When you see someone in the throes of geekdom, it’s best to just get out of the way. That’s what my husband did when he noticed my burgeoning Star Wars book collection. And when I informed him that I was buying a used copy of the first Han Solo trilogy novel he just nodded, smiled, and walked (quickly) away.
I originally read The Paradise Snare as a loaner and with one eyebrow cocked in that annoyingly Han Solo expression of doubt. I’ve been burned by tie-ins before. Well, this one isn’t the worst one I’ve read, but it ain’t the best either. (That would have to be Tales from Jabba’s Palace edited by Kevin J. Anderson.)
This book starts with little Han abandoned and fighting for his four year old life. He’s rescued by a nice man named Shrike who takes him up to his ship and informs him that in order to eat he would have to beg for his keep. Shades of Dickens? Hmm. Well, little Han grows older and learns the con game from his "mentor." Can you imagine a teenage Han Solo? He’s just like you picture, cockier, more difficult and not as smart. He learns Wookie from the ships cook, Dewlanna and she later sacrifices herself to protect him (explaining not only his ability to understand Wookie, but also his loyalty to them.) He escapes Shrike before Shrike kills him for being a little too smart and hies off to work (indirectly) for the Hutts on Yelsia. Ylesia is a tropical planet and a cult cum spice processing center. Suckers – ah people are lured to the cult then put to work processing the spice for illegal consumption. They are addicted and brainwashed. Bad stuff all around. Of course, Han is not a slave, he’s a pilot who brings the stuff in and out and cannot become addicted because it would really screw up his flying abilities. And of course he falls in love with a pretty dark haired (addicted) girl who’s way above his station. In the end, his good side wins out and he helps a pretty girl escape and really annoys the Hutt underlings by stealing a few things and destroying a few other things on his way out. Hey, what am I doing? This isn’t a book report.
Overall the writing is quite capable. At no time was I shouting "Oh COME ON!" at the book. We learn here where Han learns to understand Wookie, he picks up a short term companion who is very much like a Wookie except that he’s a cat, he finds (and loses) the first love of his life. We also get a little peek at the inner workings of Hutt society (did you know that they’re hermaphrodites? Did you further know that Jabba’s fascination with human women is considered perverse?) It all fits into the SW universe without glaring seams.
If you like Star Wars enough to want to venture into the expanded universe, read Tales from Jabba’s Palace. If you’re past that point, this isn’t a bad next stop.
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