Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu

By: L. Neil Smith

Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu is a novel set in the Star Wars universe that takes place during the Rise of the Empire era, and is the first of three books in The Adventures of Lando Calrissian trilogy.

Plot: After winning the Millennium Falcon, Lando Calrissian visits the Oseon system in the Centrality. In a sabacc game on the asteroid Oseon 2795, Lando meets the Ottdefa Osuno Whett, who tells him of the alleged treasure of the Rafa system, which was the one-time home of a highly advanced race, the Sharu, and also source of the extremely valuable life-crystals.

Review:  What an excellent idea for a novel!  The idea of being dumbed down by a device was a refreshing idea that I hadn't read before in the Star Wars universe.  A lot of the story was your typical "being trapped, then escaping" paradigm, but the ever shrinking experience inside the pyramid made up for that drawback very quickly.  Vuffi Raa is a very sentimental droid, and creates very engaging conversation throughout the story.  I look forward to the dialogue in the other two volumes.  And remember, "Don't call me master!"