Heir to the Jedi Part 2 of 4

[colls]

Welcome to our second of four check-in and discussion posts for our Book of the Month.

This month’s book is Heir to the Jedi by Kevin Hearne
Part 2: Chapters 7-12

Heir to the Jedi Part 2

1. What do you think of the developing relationship (friendship, just allies, or whatever) between Luke and Nakari?

2. The Rodian clan feels like it could be a contact that crumbles at any given moment. Do you think the book will get into the various clan power struggles (and Imperial impact on them) more in this book?

3. What do you make of the plan they hatched and executed to nab the cryptographer, Drusil?

4. Any predictions?



FYI - There's no need to answer all (or any) of the questions above - they're just talking points to get us started. Informal chatter is more than welcome! In-person book clubs often veer off topic, it's okay if we do as well. :)
All I ask is that you try to avoid spoilers for things past Part II of the book.

Comments

[colls]

1. I'm wondering if Luke is at that stage in his life where he just trusts relatively easily. I do like that he's developing a friendship outside the main trio.

2. It just seems so flimsy - all this "need to know" felt like either it's a plot device to show Luke feeling uncertain or it's an actual plot that will come up later in the book. I'm not articulating it well, but it has me curious.

3. I loved this bit, it felt like a heist. And I do dearly love me a heist. :D :D <3333


Randomly, the comment about not tell C-3PO that R2 and Luke has a bit of a respite in some posh accommodations was rather fun. I'd like more R2 in the next sections, if possible.

[astromech1138]

Yes more R2! I hated that he kept being left behind at the hotel

[colls]

After reading Martha Wells Murderbot series, I'm convinced that R2 was binge-watching TV dramas and smack talking about it on some BB board while he was left behind.

[astromech1138]

LOL I accept this as canon! :D

[astromech1138]

1. What do you think of the developing relationship (friendship, just allies, or whatever) between Luke and Nakari?

These scenes are pretty awkward to me, honestly. I like Nakari's character but I don't think dialogue is Hearne's greatest strength. I'm glad the crush aspect has been dialed back, though.

ETA I did think it was interesting when she shot the bodyguards again to make sure they were dead, and Luke was very uncomfortable about it. A sign of his naivete? Foreshadowing a larger conflict between the two of them?

2. The Rodian clan feels like it could be a contact that crumbles at any given moment. Do you think the book will get into the various clan power struggles (and Imperial impact on them) more in this book?

I hope so, that would be interesting! It's interesting to see this side of the Rebellion and get into the mechanics of making it work.

3. What do you make of the plan they hatched and executed to nab the cryptographer, Drusil?

Totally ridiculous, totally fun! That was a very enjoyable read.

4. Any predictions?

Han and Chewie are absolutely going to make an appearance! I have the feeling they'll come out of nowhere to save Luke's skin again.

[colls]

Foreshadowing a larger conflict between the two of them?
Possibly. I noticed that as well, and earlier when Akbar mentioned "taking someone out" - she seemed more comfortable with the idea.


I have the feeling they'll come out of nowhere to save Luke's skin again.
It would make sense to have that happen as a nod to the movie. :)

[brokenmnemonic]

I'm running late this week - sorry about that, I went back to work lastweek on a phased return, and it turns out work consumes lots of time :P

1. I like that it feels as if Luke and Nakari could be friends, although his reaction to her making sure the ISB troopers were actually dead again makes me think that Luke's not really cut out at this point for being a resistance operative. While Luke's had to face Darth Vader killing Ben, and the Death Star destroying entire planets, he's clearly not thought that much about how every TIE fighter he blows up is another person dead in the blast (or dead from exposure to space). Maybe Hearne is trying to retain a sense of naivete around Luke? With that in mind, he and Nakari feel less like a potential couple to me, and more like two young people with hormones in a small space and a lot of adrenaline sloshing around. Although Luke also feels a bit like someone who's spent more time around droids than people.

2. I like the idea of the Rhodian clan as an example of how the Rebellion had to not just deal with grey organisations, but also deal with the very real risk of being betrayed by the people they're dealing with. All of the "need to know" business felt a bit over-the-top, though - as in, more cartoonish hijinks than how an actual smuggling operation would work, where there'd be a lot of individual contacts isolated from other people to make it as difficult as possible to work out where the aid was coming from when the Imperials start stomping on people.

3. This was probably my favourite part of the book so far, less the fact that R2 spent a lot of time having to wander around the hotel on his own. Observing the slicer, spotting the ISB operatives and discussing various ways to try and grab them was all great fun, although the maths might all have been in Oggham for me, given how long ago my GCSEs were!

4. There has to be a betrayal or a heel turn at some point, but I'm not sure where, or by whom. I think my money is possibly on a pro-Imperial Rhodian clan selling out Luke, but also maybe the slicer betraying them after decoding an intercepted transmission saying that the Alliance didn't manage to free their family, or that the Imperials have recaptured them.

[astromech1138]

Yes to all of this, but especially

With that in mind, he and Nakari feel less like a potential couple to me, and more like two young people with hormones in a small space and a lot of adrenaline sloshing around.

LOL yup! The book is strangely starting to feel a little claustrophobic because I'm not quite buying into the romance.