Tatooine Ghost (Star Wars)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Tatooine Ghost is a truly wonderful book. I felt like I was really reading Star Wars again and it brought back nostalgic memories of seeing the movies for the first time. Troy Denning did unarguably the best characterizations of the original characters we have ever seen. I hope he returns to do more Star Wars work, because he is far and away the best author I have seen write Han and Leia and Star Wars in general.

Leia was the best I have ever seen her, deeply loyal and unwavering but with that human touch of vulnerability, and her and Han's relationship was complex and beautiful in this book. I felt their love was tangible reading this book, and as someone married for several years, I can say that this is what married life is realistically like. Their mutual concern for one another and willingness to sacrifice what they value most for the other's sake spoke volumes about how much they love each other more than any flowery words could. The mix of passion was a welcome relief from the normal way Han and Leia are usually depicted in the books, and I especially loved the innuendo in the middle of the book and all the kisses sprinkled within.

These are two of my favorite scenes in this book; they captured both Han and Leia's passionate love for one another and the reality of "married life" extraordinarily well in the first and second, respectively. The first is when Han is watching Leia and marvelling at his luck the morning after they have made love. The second is Han and Leia teasing each other that they love each other and at the same time, Han asks "Did you remember to change my batteries?"

I have never seen a Star Wars book but Tatooine Ghost that finally captured the complexity and depth we saw of Han and Leia's relationship in Empire Strikes Back and to a lesser extent, Return of the Jedi. Thank you, Del Rey and Troy Denning, for finally gives Han and Leia fans a book some of us have been waiting over twenty years for.

Rating:
Summary: Just what I've been waiting for
Review: Being a Han & Leia fan, I have been waiting for a book like this for years, and it did not disappoint. The interaction and characterizations between Han and Leia were spot on, and I loved Denning's take on the more romantic aspect of their relationship.

Leia does some soul-searching, and it is all done realistically and in a believable manner. Even the diary doesn't seem contrived, and the prequel characters are fleshed out a little more, particularly Shmi and Anakin (through Shmi's eyes.)

This was the best Leia characterization I've ever seen. Finally, someone wrote Leia the way she was meant to be written. Excellent book; I would highly recommend it to all, not just Han/Leia fans.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: If you've ever wondered over what Leia's thinking was regarding having children, this is the book for you.

Set on Tatooine shortly after the events of 'The Courtship of Princess Leia', the book details Leia's effort to buy an Alderaanian painting from the black market, a painting which includes a secret rebel communications code that, if found out, would cripple New Republic Intelligence Operations.

As expected, it isn't as simple as just buying the painting back, some Tatooine criminals become involved, then the Imperials are involved, and then the real fun begins. Needless to say, there is an adventure across Tatooine, during which Leia begins to discover the background of her father (Anakin) and grandmother (Shmi). Denning also explores a lot more about the characters from Episodes I and II, particularly Anakin's friends from Ep I. Denning also made some small exploration into the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who is also tied into the plot, and his time spent on Tatooine.

But essentially, the book revolves around Leia, particularly her relationship with Han. Both of them have been written to perfection in this book, to the point where you can actually 'see' them in your mind saying the lines. Denning also does an admirable job inserting Chewie into the various conversations, and again the characterisation is spot on.

The technical aspects of the book are also spot on, and I couldn't really fault Denning at all. His efforts to show how the heroes avoided detection on a technical side were also admirable, and made a lot of sense.

In short, if you're looking for a good Star Wars book set far away from those awful NJO novels (if you could call them that) then this is the book for you. Even for casual fans who don't know the story very well, this book would be a great read.

Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: Tatooine Ghost is the best Star Wars books ever!!! I've been waiting since The Truth at Bakuna (when Anakin tries to ask for Leia's forgiveness) for this book. I've been wondering exactly how Leia would react to the Anakin of I and II.
Leia and Han head to Anakin Skywalker's hometown to try and get an Alderaan relic. She meets his old friend Kitser, goes to the old podrace track and recieves her grandmother's diary.
It was neat to learn exactly how Shmi ended up meeting and marrying Cliegg Lars. I loved how Watto behaved in the diary after Anakin left. How much he missed him. Chewbecca was still alive and better then ever. Han and Leia are still newlyweds and its nice to see them with a little romance.
I liked how Han agreed with Anakin and how maybe Shmi's dreams about her son did come true.
Now how about some books about Padme? How about Han, Leia and Luke head over to Naboo? Imagine Leia's reaction to learn how her mother helped get Palpatine get to be Chancollor?

Rating:
Summary: Terrific book...what Han/Leia fans have been waiting for!
Review: This is the first Expanded Universe book I have bought in something like seven years. I'm a die-hard Han/Leia fan and have disliked the way they have been wasted and mistreated in the EU over the years, particularly in the New Jedi Order books.

"Tatooine Ghost," set while Han and Leia are newlyweds, does the best job of portraying them as a couple and as individuals since...well, since the movies. Denning also skillfully weaves in threads from the prequels, and shows what has been ignored for the most part in the EU: Leia coming to terms with her heritage, particularly the fact that Anakin Skywalker is her father. Admittedly, Denning had the luxury of two prequels being out when he wrote this, so he had much more material to draw from than past EU authors, but he doesn't squander it. The parts about Shmi's diary could have been very contrived, but he makes it believable, and gives not just Leia but the reader a peek into Shmi's life. I like the prequels, but I've seen prequel-dislikers say that "Tatooine Ghost" helped them see the prequels, or at least some of the prequel characters, in a new light.

I could have done without the references to Thrawn (an overblown character that I truly despise), and the references to the Outbound Flight project seemed like nothing but a blatant commercial for Timothy Zahn's upcoming books. Also, it seemed a bit strange that literally everyone on Tatooine knew that Anakin had become Darth Vader. But the overall story, not to mention the Han/Leia interaction, is so good that I am willing to overlook the flaws. This is the type of book that the EU should have been all along, but wasn't. It is also a very nice break from the gloom, doom, and death of the New Jedi Order.

Rating:
Summary: A winner
Review: Tatooine Ghost stands well on its own as a story, but has the added benefit of filling us in regarding Simi Skywalker, Anakin's mother, after he left to become a Jedi Knight (unfortunately, they didn't teach him how to act at Jedi U, but that's a whole 'nother story). Well worth the read, but wait for the paperback. I had a freebie coming courtesy of my work.

Rating:
Summary: It's OK
Review: First of all I didn't like Star by Star. I mean it was OK, but wasn't the greatest novel in the world. Now I have to admit that I don't read the books I listen to them and maybe I shouldn't judge but none of he Star Wars books have been good(except for maybe Enemy Lines I) by not the fault of the writer but the fault of the reader. Anothny Heald when he read the ST books made the charicters sound alive. He gave them there own voice and there own sence of self. He could take the worset ST booka nd make it sound like a master piece. Jon Davis although I'm sure a great reader just hasn't brought these people to life for me.

Rating:
Summary: Tatooine Ghost (Star Wars)
Review: It was so refreshing to read "Tatooine Ghost." To have Han, Leia and Chewbacca (especially Chewie)together again was such a treat. Troy Denning did a fantastic job tying in details to the Episode l & II movies. I loved the banter between Han and Leia. This book truly reflects what the original Star Wars novels and movies conveyed.

Rating:
Summary: More books like this please!
Review: This is a great book, good characterization and a solid plot. It was great to see Han back in the spotlight with Leia by his side, and Han and Leia actually acting like they were married for once. I think Han/Leia fans should all like this book. I know I have been waiting a long, long time for a book focusing on them to come out. Their relationship is done very well, and is the best part about this book for me.

This book seemed much more "small-scale" like the X-Wing novels which is probably why I liked it so much - there is one main plot, and just a few main characters so you can really delve into the details. Boths plotlines of Leia searching for her parentage and the chase for the painting were done well.

I hope Troy Denning comes back to write more on Han and Leia in the future.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Star Wars Novel
Review: Troy Denning's Tatooine Ghost is a joy to read! Yes, it is an Expanded Universe novel and if you haven't read any of the previous "further adventures of..." novels, newcomers will not get any of the references to other works (such as Dave Wolverton's "Courtship of Princess Leia," Timothy Zahn's Grand Admiral Thrawn trilogy, or Dark Horse Comics' Dark Empire series, all of which are alluded to here. What makes this novel worth reading is the connection between the classic trilogy, expanded universe, and the current films. The Force is with Tatooine Ghost!