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Title: Last Shot Author: Daniel José Older Series: n/a Just my overall thoughts. If you want to avoid spoilers for the book, there are minor ones here, so beware. I liked this book more than I thought I would, but it wasn’t perfect. My favorite aspect: two-year-old Ben Solo, of course, as well as Han’s awkward, uncomfortable approach to parenting, marriage, and overall commitment. He loves his family but he just doesn’t know what the hell to do with them. …
I sat up in shock when I read this passage. Don’t worry, I’ve edited it so it’s not a spoiler. They do a lot of shooting at a lot of things. Han sent a storm of laserfire right across its midsection, ripping it in half. “You know,” Taka said, “the thing about cutting people in half is it doesn’t always–“ With another burst from the cannons, the head and torso exploded into nothing. “–take,” Taka finished. “Okay, that oughta do …
…Came the power drill. “Babababa!” Ben yelled, running into the room with a power drill clutched in his tiny hands. “Ben Solo!” BX called, trying to muster up as much authority in his voice as his servile programming would allow. “Put that down this instant!” Ben stopped midcavort; turned, his eyes wide and watery. “Wait!” BX said. “Don’t…don’t–“ Ben opened his mouth and let out the loudest, most pitiful wail BX had ever heard. Then the boy plopped right there …
Ben’s little head appeared in the holo, and his eyes went wide. “Dada!” Han stepped back, and an unstoppable smile burst across his face. “Hey, kiddo! You all right?” Ben nodded then opened a toothy grin of his own. “Unca Wanwo!” “Hey, little starfighter,” Lando said. “All right,” Leia said. “I’ll let you guys go. Be safe out there.” She blew Han a kiss and waved at the other two. “Say bye, Ben.” “Come back, Dada,” Ben said, articulating each …
“Dada?” Ben’s little head appeared in the holo, blinking. Then a smile broke out on his face. “Dada!” “Hey, little buddy,” Han said. The boy reached out and then frowned. He was still figuring out this holo thing–had probably just watched his own little hand swat through his father’s glowing image. “Come, sleep some more, Ben,” Leia cooed, pulling him close before he could get too caught up in the phantom-dad problem. (© Last Shot by Daniel José Older, Del …
“I dunno, Lando. All this is a mystery to me. I never thought I’d be a husband, much less a father. None of it makes any sense. I try to spend time with the boy, he’s in tears. I go away, he’s mad I left. Kid’s barely got a personality yet and I’m already messing it up.” To my surprise, I’m really enjoying this book. The characters are fascinating and relatable and entertaining. Lando’s hilariously, obnoxiously oversexed. And I’m only …
The door flew open and [two-year-old] Ben Solo, buck naked, hurtled in with a scream. “Unca Wanwo!” “There’s my little buddy!” Lando said, scooping the boy up in his arms and turning him upside down to giggles and shrieks. “Oh dear,” LC muttered, whirring along in Ben’s wake. “Terribly sorry, sirs, I was giving him a bath and he could barely contain himself when he heard that General Calrissian was here.” The droid reached out and plucked Ben out of …
This is from a couple years ago, but I wanted to throw it out there in case you guys haven’t seen it yet. If I’m having a bad day, this is guaranteed to make me smile. I like the bloopers even more. I listen to Collider Jedi Council almost every week, and a few months ago they had Bobby Moynihan on and he talked about making the above skit, the action figure skit, the audition spoofs (these were cut), …
I can’t imagine anyone singing opera in Star Wars, but just like I heard Reflections from Mulan in my head every time I thought about Rey’s mirror scene, I hear Think of Me from the Phantom of the Opera when I imagine Rey and Ben waking up after splitting the sabre. A lot of the lyrics could apply, but the part that triggered this correlation in my mind is (1:44): Think of me, think of me waking silent and …
*speaking like a tour guide* And here we have Ben Solo’s expression immediately following Luke’s line: “The Rebellion is reborn today. The war is just beginning. And I will not be the last Jedi.” Note the worry in his brow–he’s doubting himself, doubting his efforts, doubting his victory. Panic swirls in his eyes; for years he was convinced that killing Luke was the ultimate solution to his problems. But now he realizes–Luke is no longer the biggest threat. Killing him …