STAR WARS: SCOUNDRELS Is Making The Kessel Run in Twelve Parsecs Good

Written by Timothy Zahn / Published by LucasBooks / Released January 1, 2013

INT. MILLENNIUM FALCON – COCKPIT

One of the cloud cars opens fire on the Falcon, its flak rocking the ship. Chewie barks his concern.

HAN

(into transmitter)

No, I don’t have a landing permit. 

 I’m trying to reach Lando Calrissian.

More flak bursts outside the cockpit window and rattles the ship’s interior. Leia looks worried.

HAN

(into transmitter)

Whoa! Wait a minute! Let me explain.

INTERCOM VOICE

You will not deviate from your present course.

THREEPIO

Rather touchy, aren’t they?

LEIA

I thought you knew this person.

Chewie barks and growls at his boss.

HAN

(to Chewie)

Well, that was a long time ago.

I’m sure he’s forgotten about that.

If you’re the sort of Star Wars fan that I am, you’ve probably wondered about the backstory of that exchange.

So what was it? In what terrible way could Han have screwed over poor Lando?

Timothy Zahn’s Scoundrels does a good job of providing the answer and a lot more.

Right from the start, this book is classic Star Wars. Set just after the Death Star has been destroyed, Han and Chewie find themselves over their heads involved in a smash-and-grab looting of a Governor’s Mansion. It isn’t long before they’re building a team and planning their strategies before Lando shows up, much to Han’s chagrin.

And of course, The Empire is watching their every move.

From there on in, the story is full of intrigue, action and crazy aliens.

As I said, classic Star Wars.

The writing is crisp and light, and those familiar with Zahn’s Heir to the Empire series will enjoy a story written by a more seasoned author who now seems to be writing as a fan.