Monday, November 28, 2011

The Truce at Bakura: The Review



This book starts right after ROTJ, with the Rebels still regrouping on and around Endor.  The premise of the book is that an outer rim world (Bakura) has sent some sort of message capsule through space (Star Wars snail mail) that is intended for the Emperor.  It is a plea for help against some invading aliens.  The Rebels then have to decide whether or not to help the Imperial world.  And, of course, they do.

We first meet Han and Leia fairly early on in the book and they are down on the forest moon aiding the Ewoks in cleaning up and tending to Leia’s blaster wound.  The pair joins via holonet the discussion of whether or not the Alliance should answer the distress call.  It is agreed that Leia, along with a small fleet, should be sent.  The Alliance has hopes of forming an alliance with either Bakura or even perhaps the invading aliens.  Han makes it clear that wherever Leia is sent, he will not be far from her.  Luke has a quick moment of introspection on his ‘feelings’ for Leia but admits that that part of his life is over now (thank goodness) and as far as I can recall that is the last of the ickiness involving the inappropriate feelings of the Skywalker siblings in any of these books.

Luke is initially left out of the mission due to lingering health issues from his battle with the Emperor, but after a visit from Obi Wan advising him to go; he is made commander of the small fleet which includes the Falcon with Han, Leia and Chewie.

The Rebels arrive at Bakura while it is in the midst of fending off the invading aliens.  Han and Luke make the call for the Falcon to sit out of the battle, keeping the chief negotiator (Leia) safe.  Leia is not happy with their decision but reluctantly capitulates.  As the rest of the fleet breaks off toward the battle, Han contemplates how good it feels to be back in the Falcon where he belongs:

He belonged in this cockpit, with good old Chewie in the copilot’s seat.  But even that wasn’t the same.  Leia sat behind the huge Wookiee, wearing a gray combat coverall belted around her waist, leaning forward as if she thought she ought to be copilot instead.  Well.  He’d give Leia everything he owned, the whole galaxy if he could swing it, but she wouldn’t bump Chewie out of that chair.  Yeah, she’d handled the Falcon just fine during a couple of emergencies.  But even a smuggler drew the line somewhere.

The way I feel about these particular thoughts is indicative of how I felt about the way Han and Leia are written during most of this book.  Some of it is nice and I think rings true, but then some of it doesn’t.  I can see Leia leaning forward and doing a little ‘back seat driving’ even, but I don’t think she would want to bump Chewie out of his copilot seat and I don’t think Han would think she did.  And something just bugs me about the ‘even a smuggler’ bit.

Okay, so the Falcon makes its way to some safe port to wait out the space battle.  There’s a small instance where Han wonders if Leia is insulting his ship.  This insecurity/awkwardness will be dwelled upon during much of the first part of this book.  Now, in some ways I can understand this…maybe.  They really are just starting their relationship and when opening yourself up to someone you can start off being guarded.  And I’m not the type of person that thinks everything was rainbows and unicorns for them after ROTJ.  I can believe that their relationship had to have had gone through some growing pains.  But for some reason, the insecurities that are alluded to in this book just don’t seem totally appropriate for Han, in my opinion.  After everything they have been through, I just don’t see Han being sensitive to her remarks in this way.

Anyway, during their ‘down time’ we are treated to an almost infamous EU scene when, in anticipation of some alone time with Leia during their trip, Han recruited Chewie to fix up the main hold for the couple. 

He only hoped Chewie had gotten it right.  The big Wookiee was a master mechanic, but his aesthetic sense wasn’t, well, human.

As he leads Leia toward the hold under the false pretense that something on the Falcon needed fixing, Leia slowly catches on to him:

Abruptly Leia realized that was no combat glimmer in his eyes.

Han produces a bottle of something he had gotten from the old Ewok medicine man:

Han yanked on the plug.  “Berry…wine of some…sort,” he grunted.  The plug popped free.  “Goldenrod about split a resistor translating, but the gist of what the fuzzy guy said was, ‘To ignite the heart that’s beginning to warm’.”

So that’s what he was up to.  “Hey, we’re at war.”

“We’ll always be at war.  When are you going to live?”

Leia felt her cheeks heat.  She’d rather talk, argue, even fight with Han than hide out and sip… berry wine? ...with a battle going on.  As Bail Organa would’ve pointed out, this man wasn’t even appropriate company for someone of her upbringing.  He wanted to solve all his problems with a blaster.  She was a princess by adoption, if not by birth.

First of all, I should mention that following this, Leia has some thoughts about accepting Darth Vader as her father and of course, she is not having an easy time of it.  This will also be a recurring theme in this book (no, I don’t have a problem with this theme – just thought I should mention it). 

Second of all, I don’t like Leia’s thoughts here regarding Han being ‘appropriate company’ for her.  I think if she did have any reservations about that, she would’ve dealt with those thoughts long before now and especially before she ditched the Alliance and went off to rescue him.  And although she might be surprised by Han’s effort here, IDK that she would be totally turned off by it as she appears to be.  Amused, maybe?  But I’ve got to think at this point that there are other things she would rather do with Han than talk, argue or fight.

Anyway, after a brief exchange, the pair makes their way further into the hold and find what Chewie had done in the name of romance.  Apparently it was just a bunch of inflatable pillows, which didn’t impress Han much as he said:

“Wait till I tell that big wet-nosed furball-”

Still laughing, she braced herself against the bulkhead and shoved him over backward.  He caught her hand and went down flailing.

Well, that wasn’t such a bad way to end a chapter…

Unfortunately the couple isn’t afforded much alone time as some of the alien ships find the Falcon’s hiding spot.  Chewie comms Han and when the comm unit beeps in his pocket the book indicates that “Leia wriggled in Han’s arms” and that she had just been on the verge of relaxing.  I thought it was cute as the two are reluctantly leaving their romantic hideaway in the main hold, Leia does a famous Han quote of “It’s not my fault!”

Plot stuff:  We meet a human that is being held captive by the aliens whose name is Dev Sibwarra.  Apparently these aliens (the Ssi-ruuk), utilizing Dev’s Force sensitivity (yes, this is the first of a long line of Force sensitives that our heroes will stumble across over the years) ‘entech’ humans – capturing their souls and powering their electronics (from small fighters to their large ship’s main systems).  Dev is a tragic character, torn away from his Force sensitive mother at a young age and manipulated by these aliens, he receives several tortuous mind wipes to keep him in line.

The Falcon’s crew rejoins the battle after being chased from their hiding place and an unofficial truce is accepted between Peter Thanas (of the Bakuran military) and the Alliance.  After temporarily repelling the alien invaders, Luke and the crew of the Falcon land on Bakura to work on the details of the truce.  I liked at one part before they landed Leia was stating that she was extremely nervous and didn’t like the situation.  Then this from Han:

Han eyed Chewie, who whuffled softly.  Yeah, maybe she was picking up a sense of self-preservation.  Skywalkers seemed to be born without it. 

Our heroes meet with the Bakurans as the Falcon lands at a spaceport.  During initial introductions, when Leia informs the Bakurans that the Emperor and Darth Vader have both been eliminated, Leia thinks that Luke wants her to say more, perhaps about Vader’s late turn to the good side.  But Leia thinks this:  Maybe Vader had died heroically, but ten minutes’ contrition didn’t make up for years’ of atrocities.  I think this is definitely how she would feel.

Immediately following that, she introduces Han who was supposed to bow or at least shake hands.  Instead, he stood aside with a flat, disapproving expression.  At this rate, he would never make a diplomat.  I can believe that Leia may have a quick thought such as this, but deep down she knows that Han is Han and that is why she loves him – not to be a diplomat.  Of course, Luke bows beautifully just like she ‘coached’ him and of course, that’s part of the reason he didn’t end up with the girl!  Well, that and the whole sibling thing.

They are all led to a conference room where Luke first stumble across a little romantic interest in this novel in the form of a young, attractive Bakuran female Senator named Gaeriel Captison.  There’s some political truce talk and then as they are all leaving to find their quarters and get dressed for dinner at the Governor’s house, an Alderiaan stormtrooper does some quick, harmless flirting with Leia – much to Han’s chagrin.

Everybody gets dressed for dinner.  Luke wonders in what ‘pre-Alliance adventure’ did Han find his outfit and I drew a mental picture of that tight black number that he had to wear when he was a magician’s assistant in the Han Solo trilogy novels.  But I’m sure that’s not quite what he had on.  Anyway, it’s hinted that Han and Leia had a fight regarding whether or not it was appropriate for Chewie to accompany them to dinner seeing as how Imperials are notorious for their intolerance of aliens.  Han won the argument but ‘lost the war’ as Leia ignored him for the rest of the evening.

In the morning, an apparition of Darth Vader appears to Leia asking for forgiveness and after a curt conversation, she asks him if he plans to ask Han for forgiveness as well.  Vader replies ‘only through you’.  And Leia says this:

“I can almost forgive you torturing me.  And the evils you did to other people – because those drove so many worlds into the Alliance.  But cruelty to Han…no.  If you want to go through me, you won’t get his forgiveness.  Never.”

Unfortunately, right after defending the nerfherder so eloquently, Leia leaves her room and runs into Han in the common area.  When she mumbles something about ‘he can’t do this to me’, Han immediately assumes she is talking about that flirting Alderaanian and asks her as much.  She flies into a fit over his ‘petty jealousy’ and Han just about storms out of the apartment before she calls him back and apologizes.

She takes her hair down, somewhat provocatively and they kiss (of course, I’ll share it):

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, straightening her neck.  She held her lips near his chin.

Accepting the invitation, he bent and kissed her.  She felt her life energy draw up into the kiss until nothing existed but barely perceptible movements of Han’s mouth.  She flattened her hands on his shoulders.  His legs shifted toward her.  All perception vanished but the taste of his breath.  Her pulse quickened in her ears.

The comm center blatted behind him.

Yep, that’s about right.

I should probably have more plot stuff to share, but suffice it to say, they are still trying to figure out a way to fight the aliens and there are some people they trust on Bakura and some they don’t.

Later on, Luke and Leia are talking and Luke senses Leia ‘tingling with eagerness’.  He says:  “Let it flow, Leia.  He loves you.”  She admits that it has been rough between her and Han but that they went walking and talked a little.  Luke realizes he must’ve interrupted something earlier (he was the one who rang their comm unit) and then he asks Leia if she and Han would be opposed to having children.  Leia says, “That isn’t an issue.”  And then proceeds to tell Luke about her visit from Vader.  

Finally, Luke tells her, “Go to Han.  I’ll leave you alone.”

Okay, so this is where people speculate that Han and Leia consummate their relationship in the EU since their relationship seems much better throughout the rest of the book.  Well, let me tell you – if it is it is VERY subtle.  First of all, we don’t see or hear from them for quite a while (go Han!).  But we do have this exchange between Luke and Han that hints heavily that something happened:

“And it is my imagination,” Luke came back, “or are you just a little more pleased with yourself?”

Han paused midstep.  “What’s this?  I suppose you’re going to ask my intentions toward your sister?”

Okay, maybe that isn’t too subtle.

So, things start happening here on Bakura.  The bad Bakurans turn on our heroes and Luke dresses Threepio up in stormtrooper armor and sends him off on a speeder toward the Falcon and an unsuspecting Chewbacca who ends up blasting the ill-disguised droid.  That was pretty funny.  Leia is kidnapped and Han goes off to her rescue.  When Luke reaches out to ‘feel’ for Leia, he thinks this:

In that instant, he found Leia.  Very busy, very excited.  Han had obviously found her.

Now, of course, she is busy and excited trying to escape, but I thought that sounded funny, you know what I mean…in light of their previous conversation.  Okay, maybe I’m weird.

A few things that I noted during the ensuing action.  At one point, back up in the space battle, Han states that they won’t shoot the Imperials first and then thinks:  There wasn’t much future for a smuggler with a conscience.  Evidently the Alliance was stuck with him.  And then that girl that Luke was crushing on, she has to make some tough choices and while doing so she thinks (as inspiration): What had Leia Organa endured as an Imperial senator?  I like to think that Leia inspired many, many people that she might not even be aware of.

So, at one point during the battle the Bakurans turn on the Alliance and a hasty retreat is called by Han after losing their one, big cruiser that they had brought to Bakura.  After Han tells everyone to hi-tail it, Leia adds over the comm:  “Scatter the fire of the Rebellion.  It will flare up everywhere the tinder is dry.” 

When Leia enters the cockpit a short while later, Han waved one soot-streaked hand gallantly at the co-pilot’s seat.  Little gestures like that – not pillows or berry wine – made her love him.

So basically at this point, Luke is stuck on board the alien mothership, thought to be dead or definitely dying and the Falcon is about to perform a suicidal ramming to knock out the remaining Imperial forces.  Han tried to get Leia to take an escape pod and save herself but she will have no part of it.  Of course, Luke manages to stay alive and the Falcon doesn’t have to ram the ship and everything works out in the end. 

After the battle is over, Luke asks Leia if Han can land the Falcon on some spaceport roof and Leia responds:  “Han can land the Falcon on an ice cube if he wants to.”  It doesn’t say, but I have to imagine that Han appreciated that compliment.

After Bakura overthrows their Imperial rule and agrees to join the Alliance, Luke gets to kiss Gaeriel but he must leave her to lead Bakura while he goes off to rebuild the Jedi Order.  Leia makes a small sort of peace with Anakin Skywalker, deciding that if he was watching over her it wouldn’t bother her that much.  And that was pretty much it.

As usual, I totally murdered the plot synopsis – I know.  But as always, you can read that sort of thing on Wookieepedia if you are really interested.  I rated this book as a 3 but Zyra thought it was a 3.5, so I’m going to go with an official 3+ stars to meet in the middle. 

I didn’t quote a lot of it, but Han and Leia are very childish and unHan/Leia like at the beginning of the book in my opinion.  I think that Leia pretty much treats Han like a stupid idiot and I don’t know how he put up with it.  It is just not as I see them at this point in time (if ever, I mean even pre-ESB I don’t think she would’ve treated him like an idiot).  Like I said, growing pains in their relationship – yes.  But not like this.    But the story wasn’t bad and these Ssi-ruuk aliens show up again in a later book, I forgot which one but Jaina is in it and older so it’s a pretty long way away.

Sorry this review was late but holiday traveling and all that held me up!  Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!!

26 comments:

  1. Oh, this is the book with the raptors...I mean, the Ssi-ruuk.

    There were a few nice moments, but like you said, some of the things they say and the way they act is off. It seems like the author fell into the same trap Mr. Wolverton did in COPL--trying to capture the way they acted in ESB and failing.

    I think the line that disturbed me the most was when Leia basically says she could possibly forgive Vader for torturing her and destroying the lives of others, but messing with her man? Oh hell no, that's unforgivable! I know she loves him but come on.

    The thing about bumping Chewie from his "spot" bothered me too. And pretty much all the other things you brought up. :P

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  2. That part about forgiving everything but Han struck me as unrealistic, too. But they knock around Han and Leia's relationship so much, I guess I was glad to see her stand up for him at least once.

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  3. I also forgot to mention that when Leia throws her fit over Han's jealousy and Han turns to leave she yells something like "It's the Vader in me!" I thought that was totally ridiculous and she would never say that. It just sounded so...not right.

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  4. Lol, oh yeah that was pretty bad. It made me imagine her using it as an excuse for everything. Y'know...

    'Damn Leia, you spilled the blue milk again?'

    'I'm sorry, it's the Vader in me!'

    And she storms off into her room.

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  5. Full disclosure: I'm not done yet with the book. But I wanted to comment on some stuff you guys are talking about. As far as Leia treating Han like he's an idiot, yes, that is a problem in this book and is certainly a recurring theme in other books in the EU. In this, case, I do believe I read somewhere that Kathy Tyers (said author) was NOT a fan of their relationship. She didn't think it made sense and... well, that basically they would act as she often has them acting here. Like Han's some big, stupid oaf ex-criminal and Leia is this dignified woman who went slumming for a bit but they can't possibly make it work because she will never think highly of him.

    Right. Ok. So, that is probably where their characterizations are coming from here. I don't get why some people think that Leia is always so regal and dignified. I think obviously she has the ability to act that way when the situation is appropriate, but it
    s not the role she feels most comfortable in. She's feisty and sarcastic and doesn't care that Han isn't a senator or anything. Ok, I'm done now with that.

    Also, I think my problem is that I DO see their relationship as rainbows and unicorns after the movies. Damn.

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  6. Well, you have to define rainbows and unicorns, then. I mean, if you are referring to the absence of dead Wookiees, Sith children, dead children, Vong invaders and so forth - than I am right there with you. But they have to have some fights and you know, normal couple/married stuff. Right? Han has to leave his dirty clothes on the floor and Leia must have some sort of credit card debt they could fight over, right?

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  7. Yes, that is a big way I define rainbows and unicorns. Of course they'd still fight, or else they wouldn't be Han and Leia and their strong personalities. But I see them getting irritated about little things rather than, say, "Han you're so stupid that you can't act dignified in front of these delegates. Why are you such an idiot?" Or, "Leia, you treat me like a child and I'm just supposed to walk behind you and follow you around and cater to your every whim and not have my own identity and you work all the time and we never have sex!"

    No, none of that sort of arguing. Leia probably doesn't rack up credit card debt because they are probably super rich. But Leia getting mad at Han for leaving shaving stubble in the sink or because he lets the kids do whatever they want? Or Han sick of Leia taking so long to get ready or maybe being mad at her occasionally for focusing her energy on people other than herself? Yes, those things, all possible. Other than that, yes, rainbows and unicorns.

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  8. Okay, then - I can agree with you. Isn't that surprising?

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  9. LOL, Push and Zyra, you two crack me up agreeing to agree.

    there are bits I like from this book, mostly the little things like you mentioned. another thing I thought was sweet is how Han keeps sitting near her and everyone figures out they are a couple.

    I think this is one of the reasons I am a proponent of the theory that something very significant happened in this book, off camera, of course :-)

    It reminds me of the Bonnie Raitt ong "Something to Talk About" - they "laugh just a little too loud, stand just a little too close, stare just a little too long"

    Every now and then they just seem like two people who are newly intimate with each other and can't stop touching or looking at each other.

    Then other times she makes them like fifteen year olds bickering about stuff that doesn't matter. I totally agree that Leia is NOT embarrassed by Han or worried about him being "inappropriate" for her. Also she would NEVER say "it's the Vader in me". Bleh.

    As far as Han goes, although I disbelieve a lot of the EU there is one theme that runs throughout that I do buy - even after 40 years Han is still amazed that she picked HIM. So I can see him being sort of stunned by his good fortune at this stage but NOT getting all nasty and picky that she's picking on his ship. I mean, this is the man who, in ESB, "was enjoying the fact that she shared his own sarcastic sense of humor". He is NOT offended that she sits in the cockpit.

    OK, breathe, Jul. Step down from soapbox. Back away from the EU author... :-)

    Any way let's just say I read a LOT into that little exchange about Han looking pleased with himself. I agree that they are often out of character but I think the developing relationship is still fun. I think I'd give it 3.5 stars too.

    Oh, by the way, the whole mind wipe bit with the aliens was highly creepy, and there's one scene in this book that just totally gave me the heebie jeebies. The nasty imperial dude puts parasites in Luke's food and Luke takes care of the parasites in a particularly gruesome way. Ewwwwwwwwwww.

    a side plot you didn't mention that I did like is the old lady who Luke helps regain her memory and next thing you know she's carrying a blaster and kicking Imperial ass.

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  10. Push and I agree with each other at an almost nauseating level. From an outsider's perspective, it would probably make our conversations seem really boring. But to us, they are great ;0

    I totally agree with you that no matter how long they are together Han remains grateful that she picked him. Underneath that cocky exterior I still think that always on some level he wonders why she wouldn't have gone for anyone else. SHE doesn't wonder at all, but he probably recognizes that his life would be totally different without her. She could still go on and be a leader. She'd be a miserable, lonely leader most likely, but she'd still hold some importance. Han? Not so much.

    I really need to stop commenting and finish reading this book...

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  11. LOL! So, like you guys, there were good parts and... painful parts. I mean, the Vader in me? What. The. Hell.

    Zyra, did I read that right? The author didn't like Han and Leia? WHAT DO EU AUTHORS HAVE AGAINST HAN AND LEIA???? Ok, calming down before I go into a huge rant...

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  12. Yes, you read that right. Even worse? This is the same author that wrote the book where they reunited after their lengthy separation in the New Jedi Order series. Karen Traviss is also known to not like them. I think she just said she doesn't enjoy writing them, not necessarily that they don't make sense, but I'm not sure. She wrote some books that come much later in the timeline, like Legacy of the Force series. And not surprisingly I think at least one of those books barely if at all features Han and Leia.

    This is why I could never write EU though. People would hear me say how I get bored writing Luke and they would then become outraged.

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  13. Julz: You are right about that side plot with the elderly lady and how Luke helped her. I really left out a lot of the plot that didn't directly involve Han and Leia. These aliens and the way they 'enteched' people was pretty creepy and their torture of that poor Dev guy was intense.

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  14. thank goodness Troy Denning wrote "Recovery" for them to get back together in the Legacy of the Force series because you are right, Kathy Tyers totally dropped the ball on H/L in the one she wrote. You can certainly tell that some EU authors prefer to write about certain characters and those characters always seem more "real" in the books by those authors. Like Tim Zahn "gets" Mara because he invented her and Wedge and Tycho are always way more fun when Aaron Allston writes them than anyone else.

    Push, I think I liked old Eppie a lot better than whats-her-face that Luke was mooning over. I thought she was way too boring for him. "Ugh, Luke's all puppy-dog eyes again, time to skip ahead a couple pages, what's Han up to?" :-)

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  15. You know, I definitely think that Leia DID feel that Han wasn't good for her. Maybe not that he wasn't good ENOUGH for her in that sense (although that was probably a part of it), but he was the dirty, dangerous, bad-boy one and Luke was the safe one. But that was in ANH, and those oh-so-fun-to-explore days between ANH and ESB. She was still trying to hide behind those feelings in ESB but anything that was still left, in my very humble opinion, probably vanished on that carbon freezing platform. I'm sure they would have plenty of little relationship problems after ROTJ and that yes, Han might always feel that she was a little out of his league and he was incredibly lucky to have her...but from Leia's perspective, I definitely don't think she'd be worried about Han's social status at this point!

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  16. For what its worth, Kathy Tyers has admitted that back in the late 1970s she was a pretty hardcore Luke/Leia shipper, so her apparent dislike of Han and Leia as a couple would certainly stem from this.

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  17. Oh and there is evidence in one of the NJO order books, can't recall which off the top of my head, that supports the idea that their "first time" did occur during this book. The quote refers to Bakura having a special significance for Han and Leia, something along those lines.

    It's one of the books after they reconcile, but I don't remember which. Anyone have a better memory than me on this?

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  18. Well, there is a book where they go back to Bakura. I wonder if it's in that one. Jaina is with them and much older. But I don't remember that quote. Zyra's much better and remembering stuff like that.

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  19. It's Force Heretic II: Refugee (the book where they go back to Bakura)

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  20. Maybe it's more subtle than I remember, but there's definitely something mentioned about Bakura that made me sit up and take notice.

    Admittedly I didn't read a lot of the NJO books properly, I am not as familiar with them as with the Bantam ones, hence why I'm a little hazy on this. Hey maybe it's not even a NJO book, it could be Legacy of the Force, but I'm leaning more towards NJO, pretty sure it is. It's definitely not a Bantam era book.

    Zyra, does this ring any bells with you?

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  21. Very subtle, but not impossible:

    "Bring back any memories, Leia?" Han asked with a crooked grin as his hand reached out to squeeze hers briefly. She returned his smile but didn't respond directly. They had visited Bakura very early in their relationship; under other circumstances, she might have let herself enjoy the reminder of those headier days."

    That's pretty much it.

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  22. Wow, it is subtle isn't it? I must be getting mixed up somewhere.

    Which book is that? I keep thinking it's Destiny's Way for some reason.

    Thanks for looking anyway.

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  23. Like Push said, Force Heretic II: Refugee. It's possible there's more in there somewhere, that was just all I saw on an initial look. Yes, it is subtle, but as Han and Leia fans, we have learned to really, really reach for any references to such things. And if you just think about stuff that was explicitly said about them in the book, well, did anything all that notable happen between them that would cause Han to smile like that? Even if it wasn't the first time, something must've happened!

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  24. I have always believed this book implies something very significant. The bit about Han looking pleased with himself and him being aware that Luke has noticed it, and then talking about his intentions towards leia definitely point to something, I agree.

    The only thing that kinda squashes any theory we might have is the fact that Kathy Tyers is apparently very religious, I've read that a few times, and some have dismissed that she would even hint at such a thing since they claim she would disapprove of sex before marriage.

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  25. Oh boy, now I'm reading Truce at Bakura (thank you public library with your electronic downloadable books!) Can I provide a fanwank for why Leia is at times so dismissive of Han? I haven't finished the book. I'm only at the very beginning where she thinks to herself that her father would think Han of Han as inappropriate company and she's complaining to Han about his ship. But, perhaps Leia acts like this because she's freaking out a little bit as she gets closer to consummating her relationship with Han? Like all her defenses go up and go haywire? Same for Han to a lesser extent? Total fanwanking, I know, but it's something that occurred to me, especially when Han is upset because he and Leia are interrupted just as he's getting Leia to "relax" in the hold. It seemed like he definitely wanted something else to happen!

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