Recovery

Star Wars: The New Jedi Order #6.5

by Troy Denning

BONUS: This short story also features an excerpt from Star Wars: New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory I: Conquest.

As the forces of darkness threaten to engulf the galaxy, one last defiant spark remains.... Though the Yuuzhan Vong were victorious in their savage conquest of the planet Duro, they failed to extract sensitive information from Leia Organa Solo, who now barely clings to life after enduring the enemies' torture. Unless she receives medical attention soon, the badly wounded Princess and former head of the New Republic will surely die. Pursued by bounty hunters, Han Solo begins a race against time, only to find his urgent pleas for help rejected by planet after planet, as the Jedi are blamed for the continuing fight against the seemingly invincible aliens. Desperate, the Solos decide on a suicide mission. They must reach Coruscant, the New Republic's strife-ridden capital where traitors, appeasers, and assassins now share the same goal as the fierce Yuuzhan Vong: kill all Jedi...

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Short Stories, Ebooks, Novels

108 pages, ebook

First published December 3, 2001

About the author

Also known as Richard Awlinson.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Den...

Reviews

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Nice to see when the Solo children when younger.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

Recovery is a novella in the New Jedi Order series that goes back and explains what Han and Leia are up to while Anakin is gallivanting across Yavin 4. I'm not a fan of shorter stories, and while it's well written, Recovery failed to capture me. It was a little bland and confusing at points.

Unfortunately, the handful of Jedi that were introduced didn't feel... Jedi enough. They were amusing sometimes, but I wasn't rooting for them or anything. Actually, the book didn't feel Star Wars enough. It just seemed like a standard sci-fi. Meh.

However, it's not all bad. Its strength lies in the relationship between Han and Leia. After some (very) rocky moments earlier in the series, they're just now relearning how to relate to each other. It's some good, satisfying reading.

Also, it gives some context for Rebirth (which I just finished earlier) that might've been nice to have (though not necessary).

This one feels like a side note to the series (that's basically what it is), and is probably worth skipping, unless you're interested in the Han/Leia dynamic.

[Adam Kiewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ironically, this story and boba fett, a practical man have been two of the best additions to the new jedi order series. The series as a whole may have been better if the books were more like this, straight to the point. It was also fantastic to see the main characters doing things they actually had business doing, instead of focusing on them all coming together during charity work instead of fighting
Troy Dennings writing style helped things as well, and I'm excited to get to star by star
I also loved seeing the first mention of a fantastic character from stories in the future
The only nitpick I will harp on, is Denning seemed to beat a dead horse, continuing the han and leia arc that was already completed in balance point

[Jenny T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Star Wars short story featuring Princess Leia and Han Solo during the middle of the New Jedi Order series. Fills in a few gaps of what took place between the major books, "Balance Point" (#6) and "Edge of Victory" (#7). I enjoyed when the characters got to met the Jedi Barabels for the first time and of course the space maneuvers.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice edition to the Star Wars universe.Han and Leia are the major players in this one.Deals a lot with Leia physical recovery after encountering a Yuzhan Vong warleader.Filled with a ton of sarcastic banter between the Solos.I really enjoyed it.

[Donald Lovett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Wars all the way

This Book just keeps you going and coming back. Kind of like actually being there. A good night time read.

[Meggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For 2021, I decided to reread Del Rey’s first attempt at a multi-author book series in the Star Wars universe: The New Jedi Order, which was published between 1999 and 2003. This shakes out to 19 novels, two eBook novellas, three short stories, and a tangentially-related prequel era novel.

This week’s focus: the first eBook release in the New Jedi Order, “Recovery” by Troy Denning.

SOME HISTORY:

In conjunction with Microsoft, Amazon started selling eBooks on their website in the year 2000. Del Rey accordingly jumped into the eBook market with “Darth Maul: Saboteur” by James Luceno in February 2001, and “Recovery” by Troy Denning in December 2001. StarWars.com announced that Recovery would be available in the four major e-book platforms: Microsoft Reader, Gemstar, peanut press and Adobe/Glassbook. But for those less technologically savvy, “Recovery” was also included as an 80-page prologue in the mass market paperback version of Star by Star.

MY RECOLLECTION OF THE NOVELLA:

I don't think I ever read “Recovery” before! I initially read Star by Star in hardcover, and I wasn’t an eBook consumer until 2007. Since The Essential Reader's Companion from 2012 dates the novella to after Balance Point but before Edge of Victory: Conquest, I thought I’d read it in-between the two.

A BRIEF SUMMARY:

Though the Yuuzhan Vong were victorious in their conquest of Duro, they failed to kill Leia Organa Solo. But unless she receives medical attention soon, the badly wounded Princess will die. Pursued by bounty hunters, her husband Han begins a race against time...

Disclaimer:

First, I wouldn't recommend reading Recovery before Edge of Victory: Conquest, because it contains spoilers for the beginning of that novel. It instead runs somewhat concurrently with Keyes’s novel, and serves to explain why Han and Leia are absent from the story.

The Good:

--Han and Leia's relationship. I felt like they still had unfinished business after Balance Point. They actually reconciled here, and worked through a lot of the grief and frustration that had plagued their relationship after Chewbacca's death. They both accept responsibility, and it looks like they'll be able to move forward. There was also a slow return to their usual banter, which I had missed.

--We meet more Jedi, both new (Izal Waz and the Barabels) and quasi-new (Eelysa). Maybe too many new characters for a short story--especially when they're powerful, trained Jedi that none of our main characters have ever encountered? Tesar and his sisters will return in Star by Star, though, so it was nice to catch their first appearance.

The Meh:

--Recovery is short--only eight chapters--but a lot happens here. I felt like the lovely conversations between Han and Leia were far outnumbered by action scenes: the assassination attempt on Corellia, Han and Leia's escape, the trap on the way to Commenor, then Han and Leia's arrival on Coruscant. I also found the action scenes hard to follow, and I have to admit that parts of the opening firefight and the trap were difficult for me to picture.

--While the reader knows that Viqi Shesh is traitorous trash, I felt like the conclusion of Han and Leia's investigation was a little rushed, but that may have been a consequence of the shortened length.

--Eelysa's relationship to the established timeline is a little wonky, to say the least. She first appeared in Kristine Kathryn Rusch's The New Rebellion, where we learned that she was born shortly after the Battle of Endor. So by the time of Recovery (26 years after the Battle of Yavin), she should be no older than 22--but Leia describes her as a woman in her thirties, and she's been on multiple long-term intelligence missions and trained multiple Jedi?

My Verdict:

I’m not sure Recovery is an essential NJO read, but it was a nice detour. Han and Leia are ready to move forward with their marriage, Leia's safe and on the path to a healthy recovery, we meet some new Jedi who will play a greater role in the next hardcover release, and the book ends with a reference to the Great River--Luke Skywalker's underground fugitive network aimed to protect the Jedi.


Next up: the first book in the Edge of Victory duology, Edge of Victory: Conquest by Greg Keyes.

My YouTube review: https://youtu.be/4DsTE4cxCec

“Recovery Covered” on StarWars.com: https://web.archive.org/web/200502042...

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars: 3
Re-read: Yes
Recommend to: This is a worthy addition to the NJO, primarily because of its brevity. The plot fills in some gaps between the full length novels that aren't fully explained, and it introduces some characters that I believe will take a larger role in the series soon.

The biggest problem in this story is easily the ongoing drama that has surrounded Han and Leia from books 2-6.5. I really have hated this character progression for both Han and Leia. Their actions seem completely out of character, particularly for Han. It could've been justified if it began and ended in book 2, but we've seen Han abandon his family to near-death repeatedly because he is sad that Chewie died for five books now. I thought we were finally moving past this at the conclusion of Balance Point when Han and Leia essentially make up over the course of two paragraphs, but this novella has them regressing.

The plot is moderately interesting. Han and Leia avoid the Peace Brigade while Leia is healing her legs, they meet up with some new Jedi, and they accuse Shesh of being a traitor. I guess my main problem with the plot is that the foundation is pretty weak. Is there really nowhere in the galaxy they can go that is safer? They reach a point that Leia will die in something like 20 hours if she doesn't get to a bacta tank. She isn't able to get treatment on her legs, so her ability to walk in the future is in jeopardy. I just don't accept that this is remotely necessary. You're telling me Luke Skywalker couldn't set up something on some planet in the middle of nowhere, deliver some bacta, and let Leia recover in peace with virtually no chance of discovery? It seems like even the government would be willing to part with a personal bacta unit for someone of Leia's prominence. But no. They decide to have her recover in a public hospital on Corellia. Seriously. Corellia. Is there a place in the galaxy where Han Solo would be more recognizable than Corellia? So I was rolling my eyes a bit, but it wasn't a deal breaker.

I read Conquest before this one, and that's probably a good thing. I believe there were a few paragraphs in this book that recount what happens in the beginning of Conquest in spite of the fact that Conquest is book 7 and this is book 6.5. I don't recall it being a humongous spoiler, but it was a spoiler.

This story does fill in the gaps of what Han and Leia are doing in the next book. I don't know why, but Conquest was cagey about telling us what they were up to. Maybe the authors were writing all this at the same time and things weren't ironed out yet. But Conquest would mention Han and Leia and say something about how they are off somewhere in the galaxy doing something for Luke. This story actually tells us what that is.

There was one line in particular that was really bad. Han and Leia are discussing what to do about Viqi Shesh. Han makes some kind of comment about assassination, and Leia is blown away by his brilliance. She loves this idea, but only so far as political assassination. You see Leia, probably the second most experienced and accomplished politician after Mon Mothma, hadn't considered politically smearing her opponent.

The books competently written for the most part, although there were some parts of the two climactic scenes I struggled to follow. The book is neither great nor terrible, but it's worth it for 108 pages.

[Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

A smuggler and a diplomat...

Troy Denning is one of the most distinguished Star Wars Expanded Universe writers, being the author of Star by Star, the New Jedi Order's turning point, on top of later becoming the main creative mind behind the post-NJO novels. Though he had already contributed to the EU via West End Games adventures in the late 80s/early 90s, the novella Recovery would be his first "main" piece of Star Wars fiction to be published alongside Star by Star in late 2001. Commissioned as a fill in the gaps between Balance Point and Edge of Victory: Conquest, this first NJO e-book gives a bite-sized look into the Yuuzhan Vong War's quiet moments which, though certainly appreciated, is of admittedly questionable importance.

With the question of importance comes the question of when to read Recovery. The common wisdom, it appears, is to read it between the two novels it's supposed to tie in with. Though a logical approach at first glance, I cannot honestly recommend it, as Recovery takes place after Conquest's prologue and references its events. What I did, then, was to read Recovery after Conquest's prologue but before its first chapter onward. Is this the ideal way of going about things? Well, I'll keep my answer for that, as well as Recovery's importance for NJO series for after I've gone through Star by Star and thereby the material Recovery was surrounded by upon release. [expect an edit here]

Recovery is a very short entry in the New Jedi Order series - it encompasses roughly one fourth of an average NJO paperback. This makes for a quick and easy read but also prevents it from delving into particularly exciting stuff. After all, a lot of the content here is what you would expect to happen following Balance Point: Leia's situation gets dealt with, as does Han's; the jedi plot gets addressed; Viqi Shesh's subplot reaches its next step. Really, of everything you would expect it's only the Solo kids' continuing character journey, as well as the Yuuzhan Vong who do not get to feature in the spotlight here - which I'm fine with, as we do not need them to take part in this more intimate Han/Leia plot. The only wholly new element Recovery introduces is a slew of jedi characters, of which I've been told the barabels especially will play a bigger role in Denning's NJO novel. What I found interesting about them is their distinctly alien approach to culture; otherwise, though, they're not particularly memorable yet. Don't get me wrong: predictable as it might be, I did enjoy my time with Recovery. If you're interested in Han and Leia's relationship, this is a must-read no matter how you slice it. Still, I would have liked for it to have had a bit more meat to it. There's only so much you can do with a novella made expressly to tie up loose ends between two larger and ultimately more important novels, but Recovery could have gone in a more distinguished direction with its b-plot, at least. After all, if there's one thing Troy Denning's Star Wars work is not known for, it's conforming to expectations. Still, a decent time and easily recommended to NJO fanatics, at the very least.

[Kasc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a diverting intermezzo within the New Jedi Order series bridging the gap between its 6th and 7th installment. Balance Point ended with a devastating defeat for the New Republic at Duro leaving Leia heavily wounded and the Jedi’s reputation in jeopardy. Meanwhile, The Yuuzhan Vong have offered a deal of peace in exchange for the Jedi and apparently the political elite on Coruscant are seriously considering it.

Recovery mainly focuses on Leia and Han, explaining what they have been up to following the events at Duro and therefore compensating for the fact that they are absent in Edge of Victory: Conquest. Besides Leia’s physical recovery process, the ailing Solo marriage is dealt with. Finally, the issues that have arisen following Chewbacca’s death are addressed, after having been brushed aside quite crudely in Balance Point. I think the whole conflict is handled quite well as we are given an insight into both points of view. It is heart-wrenching to read of the feelings of isolation, abandonment, and frustration, which they share but are unable to express for a long time. Thankfully, eventually the two of them are able to word their emotions and reconcile.

However, Leia’s wounds and Han and Leia’s marital troubles are not the only things they have to deal with. Due to the Jedi’s current role as scapegoats, they are forced to keep a low profile, which is ironic since so far everyone has gladly chosen to ignore the fact that Leia, too, is force-sensitive. On top of that, Leia is the target of a murder plot, which might or might not be related to her being a Jedi.

In just around 100 pages Denning packs a lot: major political conflict, a dangerous escape across the galaxy, the emotional and physical recovery of two central characters, and he even throws in the occasional action scene with some space combat. Perhaps there even is too much going on for such a short story making it feel a bit overwhelming and the final resolution seem rushed and too easy. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this story.

[Alexis P · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who loves reading and writing, I sure took my time with this one! But in the end, Recovery turned out to be a short yet compelling story about Han and Leia.

Not much was known about their relationship after Han’s grieving, but now we finally get a story that explores how they processed Chewbacca’s death and how distant they had become. Han, lost in his own pain, went on a quest to help an old friend and rediscover himself, while Leia stayed behind, fighting in the war against the Yuuzhan Vong—only to be captured and tortured. In the aftermath, we see Leia emotionally and physically broken, and Han struggling to keep himself together as everything spirals out of control.

The story delivers plenty of action, intense space battles, and some cool Force moments, but at its heart, it’s an emotional journey. It beautifully portrays the former scoundrel and the princess of Alderaan, showing that, no matter how much hell they go through, their love remains unwavering.

While Recovery isn’t essential to the larger Yuuzhan Vong conflict, it offers a gripping behind-the-scenes look at two of the saga’s most beloved characters.

[Elwin Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Really liked it." - 4 out of 5 star rating.

Considering the fact that this is only a ~100 page e-book/novella, it was really good.

The biggest pull here is the Han and Leia romance arc, where their flame gets a much needed rekindling.

The Vong war has been absolutely terrible, especially for Han. As such, the flame between him and Leia had previously diminished. Here, they are a team again and really come together at the end of Recovery and we as readers really get the feeling that classic Hand Leia are back.

Another really interesting contribution that gets thrown on the table here in Recovery is all the Vong sympathizers, aka human-race/Jedi traitors, who take the cowards way out and actually become pro-Vong and start betraying their own kind and also the greatest threat to the Vong, the Jedi. Do they really think they are going to have a favorable outcome in the end for what they are doing? As we all know, contracts with Devils... never work out in the end.

Really looking forward to pushing on to #7 on the New Jedi Order (NJO) book series! Let's go!

[Jamieson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So back in the early 2000s, Star Wars started experimenting with eBooks. The New Jedi Order had two of these. The first, Recovery , is set right after Balance Point and focuses on Han and Leia as Leia recovers from her injuries at the hands of Warmaster Tsavong Lah. The story's rather enjoyable with plenty of action and intrigue. Within its 82 pages, Han and Leia start to repair their marriage, we're introduced to the Barabel Jedi (primarily the Sebatynes: Saba and her son Tesar), Senator Viqi Shesh gets brought down a peg, and the Jedi set up the Great River (which is designed to protect the younglings especially after the Yuuzhan Vong ultimatum on Jedi at the end of Balance Point). It was a fun read that I finished in one sitting. For those who don't like eBooks and prefer physical paper like me, this can be found in as a prologue to the paperback edition of Star by Star.

[CJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novella serves as a prologue to the infamous 'Star by Star'. While I recall enjoying 'Tatooine Ghost', I didn't love 'Recovery'. Maybe the narrative just didn't have the runway to get anyway, but it shouldn't need to.

I liked the idea of a Cloud Car chase on Coruscant, but to be honest, I couldn't follow any of it. I was completely lost. The Barabel Jedi mystery was entertaining for a few pages, and it seems Troy Denning has a lot of aviation knowledge. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a pilot certificate or two. I did like that this was a focused story of reconciliation between Han and Leia, much needed. Chewbacca's death cast a long shadow over this series, and the characters are not out from under it yet.

I go into Star by Star with the same fear and excitement I'd take onto a daunting roller coaster. Let's hope it doesn't make me sick.

[Darryl Dobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable little sidebar to the main action of the Yuuzhan Vong war. It follows Han and Leia, and some new Jedi friends (which was fun to discover, by the way) as they are on the run from bounty hungers. Leia is trying to recover from leg injuries that could kill her. Through all this, the couple draw close again and their marriage is as strong as ever.
They eventually make it to Coruscant and expose a traitor. This is in conjunction with what is going on in the main storyline, and the 'expose traitor' part hasn't happened yet. But when it does, we now know the background for that.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

An awkward little whisper of a story, there's nothing criminal about it only that it wraps up a little too quickly for all its beginnings. It sets up events and ties together elements but forgets that its actually its own outing. I can't help but feel that several of the events in this novella would've serviced the entire NJO arc better had they been broken up and sprinkled into other existing stories near when this adventure takes place. Nevertheless it was good to see Han and Leia reconcile

[Geoffrey Logie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting bridge novella between Balance Point and Conquest/Rebirth. Some important points for the story (NJO) going forward... Viqi Shesh a corrupt politican collaborating with the Yuuzhan Vong is finally being discovered (I hope she goes down) and explores why Han and Leia are building Luke's River of safety for the Jedi. Overall interesting read espesically with Tesar and Izal Waz and the rest of the Barabels and the Wild Knights.

Edit: Spoilers

[Bridger Hibbert · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, as it turns out, my copy of "Star By Star" had this as the prologue in the beginning rather than a separate book. So, technically, I finished this.

(TO BE CONTINUED...)

MY NOTES:
PROLOGUE: Recovery
- Stars, "Revenge of the Sith" (pg 1)
- Dex
- The woman in tank 3...
- Waz
- Droma mentioned (pg 29)
- Dark Jedi? (pg 37)
- Suicidal Escape Pods?
- Leia wants to go after Sesh ("Assassination? Han, you're a genius!") WHUT.
- The trial: over before it began (pg 80)
- Leia kisses doctor??

[CB Stormblessed · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This was a super fun novella that dealt with key character moments we really needed to see written into NJO. I would consider it essential reading sometime after book 6. The action sequences and concepts were fun if a little goofy (but I think that's just star wars) and the character work was nicely done. It wasn't anything mindblowing but I really loved the style so I am glad Denning is a main author for the post NJO storyline.

[Stephanie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little connection between Balance Point and Edge of Victory I: Conquest. Unfortunately I have it published in the beginning of Star By Star, so didn't read it until afterwards and was consequently a bit confused at the beginning of Conquest. It also introduces several characters who will become important in Star By Star.

[Allyssa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

NJO Recovery

A lot of people needed bacta tanks! Try to take care of yourself, people! Troy Denning, who also wrote Tatooine Ghost, is a good author. Jedi Barbells are awesome 😀! I think the Solo kids are in this one.

[Max Zappe · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a bit odd that this interlude between the 6th and 7th books was included in the front end of the 9th book, but whatever. It was a perfectly enjoyable 82 pages that left me without any overwhelming good or bad opinions. I think it had too many characters for the short duration, but I believe several of them will be players in the future. On to the meat and potatoes of Star by Star.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short story great Han + Leia

Surprisingly I actually enjoyed this short story more than I enjoyed Balance Point(The novel preceding it). I liked how they thwarted Viqi Shesh, and the new Jedi were interesting.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was goodish, nothing special. even as a filler between novels it felt oddly disconnected from a lot of the rest of the goings on and then in the end felt like it overly inserted itself back into the story. it was... ok.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an e- book but you can also read it at the beginning of the paperback version of Star by Star. (At least in the 2001 printing) It is out of sequence as it belongs before edge of victory II Rebirth.

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Didn't really need to read this to continue the New Jedi Order series. The Han and Leia relationship stuff should have been in a proper NJO novel and not this novella as it has been an important plot point so far.

[Niki · Rating 1 out of 5]

borrring

[Vic1245 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a relaxing and pleasurable read. I really got a lot out of it.

[Zan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review/Thoughts on Twitter

https://twitter.com/serswjm/status/12...

(Spoilers)

[Gary Varga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a Star Wars story can be great and just 80 pages.

No only did this have all the best aspects of a Star Wars story but provided many missing links.