What do you get when you take Daniel José Older, toss him into the Star Wars universe, and let him play with two of the most famous scoundrels in the galaxy? A goddamn delight. You get a goddamn delight. Okay, fine: it’s actually called Last Shot but that doesn’t mean it’s not also a delight. Set two years after the Battle of Jakku, Last Shot follows Han and Lando on a mission with an eclectic team as choices they made over a decade before rear their ugly heads to bite them in the rear. What could possibly go wrong?

While the idea of a novel told over three different time periods may leave some readers a little wary, Older quickly sets us as ease. Right from the start, Last Shot is engaging and difficult to put down. Han and Lando’s in-the-past story lines weave in and out of the current day tale, all building together until you can’t imagine reading about the main adventure without knowing about the journeys that Han and Sana and Lando and L3 went on before.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that Older is perhaps one of the inherently funniest writers that Star Wars has seen which makes him a perfect fit because it’s Han and Lando we’re talking about here. While neither Han nor Lando have never made the personal list of favorites, Older makes the insides of their heads fun and distinct in a way that feels fresh while also keeping them perfectly in character. This is a Han who’s exhausted and wants to be doing anything but this and if someone could also help him figure out this husband and father thing, that would be great. This is a Lando who’s trying to figure out how he actually feels about a woman and really wants this Phylanx Redux Transmitter problem to just go away so the people of Bespin can be safe.

One of the things like Older does better than perhaps any other Star Wars writer is pay loving attention to characters’ wardrobes. Perhaps this is an Expanded Universe costumer’s bias but it adds so much just to know what everyone’s wearing especially when it comes to Lando and his capes. It helps readers better visualize the scene and to know the characters better. Our clothing choices help define who we are as a person and how we want others to see us. And let’s be very clear about something: if Lando’s internal monologue while getting dressed does not become the Anakin’s Butt of the new canon, fandom will have failed us all. (If you don’t understand that reference, please go read the Revenge of the Sith novelization.)

And let’s not neglect the diversity in this book. Older makes it a point to have his cast reflect that the Star Wars galaxy is comprised of more than just straight white men, deliberately bringing in existing characters like Sana Starros for a major role and Conder Kyl for a cameo. Rounding out the main crew is Kaasha Bateen (a twi’lek), Taka Jamoreesa (a nonbinary hot shot pilot), Peekpa (an ewok hacker), and Florx (an Ugnaught) who all bring something unique to the table. It’s difficult to say who among those four is the standout but Taka and Peekpa are probably the main contenders. Oh. And just you wait until you meet the gungan. Just you wait.

One of the most crucial and fascinating parts of the book is also the most difficult to discuss without slipping into spoiler territory. However, it would be a disservice to not at least mention the fantastic questions that Last Shot asks about droids and what rights do they have or should they have. Are they sentient beings or a secondary class? What does freedom even really mean for a droid when programming is involved? These might not be questions that the narrative can solve or even truly answer (or maybe it can) but they’re all engaged with thoughtfully and will likely leave fans talking about them for weeks to come.

Last Shot does a heck of a lot in its 344 pages. It shows that a fun and engaging story can be told in the post-Jakku era. It excites readers for the forthcoming Solo especially now that we know more about L3-37. It makes you laugh and emphasize with people from all walks of life whether they be an exhausted dad, a fangirling ewok, or a droid who built herself. Daniel José Older is a fantastic addition to the Star Wars universe and Last Shot is definitely a book that you should read to deepen your appreciation of both Solo and Han and Lando.

Thank you to Del Rey for providing us a copy of the book for review purposes.