“Star Wars: Resistance Reborn” finds the deeper story Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Disclaimer: I have not yet seen The Rise of Skywalker. But books like this have two distinct and different problems to tackle: to tell an interesting story, and to tell a story that has no impact on the next theatrical release.

Let’s talk about the second problem first. More people will go see a Star Wars movie than read a Star Wars book. Any book that is considered canon, and – in the case of Resistance Reborn – is positioned as a lead-in to the next movie, cannot impact the franchise’s universe in a significant way, lest casual fans be immediately confused at the beginning of the movie. The plot of Resistance Reborn involves our heroes, led by Poe Dameron, in a trio of daring missions to steal replacement fighting ships from a scrapyard, extract First Order prisoners, and acquire a secret list of persons who might be willing to help the Resistance in its fight. Skip to the end, and I’m not certain that the events of the book have any bearing on the beginning of The Rise of Skywalker. All sound and fury, signifying nothing.

This may or may not be important to you. I find it somewhat distracting, as it makes it a bit difficult to become invested in the characters. However, regarding the first problem – telling an interesting story – Rebecca Roanhorse generally succeeds.

She examines more fully Poe Dameron’s inner struggle in the wake of his insubordination during The Last Jedi. We see how he wrestles with that, and how he learns to overcome his internal problems to become a more effective leader. We get a strong sense of how much of Leia Organa’s life has been given over to the struggle against oppressive governments, and how old and worn down she must feel. The action scenes – primarily combat amongst groups on planetary surfaces – are engaging and well written, capturing the chaos of a firefight and still feeling like Star Wars set pieces. A wide array of supporting characters – ranging from Wedge Antilles to a former warlord who speaks bluntly about her time serving for the Empire – are all engaging and easy to become invested in, even if they will only live in the pages of books. If you’re looking to learn more about Rey, you will be disappointed; she’s nearly invisible.

The B story may be the strongest part of the book. Roanhorse slowly unfolds the tale of a supercilious but ambitious minor First Order bureaucrat and his meager staff which eventually intersects with the main plot. Along the way, Roanhorse examines the banality of evil with a surprising twist.

The audiobook sports the usual high-quality production values you’ll hear in Star Wars audiobooks, including music cues and sound effects. Marc Thompson’s reading is solid, though sometimes leans toward the overly dramatic. Additionally, his use of a variety of voices for the characters becomes almost silly (Twi’leks speak with French accents – who knew?). However, he nails Poe Dameron and, oddly, Leia.

If you’re looking for a solid Star Wars story that steps outside the main thread of the Skywalker lineage, you’ll likely enjoy Resistance Reborn. If you’re looking for a Star Wars story that is an essential element of the saga, you may be disappointed.

In this pivotal prequel to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the heroes of the Resistance—Poe Dameron, General Leia Organa, Rey, and Finn—must fight back from the edge of oblivion.

The Resistance is in ruins. In the wake of their harrowing escape from Crait, what was once an army has been reduced to a handful of wounded heroes. Finn, Poe, Rey, Rose, Chewbacca, Leia Organa—their names are famous among the oppressed worlds they fight to liberate. But names can only get you so far, and Leia’s last desperate call for aid has gone unanswered.

From the jungles of Ryloth to the shipyards of Corellia, the shadow of the First Order looms large, and those with the bravery to face the darkness are scattered and isolated. If hope is to survive, the Resistance must journey throughout the galaxy, seeking out more leaders—including those who, in days gone by, helped a nascent rebellion topple an empire. Battles will be fought, alliances will be forged, and the Resistance will be reborn.

Resistance Reborn (Star Wars): Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker by Rebecca Roanhorse
Series: Star Wars
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Del Rey (November 5, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0593128427
ISBN-13: 978-0593128428

Audiobook details:
Listening Length: 11 hours and 29 minutes
Author: Rebecca Roanhorse
Narrator: Marc Thompson
Audible.com Release Date: November 05, 2019
Publisher: Random House Audio
Version: Unabridged
Language: English
ASIN: B07RLQTPZY