Book Review: Star Wars: Aftermath by Chuck Wendig

Star Wars: Aftermath

by Chuck Wendig
Series: Star Wars: Aftermath #1
Published: September 4, 2015
Genres: Adult Fiction, Star Wars
Format: Hardcover (366 pages)
Source: Purchased

New York Times Bestseller • Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens
“Star Wars: Aftermath [reveals] what happened after the events of 1983’s Return of the Jedi. It turns out, there’s more than just the Empire for the good guys to worry about.”—The Hollywood Reporter
As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance—now a fledgling New Republic—presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy’s scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy’s strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but he’s taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders.
Meanwhile, on the planet’s surface, former rebel fighter Norra Wexley has returned to her native world—war weary, ready to reunite with her estranged son, and eager to build a new life in some distant place. But when Norra intercepts Wedge Antilles’s urgent distress call, she realizes her time as a freedom fighter is not yet over. What she doesn’t know is just how close the enemy is—or how decisive and dangerous her new mission will be.
Determined to preserve the Empire’s power, the surviving Imperial elite are converging on Akiva for a top-secret emergency summit—to consolidate their forces and rally for a counterstrike. But they haven’t reckoned on Norra and her newfound allies—her technical-genius son, a Zabrak bounty hunter, and a reprobate Imperial defector—who are prepared to do whatever they must to end the Empire’s oppressive reign once and for all.

The Writing is of the Dark Side

The number one thing you need to know about Star Wars Aftermath: sentence fragments. Confusion. Action. Chaotic action. Sometimes it makes sense. I think the good guys won. Explosion. My brain from trying to read this fragmented story. It’s kind of exhausting to read. Here’s an example:

“Gagging. Coughing. Suddenly someone is there. Holding her. Pinning her arms.”

-Chuck Wendig, Star Wars: Aftermath pg 355

A few sentences later we find out it’s someone she knows and everything is ok. I’m not sure what you gain by making the story so confusing on purpose. In one instance towards the end some bad guys conveniently died in a crash that all the good guys survived. But 4 pages later I realized that by “gone” the character had meant the bad guys left but they weren’t dead. Grrr! Why is this story so frustrating?! And why is this whole book written in present tense? Isn’t Star Wars always past tense? You know from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away?? I was so confused by the end of the book that I honestly couldn’t remember how the rebels found out some super secret information even though its literally the main plot. Don’t even get me started on how jerky the story was with frequent scene changes – sometimes after only a few paragraphs. I would pause while reading and summarize what happened to help with the confusion. So they stole a ship and got on board a Star Destroyer. Got it. I could usually capture a few pages of plot in one sentence. My example above actually happened over several pages. It made the whole story drag. A lot. And there are a few instances of retelling the exact same information from someone else’s point of view in case it wasn’t tedious enough for you.

The Cast is Huge in This One

There are soooo many characters to keep track of. I struggle with keeping characters straight in all the books I read, but this book stretched me to my very limit. Here are a few of my margin notes about the characters:

• The book starts with some minor characters Wedge and Ackbar. I mean, I love them but I prefer reading about Han, Leia, and Luke.
• Well Han, Leia, and Luke still aren’t here even though I’m about 10 chapters in. But I still have hope. I miss the old Legends stories where they were the main characters. Who the crap are these guys.
• pg 140 We are STILL meeting new characters!
• Pg 154 goody more characters. And this is the main story, let alone the interludes (for context, Aftermath has interludes of events happening all over the galaxy after the empire fell that aren’t part of the main story line. Are they important? Do these people show up again? I have no idea. I gave up keeping track a long time ago. If the interludes are there just for interest, it’s over before I’m able to care about anyone or anything. So not all that interesting. I don’t know what the point of them is supposed to be. Just more confusion is this confusion sandwich I guess.)
• Pg 199 I’m still tired of new characters just for the record.
• Pg 246 Han finally shows up! Yay!! Wait that’s it? Ugh. But I have a new hope that they will actually show up in the next book. Lots and lots of hope is getting me through.
• Pg 309 “Please let me introduce you to a character you already know because they are meeting other characters in this book.” It’s tedious. We get it.
• How do Wedge and Norra know each other? This seems like something I should know and obviously I missed it.
• Main character is dead. Except in the next sentence they are not. First I was shocked. Now I’m annoyed. Don’t worry it’s not a spoiler. It happens more than once.
• The book is over. Finally. The only character I liked was Bones the refurbed Clone Wars Battle Droid.
• Just kidding! Not over! There’s an epilogue with a NEW UNNAMED character and a crappy explanation for the whole story.

A New Hope

I’m sure at this point you’re wondering why I even bothered finishing the book. The only reason I trudged through is because this is one of the most interesting times in the Star Wars universe and I wanted to know what happens. And its not all bad. I just didn’t like the writing or the characters. What’s left you ask? Well, there’s some cool background information that I liked. For example, the Jedi weren’t all killed in Order 66. Vader took some to Mustafar. That explanation jives more with the original trilogy. There are also instances with rare but glorious complete sentences where we get some fascinating thoughts on politics. Mon Mothma talks about the emergency powers destroying democracy and stresses the importance of demilitarizing the government with this great quote:

“Democracy is not in need of defense. People are. […] We will be a true Galactic alliance, and not a false one with an authoritarian sun at its center.”

-Chuck Wendig, Star Wars: Aftermath pg 87

Other things I liked:

• a small scene foreshadowing Jakku
• Wedge feeling compassion to ex-Imperials
• some brief but funny sarcasm
• an acolyte describing the dark side as honest and direct because its merciless (I find this justification of evil fascinating)
• possible foreshadowing of the First Order
• a nod to Princess Leia when someone describes the Empire as keeping order through a closed fist
• references to the Solo movie
• the irony of the loyalty Imperial officer leaving because he was trained by the Empire to see their own weaknesses

My favorite ironic moment is when the Imperials over-plan their luxuries and skimp on the practical things like security. It’s good irony but as I’m writing this, it doesn’t come across as very Imperial to me. They were more about efficiency than luxury. Oh well. Wish me luck as I move on to book 2 in the Aftermath trilogy. I still have hope that Han, Leia, and Luke will show up.

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