Star Wars: Choices of One by Timothy Zahn
Reviewed By: Jeremy Zentner, Reference Assistant
Genre: Science Fiction
Suggested Age: Teens, Adults
What is This Book About? This is a Star War book set eight months after the Battle of Yavin which was showcased in the very first Star Wars movie Star Wars: A New Hope. The rebels are searching for a new base as the Empire has discovered the whereabouts of the Rebel Alliance in the Yavin Star System. Meanwhile, an imperial governor in the Poln System is losing faith in the Empire’s ability to protect his citizenry as a rising warlord looms just beyond their sight. This is seen as an opportunity for the rebels to locate a new base in exchange for protection against the mysterious warlord, Nuso Esva. This phantom menace is attempting to sow seeds of anarchy within the known galaxy so that he may come to rule over both the Empire and rebels alike. Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewbacca will evaluate the situation in the Poln System and see if this rebel-sympathetic sector can truly be trusted. But all is not safe in the Outer Rim, as the sith-esque Emperor’s Hand, Mara Jade, is tasked to investigate corruption in the Poln System and to smoke out traitors by any means necessary.
My Review: This is a great novel that involves Star Wars characters totally original from the movies, while also involving the same cast of characters we’ve grown to know and love. We get some interesting stories in between the Battle of Yavin and the Battle of Hoth as we follow Luke, Han, Chewbacca, and Leia tactically tango with Mara Jade and her band of rogue stormtroopers known as the Hand of Judgement. Together, these rivals will inadvertently help each other take down Nuso Esva as the galaxy’s greater threat. What I liked about this book is that it provides unique detail about Mara Jade’s status as the Emperor’s Hand as she struggles with law and order in a complicated galaxy. We also get an inside look at a band of vigilante stormtroopers (The Hand of Judgement) who find themselves under Mara Jade’s leadership for the exact same reasons. And of course, everyone’s favorite red-eyed, blue-skinned officer, Admiral Thrawn makes appearances to counsel the Emperor and Darth Vader as they hunt the rebels and attempt to bring everlasting order to the galaxy. The book has a plethora of perspectives, a lot of action, and we learn just how the rebels go from a fighter squadron to a cold weather fortress. This book has everything when it comes to love for the Star Wars movies to original story-telling in a galaxy far, far, away.
Three Words that Describe this Book: adventure, action, space opera
Give This A Try if You Like… Star Wars: Thrawn series, Star Wars: Heir to the Empire, The Expanse series
Rating: 4/5
Find it at the library!
