Aftermath

[Brandon Rhea]

Aftermath is an upcoming novel from Del Rey, as part of their adult fiction line. It is set soon after Return of the Jedi and is part of the "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens" series to bridge the gap between the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy. Here is a plot summary we have for the novel, which is going to be released on September 4th.

The second Death Star is destroyed. The Emperor and his powerful enforcer, Darth Vader, are rumored to be dead. The Galactic Empire is in chaos. Across the galaxy, some systems celebrate, while in others Imperial factions tighten their grip. Optimism and fear reign side by side. And while the Rebel Alliance engages the fractured forces of the Empire, a lone Rebel scout uncovers a secret Imperial meeting...

Very vague, of course, and you can't put too much stock in marketing summaries, but there are a couple of things that I pull from that which I find interesting:

• The deaths of the Emperor and Vader are rumors. That plays into two interesting angles. One is that the Sith are still very much a whisper; the Emperor is rarely seen, and Vader is more like a shadow than a major public presence in the galaxy. Two is that the Empire, which may not even know what happened between the Emperor, Vader, and Luke on the Death Star, could be trying to cover up what happened. That's pretty plausible since the Emperor was rarely seen in public. They could try to go on claiming that the Emperor is still alive.
• Some systems are celebrating - Tatooine, Bespin, Naboo, and Coruscant, which we know from Return of the Jedi - but some are still being held under an iron grip. I've been hearing for awhile that J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan have sort of spun the ending of Return of the Jedi on its head, and that it's not as happy as it looks. That once the cameras stop rolling, bad things are still happening. This hints at that. I've had the idea for awhile, for example, that during the celebrations on Coruscant that we see at the end of Return of the Jedi, stormtroopers flood that plaza and start killing and arresting everyone. Dissent generaetd from the "rumored" death of the Emperor could be quickly silenced. I would enjoy that if it's true, because it's subversive.
• The Empire is fractured, but still around. That makes sense. The EU did this too, because the idea that the Empire fell at Endor is pretty nonsensical. The Emperor was just a figurehead anyway. Per Tarkin, he had transferred day to day management of the government to the Imperial Ruling Council, with Mas Amedda as his representative.
• Very curious to see what this secret Imperial meeting is. It's likely a hint at The Force Awakens somehow.

What do you think?

 

[Galavant]

Sounds really cool. I'm really interested in who the lone Rebel scout character is, it just sounds like a cool character. The whole thing about the Empire makes sense, it's not like the Empire went out and heavily publicized their trap for the Rebellion beforehand, so obviously anyone left in charge is going to try to spin it and turn into a "their word against ours" deal. From the sound of it, it goes sorta like the EU with the Empire starting the fracture, but is much more successful in reuniting than the old EU. My bet is the scout uncovers a secret meeting that shows that the 'factions' are working together or indeed were never really separate as part of a wider ruse to lull the Rebellion in a false sense of security, and get them to overextend themselves trying to build on their victory at Endor.

 

[Phil]

The Empire still suffered a heavy loss, and unless stated otherwise, it was still a victory for the Rebels. Also a big loss for The Sith if Sidious and Vader followed the Rule of Two and were the only true Sith by the time of their deaths.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

The Empire still suffered a heavy loss, and unless stated otherwise, it was still a victory for the Rebels. Also a big loss for The Sith if Sidious and Vader followed the Rule of Two and were the only true Sith by the time of their deaths.

Sure, it'd be a big win no matter what, since the Emperor and Vader died. But what happened after that win remains to be seen. It may not have been as happy of an ending as we thought it was, because everything could fall apart the minute the teddy bear picnic was over.

 

[Saul]

Sure, it'd be a big win no matter what, since the Emperor and Vader died. But what happened after that win remains to be seen. It may not have been as happy of an ending as we thought it was, because everything could fall apart the minute the teddy bear picnic was over.

I do like the fact that they're going to hopefully keep the Warlord theme from the post-Endor period. It's unlikely that a victory of 40 ships resulted in the total defeat of a Galaxy-spanning Empire. The meeting the spy encounters no doubt foreshadows Force Awakens, and probably introduces the new Big Bad as well as the new Dragon. Or, the Dragon from the new trilogy will be the Big Bad in the Novel, with some guy being the Novel's Dragon, sort of like Dooku and Ventress in Clone Wars.

 

[Phil]

Sure, it'd be a big win no matter what, since the Emperor and Vader died. But what happened after that win remains to be seen. It may not have been as happy of an ending as we thought it was, because everything could fall apart the minute the teddy bear picnic was over.

Agreed. When I got older and such, I realized the war between the Rebels and the Empire was far from over.

The movies just made it seem mostly as a victory for the Jedi/Light over the Sith/Dark rare thenthe war itself.

Thrawn comes to mind.

 

[Raider]

The deaths of the Emperor and Vader are rumors. That plays into two interesting angles. One is that the Sith are still very much a whisper; the Emperor is rarely seen, and Vader is more like a shadow than a major public presence in the galaxy. Two is that the Empire, which may not even know what happened between the Emperor, Vader, and Luke on the Death Star, could be trying to cover up what happened. That's pretty plausible since the Emperor was rarely seen in public. They could try to go on claiming that the Emperor is still alive.

In terms of covering up what happened on Endor. The X-Wing novels did this. Rogue Squadron sees a video of Imperial propaganda showing that the Death Star was a Rebel weapon that the Emperor and Vader died to destroy it to protect the Empire. I want to say they also mentioned rumors Vader was still alive and leading Imperial Fleets somewhere. I'm pretty sure what happened on the Death Star didn't become galactic knowledge until Papes return in Dark Empire (which were dumb)

Some systems are celebrating - Tatooine, Bespin, Naboo, and Coruscant, which we know from Return of the Jedi - but some are still being held under an iron grip. I've been hearing for awhile that J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan have sort of spun the ending of Return of the Jedi on its head, and that it's not as happy as it looks. That once the cameras stop rolling, bad things are still happening. This hints at that. I've had the idea for awhile, for example, that during the celebrations on Coruscant that we see at the end of Return of the Jedi, stormtroopers flood that plaza and start killing and arresting everyone. Dissent generated from the "rumored" death of the Emperor could be quickly silenced. I would enjoy that if it's true, because it's subversive.

A quick look at Wookieepedia shows that this is how it went in the Old EU. The uprisings we saw in RotJ were violently put down. I remember mention of Stormtroopers putting down the revolt on Coruscant in the X-Wing novels too.

The Empire is fractured, but still around. That makes sense. The EU did this too, because the idea that the Empire fell at Endor is pretty nonsensical. The Emperor was just a figurehead anyway. Per Tarkin, he had transferred day to day management of the government to the Imperial Ruling Council, with Mas Amedda as his representative

I wonder how much they'll pull from the old EU. This all vague, but similarities to the X-Wing novels are there. Coruscant didn't fall to the New Republic until 3 years after Endor. Some Imperials had declared themselves most the majority had remained loyal. I feel we'll see a lot of similarities but with twists and different characters.

Very curious to see what this secret Imperial meeting is. It's likely a hint at The Force Awakens somehow.

It's the Mofference! Dark Greetings!

 

[Brandon Rhea]

Indeed, though I don't pay any attention to that.

 

[Phil]

I don't think EU is going to be completely ignored in some areas. I'm pretty sure that they at least borrow some elements or ideas or characters from the EU. Like when Delta Squad(From the Republic Commando video game) and Darth Bane made small appearances in The Clone Wars. While it may not be canon, it'd be unwise to just ignore it, the good ones anyways.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

More info, including the cover:

http://www.starwars.com/news/what-happened-after-endor-find-out-in-star-wars-aftermath

 

[Srota]

That sounds awesome, looking forward to this one.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

StarWars.com has posted a plot summary for the upcoming novel:

As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance — now a fledgling New Republic — presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy’s scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy’s strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but is taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders.

Meanwhile, on the planet’s surface, former Rebel fighter Norra Wexley has returned to her native world — war weary, ready to reunite with her estranged son, and eager to build a new life in some distant place. But when Norra intercepts Wedge Antilles’s urgent distress call, she realizes her time as a freedom fighter is not yet over. What she doesn’t know is just how close the enemy is—or how decisive and dangerous her new mission will be.

Determined to preserve the Empire’s power, the surviving Imperial elite are converging on Akiva for a top-secret emergency summit — to consolidate their forces and rally for a counterstrike. But they haven’t reckoned on the Norra and her newfound allies — her technical genius son, a Zabrak bounty hunter, and a reprobate Imperial defector — who are prepared to do whatever they must to end the Empire’s oppressive reign once and for all.

Sounds interesting. I like that it's focusing on Wedge and a new, original character. It's also going to new planets not seen in the EU.

We also now have our second confirmation (after the Battlefront Jakku DLC press release) that, after the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance reforms into the New Republic -- but by the time of Episode VII, we know that there is a rebel organization called the Resistance. Does the New Republic fall? And if so, does it fall during the Battle of Jakku?

I'm intrigued to see where this post-Episode VI storyline goes.

 

[Aleksandr]

I was originally looking forward to it until I read the excerpt. The writing style seems a bit unprofessional, though the plot sounds interesting.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

I liked the writing style a lot. The way it's written creates a sense of urgency to the story, which the author did intentionally.

 

[Aleksandr]

I'd prefer that it be written normally, along the lines of the novel Tarkin.

 

[Brandon Rhea]

Well, taste is subjective, I'll give you that, but there's not really a "normal" to writing, IMO. It should be whatever works best for the story.

 

[Loco]

Is there a new actual excerpt from the book, or are we still talking about the above plot summary?

 

[Fat Possum]

Is there a new actual excerpt from the book, or are we still talking about the above plot summary?

Well...

 

[Loco]

Well...

Life's better when you have unassuming minions.

 

[Nor'baal]

Secret meeting wise, I would like to think that it is a meeting of the top Imperial Officials (Moffs, Admirals, Supreme Leaders called Snoke) decided on how to proceed, how to keep the empire alive etc.

As for this:

• Some systems are celebrating - Tatooine, Bespin, Naboo, and Coruscant, which we know from Return of the Jedi - but some are still being held under an iron grip. I've been hearing for awhile that J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan have sort of spun the ending of Return of the Jedi on its head, and that it's not as happy as it looks. That once the cameras stop rolling, bad things are still happening. This hints at that. I've had the idea for awhile, for example, that during the celebrations on Coruscant that we see at the end of Return of the Jedi, stormtroopers flood that plaza and start killing and arresting everyone. Dissent generaetd from the "rumored" death of the Emperor could be quickly silenced. I would enjoy that if it's true, because it's subversive.

I would love to see the scene on Coruscant, with the celebrations expanded by a few seconds.

For example:

The Celebration Scene, camera pans out, showing Stormtroopers opening fire on the Crowd, then the same on Tatooine, Bespin etc.
Gruesome, but something I could see an Empire attempting to 'hush up' the death of their leader, doing.