Okay read. Not a keeper. ( )

I really wanted to like it and the first half builds a lot of suspense. As soon though as zombies hit the book turns into a weird rush job of somehow miraculous the heroes survive. It’s gory and gritty but it just seems they ended it in last chapter unsure of how to stop zombies except plot reasons. Han and Chewbacca were weird additions who were out of place and lacked anything character related to them. It seems they were there in name only and somehow survived. ( )

With the recent success of the Disney show ‘The Mandalorian’, which blends the ‘Star Wars’ universe with themes and visuals more common in spaghetti westerns or samurai films, there been a bit of a resurgence in discussions of the genre-bending nature of George Lucas’s most famous creation. The original films borrow happily, affectionately and, most importantly, successfully, from a range of cultural sources: WW2 dogfight flicks, Arthurian legend, Buck Rogers and Greek mythology. One genre that ‘Star Wars’ has never really done, on screen at least, is horror. In his 2009 novel ‘Death Troopers’ Joe Schreiber attempts to right that wrong.
Despite the fact that it tries something new, ‘Death Troopers’ isn’t going to win any awards for originality. It’s basically a viral zombie outbreak story set in the ‘Star Wars’ universe, but it’s none the worse for that. It’s an enjoyably tense and fairly gruesome tale that will entertain both ‘Star Wars’ and horror fans. On that point, it’s worth noting (if this kind of thing matters to you) that this is part of what Disney calls ‘Legends’. According my son (who that kind of thing does matter to), that means it’s not canon.
The book is set on an Imperial prison barge that gets infected with a suitably horrifying virus. It’s told primarily from the perspectives of a teenage prisoner, an Imperial guard and one of the prison doctors. There are also appearances from some characters fans will recognise and enjoy.
I’m a huge fan of genre mash ups that are done well, and ‘Death Troopers’ is fun even if it doesn’t completely nail things. It’s fast-paced, gory, and entertaining in a derivative sort of a way. It captures the ‘Star Wars’ vibe very well, but what it lacked for me was a real connection with the characters. I liked the story, but I never felt particularly invested in the outcome.
( )

A search party is sent to search a neighboring, abandoned Star Destroyer after their Imperial prison barge Purge breaks down. In search for spare parts, what the party uncovers is a desolate coffin. Within the cool corridors, something they have never seen before lies in wait. Only half of the search party returns from the mission, most of which feeling sick. Soon the sickness spreads throughout the prison, leaving only a handful of survivors. The remainder only face on problem: the Dead refuse to remain so.

We're introduced to a few characters that you either like or you wish would vanish. Kale and Trig Longo, brothers who must do all they can to survive the barge after their father dies, seem to play the token youth characters - such as the kids in Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World; their presence doesn't really make sense, but they still appear as a plot device. Kale is strong and independent, while younger brother Trig is still young, very childlike despite his motivation. Zahara Cody, the chief medical officer, is the misfit in the Empire. While devoting her life to it, she is still very liberal at heart. She relates more to the inmates than her fellow workers and they don't let her live it down. Jareth Sartoris is our bad guy struggling with his lack of morals. A bad ass, the guard captain, he's only really looking out for himself. Every so often, though, a pang of guilt fills him and he second guesses his actions, despite not having the ability to fix them.

And what Star Wars novel would be complete without Han Solo and Chewbacca? Up until the 18th chapter, "Solitary," I was glad that Joe Schreiber hadn't included any characters from the films. Though, I wouldn't allow Han's presence to ruin the novel for me - which, it almost did as my reading of it slowed to a crawl afterward - it did take me out of the story. Once again, I repeat, this takes place a year before A New Hope. Maybe there's a rule about including Han Solo in the books, though. My friend, Eddie, made a side remark about the novels being worse than the prequels, asking me if Han Solo's made an appearance yet. He made those comments after I was introduced to our smuggler.

The story is quick paced, while leaving room for character growth - despite how obvious it would be. It's probably too much for me to state it's canon for Star Wars fans, but it is a must read for zombie fans. Four star rating, that seems fair. ( )

First off I completely understand why the FANBOYS hated this book when it came out in 2009. By that time the zombie trope was very thinned out. However, Simon Pegg has said that the zombie genre is a setting not a plot line.
There is nothing special in Death Troopers. It is Star Wars zombies. If you want to read that then pick it up. Schreiber has an ability in this book for amazing descriptions of horror. I listened to the audiobook version and the addition of foley slaps and moist movement sounds made all the difference.
This is not high art but in October of 2020 this was precisely what I needed that I didn't know I needed. Like all good Star Wars novels this will now send me into the author's back catalogue.

Four stars because you could do a lot worse. IE The Walking Dead. ( )