Tiddle Bits Of News — Aftermath, Zer0es, And More

[that’s some Mister Bones fan-art from E.V. Kwun — @geektrooper]

Some quick bits. Ready, steady, go:

First, Paste Magazine interviews me about Zer0es and Aftermath.

Then, Omnivoracious reviews Aftermath:

Aftermath has a challenging job: tell an exhilarating, page-turning tale centered on a handful of people on a remote world, while exposing the tectonic shifts in government and alliances among the galaxy’s population as the New Republic solidifies its wins. Interludes within the main storyline give the reader glimpses of familiar faces—Han Solo and Chewbacca, Mon Mothma, Admiral Ackbar—who are striving to make the New Republic something other than yet another government everyone will grow to hate. But the real fun is in Norra’s adrenaline-scorching adventures and in searching for clues about what will happen over the next thirty years during the galaxy’s journey to The Force Awakens.

I devoured Star Wars: Aftermath while on vacation in a lovely European country whose charms really should have torn me away from this book but rarely did. Whether you’re a Star Wars expert who immediately knows the difference between mynocks and Mandalorians or you’re a sci-fi reader looking for a good military yarn, Aftermath fires on all cylinders.

A Tosche Station, an English professor tackles the book from the perspective of whether the complaints that it’s “poorly-written” hold up  (and she has some thoughts on present tense, too):

This book is about war, pure and simple.  And though glorious as war may seem when viewed through the lens of the Star Wars movies, nothing could be further from the truth, and Wendig takes that on.  This book literally is the aftermath of the Death Star’s destruction, complete with the chaos and upheaval throughout the galaxy.

Past tense is, by its very nature, distancing.  It removes the reader from the action, no matter how well written.  Present tense, on the other hand, provides a sense of immediacy to the action, plunging the reader into the events taking place.  The present tense gives the reader the sense that this is happening right now, rather than a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.  As the characters live through the events taking place, so do the readers.

Coffee with Kenobi reads and reviews the book:

Aftermath features myriad moments that are ripe for discussion (It’s worth mentioning that Wendig writes a wonderful Han Solo/Chewbacca moment that will leave you breathless), and may leave the reader with varying degrees of satisfaction. This was not the novel I was expecting, but it is certainly the novel I had a hard time putting down. It’s a paradoxical novel that provides hope and optimism for what is to come, while also providing the reader with a dystopian sensation that is slightly unusual for Star Wars. It’s a unique, fascinating, unorthodox novel, and after reading it, I am more glad for the news that it is part one of a trilogy than initially thought. If you like to have your conventions challenged, Aftermath is the Star Wars novel for you.

SFCrowsNest reviews it:

There’s a brevity in his prose and an immediacy that is suitable for this quick picture of a galaxy at a turning point. The literary equivalent of a rolling news channel. He writes his central characters well, too, with the relationship between Norra and her son being a particular highlight. I predict there’s one non-human character that readers will love, too.

If you were expecting the continued adventures of Han, Chewie, Luke and Leia then this novel will come as a disappointment, but if you’re keen to see what happens to the galaxy when structures of control have been destroyed and new alliances and opportunities are found, ‘Aftermath’ does a good job of showing how that might happen.

Fantasy Faction talks it up:

Chuck has kept the spirit of the original Star Wars movies – that cheesiness and goofiness we all loved so much – but at the same time made sure there is enough realism and grittiness so that it appeals to the tastes of readers today.

SF Book Reviews reviews the novel:

There is plenty of fast paced action sequences, speeder bikes, shoot-outs and such, including a scene where our rebel fighter encounters a Rodian and shoots first, an amusing touch for those who know their Star Wars (There are a few nods like this throughout the book). Wendig manages to capture the alien-ness that marks the strange Star Wars creatures but my favorite is the B1 Battle Droid (those annoying Robots in episode 1 which say “roger roger”) “Mr Bones” which has been re-engineered by Temmin as a kick-ass killing machine. He also manages to keep a family friendly approach too without this affecting his unique, charming voice.

The ending, when it comes is just superb and does what a book should, leave you wanting more – such as figuring out just who is really in charge of the remnants of the Empire.

Star Wars Aftermath almost makes up for that sweeping canon reset, a few more like this and Disney will be completely forgiven. A wonderful Star Wars adventure by a gifted author.

Simon McNeil reviews the book and also… well, reviews the reviews of the book, particularly looking at the negativity surrounding it. He sums up with (but you should read the whole thing):

1. I’m a fan of Wendig who hasn’t ever read Zahn, make of that what you will

2. The people who are trying to burn down Wendig’s book are jerks who smell like gamergating sad puppies

3. It’s obviously a star wars book

4. It’s a really good star wars story

5. It doesn’t matter that Luke Skywalker isn’t in it

6. Buy it.

7. No seriously buy it.

8. Right now.

9. Stop what you’re doing and buy this book.

10. Then read it.

And that’s all, folks.