The New Rebellion by Katherine Rusch

7/10

Set: 17 ABY

Somewhere in the galaxy, millions suddenly perish—a disruption of the Force so shocking it is felt by Luke at his Jedi academy and by Leia on Coruscant. While Leia must deal with an assassination attempt, a rumored plot against the New Republic, and allegations that Han Solo is involved, Luke seeks out a former Jedi student who may hold the key to the mass destruction. But Brakiss is only the bait in a deadly trap set by a master of the dark side who is determined to rule as emperor. He’s targeted Luke, Leia, and Leia’s children to die. Then billions will follow, in a holocaust unequaled in galactic history.

One of the things I love about the Star Wars universe is the concept of ‘the Force.’ It might seem overly spiritual to some or thoroughly tacky to others, but I really like the concept of everything being linked; everything being able to affect everything else.

That aspect of the force plays heavily in Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s ‘The New Rebellion,’ published in 1996 and another New York Times bestseller. As the blurb above reads, the galaxy is yet again hit with another mass murder, similar to the one we saw in the beginning of the Star Wars universe, in the first movie Star Wars (A New Hope) when Obi Wan Kenobi feels the death of the planet Alderaan and its inhabitants. This time though it’s Luke – as well as Leia and her kids – who feel the death of millions.

The book naturally follows Luke’s hunt for the perpetrator of this crime, but isn’t left sitting in that idling hunt for justice.

Leia Organa Solo is in the Senate chambers when an explosion goes off. Many senators and aids are left dead, and the prime suspect soon becomes Han Solo, Leia’s husband. Leia is forced – as a result of a new group of senate members being allowed in – to allow investigations to continually prove her husband is at fault.

R2D2 and C-3PO are naturally involved, as are Leia and Han’s children; Jacen and Jaina, and their little brother Anakin. Though young, the children make for a really enjoyable addition to the cast.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and deeply set in the Star Wars universe. It is these well written books that really make the Star Wars novels a part of the universe in a way that other properties aren’t able to manage. The subplots with Lando, the children, the droids and a young plucky mechanic really enrich the story.