Times are desperate for the Rebel Alliance. Harassment by the Empire and a shortage of vital supplies are hindering completion of a new secret base on the ice planet Hoth. So when Mid Rim merchants offer much-needed materials for sale, Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo lead an Alliance delegation to negotiate a deal.
But when treachery forces the rebel ship to flee into territory controlled by pirates, Leia makes a shocking discovery: the fierce marauders come from Leia’s homeworld of Alderaan, recently destroyed by the Death Star. These refugees have turned to pillaging and plundering to survive—and they are in debt to a pirate armada, which will gladly ransom the princess to the vengeful Empire . . . if they find out her true identity.
Struggling with intense feelings of guilt, loyalty, and betrayal, Leia is determined to help her wayward kinspeople, even as Imperial forces are closing in on her own crippled ship. Trapped between lethal cutthroats and brutal oppressors, Leia and Han, along with Luke, Chewbacca, and a battle-ready crew, must defy death—or embrace it—to keep the rebellion alive.
Prolific science fiction and fantasy author Martha Wells pens the first of a series of books set during the period of the Alliance rebellion covered by the three films in the original Star Wars trilogy. Razor’s Edge is a Leia-centric story set a couple of years after the destruction of the Death Star and it becomes quickly apparent that Wells has this universe and these characters down pat.
Razor’s Edge captures the witty banter, tense action and narrow seat-of-their-pants escapes fans of the trilogy are used to seeing. This feels like Star Wars, and as such is Star Wars at its very best. If you have ever wanted to get deeper into the heart, mind and motivations of Princess Leia Organa, you could do no better than to go along on this adventure.
And in case you were wondering, there is plenty of Han, Chewie and Luke as well.
I cut my science fiction teeth not only on Star Wars, the film, but also the novelization of the film and the Lucas-approved books written by Alan Dean Foster and Brian Daley. During the years in which I waited for the release of The Empire Strikes Back, I read and re-read those novels multiple times. I could not hazard a guess at how many times I stared at the phrase “From the adventures of Luke Skywalker, based on the characters and situations created by George Lucas” on the cover of those books and felt a chill of anticipation go up and down my spine. That happens today whenever I happen to pull one of these books off the shelf. Needless to say, I’m passionate about this portion of the Star Wars universe. I clarify that to say that I have not read much outside of Timothy Zahn’s trilogy and have not really wanted to. For me Star Wars largely exists in the time period between A New Hope and Return of the Jedi. So when I read that del Rey was releasing a few new novels set within this time period, I was thrilled.
Wells writes Star Wars like I expect Star Wars to be written. She expertly captures the characters as portrayed by the actors who brought them to life for us and in doing so she makes it easy to simply get swept up into the chaotic and dangerous adventure that befalls Leia, Han and their crew as they set out to obtain supplies for Echo Base. As mentioned, Leia is the primary focus of the novel and yet Wells goes away from her to concentrate on the other main characters in ways that serve the story. Instead of making the mistake of trying to write Leia as a prototypical “strong female”, or worse yet, a man with breasts, she builds upon the character we see in Star Wars: A New Hope who was being portrayed by a very young Carrie Fisher.
The princess that we see in Razor’s Edge is struggling with the loss of her home planet, Alderaan, is weighed down with the burden of being seen as a figurehead for the Rebellion, and is conflicted about her growing attraction to the smuggler-turned-reluctant-hero, Han Solo. Martha Wells shows us a Leia who is opinionated and capable, one who can be forceful and impose her will as needed, but who is also vulnerable and perhaps wrongly motivated by intense survivor’s guilt. Wells also explores the motivations of Han Solo, painting him as a man who has a long way to go yet to develop trust. In the world of the smuggler, trusting someone could get you dead quick.
You cannot watch or read a Star Wars adventure without expecting the gang to get themselves into all manner of scrapes. There is a great exchange in Return of the Jedi:
Han Solo: Together again, huh?
Luke: Wouldn’t miss it.
Han Solo: How we doin’?
Luke: Same as always.
Han Solo: That bad, huh?
That fairly well sums up how things are wont to go with this fledgling rebellion. And Wells does not disappoint. The various players in this drama do indeed find themselves in numerous tough spots, however Wells stays within what is to be expected from this type of science fiction and does not push things too far. Amidst all the action, Martha Wells fleshes out the usual gang of well-known characters and creates some interesting new ones along the way.
Reading a Star Wars novel should be fun. It should feel like stepping into that familiar universe “long ago in a galaxy far, far away”. Additionally, for me personally, it needs to induce a sense of nostalgia that takes me back to my humble entry into the world of science fiction novels. That description accurately fits Razor’s Edge.
If you are looking for an entertaining, adventuresome novel that can stand well on it own, look no further than Star Wars Empire and Rebellion: Razor’s Edge. It will take you back to your first time discovering the film and these characters. I started my 2013 reading year with a Star Wars novel set in this time period (Star Wars: Scoundrels) and am happy to have read another as the year begins to reach its close.
Well done, er, Martha Wells! Now I cannot wait to see what James. S.A. Corey does with the second book in this series, Honor Among Thieves in March 2014.
I’m a Martha Wells fan. But I’ve found the STAR WARS novels very uneven. I’m sure she (and the other STAR WARS writers) have to write to a formula and a story-line someone else developed.
Oh, I’m sure they do. This one read pretty much like your standard space opera only the characters in it didn’t really need to be introduced the way they do in a regular novel. Didn’t feel uneven to me, though I’m not exactly sure how you are defining the term.
I used to read Star Wars books all the time, but I actually gave them all away in a purge… I had so many and I kind of lost interest… I have wanted to read Martha Wells for ages, though. Maybe one day I will try this. 🙂
I’m happy I got to experience her work for the first time this way. I’ve heard good things about her other books but this one held more interest for me.
I was never a huge Star Wars fan. A friend got me to read the Timothy Zahn book that takes over where the movies left off, and I wasn’t a fan of that. I wonder if I’m missing something about why these characters are so interesting. Is it more that this is the nostalgia of science fiction fandom for some people and so they want to make their reading also include Star Wars? From kind of the outside looking in (since I’m not a big fan), I would guess that there are better stories being told that don’t include the Star Wars universe.
I imagine it is just like anything else, Tim. Some things click with us and others don’t. I don’t find the ongoing dedication to the Star Wars characters that surprising in part just because they are pretty much standard characters that we find in fiction in general. Many readers/viewers fall in love with characters and it isn’t out of the ordinary that we want to see those characters’ stories continued.
I’m not sure I quite understand your last sentence, lol! I think you could always argue that there are better stories being told that don’t involve whatever the topic is at hand, it is all about what you prefer to read. I wouldn’t want to solely read Star Wars books and am not a fan of the direction some stories have went, but I’m thankful that I can get some new stories with these characters that draw me in once in awhile.
I agree that somethings click. I was just trying to be more present in the comments on your blog to let you know I’m here. I’m not trying to knock Star Wars. I can’t seem to end this without it coming off that way (just deleted a few elaborating sentences). Nevermind. 😉
No, I know you weren’t knocking Star Wars, and quite frankly it is perfectly okay if you do. I just wasn’t quite getting what you were getting at and knew that I could ask because you would come back to clarify.
So by all means, feel free to elaborate Tim.
Okay, it’s no big deal and was kind of an off-hand comment. It’s kind of along the lines of complaining about all the sequels and reboots in Hollywood when there are so many amazing books out there not made into movies. It is just a very personal taste that for some reason I’m not enthusiastic about Star Wars. I get that there are a lot who are, and that’s fine. I guess I’m saying I want Star Wars to leave people’s money alone so it can be spent on someone who is less known (like T.C. McCarthy, who is turning to YA because his adult SF novels didn’t sell well enough to earn a living, something I am upset about because his books were awesome). Not a terrific argument, so I don’t want to get into a debate, it was just a thought.
Hey, I understand and you are preaching a message I believe in loud and clear. I love the original Star Wars trilogy and am glad they keep it alive with books, but I wish they hadn’t made the new ones and am not thrilled they are going back to it again. Now I’ll be there, and be the first to sing its praises if I like it, but I SOOO wish it wasn’t being made.
I too am tired of the reboots (even when I end up liking them, like the Star Trek films) and am tired of seeing awful films being made when great writers could be penning great screenplays. I’d almost prefer that no books be adapted to film (again, even when I like them) and would like to see new films that are based solely on the writer’s imagination.
Aw, this makes me want to go and have an epic Star Wars movie fest – the original 3 that is. I don’t dislike the latter 3 but they’ll never have the same place in my heart!
This sounds great – you know though, I think I might go and check out the books you mentioned about Hans and Chewie’s earlier stories. I quite like the sound of that – plus reading about a cheeky rogue.
Lynn 😀
Those books are such great fun, Lynn. I have an extra paperback copy of the first book, Han Solo at Star’s End, that I would be happy to drop in the mail for you tomorrow if you want it. Email your address to me.
How interesting! I have not heard of these!
It is a fun one, Sheila.
Hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.
Carl, sorry about that Denver vs. KC game. The Chiefs are having great year despite some “road bumps” on the way to the Playoffs. I’m not a believer in the Broncos. Remember last year when the Ravens surprised them?
It wasn’t a big surprise, George. Had they made a few more plays it might have been a different outcome. I didn’t expect them to be able to actually be in the game as much as they were.
Ooh, this sounds excellent! I always enjoy a good Leia story, and I’ve read very few stories set during the trilogy. And a story involving Alderaan refugees? LOVE that idea!
Darn it, there you go expanding my To Be Read list again…that *always* happens during this Experience! 🙂
Go ahead and add Honor Among Thieves by James S.A. Corey to your list as well (comes out in March). If it is anything like the rest of their writing it is sure to be a hit.