The Paradise Snare |
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PAGE | QUOTATION | COMMENTS |
1 | The ancient troopship, a relic from the Clone Wars, hung in orbit over the planet Corellia, silent and seemingly derelict. Looks were decieving, however. The old Liberator-class vessel, once called guardian of the Republic, now had a new life as Trader's Luck. The interior had been gutted and refitted with a motley assortment of living environments, and now contained nearly one hundred sentient beings, many of them humanoid. |
Liberator-class troopship dating from the Clone Wars. Perhpas the upcoming prequel films will briefly show one of these vessels in the background? |
2 |
One of his fellow players, a hulking Elomin suddenly turned his tusked head to
glance behind him.
A light on one of the auxiliary "status" panels was blinking.
The huge , shaggy-furred Elomin grunted, then said in gutteral Basic,
|
Here the Elomin species is treated according to its original definition: the race to which "The Mole" in Jabba's palace belongs. This was contradicted by Heir to the Empire Sourcebook, which invented a near-like species with the same name, because the sourcebook author unfortunately knew less about the species than Timothy Zahn. Aliens: Enemies and Allies, published several years later, went some way towards atoning for the error: it stated that there were two intelligent species on the planet Elom. Now The Paradise Snare brings us back to the original correct definition, introducing Barfid the Elomin as a member of the species seen in Return of the Jedi, which Zahn had intended as opponents of Grand Admiral Thrawn. |
5 | Ahead of him, the near tunnel widened out, and Han realised he was almost at his destination. Only a few more miutes, he told himself, continuing to move with a stealthy grace that made his progress as soundless as that of a wonat's furred toe-pads. |
creature: wonat
|
15 |
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acceleration patterns |
16 | Mentally, Han pictured them thrusting away from Trader's Luck, out of the embrace of Corellia's gravity field. Closing his eyes, he pictured his homeworld turning lazily against the backdrop of stars. Corellia was a pretty planet, with narrow blue seas, green-brown forests, tan deserts, and large cities. On the nightside it glittered like a battle remote studded with lights... |
planet: Corellia
|
17 |
|
Solo's promise |
18-19 | A year or so later, Isshaddik had been killed during a smuggling run to Nar Hekka, one of the worlds in the Hutt sector. |
planet: Nar Hekka
|
22 |
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creature: vrelts |
27 |
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R2 unit "new" |
33 | Han began using rhe manual interface mode to disengage the hyperdrive. Altering course and speed could only be done in realspace. |
Course alterations are difficult or inconvenient to accomplish while in hyperspace, although it has rarely been done under extreme circumstances by powerful and well-tuned naval vessels, like the Imperator-class star destroyer Emancipator entering the Battle of Calamari. |
42 |
|
Solo family |
43 | Just a few weeks past, Hand had been attending such a school — a school so well known that it had merited a visit from the famous Senator Garm Bel Iblis. Han had raised his hand and asked the Senator two questions that had been insightful and intelligent enough to make the Senator really notice him. After class was over, Bel Iblis had stopped Han, shaken his hand, and asked him his name. Han had glanced around quickly, seeing that nobody else was within earshot, and proudly told the Senator his real name. It had felt great to be able to do that ... |
Solo recalls his recent encounter with a respected Imperial Senator, Garm Bel Iblis. They would meet again many years later, during the campaign against Grand Admiral Thrawn [Dark Force Rising]. |
46 |
The person who'd grabbed him was head and shoulders taller than the
younger boy. He had darker hair than Han, and was stockier as well. But it
was his face that made Han stand staring at him in blank amazement.
|
Introduction of Han Solo's cousin, who later becomes a villain of the Corellian trilogy. |
59 |
|
alien, Vykk Draygo |
60 |
|
Teroenza |
62 |
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fake identification |
65 |
|
t'landa Til; spice |
74 |
|
Muurrgh |
81-82 |
|
Togorian habits |
89 |
Then as he focused his eyes, he slowly made out oily,
pebbled blackness barely visible
against the black stone wall.
But there were eyes in the midst of that blackness — beady reddish-orange eyes.
Four of them.
Han squinted, holding still, straining his vision.
Then he saw two blasters, each strapped to a warty black thigh.
|
planet: Aar
|
98 | The visitors were ushered into the room by an ancient Zisian majordomo, whom Teroenza addressed as "Ganar Tos." The Zisian was humanoid, but he had wrinkly green skin that hung in flaccid wattles from his receding chinline. His orange eyes were rheumy, and he snuffled constantly, as though he had a sinus infection. |
aliens: Zisian |
107 |
|
jump |
112 |
As his fingers clicked on the comm unit, the vid-screen filled with an image
of a kindly looking man with a little, dark haired girl sitting on his lap.
Han was startled, then realised that this message was prerecorded,
and played to every ship on an approach vector.
|
The King of Alderaan is identified according to an amalgamation of both the names given by contradictory references: "Prestor" in the A New Hope: Radio Dramatisation, and "Bail Organa" in the A New Hope novel. Application of the term "Viceroy" implies that, although Organa is King of his own people, in a different sense he reigns as the local representative of a greater sovereign: presumably the Emperor Palpatine. |
122 | Obviously, the man's "talk" had been a not-so-veiled warning to stop trying to sell his cargo. He'd have to take it back to Ylesia. There weren't any other planets close enough to reach so he could make the sale. |
This reference almost seems to imply that Ylesia and Alderaan are nearby systems, perhaps in the same sector. This is odd since other references seem to imply that Ylesia is close to either Corellia or Hutt Space. They can't all be close to each other. Perhaps Solo is also considering factors other than raw proximity, like the time involved in making side-trips and the time constraints imposed by the Ylesians' expectations for his return. |
124 |
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interstellar communications |
126 |
|
Aryn Dro & Bornan Thul |
137 |
|
Zavval |
147 | He was rescued by the arrival of a Hutt, who came gliding over the mudflat on his repulsorlift sled. A small squad of guards trotted vigorously alongside, panting in the humid heat as they struggled to keep up. "Zavval!" Teroenza hailed his Hutt overlord, standing respectfully. Feeling like a fool, Han did likewise. This was the Corellian's first close-up encounter with a Hutt, and he tried not to stare at the creature's huge, recumbent form, the enormous, pouchy eyes amid leathery tan skin, and the green slime that oozed from the corners of the being's mouth. Ugh ... they're even uglier than Teroenza and his crew, Han thought. He reminded himself that Hutts had been civilised for probably longer than his own species — but he still couldn't quite eliminate the revulsion their appearance caused. |
Solo meets a Hutt for the first time: Zavval at the mudbath |
177 | "... Nal Hutta's two systems away, and it'll take us four days, maybe five. |
Implies that Ylesia and Nal Hutta are moderately close, but not so close that there exists any direct hyperjump route between them. It is necessary to pass through at least one intermediate system. the sectors in which the planets are located are probably separated by a distance which would be visible on an map of the galactic disk, but not a really great fraction of the Empire's span. |
182 | "... This unfortunate individual revealed — before succumbing to a weak heart — that he was recruited and sent on is villainous missions by you and your great-nephew, Jabba. ..." |
Jiliac = Jabba's great uncle |
190 | He nodded shortly. "Very well, wife-to-be. I swear to you, I will be a good husband. It is my fondest wish that we will be blessed with many children." |
How is it possible for a human and a zisian to produce children? Either these two individuals have little understanding of biology, or the zisians are actually a racial sub-group of a greater human species. |
199 |
|
torsk from Alzoc III |
215 |
|
corvette |
222 |
|
Togoria |
223 | Overhead, Han spotted a large flying creature, and realised it must be one of the mosgoths Muuurgh had told him were the principal means of travel on Togoria. Mosgoths were large flying lizards, very intelligent. Togorians had domesticated mosgoths long ago. Each species worked together to protect each other against even larger winged reptiles, the deadly liphons who stole both togorian cubs and mosgoth eggs. |
creatures: liphons and mosgoths |
230 | As they stroled through the breakers, Han told her more about his determination to get into the Imperial Academy. "People look up to an Imperial officer," he said. "Nobody's ever looked up to me for anything, before, but if I can get in, that's all going to change. I'll be able to turn my life around, Bria. I'll neve have to steal or smuggle or cheat anyone again." |
Han declares his ambition. This passage gives the impression that in most parts of galactic society, the Imperial Navy is esteemed highly and without question. The rebels and their cause are very far from mainstream thinking. |
250 | He disembarked from the shuttle in the port city of Tyrena and went to a lockbox office, where he retrieved a few hundred credits and a set of "clean" IDs for one "Jenos Idanian." Then he went off to a branch of the Imperial Bank and opened an account, using the credits and ID. |
An important galactic institution is named: the Imperial Bank. Note that the name Jenos Idanian is an anagram for Indiana Jones, both of whom were played by the same actor. |
251 | He held back his favourite treasure, though, a tiny golden statue of a long-extinct Corellian paledor. it was beautiful, and its eyes were flawless Keral fire-gems. |
creature: Corellian paledor, an extinct animal of Corellia which possessed more than one eye. The extinction is presumably due to human settlement on the planet, like that which has been brought to a greater state of completion on Coruscant and the other more advanced Core worlds. |
260-262 |
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Coruscant, described in lavish detail. |
262 | "I took a look at the Imperial guards. They were all armed. I saw security guards on Alderaan, and none of the ones I saw were armed. So it's a good bet whoever they would be going up against wasn't either. But these Imperials are armed, and wearing armour, too. Gotta be a reason for it." |
Solo considers what seem to be the Coruscant Guards, the metropolitain stormtroopers who keep peace in the Imperial capital. These are the red-armoured soldier/police seen in Shadows of the Empire. |
262-263 | "I'm gonna feel strange walking into that bank tomorrow, with no blaster at my side," Han said, looking sadly at his empty thigh. "Come on, Han," she whispered, "of all the places in the world, they wouldn't let you walk into a bank armed!" "Why not?" Han asked. "It's not like a guy could swipe the credits. They don't keep hardly any credit disks there, or coins either. It's all electronic data entry onto personal IDs. Good system," he added thoughtfully. "Saves on guards." |
Banking security in the Galactic Empire. |
264 | "Nici the Specialist. Glow Spider," she repeated. "Where is it?" "Level 132, megablock 17, block 5, subblock 12," Han recited. "Memorise that perfectly. This world is a maze, Bria." ... When he came back to Bria, she saw that he had a palm-sized locator computer. "How much did that cost?" she asked, eyeing it worriedly. Their funds from the sale of the Ylesian yacht were running low. "Only twenty," Han said. "This world's too easy to get lost on, I figure. All I gotta do is enter our destination, like this ..." Squinting with concentration, he entered, "Level 86, megablock 4, block 2, subblock 13 ..." "What's that?" "The place where I got us a room for tonight," Han answered, not looking up. "And ... there!" Directions from their present location appeared on the screen. "First we take turbolist down to levle 16 ..." Han muttered, looking around. "There!" |
Glow Spider and underworld contact Nici the Specialist. Navigation and addressing on Coruscant. The level numbers appear to count downwards from the roof level rather than upwards from the ground. |
267 |
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Imperial Bank, Coruscant |
274 | He was now almost twleve hundred stories down. Approximately thirty-six hundred metres below where he'd started at the top level at the Imperial Bank. |
The depth of the buildings in this part of Imperial city is about 3.6km, over two miles. |
279 |
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Public communications between Coruscant and Corellia |
287 |
|
Hall of Admissions |
288 | "Hello," he said. "My name is Han Solo, and I'd like to apply for admission into the Imperial Academy. I've always wanted to be a Naval officer." ... Minutes later the clerk handed Han's IDs back to him and offered a remote smile. "Everything checks out, Solo. You can begin the application and testing process today. Are you aware that over fifty percent of candidates are not accepted? And that fifty percent of those accepted neve rcomplete their course at the Academy?" "Yes, sir, I am," Han said. "But I'm determined to try. I'm a good pilot." "The Emperor needs good pilots," the man said, his smile actually genuine for a moment. "Very well, let's get you started ...". |
Solo begins application for entry to the Imperial Academy. Less than a quarter of the initial applicants actually graduate from the Academy. |
289 |
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questions: Daedalon; Noolian Crisis; |
290 | Every day, the candidates practiced piloting in a variety of different situations. Han did well, and knew he'd passed each test. Only one off-note was struck — one of Han's testing officers (human instructors were used during this portion) commented sourly to the other instructors that he felt stricken because it was highly irregular for a cadet candidate to fly a shuttle through Emperor Palpatine's Arch of Triumph on Imperial Centre, rather than above it. He frightened several thousand Imperial citizens! We received hundreds of complaints!" the officer sputtered. the head testing officer shrugged. "Nobody was injured, right?" "Correct, sir." "Then Cadet Candidate Solo's score stands. those citizens could use a little excitement from time to time. Good for their circulation," the head officer decided. |
Arch of Triumph, a significatn public monument on Coruscant.
|
291 | .. he would be slated for remedial studies in that area, should he pass and be accepted into the Academy. Not surprisingly, "Music" was among those areas, as was "Ancient Pre-Republic History," "Interspatial Quantum Physics," and "Nonlinear Hyperspace Geometry." |
Subjects which are determined to be Solo's points of weakness. |
292 | Once out of the brightest glare of the lights, Han leaned against a railing and tried to see the stars. He picked out one or two of the brightest, but the horizon completely overshadowed the heavens. Red and green auroras shimmered and flickered, seemingly painted against the blackness by some mad, gargantuan artist. It was a breathtaking view. |
Coruscant's night sky; drowned in light pollustion from the dazzling City and aurorae. |
304 | The transport Imperator lay waiting for them on the landing field. Soon, the cadets would be boarding it for their trip to Carida, the military training world. Han smiled a little as he studied its lines, its oversized dorsal fin. A Corellian corvette. How fitting ... |
The humble transport ship seems to have been assigned the same name as the star destroyer Imperator, the first of its famous class, constructed at Gyndine early in Palpatine's reign. Considering that the Imperial Starfleet must consist of at least millions of vessels of all sizes, it is inevitable that many ship names are used repeatedly. Solo is honoured with assignment to the elite Caridan Academy, not merely any ordinary sector Academy. |
306 | ... noncommissioned officer was standing beside the lieutenant, giving orders. "Imperial cadets! Assemble in ranks!" There was general confusion for a second, then the lines of cadets formed into ranks. "We will board the transport ship in rows. No talking, and pick up your feet." Silence fell. Han was in Row 4. He stood as straight as he could, looking neither left nor right, waiting for his orders to move. From somewhere, the martial theme of the Imperial Navy began playing in the background. |
The martial theme of the Imperial Navy is played. A novel cannot convey literal sound, so the reader is left forever to wonder whether this theme is the same as the "Imperial March" which is used as Lord Vader's theme in The Empire Strikes Back, Shadows of the Empire and Return of the Jedi. |
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