopers from STAR WARS; you can't really blame him, I mean THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK hadn't even been made, yet). The Corporate Sector isn't mentioned very often in the new books, either. But it is on the maps and every once in awhile there are references to some of the things that take place in THE HAN SOLO ADVENTURES.

In HAN SOLO AT STAR'S END, Han and Chewie track down an infamous ship rebuilder for a reward and because they need some repairs. Their quest ends up leading them to the prison planet of the Authority known as Stars' End.

In HAN SOLO'S REVENGE, Han discovers that some special cargo he was supposed to transport turns out to be a group of slaves. Han hates slavery and anyone caught transporting slaves can receive an instant death sentence. Han forms a plan to foil the slavers and free the slaves. Once accomplished, he sets out to get revenge on the people who set him up.

Finally, in HAN SOLO AND THE LOST LEGACY, Han and Chewie set out to a legendary treasure planet. But there's a bounty on Han's head and once he and Chewie arrive, the Millennium Falcon is stolen and they find themselves being tracked and hunted by a group of assassins and killer droids. Never tell this man the odds.

THE HAN SOLO ADVENTURES aren't deep and don't add much characterization to what we know about Han Solo. Yet, like the dime novels of long ago, the books are fun to read and are full of action. They're worth owning for anyone interested in classic Star Wars history, anyone who likes Han Solo, and anyone who is tired of reading the usual Star Wars novels that are currently available.

I first read this when I was 10. Still a pleasure. What can I say about Brian Daley's Han Solo material?

Daley's style is all action, with some fairly challenging visual descriptions, that give your imagination a brief workout. The pages-long fighter duel in _Star's End_ a is a perfect example, you should be prepared to hear the swooshes.

There's not a lot of invention, just variations on a planet-hopping Star Wars formula of getting out of one jam after another, while rescuing your friends or picking up new ones.

It's more believable than fantasy, because Daley obliges the laws of physics more often than some we can mention, and there's no weird Force stuff. There's very little theme at all here, and in fact it's quite squarely in the pulp tradition of science fiction/fantasy action that Star Wars takes after.

If you have an appetite for a little more pulp, try Leigh Brackett's _Starmen of Llyrdis_, _Sword of Rhiannon_, or the Skaith planetary trilogy. George Lucas read her Skaith trilogy and hired her to write The Empire Strikes Back.

These classic Star Wars stories are great. They are easy to get into. All three start out in the middle of something, which is the way that the movies in the Star Wars trilogy started out. In addition, they contain two of my favorite characters from the Star Wars Universe: Han Solo and Chewbacca.

The writing is great and is easy to get into. Like Zahn did for all the characters in the Heir to the Empire trilogy, Brian Daley gets every little bit of Han Solo's character traits. It is fun to read about Han Solo's adventures before A New Hope. Most of the stories take place in a new area of the Star Wars universe: The Corporate Sector. This provides a very interesting backdrop for the duo's adventures. Watch out for how Han treats the droids Bollux and Max differently from Threepio and Artoo.

This collection is a great read, and if you are a fast reader, you can read one story a sitting. Read it at all costs. ****1/2 stars (out of *****)

While the craze surrounding the Star Wars novels didn't kick off until Timmothy Zahn released his masterpiece in 1991, a small handful of spin-off adventures were published in the late 70's: Alan Dean Foster's "Splinter of the Mind's Eye", L. Neil Smith's "The Adventures of Lando Calrissian", and Brian Daley's "The Han Solo Adventures." Today, reader reaction to the first two authors is fairly mixed, but "The Han Solo Adventures" continues to be worthy Star Wars entertainment, often overlooked in favor of more recent publications.

"The Han Solo Adventures" (THSA) collects Daley's three mini novels and sells them for the price of one, a true bargain. The stories detail Han and Chewbacca's adventures in a part of the galaxy known as the Corporate Sector, which is controled by The Authority. To be honest, I'm not sure why Daley didn't use the Empire. I can only imagine the puzzled reader reaction during the books' initial publications when Han and Chewie did not fight Stormtroopers, but Espos guards, and the like. In hindsight though, the different enemies are a refreshing change of pace, considering the numerous recent SW publications featuring the Empire as villains.

THSA capture the saturday matinee effect Lucas was looking for. Each story is action-packed and to the point. The plots also have a matinee-feel to them, with titles to match (revenge = Han Solo's Revenge, treasure hunting = Han Solo and the Lost Legacy, daring escapes = Han Solo at Stars' End). To put it in a more modern perspective, it's a lot like reading three episodes of a Han Solo television series, where each story is a stand-alone adventure, and Han already knows some of the supporting case from previous adventures the viewer missed. Brian Daley's captures Han and Chewie perfectly, but it's his writing style that's the cincher. Daley's writing feel modern, like the stories were written yesterday. He deserves lots of credit for knowing what works in the Star Wars universe and what doesn't, especially at a time when no one had really fleshed out the details. True, a couple of things are off, (currency is called cash instead of credits), but this *IS* the Corporate Sector, and besides, Daley also gives reader's Z-95 Headhunters, Swoop bikes, and many other canon SW references. My one complaint about Daley's writing is that there can be too much description at times, leaving the reader slightly confused or wondering what the point is. Once or twice, there might not even be a point, such as a single chapter devoted to Chewie building a flying contraption to protect the Falcon. On a whole though, the writing style is on par with noted SW authors like R.A. Salvatore and Kathy Tyers, so it's a minor complaint.

If you're still not sure about reading THSA, pick up A.C. Crispin's newer Han Solo trilogy first. The last book sets up Han's reasons for being in the Corporate Sector, and as a whole, the two trilogies mesh seamlessly together for a thrilling mini-saga. THSA are a definite read for the true SW fan.

Along with 'Splinter of the Mind's Eye', this was some of the first comissioned Star Wars work. Instead of continuing the story, like Foster did, Daley decided to delve into the history of Star Wars' most interesting character, Han Solo. These books were simply incredible. They work as action novels, but they also give many glimpses into the personalities of Han and Chewie at work. It's easy to forget Daley's contributions, since these can be overlooked during the current wave of new SW material. However, much of what he wrote here is now considered by all to be part of the "official" history. For example, he was the first to write about the meeting of Han and Chewie, something no one today questions. The strength of these books is more poignant considering Daley's death about a year ago. It is reassuring to know he left such a good mark within the Star Wars universe. I strongly recommend them, not just to SW fans, but all sci-fi fans

The other reviews here tell the stories well, so I'll just focus on why this book is so worth your time.

First, Daley's Star Wars credentials are superb - he wrote all three of the radio scripts that are now considered canon. (And well worth checking out - 12-hr versions of Star Wars, Empire, and Jedi as broadcast on NPR: Star Wars: The Original Radio Drama.) Daley was also a Vietnam veteran from the 11th Armored Cavalry, so his novels carry plenty of authentic combat details and dialogue.

This gives his writing a wonderful texture that puts you right there, seeing through Solo's eyes. Here, in the first chapter of the first book, Han steps out of the Falcon to make a delivery to a band of rebel aliens.

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Han wore his side arm, a custom-model blaster with rear-fitted macroscope, its front sight blade filed off to facilitate the speed draw. His holster was worn low, tied down at the thigh, cut so that it exposed the weapon's trigger and trigger guard.

...He also made certain that the interrupter-templates had automatically slid into place along the servo-guides for the belly turret, so that the quad-mounted guns wouldn't accidentally blow away the landing gear or ramp if he had to fire them while the ship was grounded.
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As a kid I ate that up. Now I simply admire the care Daley put into his writing and research.

Lucas must've been impressed by these books as well, for he not only had Daley write all three Star Wars radio series, but he took at least two scenes from Daley's first book and used them in "The Empire Strikes Back." First there's the one where Han sets the Falcon down on an asteroid, and then this one, from the opening chapter, where Han tips the Falcon on its side to fly through a narrow mountain pass:

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Han tightened his grip on the controls, feeling the press of his flying gloves against them. "Pass, nothing - that thing's a slot! Hold your breath, Chewie, we'll have to skin through."

He killed all shields, since they'd have struck rock and overloaded, and wrenched his controls, standing the Millennium Falcon on her portside. Sheer crags closed in on either side, so that the roar of the freighter's engines rebounded from the cliffs... There was a slight jar, and the shriek of metal torn away as easily as paper. The long-range sensors winked out; the dish had been ripped off the upper hull by a protrusion of rock. Then the needle's eye was threaded sideways, and the Falcon was through the mountains.
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Han is fleshed-out well here, and it adds much to his character. There's not only his cocky attitude (mostly for show), shrewd business dealings, and sharp military experience, but also a hint of his compassion for the underdog, as when he gives advice to the rebel aliens about using the weapons he just dropped off.

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"Now, the Security Police here use those riot guns, right? Sawed-off, two-handers? They're real fond of using constant fire, because they can afford to waste power, just hosing it around. You can't. What you do is, lock all your carbines on single shot. And if you get into a firefight at night or in the deep jungle where visibility's poor, shoot at the constant-fire sources."
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Finally, knowing the Authority ship is waiting for him to reappear, Han makes a quick getaway:

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He fired her up, stood her on her tail, and opened main thrusters wide. The starship screeched away into the sky, leaving the river steaming and the jungle smoldering. Duroon fell away quickly, and Han began to think they had the problem licked.

Then the tractor beam hit.
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To escape, Han aims directly at the Authority ship (again, just as Lucas did in "Empire") and narrowly escapes.

All that, and all in the first chapter of the first book. In the next chapter Han's buying something like a cross between a skunk and a badger to repay a bad debt, and ends up in a shoot-out in a bar. Later on there's infiltrating an enemy prison base, dealing with a hired gun, and a stunning ten-page aerial battle over an outlaw spaceport.

There's a density to Daley's writing, a perfect weight/mass ratio, that makes every page worth your time. He also has a great ear for authentic, engaging dialogue, which at times sounds like Elmore Leonard or Tarantino: "I'm tapped out, Doc. Get yourself some machinery; we'll play them one last chorus."

Alan Dean Foster's "Splinter of the Mind's Eye," the only Star Wars spin-off before this one, is also a great adventure, focusing on Luke and Leia, and Timothy Zahn's "Heir to the Empire" trilogy is excellent in terms of a grand epic with intricate plotting, politics, and space battles (including the Z-95 Headhunters Daley created). But of all the Star Wars books I've read, these are the most true to the original film - the action, gadgetry, aliens, humor, and edge-of-your-seat adventure.

So check them out. Three of the earliest Star Wars novels ever printed, they're still some of the very best out there.

The Han Solo Adventures are three novels in one: Han Solo at Stars' End, Han Solo's Revenge, and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy. The stories take place 2 years before A New Hope. Here we get to see a younger Han cavorting about the galaxy causing trouble, making friends and enemies, and just plain being a scoundrel. Here are the basic plots of the three novels and my overall opinion of the book as a whole.

In Han Solo at Stars' End, the Millennium Falcon is in need of major repairs so Han goes to see Doc, an outlaw technician. When he get there, he finds his daughter Jessa there but Doc is missing. Jessa agrees to repair the Falcon, but in return she wants Han to transport a man named Rekkon to another planet. Rekkon also has a loved one "missing" and is working with other people to find out why and where. Ironically, all these missing people are vocal opponents of the Corporate Sector Authority. Han gets tangled up with Rekkon's mission and Chewie ends up getting taken away during a fray with the CSA. Fortunately, Rekkon discovers Stars' End and figures that's where all the missing people are. Having a vested interest now, Han takes Rekkon and his team to where Stars' End is located. During the trip, Rekkon is killed and now Han is dealing with a traitor on the team. How Han and the rest of the team infiltrate Stars' End is quite humorous as well as how they escape. Let's just say the story ends with a bang.

In Han Solo's Revenge, Han takes a job smuggling some kind of cargo. When he arrives at the rendezvous point he discovers the cargo is slaves, which he is vehemently against. He ends up killing the slave leader Zlarb and his men, but he still feels like he deserves the 10,000 credits that was promised to him. So, he goes on a mission to find who was going to pay Zlarb so he can collect from him and flies to the planet Bonadan. There, Han ends up tangling with Fiolla, a CSA auditor, who is also trying to track down the same guy. Meanwhile, a collection agent is trying to confiscate the Falcon while it's docked and Han and Fiolla run into him as well. From there, it's all action, adventure, questioned loyalties, and double- and triple-crosses.

In Han Solo and the Lost Legacy, Han goes on a "treasure hunt" of sorts for a lost fortune from the fabled ship "The Queen of Ranroon" on the planet of Dellalt. In tow are Chewie, his friend Roa, Roa's companion Hasti, and Skynx, an archaeologist of sorts. The crew gets in all sorts of trouble, the Falcon gets stolen by a ragtag band of criminals, and they get captured by a group of primitive people out in the boondocks. In the end, they get their treasure, but it's not what it's cracked up to be.

All in all, all three stories were great fun to read. Don't expect a lot of character development like you would find in A.C. Crispin's Han Solo Trilogy. But, like Crispin, Brian Daley has the essence of Solo down to a tee. You'll find yourself laughing out loud at some of the things Han says and the predicaments he gets himself into. I also thoroughly enjoyed Bollux and Blue Max, Han's two droids. They are in all three stories and these two little guys get Han out of a jam time and time again. You'll like this duo better than C-3PO and R2-D2 all day long.

I definitely recommend reading this 3-in-1 book, especially if you like a lot of adventure. You won't recognize any of the characters save for Han and Chewie, but the writing makes up for that. It's worth the read. May the Force be with you.

These three novels were actually written in 1979 and 1980, long before the Zahn trilogy kicked of what we now know as the EU Expanded Universe. Daley also did the radio dramatizations of the original movie trilogy. Daley also created the corporate sector. Note that almost nothing is ever written about the Corp Sector, but there it is on the NJO maps of the galaxy. Also, AC Crispen wrote his Han Solo trilogy in a manner that accommodates Han and Chewy's trip to the CS.

I have placed this trilogy on the timeline at -4.9 BNH, taking place between The Hutts Gambit and Rebel Dawn (books 2 and 3 of the HST).
These are the first known non-Lucas novels of the SW universe. I am not sure whether they actually pre-date the SW comic strips, but surely Daley is the real father of the EU. If you are a Han Solo fan, this trilogy is a must addition to you library. My copy is the june 1992 edition found at a garage sale.

First released in the 1970s, Daley gave hungry "Star Wars" fans a much-needed fix between the release of Lucas' flicks, and with the notable exceptions of AC Crispin and Tim Zahn, has been the only writer to really do justice to the original trilogy. Daley gives us a look into Han and Chewbacca's smuggling career and takes them from caper to caper and thrill to thrill in the Corporate Sector Authority (nice change from the Empire, by the way). Han destroys a slaving circle in Han Solo's Revenge and does an Indiana Jones in Lost Legacy. Definitely worth a read.