‘Star Wars’ Adventure Books: ‘The Journey To The Force Awakens’ Books You Have To Read

Three Star Wars Adventure books were released September 4 as part of Force Friday. These books, along with Aftermath by Chuck Wendig and Lost Stars by Claudia Gray, were all part of the Journey to the Force Awakens series. The series is the big ramp up for Star Wars: The Force Awakens that is scheduled to hit theaters December 18.

The three Star Wars Adventure books are The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure, Smuggler’s Run: A Han Solo Adventure, and Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure. These books are labeled as middle grade books. However, do not be fooled by that. If there are three books that are a must-read for any Star Wars fans, it is these Star Wars Adventure Books.

The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure is set just after the Battle of Yavin at the end of Star Wars: A New Hope. It follows Luke Skywalker. He is trying to come to terms with his newfound popularity. He is also trying to wrestle with the fact that before Ben Kenobi died, he’d left him with the knowledge that his father was once a great Jedi.

The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure is written by Jason Fry. Fry is no stranger to the Star Wars Universe. He currently has an ongoing middle grade Star Wars series called Servants of the Empire. Servants of the Empire follows Zare Leonis who was introduced in a couple of episodes of the first season of Star Wars Rebels. Fry has worked on other Star Wars books as well.

Smuggler’s Run: A Han Solo Adventure is also set shortly after the Battle of Yavin. Everyone’s favorite smuggler-turned-hero, Han Solo, just wants to pay his debt to Jabba the Hutt and get on with his life. However, Princess Leia, along with the encouragement of his co-pilot Chewbacca, convinces Han to take one more mission for the Rebels.

Smuggler’s Run: A Han Solo Adventure is written by Greg Rucka. Rucka is an accomplished writer in both novels and comics. He has had major runs with DC. He is also the writer of the Journey to the Force Awakens: Shattered Empire comic that is due to hit shelves September 9.

Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure is the final Star Wars Adventure book. It is set just after the events of The Empire Strikes Back. Princess Leia finds herself trying to cope with the loss of her adopted parents, the Organas, as well as her “friend” Han Solo. Leia decides to take a small group of Rebels on a mission that will bring her head-to-head with the very people who want her dead, the Empire.

Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure is written by the previously mentioned Jason Fry as well as Cecil Castellucci. Castellucci wrote the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Odd Duck. She has also written other graphic novels including Boy Proof and Tin Star.

What makes these Star Wars Adventure books so enticing to fans of all ages are the promises it makes. Hidden in the pages are clues to the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Not only does the reader get an action-packed adventure from some of the universe’s most beloved characters, but they are also left wondering if some of the settings and characters will be part of the upcoming movie.

The Star Wars Adventure books also give us a glimpse of the future of the Star Wars Universe. The Epilogue and Prologue of the books are set in a time that seems to be right before The Force Awakens takes place. For instance in Moving Target, Leia is tasked with writing her memoirs with the help of a service droid. Leia wants to know the point of this. The Resistance are about to enter a war that could destroy them all.

What do you think of the Star Wars Adventure books? Are you willing to give them a shot? Are you trying to stay away from all of the Journey to the Force Awakens titles for fear of spoilers?

[Photo by Disney and Lucasfilm]