originally written May 13, 2008

So much potential, so sadly unmet. Originally published as three separate novels, each of the stories are interconnected, though it isn't necessary to read all three. If you do, it's best to read them in order.

Unfortunately, there are more plot holes than there are black holes in the Maw. The main one concerns the lack of, say, Imperial presence as far as Lando's nemesis is concerned.

Further, reading these stories, as fun and adventurous as they could be, didn't completely take me away from the Milky Way Galaxy and into the Star Wars Universe. I read Star Wars books because I'm a fan, but also because I want an escape from everyday reality; I want to go on a journey to "a galaxy far, far away". Smith's stories doesn't offer that escape.

One species speaks the way folks in the Bible do -- you know, "thee" and "thou" and "doth," etc. -- and even then, not consistently so; it's beyond ridiculous. Smith uses too many references to our own world, including comparing a species to a "Portuguese man-o'-war" (279). Sure, he prefaces these with variations on the phrase, "[a]n alien observer in a different place and time" (279), which might be OK if Smith merely sprinkled rather than poured from his spice rack of Planet Earth Comparisons. That is, they're all over the pages!

The only positive things are the way Smith portrays the younger, less mature Lando before we meet him in ESB, and his relationship with his buddy, Vuffi Raa.

I'm not totally sure, but I'm fairly certain this guy hasn't written anything for the EU since. ( )

A series of three novels, all fairly ordinary. This is the story of some of Lando Calrissian's adventures before the events in Star Wars. Here, he has a lot of success in card games. He wins the Millenium Falcon, and then he wins a droid. A lot of hijinks for a smooth talking gambler and adventuruer.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2006/12... ( )