tell me about Star Wars novels!

[DarKush]

From what I recall, only Jedi Masters were privy to certain information in the Jedi Archives. Anakin wanted access to those archives to find a way to prevent Padme's death. As for Palpatine, in LOE, the Council sent Obi and Anakin on a mission to find the other Sith Lord, and in ROTS, the Council thought that the Sith Lord was someone close to Palpatine, but of course they didn't know it was him.

Of course Palpatine was obvious to us, but I don't think he was the obvious choice for the Jedi. For one, he was a noted Senator and later leader of the Republic, fighting to save it from an avowed Sith Lord. Palpatine was hiding in plain sight for decades, and the Jedi didn't seem to sense his true nature. It was a brilliant move to lead such a public life, and use it as a mask. And Palpatine had built up a solid reputation and if I recall from TPM spoke as if he were an idealistic, good government type. Why would they suspect him to be the Sith Lord? I do think GL could've done more here to keep Sidious really in the shadows, and have the Jedi believe that Dooku is the lead Sith Lord. It could've made the truth all that much more painfully sweet when Sidious is revealed.

Regarding the Luke going dark side thing, actually I can see it happening. I think the ROTJ novelization did a good job of delving into Luke's anger right after the battle with Vader on the Death Star. He was on a pendulum. I got the impression from the novel that he really wanted to strike the Emperor down for a moment. It was conveyed in the movie too, but it seemed more powerfully rendered in the novel, though its been a long time since I read it. I could see Luke tipping over, especially to protect the people he loves.

 

[Whofan]

I think the reason Luke goes to the Dark side in Dark Empire is similar in part to Anakin-he wants the Emperor's knowledge to help save his friends. He initially intends-like Anakin-to strike down Palpatine once he's taken care of the latest threat.

 

[Mr Light]

^^ Don't read that post Temis major spoilers!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

From what I recall, only Jedi Masters were privy to certain information in the Jedi Archives. Anakin wanted access to those archives to find a way to prevent Padme's death.

Was that in the movie? Did the Jedi have a good reason not to let Anakin see even the info that could save Padme's life? And why was she in danger anyway? Don't these people have good enough medical care that death in childbirth should be unheard of?

Of course Palpatine was obvious to us, but I don't think he was the obvious choice for the Jedi.

The way he was hamming it up in the movie should have given it away to anyone who was reasonably adept at reading people. It wasn't really necessary to keep Palps' motives from Anakin for so long. Just make Anakin increasingly frustrated by the limitations on his power that the Jedi keep slapping on him. Power lust, not concern for Padme, was the right way to kick him to the Dark Side because it wouldn't require that we believe the Republic has FTL tech but medieval health care. Lucas overdid the concern that we'd hate Anakin, but he already blew that in the guy he cast. Instead, he should have cast an immensely likable actor which would have given him the leeway to write the character as less likable.

 

[Whofan]

Sorry, I edited out part of it to fix that



One thing cool about the novels is the covers, which during the Bantam era were done mostly by Drew Struzan, who has done a variety of SW posters such as those for the prequels.

Although when the license moved to Del Rey, the movie style covers were largely replaced. The NJO covers in particular are very photoshoppy (Well, at least in America-the Japanese covers are more Bantamesque), although to their credit they actually let the characters age a bit compared to Drew's work. For instance, Luke Skywalker on some of the covers does look a bit like Mark Hammil does today, as does Harrison Ford. Although the potrayals of Leia don't look a thing like Carrie today. I suppose Leia has aged more gracefully than her actress...


Also regarding the information, I inferred from the fish opera scene that Palpatine was saying that only the Sith had knowledge of the "extending life" technique. Funny thing is that actually kind of validates Dark Empire....


As for Palpatine being Sith, the Jedi were kind of suspicious of him and in the deleted scenes it's pretty clear that several senators don't like his power. There's an interesting scene that didn't make it into the movie where he says he's going to install regional governors (The Moffs), a direct link to the briefing room scene in ANH.

There's actually a pretty good REPUBLIC comic book in which Valorum, who was ousted from power in TPM, returns and reveals he has dirt on Palpatine. But of course Palpatine arranges for him to be offed before he can tell anyone (Apart from Bail Organa and Mon Mothma).

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Sorry, I edited out part of it to fix that

No problem, I didn't read past the first line.

Regarding the Luke going dark side thing, actually I can see it happening. I think the ROTJ novelization did a good job of delving into Luke's anger right after the battle with Vader on the Death Star. He was on a pendulum. I got the impression from the novel that he really wanted to strike the Emperor down for a moment. It was conveyed in the movie too, but it seemed more powerfully rendered in the novel, though its been a long time since I read it. I could see Luke tipping over, especially to protect the people he loves.

The problem might be that I can't see Mark Hamill perfoming a Luke who could go Dark Side. I do like Hamill but maybe to really nail that aspect of the character was outside his range. Rather than angry or Dark Sidey he just seemed kinda calm and zen in ROTJ - the opposite of what I'd expect a Jedi on the edge to act like. (If that was even the intent).

 

[Whofan]

The way DARK EMPIRE is drawn and colored actually kind of sells the Luke angle IMO. Unlike today's Star Wars comics, which have very detailed artwork, near photorealistic likenesses of the actors and bright colors, DE's art is mainly dark, dreary, and kind of blandish.

It was done by Scottish artist Cam Kennedy, whose other comic credits mainly included Judge Dredd, Punisher, and Batman. So in other words, not your typical SW art.

 

[captcalhoun]

the thing with Anakin and Padme's death though, is that he created a self-fulfilling prophecy. he had visions of her dying, wanted to save, turned dark and ended up injuring her, causing her death.

if he'd just calmed the fuck down, everything would've been fine, but oh, no, mister impetuous had to go off half-cocked and fuck everything up...

 

[Whofan]

Only problem with that is that for some reasons the medical droids said "Medically, she's fine" and "She has lost the will to live". No mention of Anakin doing the throat thing.


BTW the comic story arc "Last stand at Jaabim" reveals how Anakin learned to do the force choke. Basically, Palpatine requests that he withdraw from a war-ridden planet, and when the inhabitants protest, he does the choke. The whole storyline is sort of turning point for Anakin, showing how he learned the skills to become a general.

 

[Turtletrekker]

The problem might be that I can't see Mark Hamill perfoming a Luke who could go Dark Side. I do like Hamill but maybe to really nail that aspect of the character was outside his range. Rather than angry or Dark Sidey he just seemed kinda calm and zen in ROTJ - the opposite of what I'd expect a Jedi on the edge to act like. (If that was even the intent).

Mark Hamill may have more range than your giving him credit for. His Joker in the DCAU could go from maniacal to bone-chilling at the drop of a hat. (And Hamill never just reads lines for his voice-work, he acts the part out. I've seen footage of his Joker "readings" and thought he was incredible.)

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Speaking of Leia going to the Dark Side...(which sounds kinda hot in a way) there was a 'What if' graphic novel that came out a couple of years ago. It was part of a 'Star Wars: Infinities' line....as they did one for 'Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi,' I believe.

For 'A New Hope' it takes the idea of 'what if' Luke wasn't able to detonate the Death Star?

Leia is taken under Darth Vader's wing, and Luke is still with the rebellion...and the story goes from there. (Leia is shown to be in a black Imperial uniform, with gloves...boots...)

Hmmm...

 

[Mr Light]

I *love* the Cam Kennedy artwork in Dark Empire. It's uncanny how he reproduces the actors' faces while at the same time making a dynamic image. And the space junk and technology looks SO amazing!

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Only problem with that is that for some reasons the medical droids said "Medically, she's fine" and "She has lost the will to live". No mention of Anakin doing the throat thing.

I still find her death to be one of the most comically badly dramatized in movie history. Poor girl deserved better than a nonsensical death that happened just because she had become extraneous to the plot and had to be tossed out like a day-old bagel. She should have had a dramatic and heroic death, like right after the babies are born she throws herself into a lava pit so that Anakin would think she killed the babies still unborn because that's the one and only way to protect them from Daddy tracking them down and raising them in an unacceptable lifestyle.

Which also begs the question, how did nobody manage to notice she wasn't pregnant before or during her funeral?!?! Why didn't her family at least attempt to find out what happened to the kids? Isn't that the kind of info that could easily have gotten back to Vader at some point during the next frakkin 20 years?

Argh. Back to talking about the novels now, the movies make me too mad.

 

[Mr Light]

They had to keep the pregnancy a secret from everyone because it would have ruined both their careers. Anakin would have been thrown out of the Jedi Order and the scandal would have cost Padme her Senate title.

And, uh, she wore loose fitting dresses

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Wait...we're supposed to believe that Padme waddled around Coruscant for months and nobody noticed she was pregnant?!?

I literally did not realize that till now. Or maybe I did, but my brain rejected it for being too idiotic to process.

Also, what's the big deal for Padme? She could just say she got knocked up by some guy whose name she forgot because she was real drunk at the time. She doesn't have to tell anyone the truth, and isn't the Republic cool about unwed motherhood, especially for some big-shot Queen/Senator who's rich and well-connected?

Okay I gotta stop talking about the movies...

Speaking of Leia going to the Dark Side...(which sounds kinda hot in a way) there was a 'What if' graphic novel that came out a couple of years ago. It was part of a 'Star Wars: Infinities' line....as they did one for 'Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi,' I believe.

For 'A New Hope' it takes the idea of 'what if' Luke wasn't able to detonate the Death Star?

Leia is taken under Darth Vader's wing, and Luke is still with the rebellion...and the story goes from there. (Leia is shown to be in a black Imperial uniform, with gloves...boots...)

Hmmm...

I'll pick that up just for curiosity's sake.

 

[Hound of UIster]

Rise of Darth Vader takes place almost immeadiatly after Sith, with Anakin starting to truely become Darth Vader. It helps bridge the gap from "NOOOOOO!" to the cold Vader we recognize from the OT.

I wouldn't recommend Rise, it was clearly written without the ROTS novel in mind, it's more a tie-in to the ROTS movie, but lacking much like the movie itself.

The Purge One shot comic did a better job in setting up Vader than Rise.

 

[Piper]

This thread makes me want to check some of these books out and I don't even like Star Wars that much

 

[Jono]

Speaking of Leia going to the Dark Side...(which sounds kinda hot in a way) there was a 'What if' graphic novel that came out a couple of years ago. It was part of a 'Star Wars: Infinities' line....as they did one for 'Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi,' I believe.

For 'A New Hope' it takes the idea of 'what if' Luke wasn't able to detonate the Death Star?

Leia is taken under Darth Vader's wing, and Luke is still with the rebellion...and the story goes from there. (Leia is shown to be in a black Imperial uniform, with gloves...boots...)

Hmmm...

The ending of that was awesome. Yoda gave the Emperor a serious "fuck you with Death Stars on top".

 

[Skywalker]

This thread makes me want to check some of these books out and I don't even like Star Wars that much

Heck, it's inspired me to re-read the Thrawn Trilogy. It's been so long since I read it last that it almost might seem like a new experience.

 

[Admiral_Young]

^ I was just thinking that myself. It really is the pinnacle of the EU...the same with "Dark Empire" for the comics.