testosterone boys and harlequin girls

[tears_of_nienna]

I still have no job and no life, so I'm going to ramble about the Star Wars EU for awhile. This started out as a reply to beingdrowned's post at starwars_eu (caution! Sacrifice spoilers!), but I decided to expand it into my personal Star Wars manifesto--spoiler warnings still apply.

Comments

[parcae]

If it weren't for your subject I would have no idea what song you're listening to, because (save tracks one and eight) that applies to EVERY SONG ON THE ALBUM.

Also I'm sorry that Star Wars is having crises. :(.

[tears_of_nienna]

It is an EPIDEMIC, for reals. But it amuses me.

Star Wars has been moving towards this crisis for a looong time. I just kind of thought they'd stop writing before they got there. :-/

no idea what we're babbling about, except: legacy has become such a chore.

[sarisa]

Was reading those comments at starwars_eu just now, and I have to say a great, exasperated EXACTLY, because, ah, EU, what have you become? But, really, it's a result of our "modern" times and its collective worship of all things "dark" and "gritty", as if they automatically mean (sell) exciting and edgy and appealing. As if, only then, could this silly space opera universe be valid. And, ah, modern. Least we forget.

(It's a trend in comic books since the '80s, and makes me headdesk till it hurts.)

Mara should've taken out Jacen. That would've been story-worthy and awesome. I now expect Jaina to pick up the pace, or I will be v. consternated. :(

Re: no idea what we're babbling about, except: legacy has become such a chore.

[tears_of_nienna]

legacy has become such a chore.

And it shouldn't be, because I adore all of the authors and stalk them at every opportunity. It is frustrating and makes me go *sadface*.

Star Wars is not supposed to be dark and gritty, and whoever decided that it ought to be should be poked with a sharpened stick. Star Wars is Star Wars, man. Our heroes are supposed to be snarky and have silly hairstyles and make awkward familial revelations and stuff, and the main characters always come out more-or-less unscathed. It's not The Departed, damn it.

If Mara had killed Jacen, it would probably have restored my faith in the entire franchise. Because nobody would have seen it coming. All this build-up and then--*slice*. I mean, it would suck to be Allana and TK and all, but it'd still be better than having Darth Daddy dropping by all the time.

[sarisa]

Even the fish get a happy ending! I am totally down with this, ♥ The audience tends to forget that fine storytelling doesn't always require DRAMA!! at every turn of the page, that "quiet" character moments can provide momentum that is infinitely more satisfying and well-wrought. (Incidentally, I've found that Karen Traviss achieved this balance wonderfully in the Republic Commando books, which is why Sacrifice as a Legacy joint effort makes me all :(!! a bit.)

And that's yes to re: Star Wars Being Dark & Gritty. I'm all for conflict and heartleaps and the occasional world churning tearfest, but-- but, Luke is a HERO. Han and Leia are HEROES. The kind that win in the end! If I wanted pyrrhic victories and the Solo-Skywalker family being torn asunder, seriously, how can ANYBODY be happy now that Darth Retardo has been so completely and utterly DARTH RETARDO, seriously, I would read, uh, about the Pyrrhic War. You know

[tears_of_nienna]

And that really... has been defining her entire existence in that period too, hasn't it?

That's the real pity of it. She's Yun-Harla for awhile, she's the Sword of the Jedi a little bit, but mainly she's a lovestruck teenager, even though she's thirty now.

I kind of hate to say it, but I hope they don't attempt any more NJO/Legacy arcs and stick to single books or duologies/trilogies after this.

Me too, and I don't even feel that bad about saying it. My favorite books have always been the short arcs or standalones--there's less that feels like filler. A nice, tight story arc would definitely be more satisfying.

[jeditrilobite]

Hm, I think that you've beat me in fan longevity - I only got into Star Wars when I was brought to the special editions in the theaters, although I was sorta aware of the movies before that

[tears_of_nienna]

Jaina would be one person one story, then another author would take her off on another tangent.

Exactly! It's almost impossible to keep the characterization consistent when you've got that many writers and that many plots going on.

...Was Crystal Star the one with the giant blob that ate Anakin Solo or something? I remember being so bored with that one.

[sunnyskywalker]

Yes. The blob named Waru from an alternate dimension. This was the second SW book I ever read - it's a wonder I didn't quit then. Of course, I was about 11 and just the idea of books which had more SW was so awesome I hardly cared what it was about.

[tears_of_nienna]

Oh, Waru. Good times. Or...you know...not. ;D