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Han Solo's YT-1300 Freighter is more than just a space ship, it's a full-blown character that the Star Wars Universe couldn't exist without. Over the original trilogy and through countless Expanded Universe stories, it has surpassed itself in travel and saving its owners time and time again. But what of the ship's personal history? Is there a story behind its many voyages?

It turns out, that answer is 'yes' and James Luceno manages to weave and intriguing tale about the vessel Han Solo loves like a family member. The story begins with the actual construction of the craft and a rather humorous mishap with its hyper drive. It follows a change of hands possession to a man named Jadak, who's working for what is soon to be the Rebel Alliance in the days at the end of the Clone Wars. Named the Stellar Envoy at this point, Luceno even manages to tie in the ship's quick shot cameo during Episode III.

Then we jump ahead to a time shortly after the Legacy of the Force novel series. Han Solo and Leia have taken custody of Allana, Jacen Solo's daughter and are raising her under the guise of being a war orphan named Amelia. The young girl gets it into her head to learn the Falcon's history, so the family, along with C-3P0 embarks on a quest to track down its origins.

However, the Solo clan instead manages to uncover an unfinished attempt to "Restore honor to the Republic" that began in the days just before Palpatine seized power. Luceno creates weaving storylines as Jadak tries to finish his 70-year-old mission by tracking the Falcon's chain of ownership after he lost it, while Han searches backwards in time from when he won it from Lando in that fateful sabacc game. Elements of Brian Daley's Adventures of Han Solo are interplayed and even references to L. Neil Smith's Lando Clarissian Adventures.

The story itself is a fun chase as the stakes never rise to the usual universe-threatening Star Wars Expanded Universe level. But there is some peril involved and it's fun to see how the Falcon has changed, who owned her and even who gave her that famous name. Plus it's very nice to see C-3P0 get treated with a little respect this time out.

The book is designed as fun downtime between the Legacy of the Force series and the next big nine book story arc, Fate of the Jedi. The ending, while a tad unsatisfying, seems designed to lead into some future storyline, but if you love the Millennium Falcon and wonder just how she wound up in Han's... umm... hands, and why it seemed like destiny, give it a read.

Science fiction enthusiast David Maddox has been many things, including Star Trek characters and the Riddler in a Batman stunt show. He holds a degree in Cinema from San Francisco State University, and has written several articles for various SF sites as well as the Star Wars Insider and the Star Trek Communicator. He spends his time working on screenplays and stories while acting on stage, screen and television. He can sometimes be seen giving tours at Universal Studios Hollywood and occasionally playing Norman Bates. Really.