Canto Bight: Tales From the Star Wars Universe by Saladin Ahmed, Rae Carson, Mira Grant and Jackson Miller (audiobook)
Reviewed by: Dave Gibbons, Library Volunteer
Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure
Suggested Age: Adults, Teens
What is the book about?: As seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, people from all across the universe came to Canto Bight, the gleaming city of greed and opulence. But the brightest things can have the darkest shadows, which is exactly were these four tales take place – in the unseen underbelly of the Canto Bight casinos. This quartet of stories spans several genres from adventure to thriller to noir each following a different person trying to make their fortune. This first is a tale of an honest (to a fault) salesman who gets swept up in the intrigue of Canto Bight’s underworld. The second is about a sommelier gets in over her head trying to procure a mystical bottle of wine. Next readers follow a masseuse whose dark past may be the only thing that can save his daughter. Finally, a down on his luck gambler strikes it big in one crazy night, provided he can survive it, proving anything can happen in the high stakes world of Canto Bight.
My Review: Many years ago I was a die hard Star Wars fan. I read all comics, novels, and anything remotely involved with Star Wars expanded universe. But in the early 2000s the quality of the books (and films) took a dramatic plunge and I left this particular fandom. After years of new content I have gradually “dipped a toe” back into it, starting with canon and now trying the EU (expanded universe) elements of the franchise, so I was delighted that this book was such a great place to jump back in. Unlike other expanded universe entries this collection does not delve into Star Wars minutia but rather uses the universe as the setting for four different stories. These novellas don’t require any prior knowledge of the franchise to appreciate them.
These stories were very fun. While not overly complex or introspective, each has its own flavor and twist on the genre. It is exactly what one would expect from a Star Wars property: an exotic location, good guys triumphing over evil, and a good balance of humor and action. Initially my interest in it was piqued by the inclusion of a story by Mira Grant, as I am a huge fan of her Wayward Children books (under the name Seanan McGuire). Her story was very solid, very character driven with some of the less important details left to the readers’ interpretation. Saladin Ahmed’s entry was bright and cheery in a very “ma and pa kettle go to town” sort of fashion this also made it feel a bit trope-y. Rae Carson took a more “film noir” direction as she put a masseuse with a past up against tall odds in a story that that would make a great short film. John Jackson Miller’s rounded out the collection by telling a high paced humorous entry focused on a down and out gambler who encounters three unlikely characters which comes very close to an unintentional homage to the Marx brothers via Star Wars.
If you are looking for something complex and deep with layers of intrigue, this is not the book you are looking for. However if you are looking for something on the lighter side, or possibly as a palette cleanser from something denser, then this is a great choice.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Light, Adventure, Monte Carlo
Give This a Try if You Like… Star Wars: the Thrawn trilogy by Timothy Zahn, Proposition Player by Bill Willingham, and The Cincinnati Kid
Rating: 3.5/5
Narration: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.