It is safe to say that you would have to be living under a rock (a particularly large one, with no access to TV or the internet) to be unaware that the first original Star Wars film in years has made quite the impression on fans the world over, both old and new.

With the stage set for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to top the 900 million dollar mark domestically, and the 2 billion dollar mark worldwide this weekend, the Star Wars craze continues in full swing, nearly two months after its debut.

And rightly so. It is a film that has revitalized that sense of wonder that we all felt the first time we saw A New Hope.

With a property like Star Wars in house, Disney has spared no expense to flood the marketplace with merchandise. And for those aching for more of the story of characters old and new, the real merchandising treasure is in your local bookstore.

Star Wars: Before the Awakening is certainly not a coy title. It boldly proclaims its aims and then boldly delivers, giving readers three vignettes, each focusing on one of three new characters in the Star Wars Universe–Finn, Rey and Poe–offering insight into who they were before the events of The Force Awakens.

On the strength of Jeff Smith‘s Facebook review I decided to pick up a copy of the book this morning, and over the course of the afternoon and early evening I traveled to that galaxy far, far away and enjoyed myself immensely.

Star Wars: Before the Awakening tells three stories, each one slightly longer than the last, and it builds momentum along the way that will leave you wanting to rush out to see the film once more when you reach it’s climactic end.

The first part allows readers to get under the helmet and into the heart of Stormtrooper FN-2187, who will soon be affectionately known as “Finn”. FN-2187, and the three members of his squad, go through their paces in battle simulations and combat training, pulling back the veil on some of what goes on in the mysterious First Order.

Next readers are taken to the planet Jakku to spend time with Rey. One of the things I remember thinking during the opening sequences of The Force Awakens is that I would love to have spent more time with Rey while she scavenged derelict ships on the planet. Before the Awakening answers that desire with an exciting scavenging mission that allows readers to get to know more about the struggle to survive on Jakku.

The novel ends with a story about Poe Dameron, in which we learn about his childhood, his parents, and how he came to be associated with the Resistance. Poe’s story screams along like an X-wing vs. TIE Fighter battle. It had me turning the pages rapidly to see what would happen next.

Greg Rucka does a marvelous job writing in the Star Wars Universe. He captures the characters of Finn, Rey and Poe with great skill and he offers up a book that is a quick read, and yet contains valuable information to allow fans to get to know these characters better, while we await Episode 8.

Without spoiling anything, I will say that I felt that Rucka wove threads into Before the Awakening that go a long way towards explaining the skill sets of these three heroes. He also provides some nice depth into their individual personalities. I must admit that I was both surprised and pleased with one of the cameo’s in Before the Awakening, especially in the way it made me nostalgic for the original Star Wars trilogy and the Brian Daley and Alan Dean Foster novels that were read and re-read in my childhood.

Star Wars: Before the Awakening is the kind of book that is very accessible to readers young and old. The book itself is a thing of beauty, with cover and interior illustrations by Phil Noto, and various design details that I find very appealing.

It was fun to spend Saturday with Finn, Rey and Poe.