Bounty hunters are a fan favorite among the classes of characters in the Star Wars universe. Many of role-playing games will include bounty hunters among their list of character classes and one of the most popular characters comes from this group of unique predators. Yet very little was known about what it takes to be a bounty hunter, that is, until now.
The Bounty Hunter Code From the Files of Boba Fett is a must for all you wanna be bounty hunters. Set up as the handbook for the Bounty Hunter’s Guild, this book is filled with detailed rules of how bounties are issued, assigned, pursued, and eventually cashed in. Each section covers a detailed topic and is told from the perspective of the Guild leadership. Topics include the history of the Bounty Hunters Guild, how to become a member, how bounties are issued to the hunters, how to get paid for the successful hunt, and how to handle disputes. Types of armament and transportation of course is covered.
As a bonus, The Bounty Hunter Code includes a recruiting pamphlet for Death Watch. That’s right, do want to join Vizla and retake Mandalore? Well this booklet will give you details on why Death Watch started as well as their ultimate purpose of being back the proud warrior caste shunned by the new order on Mandalore. It also gives details on the Mandalorian armor, weapons and traditions. Training is reviewed as well as some of the history of Death Watch and Mandalore itself.
Authors Daniel Wallace, Ryder Windham, and Jason Fry did an excellent job bring this underside of the Star Wars universe to life. They intricately weaved the Original Trilogy, Prequels, Clone Wars, Rebels, and even the now Legends titled expanded universe into this book. The details they provided will only enhance appreciation for the hunters. What made this even more enjoyable are the notes and comments in the margins of the book. Supposedly put there by Boba Fett, Jango Fett, Dengar, Greedo, Bossk, Aurra Sing, Hondo Ohnaka, and even General Han Solo himself; all whom had possession of this particular copy at some point. Most of their remarks are humorous, as they are responding to previous annotations.
The art in the book is top-notch! Artists Alan Brooks, Joe Corroney, Mark McHaley, Gustavo Mendonca, Chris Reiff, Brian Rood, Chris Scalf, Chris Trevas, John Van Fleet and Velvet Engine Pte Ltd only enhanced the book with their masterpieces. There are some pictures in the book I wouldn’t mind having up on the wall in my Star Wars room.
Over all I found this book quite enjoyable. It can be tedious at times, mainly because the authors achieved their goal of making the novel feel like a real employment handbook, but I did garnished a wealth of knowledge about an unexplored side of the Star Wars universe. This is definitely a must read for Star Wars fans wanting to explore the world of the bounty hunter.
Thanks to Dan and Cory for letting me have this opportunity to review this great piece of Star Wars literature and to Chronicle Books for making it available to us for review!
You can find me as @taharris121079 on Twitter or email me at aharris@coffeewithkenobi.com.
May the Force be with you.