Mara Jade is a Star Wars Expanded Universe (EU) character introduced in the well-known Thrawn trilogy by Timothy Zahn in 1991. Originally trained by Palpatine, she was his exclusive resource- the Emperor's Hand- and she handled the Empire's missions requiring secrecy and subtlety (as you might expect, generally off-the-record work that required assassinations and the like). Years later, she would turn to the light side and marry Luke Skywalker (a man she was once sent to kill).
One of the original EU figures, Mara became very popular and a number of subsequent works featured her (either in a starring or supporting role). One such work is Mara Jade, by the Emperor's Hand. This work is set in the time during and immediately after Episode VI- Return of the Jedi. Fresh off a mission to kill the leader of an upcoming crime syndicate, the Black Nebula, Mara awaits her next assignment. Then, the Emperor is killed, throwing the Imperial remnant into chaos. As several high-ranking Admirals vie for power, the mysterious Mara was distrusted and viewed as a threat. She flees Coruscant, ends up in a backwater world, and discovers that the Black Nebula may be a stronger organization than she realized. Can she defeat them?
This book was decent. Star Wars stalwarts Timothy Zahn and Michael Stackpole co-authored it, and it is above average for the franchise. Still, I couldn't help wondering what point the book served. It gave Mara some back-story, yes, but it didn't feel an integral part of her character or necessary to the saga's continuity.
Rating: B-
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