We Answer Your Burning Questions about Star Wars: Aftermath
The countdown to Episode VII begins in earnest today. With 104 days to go until the Dec. 18 release of the first film in the Star Wars franchise in over a decade, Disney and Lucasfilm have finally given us our first official glimpse at the state of the galaxy far, far away in the post-Return of the Jedi era. Chuck Wendig’s Star Wars: Aftermath isn’t just another tie-in novel; it’s the first step in the “Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and the first book in a trilogy that will fill in the narrative gaps between the death of the Emperor and Vader at the Battle of Endor and the start of the new movie.
The contents of the novel have been kept top secret—the manuscript guarded by an entire legion of the Mouse House’s best troops, and Wendig’s mouth kept tightly sealed by an old Jedi mind trick. But we know a good smuggler or two… And now, straight from the stolen datatapes, we present answers to your burning questions about Star Wars: Aftermath. (It probably goes without saying, but many Bothans died to bring you this..well, you know.)
When is the novel set?
The prologue actually begins during the end of Return of the Jedi, as the citizens of the galaxy celebrate the death of Emperor Palpatine and the birth of the New Republic. It then jumps forward several months, quickly catching us up on how things have been going for the nascent intergalactic government.
And how are things going? All hugs and flowers after the second Death Star blew up?
We will answer you this way: remember that scene at the end of the original trilogy where the crowds on the capital city of Coruscant are shown toppling a statue of Palpatine and cheering the defeat of a tyrant? About three minutes later, a bunch of stormtroopers marched in, and things got ugly, fast.
So the Empire didn’t just disappear after the Battle of Endor?
Decidedly not: the snake has lost its head, but a serpent like that is bound to have a hell of a death rattle. Though New Republic forces have managed to liberate a number of systems and capture entire fleets of Star Destroyers, there are still plenty of Imperials out there with no intention of going down without a fight. Er, another one.
How are our heroes doing?
Princess Leia is playing the role of spokesperson for the new government, pleading with worlds the galaxy over to hold out, because help is on the way. Meanwhile, Wedge Antilles, the only pilot to survive attack runs against two Death Stars, is scoping out the planet Akiva in the Outer Rim, attempting to hunt down weak spots in the Empire’s faltering supply chain.
What are Luke and Han up to?
Difficult to see, Luke’s future is. But Han? Well, Han has grown a pretty sweet beard.
You mentioned the planet Akiva…Never heard of it.
We’re visiting Akiva for the first time, but it looks like it’s going to play a pretty vital role in the contest to determine which side is going to govern the galaxy. Moments after Wedge enters orbit, his scanners pick up a whole mess of Star Destroyers converging on the backwater world. Obviously, they are up to no good, but before he can warn anyone, he’s captured. Uh oh.
But if no one knows what happened, who is going to rescue him?
Luckily, there are always heroes to be found in the Star Wars universe. Meet former Rebel pilot Norra Wexley, who flew alongside Wedge and Lando at the Battle of Endor. Scarred by her combat experiences and hardened after three years serving the Rebellion, she’s finally returning home to reunite with her estranged teenage son Temmin when she gets reluctantly pulled back into the fray. She (and her allies, including a bounty hunter and an Imperial defector) may be Wedge’s—and the New Republic’s—only hope.
Does the whole book take place on Akiva?
Are you kidding? This is Star Wars. We also stop off at familiar spots like Bespin, Tatooine, Corellia, Dex’s Diner on Coruscant, and Naboo.
Who is leading the Empire? Any blue-skinned grand admirals hanging about?
That would be telling. But we can say that Wedge gets in pretty hot water with Admiral Rae Sloane, a steely-eyed officer who believes the fate of the Empire—and the galaxy—rests on the outcome of the Imperial summit at Akiva.
Chuck Wendig is awesome, but his books tend to have a bit more…color than we’re used to seeing in Star Wars.
That’s not really a question, but you’re certainly right: the mad mastermind behind Zeroes and Miriam Black does have to rein himself in a little to tell his story here.
Only a little?
Well, one of Norra’s sidekicks is a reprogrammed battle droid named Mister Bones what says things like, “I PERFORMED VIOLENCE. ROGER-ROGER,” and “I CAN BLUDGEON THOSE WHO WOULD HURT YOU. I WILL BEAT THEM TO A GREASY TREACLE-PASTE.” You are going to love Mister Bones.
What about the Jedi? Are there any lightsabers in this book?
A lightsaber—a red lightsaber—first ignites on page 227.
Does anyone have a bad feeling about this?
Naturally.
Star Wars: Aftermath is available now.