The Paradise Snare: Star Wars Legends (The Han Solo Trilogy)

This is truly one of the best Star Wars books I have ever read, and I'd place it right at the top alongside Timmothy Zahn and Aaron Allston. I started reading this book late at night, stayed up till two in the morning, and immediately finished it when i woke up the next day. Though many Star Wars books have been great reads, I can barely recall any that have had this kind of "must read" effect on me.Within the first few pages, Crispin nails Han Solo's character and draws us into his world of pickpocket gangs, scams, and later spice smuggling and piloting. Han is so well written that you could imagine a younger Harrison Ford delivering the lines. Throughout the course of the novel, Crispin gives us the set up for some of Han's ideologies later in life: his reason for saving Chewbacca, his disdain for hokey religions, his inability to tell later Leia he loves her, and much more. For fans of continuity, take note: in the early chapters Crispin blends in two events, one from a Zahn novel and the other from "Tales of the Bounty Hunters". See if you can find them!The supporting characters are written just as convincingly, and the reader really grows attached to them over the course of the novel. For a new alien race, Muuurgh the Togarian is nicely introduced and integrated. He never feels out of place, and becomes a sort of predecessor to Chewbacca without becoming a "clone" of him. While Muuurgh honors a life debt similiar to Chewbacca, he is unique because he has other motivations besides watching Han, which is to find his lost mate. The other new character is Bria, Han's love interest. Bria is also not a Leia "clone." She's strong-willed and capable, but her addiction to a mind-influencing cult (a very well written part of the novel I must say) makes her unique, and her character is constantly evolving. Add in a beautiful rendition of the character on the cover, and you really have someone worthy of Han's affections. Since we know Han makes it to the movies without Bria and Muuurgh, both characters are in constant danger of being killed off, and I was on the edge of my seat (bed) during one escape scene. Congrats to Crispin for providing the most tension-filled scene I've read in any Star Wars novel (Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter comes in a close second).This is a brilliant book, and I'm sorry that I didn't read it sooner. Much better than most of the prequel novels and New Jedi Order, as soon as I finished the Paradise Snare I immediately wanted to go out and buy the rest of the Trilogy. I hope Crispin writes more Star Wars in the future.

I've read all of the books in the Star Wars expanded universe so far and I can safely say that the Han Solo Trilogy, by A.C. Crispin, is the crown jewel.In book one, THE PARADISE SNARE, we are introduced to a young Han, living life on the edge as a lackey to a Corellian criminal, Garris Shrike. Solo escapes, thanks to the sacrifice of his lone friend, a Wookie named Dewlanna, and is able to get a job piloting for a religious organization on the planet Ylesia. This job sets the stage for the rest of the Solo story: his first love (Bria), his connection to the Hutts, his Academy days, the Chewbacca and Lando entrances, etc. Crispin's writing style is engrossing--she writes action well and has the touch with characters and relationships. Han's back-story is filled in completely; once you've read these stories you will understand his character, his motivation, and any/all references to his past that have ever been made. You'll want to pick up the entire trilogy, since once you read book one you'll have to continue the story. Some Star Wars novels don't work because they are too obscure. Some are not well written. Some are written be people who don't seem to understand the Star Wars universe or its characters (ie. THE CRYSTAL STAR). Crispin deftly avoids all of these pitfalls. It is difficult to write a trilogy where the whole world already knows the ending (since we know Han meets Luke and falls in love with Leia), but Crispin was able to grab and hold my interest as well as my emotion the entire time. The Han Solo Trilogy will appeal to hard core Star Wars novel fans as well as fans who up till now have only seen the movies. They are the best that Lucas Books has to offer. FIVE STARS.

After reading book one of this triology i can't remember being so excited to read the next 2. This book provides us with insight of the life of han solo before star wars a new hope. I can honestly say that i enjoyed this book more then the Timothy Zahn series. A.C. Crispin does a wonderful job in showing how devoted the people are to their "religion". Also he does a great job in developing the realtionship between Han and Brain Thraen. When Han loses Dewlanna in the beginning of the book you could actually feel his pain. His descriptions of courscant and Ylesia were so good that I did not feel like i was reading, but rather I was watching Han from the backround. All together a great book and a must read for any star wars fan.

I am so glad I read this book (and the rest of the Han Solo Trilogy) after reading the disappointing Phantom Menance and the awful Vector Prime. It was amazing how the author took the small bits and pieces of Han's life and wove it into this story. I liked the cameo apperances of people that would later influence his decisions. The pseudo-religious scam was quite sadly realistic. Han's ingenuity was quite evident. I started the book and it immediately captured my imagination and I had to read it to the finish. A great read and it was so vivid I felt like I was off stage watching the entire story unfold. The book felt like coming back home to the initial Star Wars universe and the author played it beautifully. Way to go. The ending was the perfect backdrop for the following novel. It was great and like I said I was up all night because I couldn't put it down. Not many books like that.

This book has a great story of Han Solo, in his early life, as he tries to become a pilot in the Star Wars Universe. It starts with Han trying to escape from his employers. As it unfols in the book, he wants to follow his dream and destiny in an adventure that has drama and plots. The characters in the book are played very well by A.C. Crispin. Especially the backdrop of the story about pligrims working for the T-landa Til who are distant cousin of the Hutts. Teroenza who is the religious leader of the pligrims is a very intersting character, for he manipulates them to his advantage. Han Solo works for the T-landa Til and this is where the story really takes off. I found this book very well paced and designed. I am looking forward to book 2 of the Han Solo trilogy.