Hello, all:
I discovered today that my county library has a Star Wars trivia night later this month. This provides an occasion (not for the first time, if memory serves) to discuss Star Wars; for one thing, I haven’t yet seen both of the new episodes of The Acolyte yet. So far, however, I approve.
My difficulty with Star Wars is that, like the missing records of Kamino in the Jedi Library, there are some definite gaps in my knowledge. (So to speak). I’ve read or listened to several of the books covering times before the Clone Wars, I read the Darth Bane trilogy once (and need to again because man that was good), I’ve seen the prequel trilogy movies, the original trilogy, and the sequel trilogy, and all of the Disney live-action shows (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Kenobi, Ahsoka). I have not, however, seen the animated shows about the Rebels, the Clone Wars, or the Bad Batch, or the Tales of the Jedi series; I saw some of the Star Wars Visions series but not all of it. I have yet to read most of the books set after the original trilogy. One hears things through cultural osmosis, as it were, but it’s not the same.
In other words, if I got a question about, say, Mara Jade, Jacen Solo, or the Yuzzhan Vong, I’d most likely draw a blank. Which wouldn’t be much use in trivia. In short: I need to read more.
I will say, as to the TV shows, I liked The Mandalorian the best; I even liked The Book of Boba Fett, if I’m honest with you. Kenobi had good music, loved the bits with Anakin and Obi-Wan, but, I don’t know… it felt like it missed something. Ahsoka definitely missed something. Mainly, I think, what it missed was any definite realization on anyone’s part that Thrawn getting back into the galaxy is equivalent to Thanos getting the Infinity Gauntlet with the full set of gems attached. Honestly, while the intro music was good, Thrawn himself seemed almost…underwhelming? The guy’s supposed to be a brilliant tactical military genius guy and I wasn’t terribly intimidated. He seemed decent as a villain, but decent as a villain is what you say after the one-episode wonders like the Condiment King in Batman: The Animated Series. You shouldn’t be saying that about Thrawn. At least, that’s not the impression I had from what I heard. Anyhow.
Writing Update
Back in May I wrote a short story, The Thoughts of K’Pra, as an entry into
‘s Prompt Quest #2:I found myself terribly intrigued by the world the story inspired, and so now I’m using it as a springboard for a new novel. 3000 words in, give or take, and I’m nearly at the point where I introduce the Heroic Resistance! Hurrah!
Also, probably my favorite story from this past week was a tale about a road trip undertaken by three goblins, because why not?
Closing Time
If my story idea about K’Pra doesn’t pan out, I think I might try something in the line of historical fiction. Maybe a Cold War-era period piece about a Soviet weatherman who finds true love after he defects to the West. I might even have a working title. …
Rudolph the Red knows Rain, Dear.
#BaDumPsh
Until next time,
Michael
Here's hoping for bestseller status on that novel when it's finished! Regardless of the outcome, I'm always happy when an encouragement to write turns into some inspiration for more.
For the record, Ahsoka works VERY well as like, a live-action Rebels season 5. Going into Ahsoka from Rebels puts Thrawn in the perfect “terrible, terrible evil” light that you seem to be missing. Plus, Sabine and Ezra and Hera are so much better characters when you have their character arcs from Rebels in your recent memory. Also, Clone Wars (BOTH the original and the new one) is excellent storytelling. In fact, I HIGHLY recommend all of the animated shows, with the exceptions of Visions and Resistance.