Archive for March, 2010
“Never Trust a Dork” or “Corny Jokes that Break Your Heart”
Novels or Series Mentioned
Invincible
Betrayal
Inferno
The Legacy of the Force
The Truce at Bakura
The Hutt Gambit
The Han Solo Trilogy
X-Wing Rogue Squadron
X-Wing Series
Dar Apprentice
The Jedi Academy Trilogy
The New Jedi Order
I am not a hard man to please. For a little proof of this fact, I am a Chicago Cub fan…that should let you know that it does not take much to make me happy. Get an old guy who loves baseball with all of his heart and give him a pair of funny glasses and you will make me smile all day long. I don’t care that the Cubbies never win. I still root my heart out for them. For those Star Wars readers who do not know the futility that is the Chicago Cubs, this is like enjoying Waterworld, which I did. The dude had gills, and it was like Mad Max on Jet Skis. For those Star Wars readers who did not see Waterworld or know the Cubs, this is the equivalent of loving The Truce at Bakura, which I do by the way. I was so hoping that Dev would become a Jedi apprentice to Luke, and who hasn’t dreamed of having their brainwaves moved from our fragile bodies and into an indestructible machine. Wasn’t Robocop the coolest guy ever?…well, I feel I have shared too much, so let’s move on. The point is, I am not overly critical of anything, but yet I found myself being critical of the Legacy of the Force series in general for several reasons.
Posted in Darth Caedus, Invicible, Jacen Solo, Star Wars Characters, The Legacy of the Force, The New Jedi Order | 
Tags: Anikan Solo, Ben Skywalker, Boba Fett, Character Profile, Invincible, Jaina Solo, Jedi Academy Trilogy, The Legacy of the Force, The New Jedi Order, The Thrawn Trilogy | 
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“Fighting for the Greater Good” or “Obi-Wan is a Liar”
Novels or Series Mentioned
The Cestus Deception
In my previous blog “Living in the Gray” or “A Fork in the Road,” I mention my love for the gray area or the blurring of lines in Star Wars books. I mentioned The Cestus Deception, and I wanted to dive into this novel a little more today.
No Star Wars book has ever given me the willies quite like this one. I like my heroes squeaky clean, and they are anything but clean in this story.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Kit Fisto are sent to Ord Cestus to prevent the sale of a dangerous new body guard droid because of the Republic’s fear that these droids will be purchased by the Separatist and used as soliders.
“Living in the Gray” or “A Fork in the Road”
Novels or Series Mentioned
Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
The Cestus Deception
The New Jedi Order
The Legacy of the Force
One of my favorite aspects of Star Wars novels that is not found much in the Movies is the blurring of lines between right and wrong. I guess you could say that Luke’s choice on Degobah to stay and study with Yoda or save his friends in Bespin could be, but I think that was a tough choice of which is better, not really a choice between good and evil. Really, it is not until Revenge of the Sith does right and wrong become murky when Anikan is faced with how to save Padme during childbirth, but even this murkiness is shattered when Anikan is told to kill the younglings…that was clearly evil. In the novels, right and wrong are not so clearly understood, and it makes for great drama. This is clear in Drew Karpyshyn’s Darth Bane: Path of Destruction.
“Power Hungry Megalomaniac” or “Furball of Genius”
Novels or Series Mentioned
The Thrawn Trilogy
The New Jedi Order
One of the most important characters, and most underrated characters in my opinion is Borsk Fey’lya…Now that your screaming fit is over about Borsk being some evil, manipulative fur ball, please listen to my reasoning.
First, I totally agree with you that very few characters have made or make me as angry as Borsk Fey’lya, but remember anger and hatred are not the worst emotions a character can evoke. Apathy is the worst emotion that a character can evoke. In professional wrestling, there is a saying, “It does not matter if the fans cheer you or boo you. All that matters is they react to you.” That is so true when it comes to character in a story. It is when a character does not move you at all emotionally that the character and the story losses its appeal and becomes boring. Borsk is anything but boring. Everytime I read his name, I have a strong emotional surge usually one of anger or frustration or disgust that makes me want to keep reading just so I can see Borsk get his just desserts.
It is absolutely true without Hot Rod Rowdy Roddy Piper, Hulkamania would not have been as great as it was. I am not the first to say it, but it is true, we loved Hulk Hogan because we disliked Roddy Piper. The same principle applied to Borsk. We loved and pulled for Admiral Ackbar, Princess Leah, Talon Karde, the entire New Jedi Order, and Cal Omas mainly because of our disgust with Borsk. I think we owe some of our passion for our favorite characters to Borsk, and that is why he is one of my favorite characters of all time.