My second foray into the post-movie universe of Star Wars was Union, the book in which Jedi master Luke Skywalker and former assassin Mara Jade tie the knot. Silly me, I didn't even know he was dating!

If you read my complaints about Dark Empire II, you can rest assured that writer Michael Stackpole, artist Robert Teranishi and their team did the job right this time. The colors are vibrant, the story is fun and the characters look like they should. Well done!

Much of the story focuses on Mara's pre-wedding jitters and her quest for the Perfect Dress. If you think that doesn't sound like grist for a Star Wars yarn, think again. Because several disaffected former imperials are still nursing a grudge against the guy who offed their emperor and blew up their Death Star, and they decide to mess up his wedding but good.

But they're not really all that good as assassins, it turns out. But the story captures nicely the frenzy that leads up to most weddings, and it lends itself well to the light-hearted humor that always punctuated the Star Wars films.

Union isn't about galactic peril or anything so dire. It's fun, as weddings should be.

by Tom Knapp
Rambles.NET
11 March 2006