Dr. Aphra by Sara Kuhn

General thoughts
For the past couple of years, I have been diving into the books of the new Star Wars Canon. Dr Aphra by Sarah Kuhn is one you shouldn't miss. This is an audiobook adaptation of the Darth Vader and Dr. Aphra comics(a translation you rarely see). What I love about audiobooks is how immersive they can be. What makes Star Wars audiobooks special are their inclusion of the music and sounds directly from the Skywalker Sound library. Well worth checking out for an old radio adventure story.

Trajectory
Rouge archeologist Dr. Aphra ends up on a roller-coaster of an adventure with the fearsome Darth Vader to regain favor of the Emperor after the destruction of the first Death Star. Along the way we meet new friends and old as our hero tries to stay one step ahead to stay alive.


Character
I love the framework of Aphra recording her story to an unknown listener(a great reveal later). This structure brings a sense of reflection that allows her to grow over the course of the story. There are points when she stops recording or records a portion in a moment of hesitation or to make her more heroic.The narrator does a great job of making Aphra a fully realized character with heart and humor.

The book is very funny. Aphra is an imperfect lovable rouge. She's smart, witty, and a great mechanic. At the same she has this bravado that often gets her into trouble. One of the great things about this book is that it has a character outside of the Skywalker saga interact with our heroes we know and treat them with irreverence.They are just a side plot plot to our heroes adventures. Our hero is just trying to survive.

Culture
I can't say to much about the cultural impact or relevance of this story as it will spoil some plot points. It is great to see new kinds of relationships represented in the Star Wars Universe that we have yet to see on the screen. As always, representation matters and I hope it has an impact on those who need it.
Spoilers below!!

Themes
Here are a couple of take ways from just finished the book. I'm sure they will evolve over time as I reflect more. Underneath the bravado of Aprha is a child of war who has experienced loss and has developed mechanism to protect herself. These defense mechanisms have not only kept her alive but have prevented anyone to get close by. Through her trials and tribulations with her classmate Soma, she begins to learn about vulnerability and opening up to other people.