Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Lost Stars by Claudia Gray

[Crusader]

So a few of us have started reading this young adult Star Wars Novel. So I will put this thread here for people who want to talk about it.

Here is a review on IO9 for people who have not heard about this book:

http://io9.gizmodo.com/if-youre-a-star-wars-fan-the-novel-lost-stars-is-an-es-1747578888

[Dasquian Belargic]

I'm a decent way into the book so far, and although it's definitely YA, I'm.. enjoying it? It's interesting seeing the Imperial academies from the inside.

[Crusader]

I am beyond the academy as well now and I have reached the ending of ANH.

This Rebelscum will pay for the treachery [and for killing my favorite Imperial Nerd Jude!]

I enjoyed the childhood and academy part so far and it is definetly YA but my inner teenage girl just loves seeing his protagonists going to a ball at Imperial Hogwarts.

The aftermath of ANH is way more thrilling from the Imperial point of view than from the rebel side.

[Alis'ans'amey]

This sounds like my kind of thing. I really need to read it at some point.

[Jedieb]

They're just reaching the Academy, so I'm way behind, but I like it so far. Don't know how much I'll be reading it this week though, pretty busy with the holidays, kids, and the Art of TFA I just bought today.

[Mu Satach]

Started it a few days ago. Just finished it. Where/when is the next one with these characters?

[Dasquian Belargic]

Is it actually a series, or are you just hoping it is?

[Mu Satach]

Hope. It feels like there will be more to the story at some point. But just realized it was released in Sept. so wait, I must.

[Crusader]

I still have 70 pages to go. I left ESB and entered ROTJ.

[This Galaxy is not big enough! That was a fracking awesome moment. ]
I might be still in Star Wars Hype Mode but all those scenes read like callbacks to my X-Wing vs Tie Fighter and Rebel Assault childhood.

[Crusader]

Mon Mothma
[What did you think about hangover with Mon Mothma. Was it too much?
After meeting the actress of her in September this scene was kind of awkward but she is like the sweetest old lady in the world so I am cool with this being canon]

[Crusader]

Started it a few days ago. Just finished it. Where/when is the next one with these characters?

The last scene in the book suggests that there is still a story to tell.

[I am glad that the book dodges a Team Nash vs Team Thane love triangle situation. I hoped for a more happy ending but the new canon suggests that there are no perfect happy endings in Star Wars anymore.
I think the book suggests that Thane will join the resistance and Nash the First Order but I have no idea where Ciena Ree will go now but I would love to find that out as well.
]

[Dasquian Belargic]

Mon Mothma
[What did you think about hangover with Mon Mothma. Was it too much?
After meeting the actress of her in September this scene was kind of awkward but she is like the sweetest old lady in the world so I am cool with this being canon]

I thought it felt... believable? It's the kind of shenanigans that I could see taking place in a Rebel base, I guess. And it showed a lot of humanity in a character that you might have otherwise seem as a faceless leader of the Resistance.

[Dasquian Belargic]

Started it a few days ago. Just finished it. Where/when is the next one with these characters?

The last scene in the book suggests that there is still a story to tell.

[I am glad that the book dodges a Team Nash vs Team Thane love triangle situation. I hoped for a more happy ending but the new canon suggests that there are no perfect happy endings in Star Wars anymore.
I think the book suggests that Thane will join the resistance and Nash the First Order but I have no idea where Ciena Ree will go now but I would love to find that out as well.
]

I'm hoping we get to see some continuation of what's started in this book. It was a satisfying, if bittersweet, story.

[Crusader]

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/New_Republic:_Bloodline
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0345511360/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1451710302&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=star+wars+new+republic+bloodline&dpPl=1&dpID=41fbDGfJYmL&ref=plSrch

Claudia Gray will release a new book in may but it is not listed as a YA book but the title New Republik: Bloodline and the fact that it is set 6 years before TFA might mean that this is a sequel to lost stars.

Maybe it is not listed as YA because Thane and Ciena will be 52 at the end of the book. So the book would cover 28 more years in their lives.

BTW has anyone of you considered that a [ downed Imperial Star Destroyer ] is not the only monument for their love that they left behind on Jakku? Both characters are skilled pilots (not force users but very close) and good mechanics and unlike Han, Luke and Leia they have been to Jakku before.

EDIT: Claudia Gray's new book will not be a sequel to Lost Stars

[Mu Satach]

Bummer. I really want to know the future of the characters.

[Charley]

I'm 150 pages in and so far this book is ten thousand percent better than the excreble "Aftermath". It might be one of my favorite Star Wars books I've read

[Charley]

Finished in two days. Absolutely fantastic book.

[Crusader]

What was your favorite episode in the book?

I really liked the whole academy phase and the dogfight where Thane and Ciena realize that the galaxy is not big enough for them.

[Zem Vymes]

Thane coming back home to sit vigil over Ciena's mother's trial is pretty close to the mark. I dunno, this book had so much nuance in setting up this amazing divide between two people who should never be apart. It was a really touching and painful read. I'm glad they never took the easy way out with that story.

[Crusader]

So Claudia Gray has her own fantasy casting for the book but I think we can do better than it comes to Ciena and Thane:


Claudia Grey mentioned some more actors and actress she envisioned the characters being portrayed by: Gugu Mbatha-Raw = Ciena Ree, Sam Reid = Thane Kyrell, Tom Mison = Nash Windrider, Lennie James = Paron Ree, Harry Shum, Jr. = Ved Foslo, Michelle Yeoh = The Contessa, and Parminder Nagra = Kendy Idele.

Thane: My choice in a perfect world where actors are like vampires and never get old is a young Seth Green or Jason Dohring (because I want to have him play all the bad boys with a violent father).

Ciena is tough... but I think Game of Thrones' Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei) looks like a perfect match to me.