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Star Wars: A New Dawn Paperback – March 31, 2015
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“The war is over. The Separatists have been defeated, and the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. We stand on the threshold of a new beginning.”—Emperor Palpatine
For a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights brought peace and order to the Galactic Republic, aided by their connection to the mystical energy field known as the Force. But they were betrayed—and the entire galaxy has paid the price. It is the Age of the Empire.
Now Emperor Palpatine, once chancellor of the Republic and secretly a Sith follower of the dark side of the Force, has brought his own peace and order to the galaxy: peace through brutal repression, and order through increasing control of his subjects’ lives.
But even as the Emperor tightens his iron grip, others have begun to question his means and motives. And still others, whose lives were destroyed by Palpatine’s machinations, lay scattered about the galaxy like unexploded bombs, waiting to go off. . . .
- Print length416 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRandom House Worlds
- Publication dateMarch 31, 2015
- Dimensions4.2 x 0.97 x 7.5 inches
- ISBN-10055339147X
- ISBN-13978-0553391473
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Set after Return of the Jedi, Alphabet Squadron follows a team of veteran pilots as they struggle to defeat the Empire once and for all. | Set in the aftermath of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, this action-packed prequel to the videogame Battlefront II introduces the Empire’s elite force: Inferno Squad. | The prequel to Rogue One, revealing the origins of the Death Star in an intense tale of ambition and betrayal. | More than forty contributors lend their vision to this retelling of A New Hope. Each of the forty short stories reimagines a moment from the original film, but through the eyes of a supporting character. |
Editorial Reviews
Review
“An entertaining adventure . . . with a cast of heroes that mixes laughter with intriguing depths of character. . . . John Jackson Miller packs in plenty of action and surprises.”—Roqoo Depot
“A confidently told story that gives fans a lot of reason to be hopeful about what’s to come as we move into this new phase of Star Wars . . . The book certainly got me even more excited for Rebels and to see more of Kanan and Hera’s adventures. We’re also introduced to other characters I would love to see again at some point, whether on Rebels, in another book or, who knows, in live-action at some point.”—IGN
“A New Dawn delivers a classic Star Wars experience that fans of all ages will be able to enjoy. It is extremely well-written, with an incredibly diverse cast too. Miller’s prose can easily suck readers in, and leave them speechless when 100 pages have flown by in the blink of an eye.”—Far Far Away Radio
“A New Dawn brings us into this new dawn of storytelling with energy, excitement, and characters that have become instantly ensconced into the Star Wars vernacular, and the results will satisfy Star Wars fans of many different palates.”—Coffee with Kenobi
“A New Dawn is a well-written novel full of intrigue and twists and turns that does an excellent job of letting Star Wars fans get to know Kanan and Hera.”—Tosche Station
“A New Dawn finds an era never before written about in the Star Wars universe—the years prior to the original movie, Episode IV—in robust good health. The narrative takes place on two worlds and a handful of ships in between them, but as with the best of all Star Wars moments, hints at hidden depths beyond.”—Mashable
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Now Emperor Palpatine, once chancellor of the Republic and secretly a Sith follower of the dark side of the Force, has brought his own peace and order to the galaxy. Peace, through brutal repression—and order, through increasing control of his subjects’ lives.
But even as the Emperor tightens his iron grip, others have begun to question his means and motives. And still others, whose lives were destroyed by Palpatine’s machinations, lay scattered about the galaxy like unexploded bombs, waiting to go off. . . .
***
Years earlier . . .
“It’s time for you to go home,” Obi-Wan Kenobi said. The Jedi Master looked at the blinking lights on the panel to his right—and then at the students watching him. The aisle between the towering computer banks in the central security station was designed for a few Jedi doing maintenance, not a crowd; but the younglings fit right in, afraid to jostle one another in the presence of their teacher for the morning. “That’s the meaning of this signal,” the bearded man said, turning again to the interface. Rows of blue lights twinkled in a sea of green indicators. He toggled a switch. “You can’t hear anything now, or see anything. Not here in the Jedi Temple. But away from Coruscant, on planets across the galaxy, those of our Order would get the message: Return home.”
Sitting on the floor with his classmates in the central security station, young Caleb Dume listened—but not intently. His mind wandered, as it often did when he tried to imagine being out in the field.
He was lean and wiry now—ruddy skin and blue eyes under a mop of black hair. He was just one of the crowd, not yet apprenticed to a mentor. But one day, he’d be out there, traveling to exotic worlds with his Master. They’d provide peace and order for the citizens of the Galactic Republic, defeating evil wherever he found it.
Then he saw himself later as a Jedi Knight, fighting alongside the Republic’s clone warriors against the enemy Separatists. Sure, Republic Chancellor Palpatine had promised to resolve the war soon, but no one could be so rude as to end the war before Caleb got his chance.
And then, finally, he dared hope he would become a Jedi Master like Obi-Wan—accepted while still young as one of the wise sages of the Order. Then he’d really do some great feats. He’d lead the valiant battle against the Sith, the legendary evil counterpart to the Jedi.
Of course, the Sith hadn’t been seen in a thousand years, and he knew of no shadow of their return. But in his ambitions Caleb was no different from the younglings around him, whatever the gender, whatever the species. The adolescent imagination knew no bounds.
The sandy-haired Jedi Master touched the panel again. “It’s just in test mode now,” Obi-Wan said. “No one will respond. But were there a true emergency, Jedi could receive the message in several ways.” He glanced down at his listeners. “There is the basic alert signal. And then there are other components, in which you might find more detailed text and holographic messages. No matter the format, the basic purpose should be clear—”
“Go home!” the collected students shouted.
Obi-Wan nodded. Then he saw a hand being raised. “The student in the back,” he said, fishing for a name.
“Caleb Dume, right?”
“Yes, Master.”
Obi-Wan smiled. “I’m learning, too.” The students giggled. “You have a question, Caleb?”
“Yes.” The boy took a breath. “Where?” “Where what?” The other pupils laughed again, a little louder this time. “Where’s home? Where do we go?” Obi-Wan smiled. “To Coruscant, of course. Here, to the Jedi Temple. The recall is exactly what it sounds like.” The teacher started to turn back to the beacon when he spotted
Caleb Dume jabbing his hand in the air again. Caleb wasn’t one to sit in front for every lesson—no one respected a teacher’s pet—but shyness had never been one of his afflictions.
“Yes, Caleb?” “Why—” The boy’s voice cracked, to mild chuckles from his companions. He glared at the others and started again. “Why would you need all the Jedi here at once?”
“A very good question. Looking at this place, one would think we had all the Jedi we need!” Obi-Wan grinned at the students’ Masters, all standing outside in the more spacious control room, looking in. Out of the corner of his eye, Caleb could see Depa Billaba among them. Tan-skinned and dark-haired, she had shown interest in taking him on as her apprentice—and she studied him now from afar with her usual mostly patient look: What are you on about now, Caleb?
Caleb had wanted to shrink into the floor, then—when Obi-Wan addressed him directly. “Why don’t you tell me, Caleb: What reasons would you expect would cause us to recall every Jedi in the Order?”
Caleb’s heart pounded as he realized everyone was watching him. In his daily life, the boy never worried about being hassled for sounding off; the kids he regularly trained with knew he never backed down. But there were students in the gathering he’d never seen before, including older ones—not to mention the Jedi Masters. And Caleb had just blundered into a chance to impress a member of the High Council in front of everyone.
Or it was a chance to founder on the question, and take their abuse. There were so many possibilities—
Including a trick question.
“I know the reasons you’d call them back,” Caleb finally said. “Unexpected reasons!”
Riotous laughter erupted from the others, all semblance of respectful order disappearing at Caleb’s words. But Obi-Wan raised his hands. “That’s as good an answer as I’ve ever heard,” he said.
The group settled down, and Obi-Wan continued: “The truth, my young friends, is I simply don’t know. I could tell you of the many times over the course of the history of the Order when Jedi have been called back to Coruscant to deal with one threat or another. Some perilous times, which resulted in great heroics. There are truths, and there are legends touched with truth, and all can teach you something. I am sure Jocasta, our librarian, would help you explore more.” He clasped his hands together. “But no two events were alike—and when the signal is given again, that event will be unique, too. It’s my hope it will never be needed, but knowing about it is part of your training. So the important thing is, when you get the signal . . .”
“ . . . go home!” the children said, Caleb included.
“Very good.” Obi-Wan deactivated the signal and walked through the crowd to the exit. The students stood and filed back out into the control room, appreciating the wider space and chatting about their return to their other lessons. The field trip to this level of the Jedi Temple was over.
Caleb stood, too, but did not leave the aisle. The Jedi taught their students to look at all sides of things, and the thought occurred to him there was another side to what they’d just been shown. Brow furrowed, he started again to raise his hand. Then he realized he was the only one left. No one was looking, or listening.
Except Obi-Wan, standing in the doorway. “What is it?” the Master called out over the din. Behind him, the others quieted, freezing in place. “What is it, Caleb?”
Surprised to have been noticed, Caleb swallowed. He saw Master Billaba frowning a little, no doubt wondering what her impulsive prospect was on about now. It was a good time to shut up. But standing alone in the aisle between the banks of lights, he was committed. “This beacon. It can send any message, right?”
“Ah,” Obi-Wan said. “No, we wouldn’t use it for regular administrative matters. As Jedi Knights—which I very much hope you will all become—you will receive such instructions individually, using less dramatic forms of—”
“Can you send people away?”
Product details
- Publisher : Random House Worlds (March 31, 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 055339147X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0553391473
- Item Weight : 8 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.2 x 0.97 x 7.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #61,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #343 in Galactic Empire Science Fiction
- #1,743 in Space Operas
- #2,747 in Science Fiction Adventures
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller has spent a lifetime immersed in the worlds of fantasy and science fiction. He's best known for his Star Wars and Star Trek work, including Star Wars: Kenobi, his Scribe Award winning novel from Del Rey; Star Wars: A New Dawn; the Star Trek: Prey trilogy, and Star Trek: Discovery - The Enterprise War.
He's also written comics included the long-running Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic comics series, as well as comics for Battlestar Galactica, Halo, Lion King, Mass Effect, Iron Man, Indiana Jones, and The Simpsons. Production notes on all his works can be found at his fiction site (farawaypress.com).
Miller is also a noted comics industry historian, specializing in studying comic-book circulation as presented on his website, Comichron (comichron.com). He also coauthored the Standard Catalog of Comic Books series.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the storyline good, unpredictable, and great as a standalone Star Wars book. They also say the book is a worthwhile read with intriguing characters. Readers praise the writing quality as very well written and plotted. They mention the history and culture provides great insight into the tyranny of the Empire. Opinions are mixed on the pacing, with some finding it swift and others saying it starts out slow. Customers also have mixed feelings about the engagement, with others finding it fun and engaging, while others find it linear and boring at some point.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the storyline good, unpredictable, and enthralling. They also say the book has good characters and an adventure spirit. Customers say it fits well with the saga and is a great standalone Star Wars book. They mention the characters are larger than life and don't hold back from action.
"...John Jackson Miller keeps readers guessing with an unpredictable plot, and ensnares their attention with a cast of heroes that mix laughter with..." Read more
"...Pretty well actually. There’s some very solid storytelling, some really cool insights into established characters and their backstories, and it..." Read more
"...But, you can still get it in mass-market paperback. The story does a good job establishing the two main characters but does not include the other..." Read more
"...won't include any spoilers in this review, but I must say that the story is good and even unpredictable at times...." Read more
Customers find the book entertaining, refreshing, and a decent choice for teens. They also say it works effectively as a set-up to the current Star Wars movies.
"...As a Star Wars story, A New Dawn is a lot of fun and a very enjoyable read...." Read more
"...In showing us the rise of the Empire’s might this book is very effective...." Read more
"...Needless to say, I was not disappointed. This is easily one of the better SW novels I have read in a very long time, easily on par with Timothy Zahn..." Read more
"...It was an entertaining enough read that showed that the new world order at Lucasfilm isn't completely abandoning the old ways..." Read more
Customers find the characters intriguing, believable, and solid.
"...attention with a cast of heroes that mix laughter with intriguing depths of character. It makes for an entertaining adventure.“..." Read more
"...There’s some very solid storytelling, some really cool insights into established characters and their backstories, and it begins to bridge that..." Read more
"...The pace is swift. The main villain is particularly despicable, while not falling into that whole rogue Dark Jedi mold so typical in earlier EU books..." Read more
"...Other than that, the characters were fun and kinda realistic to who they were in this environment...." Read more
Customers find the writing quality of the book very well written, with just the right pace. They also say the book is well-plotted, action-packed, and has great lines. Customers also say that the author does a great job making parallels with the main character.
"...The book is about 400 pages long but is a fairly quick read...." Read more
"...He has some great lines. Yet, it’s also clear that he’s hiding real pain as he tries to cope with the loss of the Jedi Order...." Read more
"...I highly recommend this book not just for JJM's excellent writing skill, but for an unusual Star Wars story that lays the ground work for other..." Read more
"...However, since the novel is well written, I think it'll hold any Star War fan's attention or anyone who enjoyed a good space opera...." Read more
Customers find the book provides great insight into how Hera and Kanan become acquainted. They also say it fills in a lot of their backstory and explains their later. Customers also say the book is a good introduction to the Rebels, with lush characters and a fresh take on the Empire. They appreciate the tight focus on the world and its moon.
"...The book gives glimpses of their back stories and does a lot to show off their personalities.“..." Read more
"...JJM uses point of view in interesting ways to contrast Kanan’s self-perception – that he’s hard-edged and cynical – against the reality – that can’t..." Read more
"...So I quite enjoyed it.I enjoyed too the tight focus on the world—or in this case the world and its moon; it gave me a chance to get to..." Read more
"...great development, the story moved, stayed interesting, showed the tyranny of the Empire, and provided a pretty happy ending (must read to find out)...." Read more
Customers find the plot engaging and comfortable with the new canon. They also say the book keeps them guessing and explains a bit of back story for two of the main characters.
"...irritating, such as Skelly the demolitions expert, still feel very real and believable, and are allowed room to grow...." Read more
"...John Jackson Miller's writing is engaging and feels like Star Wars...." Read more
"...While the overall story of the book is somewhat conventional and predictable, I appreciated the background the author gave to Kanan's character in..." Read more
"...The book had a pretty decent Star Wars feel to it. There was only the planet and the moon, but their attributes were far from earth-like...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the engagement. Some find the book engaging and well-written. They say it pulls them in and drags them along. However, other customers find the linear and boring at some point.
"...It makes for an entertaining adventure.“Have a look around, if your spy’s here tonight, he’s blasted off his boosters!”..." Read more
"...new worlds only to be letdown with predictable characters and a boring world which you're basically stuck on for 370 pages...." Read more
"...Its action scenes are well-written and they pull you in and drag you along from one chapter to the next...." Read more
"...It did have some sparks of greatness, but a lot of chapters were too boring to give it a higher rating." Read more
Customers are mixed about the pacing. Some find the tempo swift and the story moves well, while others say it starts out a little slow.
"...highest rating, despite enjoying it so much was because the story started out a tad slow...." Read more
"...The pace is swift...." Read more
"...Unfortunately, not enough time is spent on either...." Read more
"...Towards the end, the action is really fast paced, and at times unbelievable until I realized that I was in the Star Wars universe...." Read more
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-John Jackson Miller
A New Dawn marks the beginning of a new era for Star Wars books as the first novel in the new canon. Yet it also lays the groundwork for the new television series Star Wars Rebels. While some fans are worried about all the changes, be it the change in canon or the shift from Star Wars: The Clone Wars to Star Wars Rebels, the good news is that things don’t seem to be changing all that much. Take away all the hype and expectations, and A New Dawn reads just like many of the other great Star Wars adventures that have come before. John Jackson Miller takes readers on a journey to the Outer Rim, introduces them to Kanan and Hera, and sets them up against the corrupt violence of the Empire. There are blaster fights, stormtroopers, dogfights in space, a villainous cyborg and daring missions that push the characters to their limits. It’s all the fun elements you would expect from a Star Wars novel with a few surprises left in store.
Firing a manager inspired only the ambitious who wanted to take his or her place. But murder motivated everyone. It belonged in every supervisor’s tool kit.
-Count Vidian’s musings
One of those surprises is the villain of the story. Unlike Grand Admiral Thrawn, he’s not a tactical genius. He’s also not a powerful Force user like Darth Vader. Instead, he’s one part Count Dooku, one part General Grievous, and about eight parts of something totally new. The result is Count Vidian, a business mogul who has become the Emperor’s “fixer”, a go-to man who can bail out flailing enterprises essential to the Empire’s war machine. Beneath the surface, Vidian is a cyborg. His eyes, hearing and strength are all far superior to any normal human. With various implants, he’s able to communicate and see things instantaneously. But business isn’t the only thing Vidian is good at. He’s also a kilt wearing psychopath who isn’t hesitant about using violence to solve a problem, or to keep a secret hidden.
“We just met. I don’t even know what you are.”
“Ask anyone.” Kanan waved over the heads of the drunken mob. “Okadiah! Tell her about me.”
Unseen amid the drunken crowd, Okadiah called out, “A fine pilot, an occasional humanitarian, and a somewhat tolerable houseguest. Marry him, my darling!”
“That’s an endorsement?” Hera asked, straining to see where the voice had come from. “Can he even see me?”
-Kanan and Hera
Counterbalancing the darkness of Vidian is Kanan and Hera, two of the stars of Star Wars Rebels. We’ve been told that Kanan is a “cowboy Jedi”, a padawan whose training was incomplete. Hera, on the other hand, is the owner and pilot of the Ghost. A New Dawn thankfully sheds a lot more light on these two characters. Kanan is revealed to be a troubled, wandering Force user. He’s an individual with a great gift but consequently doomed by it. To use the Force to help others is what Jedi do, but to be a Jedi is to be a enemy of the galactic Empire. Hera is in a very similar situation, but without the Force. She’s seen the corruption of the Empire and its dirty deeds. More than anything, she would like to stop it, but like Kanan, she is outnumbered. However, she is hopeful that one day there will be enough people like her to make a difference. The book gives glimpses of their back stories and does a lot to show off their personalities.
“I need you to fly like a Wookiee whose hair is on fire—and who thinks everybody lit the match. Can you do that?”
-Kanan
Most of the story takes place on the planet Gorse, a mining planet crucial to the Empire. Hera and Kanan both wind up there, and Vidian is sent to crank up the production facilities. One thing leads to another, and that leads to a whole lot of fun. From witty dialog worthy of The Empire Strikes Back, to mad bombers, a crazy cyborg, escalating violence and well placed humor, there’s a little bit of everything. John Jackson Miller keeps readers guessing with an unpredictable plot, and ensnares their attention with a cast of heroes that mix laughter with intriguing depths of character. It makes for an entertaining adventure.
“Have a look around, if your spy’s here tonight, he’s blasted off his boosters!”
The female stormtrooper surveyed the cheering crowd. A blitzed Ugnaught, snout-faced and only a meter tall, was riding drunkenly around on the head of a similarly soused Ithorian. The brown-hided, hammer-headed titan had a pitcher in each long-fingered hand and was lumbering around trying to serve both himself and his small passenger at the same time without spilling any ale.
A normal night for The Asteroid Belt, in all respects.
When you boil it all down, A New Dawn is a tiny adventure with memorable characters. It’s not an earth shattering, galaxy ending plot and we all know Hera and Kanan will come out unscathed. The point is spinning a tale that entertains readers and A New Dawn does that well. The book has a lot of humor in it, from the descriptions of wild bar scenes to Kanan’s failed pick-up lines. Yet that humor is also mixed with drama. Count Vidian is not some cowardly, mustache twirling villain. He’s an intelligent, motivated individual with secrets and his brutal murder of anyone who gets in his way brings a very dark atmosphere to the story. While Kanan and Hera might be safe, that doesn’t mean everyone else is, and John Jackson Miller does a good job of making those other characters people you care about. By mixing those dark and light aspects of the story, it heightens each. The funny moments become funnier when juxtaposed to the dark state of the galaxy. On the other hand, the deaths and violence strike an emotional chord when set against those light hearted moments. It’s a great balance.
As a Star Wars story, A New Dawn is a lot of fun and a very enjoyable read. The characters are entertaining and some of the dialog will have you laughing out loud. As the first book to be considered Star Wars canon, I think it does a great job of kicking things off. This is our introduction to the characters of Star Wars Rebels, thus it ties into the greater picture. Yet the feel of the book is not something that will turn off long time Star Wars readers. It’s a natural fit with all those stories that have come before. John Jackson Miller packs in plenty of action and surprises. For a book with no lightsaber fights, A New Dawn still feels like the Star Wars we know and love. I give it a five out of five.
"Star Wars: A New Dawn", by John Jackson Miller, is the first in a new series of books set in the Star Wars universe and given the tagline “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”. From here on out those words will be your clue that this book is canon. All the books that have come before will be given the “Legends” tag and be considered part of the Extended Universe and, therefore, not canon.
So how does Miller deliver in Disney’s first foray into the Star Wars novel line? Pretty well actually. There’s some very solid storytelling, some really cool insights into established characters and their backstories, and it begins to bridge that elusive gap between Episodes III and IV. This is the Empire ascendant – in all its evil, bureaucratic glory – and the beginning of the struggle against that looming threat. It is also the tale of how Kanan and Hera meet and become bonded so closely. And finally it is there to provide us with some extra characterization of two of the main characters of the ongoing "Rebels" TV show on Disney (highly recommended!).
In showing us the rise of the Empire’s might this book is very effective. The heartless, mechanical cruelty of the Empire is a theme that is played out here in the character of Count Vidian and the ruthless way in which he goes about trying to achieve his goals. We are reminded several times through his unnecessary cruelty just how evil the Empire is and just how little it cares for its subjects.
The meeting of Kanan and Hera is as organic and believable as it can be when you know two characters have to meet. The undeniable chemistry that drives their partnership is played out effectively in the text and you get a genuine sense of the growing complexity of their partnership. This isn’t a simple fight to flirt sort of relationship. It’s much more complex than that, and Miller draws that out nicely.
Finally, it provides a great bit of character insight into the parts of Hera and Kanan. There’s nothing too revelatory here (see the Marvel comics series Kanan: The Last Padawan if you want to see his actual moment of betrayal by the Clone Troopers), more a general sense of what motivates them into becoming the people they are when we meet them in Rebels. The story is definitely more Kanan-centric overall, but we still get a couple of good character building moments for Hera.
"A New Dawn" is a fun Star Wars book in the long tradition of other fun Star Wars books. Its action scenes are well-written and they pull you in and drag you along from one chapter to the next. Because we are in a period of Star Wars history in which the Empire is dominant we know that no victory of the fledgling rebellion can be too great. Instead Miller focuses more on the individuals and how this growing sense of unease with the Empire affects them personally. We also see how those seemingly insignificant choices, made by individuals, can have big impacts on future events. If you’re a Star Wars fan you’ll enjoy this book. If you’re a "Rebels" fan you’ll enjoy it even more. It’s not "Huckleberry Finn" or "The Sound and the Fury" and it’s not supposed to be. Nor is it meaningless pulp. It’s great at what it’s supposed to do, and that’s tell a fun and engaging Star Wars story set in a galaxy far, far away. Here’s to many more.
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I did find the story a little hard to follow at times. My only wish was that the author did more world building- to immerse the reader in the environment through better descriptive writing.
Will probably read it again!
Muito bacana a leitura, apesar das avaliações falarem de um início mais sem graça, isso se dá para a apresentação dos personagens e sua percepção do império e de suas atividades.
O material do livro é bem ruim. Como umas folhas de jornal, quase, mas isso lhe dá leveza.
Levei para uma viagem na praia e foi uma boa, pois não fiquei com dó de vê-lo se acabar com a umidade. rsrsrs