Books: Star Wars: Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson (2017)

"One of the most cunning and merciless officers of the First Order, Captain Phasma commands the favor of her superiors, the respect of her peers, and the terror of her enemies. But for all her renown, Phasma remains as virtually unknown as the impassive expression on her gleaming chrome helmet. Now, an adversary is bent on unearthing her mysterious origins—and exposing a secret she guards as zealously and ruthlessly as she serves her masters."

While billed as the secret history behind the First Order’s most notorious (and underutilized new character within the movie franchise) Stormtrooper, Delilah S. Dawson’s Star Wars: Phasma seemed designed to help fans get a better glimpse into this new character (a tactic that Disney is now using so they don’t have to bother with characterization on screen) who looked to be a breakout villain. But basically, what we have here is a backstory for Phasma—but told from a third-hand retelling (which is just a horrible way to write a tale). No one, not even the captured Rebel repeating this information onto another high ranking Stormtrooper named Captain Cardinal, even considers that the stories of Phasma’s upbringing are whole truths, lies, or could be given by an unreliable narrator. So if you’re coming to this novel, as I was, hoping to find out more about her personality or discover what makes Phasma tick, then be prepared for disappointment because this book is completely devoid of any kind of real characterization.

The problem with these new canon books is that while they can often offer more clarity and motivations of these new characters, they still need to have an interesting back story. Phasma is still mostly a cipher here, and even the rationale of Cardinal trying to solve a “murder” seems suspect. While the analogy that the First Order is model for the rise of the Nazi’s, Star Wars: Phasma offers no new wrinkle here, they are what you think they are and they have no redeemable value.

 

I’m unsure why Dawson took this route with Phasma, who could’ve been more than the sum of her chrome parts we’ve seen in both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. I don't have an issue media of books, comics, and animated TV shows being used by Disney to flesh out certain character’s back story -like Phasma and probably Snoke- but I do want something more interesting, more worthy than what is presented here.

Books: Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray (2017)

Author Claudia Gray has an uncanny talent of tapping into the character of Princess Leia that makes these novels a joy to read. And while Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan is technically a YA title, the book is also part of puzzle that leads to Episode VIII. Much like the hand full of novels released before The Force Awakens dropped back in 2015, this book is part of a series of novels, called Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which give hints and background information on things that will be seen in the next film. 

Since the old Expanded Universe became null and void after Disney acquired the franchise, these new books reboot a lot of the characters past. So, essentially, we get new versions of what came before the prequel and original trilogies (along with tales set within those respective films series). While I won’t debate the merits of Disney tossing two decades of assorted novels (both good and bad) the real interesting thing about these new books is that they’re all canon –something not often seen in this type of media. 

This book focuses on sixteen year-old Leia, along with her parents Bail and Breha, with extended guest appearances from Mon Mothma, Governor Tarkin, and new characters and planets that will be seen in The Last Jedi. 

“Sixteen-year-old Princess Leia Organa faces the most challenging task of her life so far: proving herself in the areas of body, mind, and heart to be formally name heir to the throne of Alderaan. She’s taking rigorous survival courses, practicing politics, and spearheading relief missions to worlds under Imperial control. But Leia has worries beyond her claim to the crown. Her parents, Breha and Bail, aren’t acting like themselves lately, they are distant and preoccupied, seemingly more concerned with throwing dinner parties for their allies in the Senate than they are with their own daughter.

“Determined to uncover her parents’ secrets, Leia starts down an increasingly dangerous path that puts her right under the watchful eye of the Empire. And when Leia discovers what her parents and their allies are planning behind closed doors, she finds herself facing what seems like an impossible choice: dedicate herself to the people of Alderaan—including the man she loves—or to the galaxy at large, which is in desperate need of a rebel hero…”

The only real drawback of this novel is Gray’s choice (or Disney’s) to add the teen romance angle. It’s distracting, and at times made Leia a victim. It sort of changes the view of Carrie Fisher’s performance in many ways as well. I mean, we see from A New Hope that Leia is a strong-willed woman who has (probably) been fighting secretly in the Rebellion for years, and to see her reduced to chasing a boy is odd and unrealistic to the true nature of the character presented on screen. 

Granted, until Disney bought the franchise and laid waste to what had come before, Leia’s early childhood and teen years were unexplored, but the whole romance angle was an easy gimmick, cheap in many ways. 

Still, as noted, Gray gave us a realistic view of parenting with Bail and Breha (who comes off as a bad-ass here, and next to Mon Mothma, one of the best in the book). I enjoyed those parts a lot.

The book also gives us a view of the planet Crait years before the remnants of the Empire use it to hide the First Order (apparently, like all good villains, the Emperor had multiple back-up plan just in case Darth Vader and rest of the Galactic Empire failed him). We saw footage of the planet in the teaser trailer for The Last Jedi, the part where we see ships skimming over the surface, stirring up the white-colored salt that nearly covers the entire planet and the red-colored mineral base underneath.

Also given a background is future Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo. Here in this book she’s a free-spirited young lady (think Luna Lovegood) who is dear friends with Leia. But it’s well-known that in The Last Jedi, there was a falling out between Lei and Amilyn, so it should be interesting if this is explored.

And there is also an unnamed cameo by Director Krennic as well, from Rogue One, so talk about connecting the dots and whatnot.

A good book that sheds some light on Leia’s years on Alderaan, but it’s also has too much teen romance to be taken seriously.