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Nichole LouiseTop Contributor: Star Wars
5.0 out of 5 stars The story Phasma deserves
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2017
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As we well know, Captain Phasma was grossly underused in The Force Awakens. We were teased with marketing hype for this amazing-looking character, and what we got was a glorified extra who was implausibly bested by a rookie trooper with a blaster.

Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson rights what TFA got wrong, or rather, what it didn’t have to begin with.

Dawson paints an amazingly complex, competent, and commanding character in Phasma. From her post-apocalyptic homeworld a la Mad Max, Parnassos, Phasma jointly rules a war-like clan with her brother. But, when a First Order ship containing General Brendol Hux (the father of the General Armitage Hux), the world and way of life of Phasma’s clan is turned upside down. The novel follows the odyssey of Phasma and her small group of loyal warriors (not including her brother) as they escort General Hux and his surviving troopers back to his ship to call the First Order to rescue them. The group endures brutal physical hardships along the way, and the hellish journey seems to shape Phasma into the sharpest tool she was always destined to become. Phasma is a cold and calculated warrior with little time for personal friendships and relationships. She is Machiavellian to her core, even if it means betraying her own people and family. Above all else, Phasma is a survivor. She is highly skilled, and amazingly adaptive and intelligent. While mental and physical hardships would beat a soft (or “normal”) person down, Phasma is honed into a sharper weapon because of them. She conquers her obstacles and is continually made stronger by them. It is because of all these qualities that General Hux recognizes Phasma would be more than beneficial and fitting for the First Order. And coming from a dying planet with little resources and a low survival rate, Phasma and her warriors are willing to risk nearly everything to have a better life, and possibly, bring what technology and civilization the First Order has to offer back to their clan on Parnassos. The reader knows this aspiration is naive and idealistic, but one of General Brendol Hux’s main tasks is to find strong warriors on back water planets to train into weapons of the First Order–and he’ll say anything to hook those people in to serve the First Order. And, as the survivor she is, Phasma rises above the rest to become the literal poster child of the First Order.

With all of Phasma’s abilities, it begs the questions, then, how Finn was able to best her in TFA. The Phasma Dawson writes is not one to give up or shy away from a challenge, even with a blaster pointed at her head. My only guess would be that perhaps she let him best her. And if my hunch is correct, then Phasma’s arc may be more complex in the films to come (I hope,) i.e. she defects from the First Order at the first signs that it’s going to be the losing side.

I think the very writing and releasing of this book was Disney’s way of saying, okay we know we really short-changed you on Phasma when we marketed her so much. I appreciate we got this rich backstory, but I also very much hope that her role has been greatly expanded in The Last Jedi.

I also want to note that the prevailing reason I read Star Wars novels is to keep up to date on the universe canon. So to that point, I don’t exactly read SW books expecting literary masterpieces. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the tale Dawson wove. Phasma is definitely an “on the edge of your seat” read, and you want to go through quickly to find out what happens next (it’s a framed story,) mostly because Phasma is such a compelling and enigmatic character. Phasma is one of the best Star Wars novels I’ve read in a long time, and a great fleshing out of the captivating Captain Phasma.
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Star Wars meets Mad Max
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2017
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I liked the post-apocalyptic/Mad Max world of Parnassos (the planet Phasma was born on). The problems came that it felt like the story dragged on. In fact since the story is a framed narrative the listener mentions the story is taking a long time, and the storyteller has motive to drag it out. It is encouraging that maybe we'll get to see Phasma in action in TLJ, because when that character was in battle everything became more exciting and more intense. On the other hand, I never really cared about any of the characters because the narrative feels disconnected as its told second hand. I might have liked it more if I'd gotten inside Phasma's head, or Brendol Hux's head and gotten to learn how they saw things. Instead we got how other characters saw their actions and choices (spoiler alert: they're bad). There is a certain degree of Sith attributes to Phasma and her relationship with Brendol and Armitage Hux that I found entertaining. I don't mean they have force powers, just that the way they were expected to one up each other reminded me of the master and apprentice teachings of the dark side order. This book had a lot of potential to give us a different kind of Star Wars novel, and it does with a unique planet and narrative, but I'd have liked to have gotten into the mind of the villains of the Star Wars world.
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Todd
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, enlightening Star Wars book
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2017
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I enjoyed this book, and I'd recommend it to any Star Wars fan. That being said, it's not perfect. Overall, the story framework (much of the story is a type of flashback) was a bit of a stretch, although the end result was satisfying.

I have heard people talk about this book as a kind of Road Warrior story, and I'd agree with that. It did get a little repetitive, although repetitive might not be the right word. Maybe "bogged down" is better. I wished the story had Phasma in a few more varied situations that were not involved in the flashback storytelling.

It was interesting that this book got to reveal the destiny of Brendol Hux, father of Armitage Hux (General Hux from the new sequel trilogy), and basically the guy who started the First Order. Plus, there were a few nice chunks of backstory info about the First Order and how they operate.

In any case, there is no doubt after reading this story that Phasma is the ultimate warrior and survivor. I'm seeing The Last Jedi tomorrow night (it's Dec. 13th as I write this), and if she does not kick Finn's butt then I'll be disappointed. There is no way that Finn has the ability to beat her in hand-to-hand combat.
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TomP
3.0 out of 5 stars Spoiler Free Review - kinda meh
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2017
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I've read all of the new canon novels and this is easily the least enjoyable so far. Three fourths of the book is spent walking through a desert with not much going on. Action is sparse and not very engaging. The amount of information really gained about Phasma's background could be summed up in a two paragraph wikipedia article. If you're determined to keep up with the new canon, you'll probably get minor enjoyment out of this but it's no Lost Stars, Bloodline, or even Catalyst.
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Top reviews from other countries

Alaran
3.0 out of 5 stars Crimson and chrome
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2018
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Over the last few years several of Star Wars’ leading villains have received novels focussing upon them. Captain Phasma makes for an intriguing choice. She hasn’t really been given much personality or character development in the two films that featured her. This doesn’t give an author much to play with but it also offers them an almost blank slate to work with. And with virtually nothing revealed about her in the films her story feels like one waiting to be told.

Perhaps, because of the above, the story does not come from the perspective of Phasma herself. Instead Phasma’s ‘story’ is presented in a slightly different medium. The novel is structured around a narration system where the story is related through a Resistance agent being tortured by a captain in the First Order. As she is interrogated she reveals a story concerning Phasma’s origins that she in turn has heard from someone who knew Phasma on her home world in the past.

It is, therefore, somewhat distanced from Phasma who, as a result, doesn’t receive much characterisation. We don’t actually learn that much about her and it all comes from one person’s viewpoint and opinion of her.

Although an origin story concerned with how Phasma comes to join the First Order, ascend to her exalted role amongst their stormtroopers and obtains her iconic chrome armour, the novel is, in many ways, more a story about Cardinal. Based around the concept of Phasma, Cardinal is a red armoured stormtrooper with a captain’s cloak, his role in the First order to train young potential stormtroopers. Once these become adults their training passes into the hands of Phasma, and this is the source of rivalry/competition between the two. Thus, Cardinal’s objective in interrogating Resistance agent, Vi, is to find something to discredit his rival.

The problem with this plotline is that it is based around Cardinal’s opinion that Phasma doesn’t conform to his view of what the First Order represents. Meanwhile, everything that Vi’s narration reveals about Phasma makes her seem like an ideal match for the First order. The crux of the novel is him obtaining information he can use against her. However, there is nothing he can learn that he can actually use.

Throughout the novel it is also readily apparent that a physical clash between Phasma and Cardinal is inevitable. However, despite the anticipation and build up it doesn’t particularly deliver.

A novel, perhaps, that is more entertaining and interesting because of the way it is structured and told rather than the actual content. Those looking to learn a lot about Phasma will probably be disappointed. It provides some insight into this enigmatic character but only superficially.
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Oliver Clarke "whatmeworry"
4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly entertaining SF adventure
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2018
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This review first appeared on scifiandscary.com

‘Phasma’ (or to give it the full title it has on Amazon ‘Star Wars: Phasma: Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Star Wars the Last Jedi)’ a moniker with more colons than a proctologist’s conference) is one of the new official Star Wars novels that have been released since the universe was rebooted by Disney. Aside from the movie novelisations of the original trilogy which I loved as a kid, I think the only other Star Wars book I’ve read was ‘Splinter of the Mind’s Eye’ by Alan Dean Foster, the very first original Star Wars novel, which was published in the late 70s. All that should tell you that whilst I like Star Wars I’m not a mega fan. This review should be read with that in mind, especially when I inevitably screw up some piece of series lore.

As you’d expect from the title, ‘Phasma’ tells the story of Captain Phasma, the super kick ass and excessively polished female stormtrooper from ‘The Force Awakens’ and ‘The Last Jedi’. I’ll confess to having thought she was a completely awesome character in the movies, and clearly I wasn’t alone, as not every henchperson gets their own spin off novel, not matter how shiny they are. Purely on the basis of Phasma’s presence I thought the book would be fun, but what I didn’t expect was for it to be quite as accomplished, entertaining and (dare I say it) polished as it is.

I think it’s the structure that makes it work so well; rather than being a straight retelling of Phasma’s origins, Delilah S Dawson instead frames the story as the lengthy interrogation of a Rebel spy, Vi Moradi, by a First Order stormtrooper, Captain Cardinal. Cardinal has a grudge against Phasma, for reasons that are revealed as the book progresses, and Moradi possesses information that he believes can unseat his rival from her position of power.

The relationship that develops between the two works perfectly, and the way the story within a story distances the reader from Phasma (who is fascinating in small doses but whose taciturnity and air of mystery makes her border on the dull in anything except action scenes) allows Dawson to play to the titular character’s strengths – smashing stuff up and being ruthless. In reality, whilst Phasma’s name is on the cover, the book really belongs to two other women – the spy Morodi and Siv, a healer in the same primitive tribe that Phasma comes from. The stories of Phasma’s early life and initial contact with the First Order are relayed to Cardinal by Morodi, who in turn learned them from Siv who was present for the events. The three contrasting women, Morodi, Siv and Phasma, are the core of the book, and it’s a testament to the newfound inclusivity of the Star Wars series, that it is women rather than men that carry the novel.     

The structure also lends itself well to a Star Wars story – it’s deliberately episodic, which plays to the series’ fondness for memorable set pieces, and there are a number of fun SF spectacles to enjoy. Battles between stormtroopers and primitive warriors, vicious alien wolves, insane droids, flesh eating beetles – none of it is desperately original, but all of it is told with an energy and panache that make for a really fun read. Throw in some nice commentary on the dangers of unrestrained capitalism and the origins of fascism and ‘Phasma’ ends up being a thoroughly entertaining read – exciting, politically savvy, amusing, imaginative and even a little moving at times – it’s the perfect book-shaped companion to the modern Star Wars cinematic experience. What’s more, it doesn’t get so bogged down in nerdy detail that you need to be a massive fanboy or girl to appreciate it.
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tony ellis
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 29, 2017
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After the non-show of the highly anticipated Captain Phasma in The Force Awakens it seemed appropriate that the Star Wars universe should bring her to the fore in time for the next instalment in the Star Wars franchise. And I wasn't disappointed, Delilah Dawson has crafted a well thought out story arc that brings in some good characters to the canon. I recommend this book to newcomers to the Star Wars universe and people well versed in the goings on in a galaxy far, far away from a long time ago.
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B Bekesi
4.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2018
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NO SPOILERS

I have finished this book after watching Episode VIII, and had no expectation towards it. I really wanted to see if this book has only been created to milk some more money off us devoted fans, and if it had any creative input at all.

I was also quite frustrated with the way this character has been dealt with by Lucasfilm/Disney in the first place, with all the hype and the full toy-line availability, but a relative no-show in the movies.

HOWEVER...

This is a really great story, some good character development throughout, good dialogues and the right amount of action.

I have found Delilah S. Dawson’s style quite lazy to be honest, really poor even for a junior novel. Maybe she needed more time but the book had to be published at the right time. (Lost one star on this only)

Overall it seems that the Lucasfilm story group have indeed had some good ideas for Phasma, and this led to an enjoyable story. This book is worth reading if you like the recent movies, but could benefit from a little more effort from the writer.
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Hilibnist
4.0 out of 5 stars Stick with it... it gets better
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2018
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If you’ve read Chuck Wendig’s awful present tense novels, don’t lose heart with this one. Its use of a present tense narrative voice is only a conceit to establish context between ‘now’ and ‘then’.
I’ve always preferred Star Wars novels which continue the narrative after the cinema action ends; prequel novels always seem a bit contrived - after all they have to deliver the plot to the established screen action. Phasma manages to tell an engaging story that expands the Star Wars universe without seeming to be stuck on rails towards The Force Awakens.
Minus one star for the present tense conceit, but give it a chance, it’s worth a read...
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