Strong characters run out of momentum in this uneven Star Wars: Aftermath sequel.
Star Wars: Aftermathwas an enjoyable foundation for a new Expanded Universe.
This time, we find out that his first attempt didnt go well: Chewbacca has been captured.
Meanwhile, the Imperial ruling council has pulled itself together under a new ruler.
Fans who are looking for hints at what happened betweenReturn of the JediandThe Force Awakenswill find some here.
General Hux makes a brief appearance, his first name and parentage casually dropped.
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The villainous Fleet Admiral is quickly revealed to be Gallius Rax, an ambitious mastermind with ties to Jakku.
Curled, cold, sneering lips are about the only description we get of him.
An affair with an Imperial aide is too briefly presented to either humanize him or further emphasize his villainy.
Is he simply manipulative in love as well as in everything else?
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That manipulation involves both the young New Republic and the struggling Empire.
Han Solo in particular never quite seemed to cohere into something that truly captured his Original Trilogy self.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the pacing is a lack of emotional peaks for these characters.
What effect might these events have had on the Snap we saw in the film?
The book doesnt shy away from this, and Sinjir is both sympathetic and sometimes frightening.
In these ways, both Sinjir and Sloane show good examples of slow burn character arcs that makeLife Debtshine.
Theyre glad to be part of a lovable team, but not sure why they stick with it.
Aftermath: Life Debtis out today.
