 First edition cover of book one,Star Wars: Aftermath (2015) | |
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| Author | Chuck Wendig |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Christopher M. Zucker |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Del Rey Books |
| Published | 2015–2017 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) • e-book • audiobook |
| No. of books | 3 |
Star Wars: Aftermath is a trilogy ofStar Warsscience fiction novels by American authorChuck Wendig. Set soon after the events of the 1983 filmReturn of the Jedi, the series explores the time period between that film and 2015'sThe Force Awakens. The trilogy began in 2015 withAftermath, which was followed by the sequelsAftermath: Life Debt (2016) andAftermath: Empire's End (2017).Aftermath is one of the projects in "Journey toStar Wars: The Force Awakens", a 2015Star Wars publishing initiative to connectThe Force Awakens with previous film installments.
TheAftermath trilogy features the charactersWedge Antilles, anX-wing fighter pilot from theoriginalStar Wars film trilogy, and Imperial Admiral Rae Sloane, introduced as a captain inJohn Jackson Miller's 2014 novelA New Dawn. Wendig also introduces several new characters, including ex-Rebel Alliance pilot Norra Wexley, her teenage son Temmin "Snap" Wexley, Temmin's rebuiltB1 battle droid Mister Bones, theZabrak bounty hunter Jas Emari, and the Imperial turncoat Sinjir Rath Velus, one of the first gay characters inStar Wars canon.
The first novel of the trilogy debuted at No. 4 onThe New York Times Best Seller list, and No. 4 onUSA Today's best seller list.
In March 2015,Disney Publishing Worldwide andLucasfilm announced the "Journey toStar Wars: The Force Awakens" publishing initiative, a collection of novels and comic books from multiple publishers intended to connectThe Force Awakens with previous film installments.[1][2][3] Among the first planned releases, the originating 2015 novelAftermath was subsequently described as being set between the filmsReturn of the Jedi andThe Force Awakens.[4][5]The Hollywood Reporter called the novel "arguably the centerpiece of theJourney line."[6] In July 2015, Del Rey confirmed thatAftermath would be the first novel in a planned trilogy.[7]Aftermath was published on September 4, 2015,[5] and the titles for the other installments—Life Debt andEmpire's End—were announced at theNew York Comic Con in October 2015.[8]Life Debt was released on July 12, 2016,[9] andEmpire's End was released on February 21, 2017.[10]
TheAftermath series features the charactersWedge Antilles, anX-wing fighter pilot from theoriginalStar Wars film trilogy, and Imperial Admiral Rae Sloane, introduced as a captain inJohn Jackson Miller's 2014 novelA New Dawn.[11] Wendig introduces several new characters inAftermath, including theZabrak bounty hunter Jas Emari, the Imperial turncoat Sinjir Rath Velus, ex-Rebel pilot Norra Wexley, Norra's teenage son Temmin "Snap" Wexley, and Temmin's rebuiltB1 battle droid Mister Bones.[5] Temmin next appeared in the sequel filmsThe Force Awakens (2015) andThe Rise of Skywalker (2019) as an X-wing fighter pilot Snap Wexley, portrayed byGreg Grunberg.[12][13] Introduced in the first installmentAftermath, SpecForces officer Jom Barell becomes a main character as a member of the team inLife Debt.[14]
Acknowledging lesbian MoffDelian Mors fromPaul S. Kemp's 2015 novelStar Wars: Lords of the Sith as the first openly gay character in theStar Wars canon,Anthony Breznican ofEntertainment Weekly calledAftermath's Sinjir "the first major gay hero" in the franchise.[15] After receiving some fan backlash, Wendig defended the inclusion of a gay character on his blog, writing "If you can imagine a world whereLuke Skywalker would be irritated that there were gay people around him, you completely missed the point ofStar Wars."[16] The trilogy also introduced secondary characterCobb Vanth, the sheriff of Freetown on thedesert planetTatooine, via an interlude chapter in each of the three novels.[17] Known to have acquired the distinctive armor ofMandalorian bounty hunterBoba Fett, Vanth is portrayed byTimothy Olyphant inseason two of theDisney+ seriesThe Mandalorian.[17]
Empire's End features a reappearance ofLando Calrissian, who reclaims control ofBespin's Cloud City from the Imperials who occupy it.[18]Chewbacca is reunited with his young sonLumpawaroo, who had been enslaved on their native planetKashyyyk.[19][20][21]Prequel trilogy characterJar Jar Binks appears in the novel, having become a street performer who entertains refugee children but is loathed by adults who blame him for his part in the rise of the Empire. Chris Taylor ofMashable wrote that the situation reflects real life in that adults disliked Jar Jar in the films, but children were entertained by him.[21][22][23] Ben Solo, the son of Leia and Han who becomesKylo Ren, is born on the planet Chandrila, the day a peace treaty is signed between the Empire and the New Galactic Republic.[20] Rae Sloane coins the term "First Order" as she establishes the reborn empire that will eventually take that name.[20][24]General Hux, a character introduced in the 2015 filmStar Wars: The Force Awakens, appears as a child inEmpire's End; his father is the creator of the training program that will ultimately produce First Order stormtroopers.[20] Hux's first name (Armitage) and origin as the illegitimate son of Imperial officer Brendol Hux was previously revealed inLife Debt.[25][26][27] TheChissGrand Admiral Thrawn is mentioned inEmpire's End as the source of the information about the Unknown Regions which Palpatine uses in his Contingency plan,[21] and the novel is the first appearance of Niima the Hutt, a crime lord based on the desert planetJakku who controls her people by controlling their resources.[10] TheStar Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary (2015) andStar Wars: Rey's Survival Guide (2015) note that theNiima Outpost is named after her.
| |
| Author | Chuck Wendig |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Marc Thompson |
| Cover artist | Christopher M. Zucker |
| Language | English |
| Series | Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Del Rey Books |
Publication date | September 4, 2015 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) • e-book • audiobook |
| Pages | 379 (first edition, hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-0-345-51162-1 (first edition, hardback) |
| Followed by | Aftermath: Life Debt |
Star Wars: Aftermath is the first novel in Wendig'sAftermath trilogy. It was published by Del Rey Books on September 4, 2015.[5]
Darth Vader andEmperor Palpatine have fallen and the secondDeath Star has been destroyed, but theRebel Alliance—now calling itself theNew Republic—has yet to fully subdue the scattered forces ofthe Empire that remain. Stumbling upon a hub of Imperial activity on the Outer Rim planet Akiva, Rebel pilot Wedge Antilles is captured by Admiral Rae Sloane. Meanwhile, his wartime comrade Norra Wexley has also arrived on the planet to reunite with her teenage son Temmin. Former Imperial officer Sinjir Rath Velus, living quietly on Akiva following the disastrousBattle of Endor, is unhappy to find the Empire at his door, and Zabrak bounty hunter Jas Emari's latest contract leads her to a wealth of valuable targets.
Aftermath debuted at No. 4 onThe New York Times Best Seller list,[28] and No. 4 onUSA Today's best seller list.[29][30]IGN's Jared Petty awarded the novel a score of 5.9 out of ten, saying "Star Wars: Aftermath is a well-written but ultimately disappointing first look into the post-Endor galaxy."[31]
| Author | Chuck Wendig |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Marc Thompson |
| Cover artist | Christopher M. Zucker |
| Language | English |
| Series | Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Del Rey Books |
Publication date | July 12, 2016 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 448 (first edition, hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-1-101-96693-8 (first edition, hardback) |
| Preceded by | Aftermath |
| Followed by | Aftermath: Empire's End |
Star Wars: Aftermath: Life Debt is the second novel in Wendig'sAftermath trilogy. It was published by Del Rey Books on July 12, 2016.[9]
Former Rebel Alliance pilot Norra Wexley, her teenage son Temmin, the Zabrak bounty hunter Jas Emari, the former Imperial officer Sinjir Rath Velus, and the SpecForces officer Jom Barell have become a ragtag team working to collect Imperials whom the New Republic wants to bring to justice. Fresh from their latest mission, the team is asked by GeneralLeia Organa to find her husbandHan Solo, who has gone missing during a personal mission to free theWookiees on the enslaved planetKashyyyk. The group finds Han and helps him free an imprisonedChewbacca and a score of longtime Imperial prisoners—among them Norra's husband, Brentin.
Under the secret guidance of the deceased Emperor Palpatine's former advisor, Gallius Rax, Grand Admiral Rae Sloane works to consolidate the remnants of the Empire's forces. Rax reveals the existence of an extensive Imperial fleet, and gathers a selective group of former imperials to form his "Shadow Council". Though their goals seem aligned, Sloane becomes increasingly distrustful of Rax as she begins to discover the extent of his machinations.
With the last minute aid of Leia,Wedge Antilles, andAdmiral Ackbar, Han's team frees Kashyyyk from Imperial rule. Meanwhile, as the New Republic celebrates the liberation of the prisoners, Rax's insidious plan comes to fruition. Brainwashed to kill, Brentin and the other prisoners suddenly attack ChancellorMon Mothma and other New Republic political and military targets, as well as civilians. Disgusted by Rax's tactics and realizing that her attaché Adea Rite is under his command, Sloane flees. Injured by Norra, she aligns herself with Brentin, who is desperate to avenge himself on Rax. They find Rax as he arrives at his homeworld of Jakku with his fleet.
IGN's Jared Petty awarded the novel a score of 6.8 out of ten, saying "Star Wars Life Debt: Aftermath is an interesting but uneven return to a galaxy far, far away."[9]
| Author | Chuck Wendig |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Marc Thompson |
| Cover artist | Christopher M. Zucker |
| Language | English |
| Series | Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Del Rey Books |
Publication date | February 21, 2017 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 320 (first edition, hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-1-101-96696-9 (first edition, hardback) |
| Preceded by | Aftermath: Life Debt |
Star Wars: Empire's End is the third novel in Wendig'sAftermath trilogy. It was published by Del Rey Books on February 21, 2017.[10]
Using information gleaned from the bounty hunter Mercurial Swift, the team of former Rebel Alliance pilot Norra Wexley, her teenage son Temmin, the Zabrak bounty hunter Jas Emari, and the former Imperial officer Sinjir Rath Velus track Grand Admiral Rae Sloane to the desolate planet Jakku. They arrive to find the remaining Imperial fleet ofStar Destroyers in orbit; Norra and Jas head to the surface seeking Sloane, while Temmin and Sinjir escape toChandrila to alert Leia Organa and the New Republic. Norra and Jas are captured byImperial stormtroopers; Norra is enslaved, and Jas—who has a bounty on her head—is handed over to the crime lord Niima theHutt. Temmin's reprogrammed B1 battle droid Mister Bones rescues Norra, and they reunite with an escaped Jas. Sloane and Norra's estranged husbandBrentin seek revenge againstGallius Rax, but are captured by him instead. Meanwhile, the indecisive New Republic Senate fails to approve a military offensive against the Imperial forces at Jakku.
Sinjir recruits former SpecForces operative Jom Barell for a covert mission with Temmin, Han Solo, and Sinjir's sometimes lover Conder Kyl to identify the leverage which the Black Sun and Red Key criminal syndicates used to influence the vote. Their efforts provide Chancellor Mon Mothma with the votes she needs, and the motion passes. Led by Admiral Ackbar, the New Republic forces attack with Temmin flying an X-wing under Wedge Antilles' command, and Jom rejoining SpecForces. Sloane and Brentin learn of Rax's insidious program which trains abducted children to be vicious killers. Norra finally intercepts Sloane, but postpones her revenge to join her nemesis in finding out what Rax is protecting in his desert base. The battle turns for the New Republic when the Imperial dreadnoughtRavager is destroyed. Mister Bones saves Temmin's life, but the droid is destroyed. Sloane confronts Rax, who has commenced what Palpatine called his "Contingency": the Jakku Observatory will destroy the planet and the entirety of both the Imperial and New Republic forces, plunging the galaxy into chaos. Rax will flee on a predetermined course to the Unknown Regions with a select few Destroyers, where he will create a new empire. Sloane kills Rax and stops Jakku's destruction, but assumes Rax's role as shepherd of Palpatine's plans.
Sinjir becomes an advisor to Mothma, who escapes an assassination attempt, and Brentin and Jom are killed on Jakku. Leia gives birth toBen Solo, her son with Han, as the Empire formally surrenders. Wedge establishes a flight academy onHosnian Prime, where he and Norra will be instructors, and Temmin—now officially known as "Snap"—will attend.
Sean Keane of theNew York Daily News calledEmpire's End a "thrilling conclusion" to the trilogy.[10]
It's time to start over ... That is our first order. To begin again. And to get it right, this time.