Title: Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu
Author: L. Neil Smith
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| via Wookieepedia |
Interestingly, Lando is one character who's more fun in the novelizations than he is in the movies. As readers, we are privy to his internal dialogue laced with gambling metaphors. In Lando Calrissian and the Mindtrap of Sharu, first released in 1983, I was hoping for more of the same. I was also hoping for a bit of an origin story for the character.
The tale is set several years before Lando's appearance in The Empire Strikes Back. He has just recently won the Millenium Falcon in a game of sabacc (Star Wars invention, more on that in a bit). Through a rather contrived series of events, our friend is manipulated into going on a treasure hunt for the mindharp mentioned in the title.
The story didn't do much to broaden the Lando concept. It feels more like Smith already had an idea for the story and dropped the character into it to boost sales. There are Star Warsy elements like the Falcon and a droid sidekick plus a splash of Indiana Jones with the search for an ancient relic. The tale does have other things going for it: play with scale, teleportation and the hidden strengths of a seemingly primitive culture. It's just not much of a Lando story.
The one point of lasting curiosity for me is sabacc, a game invented for this novel which has had staying power within the Expanded Universe. The deck involves cards which occasionally change faces. Fans have compiled official rules over the years and there's now even a phone app you can download - naturally, I had to give it a go. Can't say I understand the game much at all but it's fun to explore. At one point, Lando does a tarot reading with the deck which is also fun.
Please join us and share your own review of your best read from the past month. This month's link list is below. I'll keep it open until the end of the day. I'll post November's tomorrow. Meetings are the last Friday of each month. Next gathering is November 25th.
As much as I love Star Wars (I stood in line to see all three original movies when they first came out) I've never read any of the Star Wars books. Sorry you didn't enjoy this one more.
ReplyDeleteThe novelizations of the original trilogy are worth reading. They add some breadth to the story. As for the others I've read so far... they're okay. Good fluffy fun.
DeleteI'm, at once, surprised and not-at-all surprised that there's a sabacc phone app. I also wonder about Lando, and his character development. This seems to take him at face-value, and drop him into an adventure. While that can be revelatory, it doesn't seem like that happened in this case. I doubt we'll get a better look in the movie. Maybe it's me, but I feel like the newer movies spend enough time on character compared to situation. Oh, well. I still enjoy the bread and circus...
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
V ;)
There truly is a phone app for everything.
DeleteSo sorry, can't join in this month.
ReplyDeleteHope you will again soon, Sally.
DeleteAt that time, I believed Lando was the most handsome man in the universe.
ReplyDeleteBilly Dee Williams definitely had that certain something.
DeleteThis looks like such a great book! I will have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'd call it a "great" book... but it was fun.
DeleteWhile I like all the main Star Wars characters but one, I liked or was lead to like the minor ones like Lando and of course Boba Fett. We had a running jokes with the kids when they were young with the famous Han and Boba in the Bar and the Sarlacc Pit with Lando.
ReplyDeleteWhen my oldest was in pre-school they made drawings that were turned into plates. Now remember this is pre school, all the plates came back with flowers and hearts mine came back with this descending circle in a dark brown with smaller tan lines coming out from the line. I looked at it and then it dawn on me as my son said it was the Sarlacc Pit. I smiled every time we used it and it was always propped up in back of the other dishes.
No gift was more loved.
cheers, parsnip
I love that Sarlacc Pit plate story.
DeleteThis is so interesting. Are used to be completely obsessed with Star Wars when I was little. I had all the action figures, posters, and even the bedsheets.
ReplyDeleteMe, too! Never had bed sheets, though. Pajamas? Yes.
DeleteI read the original Han Solo and Lando Calrissian books years ago, before all the new stuff started flooding the market (which has since been replaced by newer stuff flooding the market). I'd have to read them again to make a decent statement on them.
ReplyDeleteI would not say they're worth rereading.
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