30 years passed between the events in ‘Return of the Jedi’ and those in ‘The Force Awakens’. And as we know, quite a lot happened in that time, some of which was explored in the newest film. But clearly there is still a lot more to discover about the intervening years and a new novel by Claudia Gray will help fill in a few more gaps. ‘Star Wars: Bloodline’ arrives on May 3rd and features the further adventures of none other than Leia Organa, one-time Princess of Alderaan and future General of the Resistance, played by Carrie Fisher in the films.
We already know one major occurrence in her post-‘Jedi’ life, she and Han Solo had a son, Ben and spent many happy years raising him, until something went… wrong during Ben’s Jedi training and he turned to the Dark Side. Losing Ben, drove Leia and Han apart, with him retreating back to the stars while Leia continued on as a powerful politician in the new governing body of the Resistance.
However, don’t expect this novel to flesh any of that (possibly, since it may be dealt with in upcoming films). Gray says:
“This novel isn’t fundamentally about Leia as a wife, sister or mom; this is about the role she’s created for herself since the fall of the Empire, and the one she takes up by the time of (The Force Awakens).”
Gray also discussed the process of formulating the story for this ‘Bloodline’, adding:
“I find myself remembering the Episode I posters, where you see the boy Anakin with Vader’s shadow stretching out behind him. In this book, we find out just how far Vader’s shadow falls.”
As you can see in the stylized and ominous cover to the book, Vader’s silhouette looms over a pensive Leia. While Leia is Vader’s daughter, the original movies were really about Luke’s journey from farm boy to savior of the galaxy. Leia is essentially fully-formed in ‘A New Hope’.
Expect some familiar figures to appear, but Gray is also introducing some new characters, including Ransolm Casterfo, who Gray describes as “an ambitious young senator who’s Leia’s political opposite in virtually every way. He even collects artifacts from the Empire, like pro-Palpatine banners, pieces of armor, and so on.” Hmmmm… sounds familiar! Could Ransolm Casterfo play a role in the establishment of the First Order? Could he possibly even have a connection to Ben/Kylo Ren?
Here is the book’s introduction:
An entire generation has prospered during an era of peace. The New Republic, governed by the Galactic Senate on Hosnian Prime, has held power for more than two decades. Yet conflict has begun to take shape within the Senate. As political gridlock threatens to cripple the fledgling democracy, the quarrels of the New Republic will soon radiate throughout the galaxy. . .
‘Bloodline’ follows Chuck Wendig’s ‘Star Wars: Aftermath’ which came out last September and reached #4 on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
For a longer excerpt from the book, go to USA Today.
If you want to find out a little bit of what Leia was up to in the stretch between ‘Jedi’ and ‘Force’, ‘Star Wars: Bloodline’ will be available May 3rd.
Source: USA Today
