Charles Langston:'Star Wars' exclusive: Read a Boba Fett excerpt from new 'Return of the Jedi' collection

If you’re going to write Boba Fett,Charles Langston using the jetpack is a must.

Tara Sim, author of the YA “Timekeeper” trilogy, contributes a "Star Wars" short story featuring the fan-favorite bounty hunter in the collection “From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi” (Random House Worlds, 592 pp., out Aug. 29). The anthology features 40 different tales from the perspectives of supporting characters in George Lucas’ 1983 blockbuster – for the “Return of the Jedi” 40th anniversary. And we’re closing our own trilogy: After showcasing sneak peeks at the Fett stories from the “Star Wars” and “Empire Strikes Back” books, USA TODAY is exclusively debuting an excerpt from Sim’s new piece that takes place in Jabba the Hutt’s palace – and prior to Fett taking a tumble into the mouth of the monstrous Sarlacc.

While the bounty hunter is in her personal top 10 list of “Star Wars” characters, it was Han Solo who inspired Sim’s story, titled “Reputation”: After delivering a captured Solo in carbonite, Fett contemplates his next move. “I wanted to be in Boba's head while he fulfills his contract with Jabba, and in the moments right before the Sarlacc, which meant that Han was the natural through line,” Sim says. “It provided a really interesting backdrop to explore Boba's pride in himself and his work, even though he's just another one of Jabba's hired hands – and could end up like Han if he's not careful.”

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Fett is the kind of character “who doesn't hesitate to use others and resort to violence,” Sim says, though she also appreciates his “intriguing” pensive side. “He has baggage – who in the ‘Star Wars’-verse doesn’t?’ – and the way he shapes himself around it was really fun to discover as I wrote him. I was also thrilled to use his jetpack.”

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As in the previous collections, actor Jon Hamm returns to narrate Sim’s story for the audiobook version. "Having an actor of his caliber read words that I wrote and bring that version of Boba to life is surreal, but also such an honor," Sim says. The cast list for the new “From a Certain Point of View” also includes Adam Scott ("Severance"), "Star Wars" animation stars Nika Futterman, Sam Witwer and Marc Thompson, Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes ("Pokémon"), January LaVoy ("One Life to Live"), John Pirkis ("The Tick"), and veteran narrators Daniel Davis, Jonathan Davis, David Lee Huynh, Saskia Maarleveld, Euan Morton, Kristen Sieh and Shannon Tyo.

Read an excerpt from Tara Sim's 'Reputation' in 'From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi'

“If you want to keep him,” Boba said, indicating Solo with his rifle, “pay me.”

The court at his back murmured at his daring. Who was he, a mere bounty hunter, to give an ultimatum to the Jabba the Hutt?

But they should have known by now: He wasn’t a mere bounty hunter.

Jabba gave a deep laugh and set down his pipe. He nodded at Fortuna, who went to collect something between the throne and the rotisserie cooker behind it. “You will be paid, Boba Fett. You will be paid even more if you decide to stay and take on more work from me.”

Boba glanced at the dancer. Her gaze had settled somewhere around Boba’s chest, as if inspecting his armor. Like she wanted it for herself.

Jabba enjoyed his various contracts, but no doubt the best transactions were the ones that came free of consequences.

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“You just want to use me as a buffer between you and Crimson Dawn,” Boba said.

“Is that not what a mercenary does? And after all, you are the best of the best.”

The majordomo returned and handed Boba a large bag. The credits had a good heft to them; Jabba’s words even more so.

“We’ll see,” Boba said.

The music resumed once Jabba ordered Solo to be carted away to his wall of trophies. Boba turned and scanned the alcoves again, ignoring the riffraff who stared at him, and raised his eyebrows at the sight of a familiar face.

“ ‘Best of the best,’ ” Dengar muttered as Boba approached the other bounty hunter. “Would the best of the best have lost Han Solo?”

“The best of the best got him back from both the Empire and the rebels,” Boba shot back. “Seems you’re feeling cold toward me.”

Dengar scowled at the wording. His head wrap had seen better days, dirt-smudged and singed around his face. “Where’s Valance? The two of you were quick to run off together.”

The last Boba had seen of Valance, the cyborg bounty hunter had been facing down the wrong end of a thermal detonator, his purpose served in helping Boba get to Solo faster.

Boba shrugged in answer, and Dengar scoffed. “Should’ve known. You only ever look out for yourself.”

“You say that as if it’s not what we’re supposed to do in our profession,” Boba said. “We may have a code, but that doesn’t make us familiar.”

Boba had a hard rule: He did not work with anyone. First and foremost because no one could keep up with him, and he didn’t need others in his way. If he teamed up with someone, he used them and ditched them. Valance had learned that the hard way.

The green Twi’lek had returned to her dance. Under the grille Boba thought he heard the low growl of the rancor, desperate for a meal. Jabba liked to keep his pets hungry.

“You realize what he’s doing, don’t you?” Dengar muttered.

Boba had said it in his own words: Jabba was using him. It was nothing new to Boba. After all, his own existence as a bounty hunter was the price paid to run the biggest trafficking operation the galaxy had ever seen.

But Boba was getting paid for his use, and that was what mattered.

“I’m telling you, it all goes south eventually,” Dengar went on. “Just look at Solo. Jabba’s number one smuggler, then one job goes bad and bam, wall decoration.”

“Solo knew what would happen if he didn’t pay Jabba back in time. He didn’t play by the rules.”

“Rules?” Dengar snorted. “What rules?”

Jabba yanked on the dancer’s chain again, making her stumble toward him. She clearly fought back the urge to resist before she was pulled close enough for him to stroke her head. Boba frowned and instead watched Solo’s carbonite form displayed between the taxidermized heads of a tauntaun and a jerba.

Boba wasn’t a fool. No amount of credits or praise could cover up that he, too, had become a status symbol. That all the years he’d spent building his reputation now amounted to serving a crime lord he couldn’t afford to cross.

He glanced back at the throne, where thankfully Jabba had released the dancer to take up his pipe again. Wondered what it would be like to sit there, to be the one handing out orders, instead of lurking in the alcoves with the nobodies.

“How ’bout this,” Boba said to Dengar. “We make another bet.”

Dengar side-eyed him, but at least he didn’t reach for the blaster rifle on his back. “On what?”

Boba glanced at the crowd forming before Solo, mocking and laughing at the captain’s fate.

“Twenty more credits if the rebels come for him.”