Author: Landry Q. Walker
Recent Release Date: November 30, 2015
I am LOVING the new Star Wars canon. I've been devouring as much as I can before the release of The Force Awakens. These 4 short stories, all written by Landry Q. Walker, as well as more stories will be compiled into a printed collection next year. These 4 stories are available now in digital form. Each story follows a character that will be featured, most likely in the background, of the upcoming film. Each story is written in a different style. Below I'll review each story, but overall I extremely enjoyed these stories. I HIGHLY recommend them all!
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Title: The Crimson Corsair and the Lost Treasure of Count Dooku
Author: Landry Q. Walker
Synopsis: Every pirate in the sector is after the lost treasure of Count Dooku! Will Captain Ithano and his crew beat his rivals to the prize?
Review: This was my favorite of these 4 short stories. Ever since I first saw the Crimson Corsair in the Vanity Fair spread, I thought he looked cool. I wanted to know more about him. This story follows him and his crew in a race across a desert planet against other pirates searching for a lost treasure. Captain Sidon Ithano, as he is also known, is an awesome character. There's a toy coming out of him and his first mate that I think will be one of the few The Force Awakens figures I actually buy.
This story has it all. Like a lot of the new canon, it takes inspiration from all the Star Wars films and tv shows. It even starts with a Hondo quote! Fans of The Clone Wars tv series MUST read this!
I found myself using wookiepedia to get accurate ideas of what the characters looked like. The Ortolan pirate known as One-Eye is such a cool image.
The chapters are very small, which made it very easy to read. This story is full of adventure as well as comedy. I love when Star Wars stories make allusions to classic lines and such in creative ways. I never had a bad feeling about this book while I was reading it.
I give this short story a 5/5. I want more! I am so much more intrigued by the character of the Crimson Corsair. I want to follow his crew on many more adventures. I really hope Walker gets to continue writing their stories.
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Title: High Noon on Jakku
Author: Landry Q. Walker
Synopsis: A renegade droid causes problems for Constable Zuvio on Jakku.
Review: I have not yet seen The Force Awakens, but from promotional material it seems like Constable Zuvio is the character most featured in the film out of these four stories. In this story he is the good guy, keeping the law in order. I'm interested to see what his role will be in the film.
This short story is a great introduction to Jakku. It sets up how the planet works and the minimal law enforcement that is present.
The design of Constable Zuvio is really cool and I've seen the action figure, but I didn't realize him and his cousins are members of an already existing Star Wars specis. They are Kyuzo, which is the same species as Embo the bounty hunter from The Clone Wars.
This is a crime story with a bit of heist. I really enjoyed the way it played out. I give it a 5/5.
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Title: The Face of Evil
Title: The Face of Evil
Author: Landry Q. Walker
Synopsis: A notorious thief learns to be careful what she wishes for on Takodana.
Review: With this story, we get our first look inside the castle of Maz Kanata on Takodana. There is an Edgar Allan Poe feel. It is a dark and stormy night. There's something in the basement. There's also a Frankenstein-like feel to the science.
When I first saw the fluffy yellow creatures featured in this story, I thought they were ridiculous even for Star Wars. But, I like their characterization. I want to explore Maz Kanata's castle more.
I give this short story a 5/5. It is a fun and creepy read.
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Title: All Creatures Great and Small
Title: All Creatures Great and Small
Author: Landry Q. Walker
Synopsis: A storyteller uses his captivating skills to calm frightened villagers on Jakku.
Review: This was the first creature we were introduced to in the Force for Change promotional video. And again, at Comic-Con. In this story we get to meet this unusual storyteller.
I like how uncertainty and believing in the implausible is at the heart of this story. Although it does get kind of outrageous. I'd be interested to learn more about how he is aware of such details.
The story told within this short story is a tale of the unsung heroes of Yavin who aided in the destruction of the Death Star.
This story was fun and interesting. It's a story that makes you wonder about stories. I give it a 5/5.
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--PAUL
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