Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan
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| Author | Claudia Gray |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Saskia Maarleveld |
| Language | English |
| Series | Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Disney Lucasfilm Press |
Publication date | September 1, 2017 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 416 (First edition, hardcover) |
| ISBN | 978-1-484-78078-7 (First edition, hardcover) |
Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan is a Star Wars novel by Claudia Gray, published by Disney Lucasfilm Press on September 1, 2017 as part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi publishing initiative. It chronicles the teen years of Princess Leia before the events of the 1977 film Star Wars, which introduced the character.
Plot
Sixteen-year-old Princess Leia Organa of the planet Alderaan finds that her parents, Queen Breha and Viceroy Bail Organa, are too consumed by their duties to pay her much attention. As a politician-in-training in the Apprentice Legislature, Leia organizes a humanitarian mission to the planet Wobani, a world whose people have been impoverished by the abusive governing of Emperor Palpatine's Galactic Empire. She outwits the Imperial supervisor and finds a legal way to liberate a group of refugees from the planet, and after departing witnesses the aftermath of an attack on Calderos Station, an Imperial waypoint. Leia takes a pathfinding class with other junior legislators, who include Amilyn Holdo of Gatalenta, and the other Alderaanian Apprentice Legislator, Kier Domadi. Leia realizes that the Empire has covered up the rebellious attack, and her research into possible perpetrators leads to her discovery of a hidden base on Crait, and Bail's revelation that he and Breha are part of a secret cabal working against the interests of the Empire. On another humanitarian mission to Naboo, Leia and Dalné, the Queen of Naboo, are almost killed when Moff Quarsh Panaka is assassinated with a bomb.
Leia learns that her parents' ally Saw Gerrera, the leader of an extremist rebel cell called the Partisans, was responsible for the attack. Though Bail and Breha forbid her involvement in the conspiracy for her own safety, Leia continues her humanitarian missions to worlds they believe are safe. When she is faced with resistance from the proud, frog-like Chalhuddens, Leia negotiates their acceptance of her aid in exchange for a favor to be owed her in the future. She begins gathering information about planetary abuses and brings it to Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila, whom she hopes can publicize it. Mon, however, instructs Leia that the effort is futile. Leia is further enraged when the Empire uses an assignment issued to the Junior Legislature to seize control of a planet for industrial development. The imperious Grand Moff Tarkin seems to suspect that Bail and Breha are somehow involved in the recent turmoil. As Leia becomes closer to Kier and entrusts him with details of her parents secret work, they are horrified by the punishment inflicted upon a planet whose leaders had committed similar treason against the Empire.
Leia discovers a hidden shipyard where old and stolen starships of varying types are being refurbished for use by the conspirators. Tarkin meets with her on a pretext, but she knows he is probing for information on a possible conspiracy, thinking she is vulnerable to his manipulation. Leia passes the test but learns that the Empire is aware of the location of the nascent rebel fleet. With the blessing of Breha and Mon, who cannot disrupt their own schedules for fear of inviting suspicion, Leia moves to warn the rebels. Commandeering a ship chartered by Amilyn, Leia heads for Pamarthe to hide her true destination. Calling in her favor from the Chalhudden leader, Leia books passage from Pamarthe to the shipyard. She and Amilyn are able to warn Bail, who evacuates the ships and initiates the self-destruct protocol for the repair facilities. Kier arrives, having followed Leia, and his ship is damaged by an explosion before Leia can warn him. She finds Kier dying, and learns that he intended to report the rebels to the Empire to protect Alderaan from retribution. A devastated Leia brings his body back to Alderaan, but leaves the information he collected to be destroyed. Bail and Breha finally bring Leia formally into the conspiracy.
Publication
The novel was announced at the Star Wars Celebration in April 2017, along with two other novels and a comic book miniseries related to the second sequel film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi.[1] It was published on September 1, 2017.[2]
Impact
Gray said of the novel:
This is such an interesting period in Leia's life for me because it’s literally the only time she will ever—ever—not be contending with the fate of the entire galaxy ... It was fascinating to ask what Leia was like before she ever went to war, back when she was still somewhat sheltered and figuring herself out.[3]
Leia, Princess of Alderaan sets up the relationships between Leia and other characters seen in the films, including Grand Moff Tarkin, Mon Mothma, Amilyn Holdo, and Quarsh Panaka.[3][4][5] Gray explained how Kier Domadi, Leia's first love, compares to the character's future husband, Han Solo:
Although obviously neither Kier nor Leia can know this yet, Kier is basically the anti-Han: He's totally suitable for her, smart and stable, totally dedicated to Alderaan, and a pacifist. That said, he has one thing in common with Han: The belief that Leia ought to get to have a personal life instead of living her duty every hour of the day.[3]
References
- ^ Hall, Jacob (April 17, 2017). "'Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Will Bridge the Gap Between Episode 7 and 8 With Books and Comics". /Film. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ "The On-Sale Calendar: September 2017 Children's Books". Publishers Weekly. June 9, 2017. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ a b c Floyd, James (September 27, 2017). "11 Revelations from Claudia Gray on Leia, Princess of Alderaan". StarWars.com. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ Crouse, Megan (December 16, 2017). "Star Wars: What Leia: Princess of Alderaan Reveals About The Last Jedi". Den of Geek. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ Ratcliffe, Amy (September 6, 2017). "The Last Jedi Connections in the New Young Leia Novel". Nerdist. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
External links
- Leia, Princess of Alderaan on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki