NJO: Vector Prime Reading Notes: R. A. Salvatore: King of Pain
I've now finished up to page 313 (right before Ch 20)
Okay, ouch.
Chewbacca's death still hurt even though I knew it was coming, but mostly because of how badly Han handled it. I had completely forgotten that he had basically put the blame of the death of his friend entirely on his son. How old is Anakin anyway? He's described as a toddler, but he doesn't behave consistently for any age. The visual glorification of a defiant Wookiee doesn't really do it for me. It's at the point where I'm fully aware of the writer trying to manipulate my feelings so I automatically pull away from the story.
More people say things "dryly", even when it makes no sense for their characters to do so emotionally.
But anyways, back to the title of the article: King of Pain, dude, slack off there for a second. I don't know why you're whipping Han to the point of mental collapse, but sheesh. It's like he wanted to take a really huge dump on Han just to make sure everyone feels really, really bad for him. I'm hoping for some emotional payoff for this angst, but I'm inclined to think he just took it too far. I am very disappointed in Han for blaming his youngest for killing their lifelong friend and not apologizing. He should know better. Also I didn't believe for a second that Anakin died. You like your deaths to be gruesome and spectacular. This would actually be a great way to surprise kill someone, but I don't think it'll be used that way because it just feels cheap. On the other hand, I'd be pretty impressed if you could pull it off without it feeling cheap. Bagh, I'm babbling now.
Poor Kyp. Man, everyone is getting their asses wiped in the middle of the book.
I don't really understand what happened with the Solo kids when they did their Force joining thing. I think I understand what he was going for, but he failed to describe it in a comprehensible way for me. I think it was supposed to be cool? I'm just confused. I might have to come back and reread this part (pgs 310-311).
Stuff involving Danni and Miko, interesting and boring at the same time. He wanted to convey the infomation that a second worldship was coming, but tortures Miko in a manner that's both uninteresting and rather easy to ignore. It reads a lot like a delaying technique to me. He mostly wanted a way to describe potential weaknesses and problems with the plan for Danni to escape, convey more data about the Yuuzhang Vong and specifically the yammosk(sp?) war coordinator. I don't mean to trivialize mental torture here, but it seems to me Pain boy took the easy way out with dealing with Miko in not dealing with him. I'm still also waiting for reasons why Danni is a superior warrior. It must be because of her FIGHTING SPIRTO or something intangible like that.
I have no clue what happened with Luke and Mara. I think they were exploring Belkadan(sp?) and then a flight of coralskippers came and ambushed them? Am I reading that right for the end there? And so tis the end of Yomin Carr. I barely knew ya! I guess Luke and Mara are serving as the plot exposition at this point.
Overall: I stopped reading because I got sick of the laying on of pain. Needed a break to deangst or something. Looking forward to seeing how the New Republic will deal with this imminent threat. RAS has me thinking the Council will spend a lot of time quibbling over whether this thing is real until Jedi or someone whose testimony can be trusted show up and start telling these stories. Maybe I'm just projecting TPM onto this. Anyway, reading I, Jedi until I feel better. I'd much rather deal with Corran being too awesome right now than more people wanting to shrivel up and die, plus bonus healthy Mara Jade and good ol' Boostertime.
Okay, ouch.
Chewbacca's death still hurt even though I knew it was coming, but mostly because of how badly Han handled it. I had completely forgotten that he had basically put the blame of the death of his friend entirely on his son. How old is Anakin anyway? He's described as a toddler, but he doesn't behave consistently for any age. The visual glorification of a defiant Wookiee doesn't really do it for me. It's at the point where I'm fully aware of the writer trying to manipulate my feelings so I automatically pull away from the story.
More people say things "dryly", even when it makes no sense for their characters to do so emotionally.
But anyways, back to the title of the article: King of Pain, dude, slack off there for a second. I don't know why you're whipping Han to the point of mental collapse, but sheesh. It's like he wanted to take a really huge dump on Han just to make sure everyone feels really, really bad for him. I'm hoping for some emotional payoff for this angst, but I'm inclined to think he just took it too far. I am very disappointed in Han for blaming his youngest for killing their lifelong friend and not apologizing. He should know better. Also I didn't believe for a second that Anakin died. You like your deaths to be gruesome and spectacular. This would actually be a great way to surprise kill someone, but I don't think it'll be used that way because it just feels cheap. On the other hand, I'd be pretty impressed if you could pull it off without it feeling cheap. Bagh, I'm babbling now.
Poor Kyp. Man, everyone is getting their asses wiped in the middle of the book.
I don't really understand what happened with the Solo kids when they did their Force joining thing. I think I understand what he was going for, but he failed to describe it in a comprehensible way for me. I think it was supposed to be cool? I'm just confused. I might have to come back and reread this part (pgs 310-311).
Stuff involving Danni and Miko, interesting and boring at the same time. He wanted to convey the infomation that a second worldship was coming, but tortures Miko in a manner that's both uninteresting and rather easy to ignore. It reads a lot like a delaying technique to me. He mostly wanted a way to describe potential weaknesses and problems with the plan for Danni to escape, convey more data about the Yuuzhang Vong and specifically the yammosk(sp?) war coordinator. I don't mean to trivialize mental torture here, but it seems to me Pain boy took the easy way out with dealing with Miko in not dealing with him. I'm still also waiting for reasons why Danni is a superior warrior. It must be because of her FIGHTING SPIRTO or something intangible like that.
I have no clue what happened with Luke and Mara. I think they were exploring Belkadan(sp?) and then a flight of coralskippers came and ambushed them? Am I reading that right for the end there? And so tis the end of Yomin Carr. I barely knew ya! I guess Luke and Mara are serving as the plot exposition at this point.
Overall: I stopped reading because I got sick of the laying on of pain. Needed a break to deangst or something. Looking forward to seeing how the New Republic will deal with this imminent threat. RAS has me thinking the Council will spend a lot of time quibbling over whether this thing is real until Jedi or someone whose testimony can be trusted show up and start telling these stories. Maybe I'm just projecting TPM onto this. Anyway, reading I, Jedi until I feel better. I'd much rather deal with Corran being too awesome right now than more people wanting to shrivel up and die, plus bonus healthy Mara Jade and good ol' Boostertime.