Shadow Games is by Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff
Shadow Games is an unusual story and one we could’ve used more of in the original trilogy era. Set not long before A New Hope, Shadow Games is a mystery featuring a holostar and smugglers. Who is trying to kill the Holostar and why? It’s up to Dash Rendar to find out, and he isn’t too thrilled when his rival, Han Solo, gets dragged into the chaos!
The Story
I am enjoying rereading this page turning mystery, even as I can’t quite recall the villain. We have, definitely, a Black Sun Vigo involved, which is bad news in itself. But Javul, the holostar, isn’t playing it straight with Dash and her other defenders either. Plus, there is the likelihood someone on the inside is involved, though whether it’s willingly or via coercion of another party isn’t clear. Shadow Games is a good title for it, because the real threat is in the shadows, unclear, and difficult to identify for much of the book.
There is intrigue, sabotage, romance (in the sense that, according to the average male human, she is drop-dead gorgeous). This isn’t good when a former male Black Sun Vigo is involved.
Shadow Games Starring Characters:
Javul Charn (female human holostar)
Dara Farlion (her friend from way back) aka Spikes (to Dash)
Captain Dash Rendar (smuggler,)
Eaden Vrill (smuggler, navigator, Master of Teras Kasi)
Leebo (droid, mechanic )
Captain Han Solo
Ships:
Outrider: Capt. Dash Rendar; Eaden; navigator; Leebo, ship’s droid
Millenium Falcon: Capt Han Solo, first mate Chewbacca (on vacation, not present), Temporary Navigator: Eaden.
Nova’s Heart: Owner Javul Charn; Commander Serdor Marrak; Crewmembers: Bran Finnick, Yanus Melikan, Arruna Var
Deep Core: owner: Javul Charn
Review
It’s a real mystery and page turner. It starts out with Dash trying to beat Solo’s record (setting up the rivalry) at the Kessel Run. When things go haywire and he beats the odds to survive, he’s forced to look for other work to get his ship fixed. His rivalry seems excessive to me.
Dash’s frustration with Javul Charn, though, I can totally feel. She’s not telling him things he needs to know to protect her. Secret escape hatches, and shared looks with her closest teammates all suggest something more is going on than she is leading him to believe. Even when she ‘fesses up that there is more to what she told him, and that she lied, the feeling is if she lied that far, what else is a secret? What else does he need to know?
If you have read or played Shadows of the Empire, you know what happens to Dash. If you’ve seen the movies, you know what happens to Han. The trouble is, the new characters are likeable. Eaden and Javul, as well as the others, are intriguing characters, and as with most good stories, one gets invested in their fate as well. Plus, how do Dash and Han get themselves out of this?
(I can only imagine Chewie moaning when he hears how much trouble Han got into when he was gone. I feel kind of sad he wasn’t in this.)
Personally I like mysteries, and puzzles, though not as much as sci fi and fantasy. So a puzzling mystery set in Star Wars is to me, a lot of fun. All the more so since Dash had that one big hero moment and then got dropped. He’s like Lando in that it’s like they are used for ‘replacement Han Solo’ while he is in carbonite and then dropped in storytelling. That’s a shame, as both had a lot of potential for more good stories. I’m grateful for Shadow Games for bringing Dash back out of the shadows and filling him in a bit.
Continuity:
Dash Rendar is introduced and stars in Shadows of the Empire multimedia project; the novel, comic versions, and the video game. He has a role in all three but the entire game is centered on him. That story is set in between the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
And Leebo Makes Three is a prequel short story of sorts to Shadow Games. It was in Star Wars Insider 128. Given that it is the first appearance of Eaden, he is really the one who makes Three than Leebo, who premiered in the Shadows of the Empire video game.
Teräs Käsi, the fighting style of Eaden Vrill first appeared in a video game. It’s mentioned in Shadows of the Empire and (not surprisingly) Medstar duology and Darth Maul Shadow Hunter, also by Michael Reaves.
Eaden Vrill was apparently trained by Neaed Fisto in Hidden Hand, a religious component of Teräs Käsi. Neaed Fisto is related to General and Jedi Master Kit Fisto, a Jedi Knight. Shadow Games reveals that other force sensitive groups also were targeted by the Empire.
Black Sun is a well known criminal organization, first appearing in Shadows of the Empire with Prince Xixor. It also shows up in the Han Solo Adventures, Coruscant Nights, Medstar and even has appearances back in the SWTOR era.
Mandaloreans are mentioned. It’s unusual for a Mandalorean to turn his back on his clan but not unheard of.
Bannistar Station, a featured venue,and Security Chief Ryske are featured in a story arc in Rebellion comics.
Javul Charn claims to be a member of the religious order ‘The Cosmic Balance’. The Cosmic Balance first appeared in Truce at Bakura.
Christophsis, another world our holostar stops at, was originally designed for Revenge of the Sith. There is concept art of it.
Black Sun having interests on Rodia is established in Shadows of the Empire.
Most content says Nautolans have no eyelids, but Eaden ‘blinks’. This is probably an adaptation from the TCW series.
Trivia bit: the original idea came from Steve Perry and Reaves, but Perry didn’t want to add in main characters. I admit, I think the story could’ve stood alone without the addition of Han Solo. In fact, Han’s refusal to go to the core worlds so close to A New Hope is a bit confusing in my opinion. I wonder if Dash’s reaction to Han joining the team also represented the author’s frustration at having to include him!
Trivia bit: The fans got to choose the book title! The initial title was Holostar, but then the publisher got together a contest. I think Shadow Games is a good choice!
