#probably the ones on the high republic so probably charles soule’s books

[bereft-of-frogs]

is friday. have a list.

reading:

(finished) Notes on an Execution - Danya Kukafka: Still excellent, still thinking about the ending

(in-progress) The Great Transition - Nick Fuller Goggins: I got this from the person who runs the horror book club I go to. The blurb compared it to Station Eleven, perilously high praise, but I'm weirdly enjoying it. Weirdly because I was afraid the structure would get annoying and weirdly because it's doing a bunch of things I usually find annoying but I'm not annoyed? I think it's because even though there's a lot of social justice themes, it never really feels like the characters are lecturing at the reader. Like there have been some scenes where characters are lecturing other characters - but so far they've all felt like they were more about revealing about the characters and their relationships rather than being like 'see, I know about solidarity, look how good a person I am!' I also really like that the exposition is being given through one of the POV characters (a high school student)'s essays, which have comments from her teacher and the comments are all PERFECT - and sure enough the author's day job is as a teacher. XD

(finished) Light of the Jedi - Charles Soule: still not my favorite, but it does pick up once you get past the first part. I think the narration of that action goes on for a bit too long and doesn't leave much space to take in the characters or setting because so much is happening, one thing after another. But, as I said last week, infinitely better than doomscrolling

(in-progress) Into the Dark - Claudia Gray: Ok the thing about Light is that I didn't really care about any of the deaths in it....until this book made me care. I think Gray is just a little bit more adept at character writing, I really started to fall in love with the High Republic and its characters in this book. I am sad though, given I'm probably going to have to skip Midnight Horizon to avoid getting derailed again, this might be where Reath and I part ways. I ended up loving Reath so much! But alas! Midnight Horizon was not my cup of tea, so I will have to say farewell.

(in-progress) Lord of the Rights chapter-a-day reread: Pelennor Fields today. DEAAAATTTHHH!!!!

watching (tv):

(finished) Silo (Apple TV): WHY am I still thinking about that finale?? why was that so good? WHEN is season 2 coming out?

(in-progress, rewatch) Altered Carbon (Netflix): to stop myself from just watching dumb commentary youtube videos while I'm cooking/eating dinner/etc I started rewatching Altered Carbon and damn it's just so good. I'm almost finished with the first season, I know the second is controversial/isn't quite as good but I still enjoyed it so will continue on

I'm in kind of a hangover post-Silo for the show I watch as part of my bedtime routine. I watched 2 episodes of Foundation and precisely 30 minutes of Severance before I fell asleep last night (I was just really tired because a certain Void Creature had me up at 5AM, not Severance's fault), so idk which I'm going to continue on with. Probably Severance, I'll get back to Foundation eventually.

watching (film):

The Strangers (2008): That scene where Liv Tyler is smoking in the kitchen and the intruder is standing unseen in the background is my LITERAL NIGHTMARE.

Hell House LLC II: The Abbadon Hotel (2018) and Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire (2019): This is such a bizarre series because the first is slightly above-average found footage, the fourth is actually surprisingly scary, and the middle two are SUCH hot garbage, but. Completionist. I have seen them all now. The best scene in the third is with the cultists/demons scuttling around and I realized why it makes me laugh, they remind me of the wraiths in What We Do in the Shadows XD

Dune Part 2 (2024) - I SAW DUNE AGAIN IT WAS STILL GOOD. Aside, is Austin Butler in something the Youths (TM) like? Because I only know him from the awful Elvis movie I suffered through last year. The girl selling my ticket was like 'yeah I've seen it twice as an audience member and then I keep going up to the projection room to watch the duel because Austin Butler *heart eyes*' and I was like.....him? Really? Are the kids just horny for Harkonnens? I have questions.

video game update: I'm unstuck on cult of the lamb! I had the run of my life and got past the underwater level, it was great.

craft update: Skein still tangled, don't want to talk about it. But I've finished the short rows on the sweater vest and am onto the repetitive part! The next real milestone will be getting to where it joins the back under the arms, and I no longer have to purl. I can't wait.

weekend list -- just kidding it's a WEEK list because I'm on vacation! (technically I am dogsitting but I'm still taking a week off from work to go hang out with a dog, so that counts as vacation):

focus up to get through the workday. friends, it is 11AM and that is not going well, let me tell you

go for a run

pack / tidy up apartment so I don't come back to wreckage

non-writing things to do while at parents' house:

many walks! dog cuddles!

try out their fancy peloton thing, see what this cult thing is all about

knitting - planning to work on sweater vest, despite the fact that it is black and my parents' dog is so, so yellow... (she's a yellow lab)

laundry. so much laundry. everything that is in my apartment that can be put in a washing machine, is being brought. We've got sheets, we've got towels, bath mats, etc etc. My parents are paying me for dogsitting services in water usage.

read: I'm bringing 3 books I took out of the library yesterday which seems...ambitious...but maybe doable if I-

--don't scroll. seriously. I've blocked so many things, if I can just stick to occasionally checking my tumblr dash and maybe pinterest once in a while, I can get so much else done

writing to-do:

main project: longfic I am tentatively calling 'the station' (probably will change but this is at least better than my last working title which made no sense so I'm keeping it for now), I have 25k in a very rough draft, and am on chapter 2 of 12 in the rewrite (about 8k words). (It's probably going to be much longer than 25k, that was essentially just the self-indulgent scenes that came easily, now I'm doing the hard plot work, connecting scenes, etc, trying to go roughly in order so I don't have to do another full draft.)

start on the final part of 'omens and all kinds of signs': ideally finish a rough draft but we'll see, I have not started it at all, but I know it will feel good to finish it, if I can get some of the pieces together, that would be great

rough draft of the third variation on the tattoo theme (I have...900 words so far)

rough draft of an alternative POV to an already posted fic that's just an excuse to be shamelessly self-indulgent (I have ?? words scribbled in a notebook about it)

#lists lists lists #long post

[gffa]

Hi there! Where would you recommend someone to start reading the high republic books/comics? Do you have any favorite characters or sotries from them?

Hi! I have found that chronological release order is almost always a good idea for any Star Wars media, because even if the in universe stories are out of order, the audience is very often meant to be familiar with the previous releases. Like, watching the OT before the PT is the best way to view the story because you're supposed to know how the OT goes, that way you get the references and homages and there aren't major spoilers for things you're meant to experience the first time in the OT/other media. It's the same with the the High Republic, you're meant to start with Light of the Jedi and the story unfolds chronologically from there. I mean, sure, in theory, you could start at any point, they explain what you need to know from context, but starting with Light of the Jedi sets the stage, introduces you to the characters and the world, and is still my favorite of all the High Republic stuff I've read to date! So my reading order list would be: - Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule - A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland - Into the Dark by Claudia Gray - The High Republic comic by Cavan Scott - The High Republic Adventures comic by Daniel Jose Older - The Monster of Temple Peak comic miniseries by Cavan Scott - The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott - Race to Crashpoint Tower by Daniel Jose Older - Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland - Tempest Runner audiodrama by Cavan Scott - The Fallen Star by Claudia Gray - Midnight Horizon by Daniel Jose Older You can mix and match the comics especially, as they were coming out concurrently with the novels, so read like five issues of one, switch over to a book, or just do whatever feels natural along the way. This list is missing a few short stories or picture books, but honestly unless you're a 100% perfectionist, they can be skipped or read later, the above are the main thrust of the High Republic storyline. I'm about halfway through the above list and I think Light of the Jedi and The Rising Storm are probably the best of the whole thing for me so far, I enjoy the focus on the older characters like Avar Kriss, Stellan Gios, and Elzar Mann, so the books that give them the most screen time tend to be my favorites, but I also enjoy the main comic because Keeve Trennis is lovely in it. So, those would be my recommendations and starting places!

#the high republic #novel recs

[broke-on-books]

Got tagged by @threephantomrey on a reading game thing, it got long so it's pasted under the cut.

1) How many books did you read this year?

So many omg!! I logged 34 books on Goodreads but I only started logging there at the end of February. I also read a shitton of comics that I didn’t log there because I didn’t want to skew certain statistics and use a different app to log that. (Going by my rough math using that, I’ve read 360 individual comic issues in 2023, not counting rereads). So like I read a lot.

2) Did you reread anything? What?

Sooo much stuff. I just finished a reread of N. K. Jemisin’s Great Cities Duology like two days ago, which I cannot recommend more. Also reread 17776 recently, as well as a childhood favorite (The Fall of the Readers series by Django Wexler) over the summer. When it comes to comics I’ve also done a ton of rereading, most notably Emerald Twilight (Green Lantern (1990) #48-50) like 5 times for the most rereads, but I’ve also reread other faves (in whole or part) such as Wonder Woman: Historia, Batgirl (2000), and I’m currently doing a Green Lanterns (2016) read which has me brain diseased because I am actually obsessed with them SO bad. And I reread poetry constantly so there’s that too.

3) What were your top five books of the year?

I’m skipping this one honestly. I started thinking about it and it hurt my brain. Some standouts I haven’t mentioned yet though include The Fifth Season by N K Jemisin, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, The Last Speakers: The Quest to Save the World’s Most Endangered Languages by K. David Harrison, and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Also like everything Greg Rucka did on Wonder Woman in the aughts (including the Hikateia <3333)

4) Did you discover any new authors that you love this year?

Probably Greg Rucka is a big one, Would maybe count James Baldwin here but that’s iffy because I decided to start reading some of his stuff because I loved a poem of his I had read before this year (among other things). I would also say I discovered A. S. King this year, but I don’t know if I’d say I LOVE her writing, rather that I find it incredibly entertaining because of how batshit fucking crazy it is. Like no one else is on her level when it comes to insanity honestly (and I say this as a comics fan)

5) What genre did you read the most of?

I mean superhero comics probably, but also I read a good amount of poetry (as always) and some fiction.

6) Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?

Sooooooo much! Because I like so many genres I’m always reading like 10+ books at a time, and still a lot of stuff I just don’t get to. Some things I wanted to read include some poetry books I own, specifically my Most Famous Poems of All Time anthology (I think that’s what it’s called?) and my best of Antonio Machado book (bilingual edition!). There’s also a bunch of specific poems that would fall under this category. Also meant to read the Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule (and the rest of the main High Republic series), but that didn’t happen. Also I wanted to read some 90s Flash but it’s soooo long and I couldn’t justify starting it while I’m in the middle of so many things.

7) What was your average Goodreads rating? Does it seem accurate?

My average rating was a 4.2 which is pretty high. I’d say it seems accurate for the books I finished, but when you consider all my DNFs and comics it would definitely be way lower, as I quit a bunch of books halfway through for being terrible this spring that aren’t reflected, and also I read some really shitty comics for my faves this fall. 

8) Did you meet any of your reading goals? Which ones?

No I didn’t meet them : ((((((((. I was pretty ambitious with the Goodreads goal (set for 100 books) so I’m not sad I didn’t meet that, but I was using those numbers to compete with my best friend on who could read the most, and I lost that (she had 43 to my 34) due to a slump in the early summer and another during the school year in the fall. For comics I recently hit 1000 issues read, so I’m happy about that mindset, and got my niche fave into my top 5 characters read so I’m pretty happy there. Still haven’t reached my goal of having Wonder Woman beat Batman for my top character yet, but that only emerged as an objective like a month ago so I’m not too upset. 

9) Did you get into any new genres?

I’d say so, yes! In recent years I’ve done a lot of expanding my taste of books into different genres, and this year I think I read a lot of memoirs, (both traditional and fictionalized) than I ever did before. For traditional I read Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died and in terms of fictionalized, I read and enjoyed both Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Next year I want to read more of this genre, especially getting to Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which has been on my TBR for a while. 

10) What was your favorite new release of the year?

New release… um…. Let me check something real quick. How have I read nothing from this year what. Okay I’m just going to stick to comics for this one and say Spirit World by Alyssa Wong was SO GOOD. Honestly may buy the trade for that when it comes out in April like I was loving that series sm. (also Wong is my favorite comic author currently writing. Although they’re not doing anything I’m interested in in 2024 it looks like : ((((( )

11) What was your favorite book that has been out for a while, but you just now read?

*blinks in classics fan* uhhh actually you know what. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner has been published for 231 slutty, slutty years and I only got around to it now. So that’s a shame. Also I read Huck Finn for the first time this year and that’s been culturally massive for centuries as well. Although the ending for that book was shit I really liked the rest. Tom Sawyer can actually die in a hole though I hate him SO much. 

12) Any books that disappointed you?

SO MANY YES. I had a really long dnf streak in late spring of this year, but one of the books I couldn’t finish was one of the most hyped up books I’ve read this year, that being All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Also I actually finished this one but I just hated Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard. Which like I’ve heard good things about this play and I had just finished Hamlet like a month or so before and just like. Idk it was bad I didn’t like it and thought it was super confusing. Maybe watching a stage production would make me like it more but like. It was not lit fam idk :/

13) What were your least favorite books of the year?

Those two for sure would be in there. Also just like the rest of my dnfs I guess. R & G was the only book I finished that I rated less than three stars on goodreads. OH WAIT COMICS. I read so many shitty comics oh my god. This could have gone in disappointments too but Green Lantern: Mosaic FUCKING SUCKED. Like jesus christ it was so bad I only made it three issues. It was such a disappointment too because it was a spinoff book from a really good arc imo (written by the worst human to ever draw air and write comics. Not an exaggeration) with cool ideas and characterization and then the actual book is like fucking. Horrific. Like he has the main character fucking graphically domestic abuse his girlfriend in front of her kid and then she forgives him and then she comforts him and it's just a hot mess of a book. Fucking awful. This summary doesn’t even begin to cover it. 

14) What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

I told myself I would finally finish Muerte Bajo el Sol, the Spanish translation of Agatha Christie’s Evil Under the Sun by the end of the year but I very much lied there so yeah. I’ve been reading that book for so long I just need it over.

15) Did you read any books that were nominated for or won awards this year (Booker, Women’s Prize, National Book Award, Pulitzer, Hugo, etc.)? What did you think of them?

Oh yeah a ton. I like my books thematically crunchy so I generally search out award winners. I’ll be easy and say the Broken Earth Trilogy here, which I did love, although I think the first book was the strongest outside of the three. I won’t spoil but I was in the parking lot waiting to pick up my friend when I reached a certain point and I legit almost honked my horn in the senior parking lot. At dismissal. Also had a few great moments reading it where I realized that the author had read [insert classic here] as well and was drawing some inspiration for certain elements which I liked. 

16) What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

All the Light We Cannot See for sure. It just wasn’t it personally. 

17) Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

Maphead by Ken Jennings lmao. I was given a metric ton of Ken Jennings books for Christmas 2022 (because I’m a MAJOR trivia/quiz bowl nerd and he hosts Jeopardy) but this was my favorite, and I really did like it. (especially the quiz in the back haha)

18) How many books did you buy?

No comment. The username is the username for a reason. No but uhhh for real idk. I used the libraries pretty heavily this year, so when it comes to like my own money then just two comic trades I think. Maybe some more poetry. I get given/ask for a lot of books as gifts so that’s where most of mine comes from. I got 9 books for Christmas like last week haha.

19) Did you use your library?

Yee! I used 4 different library systems this year, (high school, local public, college, and college local public) so I definitely made the most of it. Currently I have three library cards as I just applied for a new one in my college town using my dorm address lol. Oh and I got a few books from an informal swap library set up in a bookshelf right outside my summer job so that too i suppose. 

20) What was your most anticipated release? Did it meet your expectations?

I’ll use Spirit World here because it actually came out in 2023 haha. I think it both met and surpassed my expectations, as the reasons I started the book were all better or just as good as expected, but also there were so many other elements that I thought were soooo good too so yeah.

21) Did you participate in or watch any booklr, booktube, or book twitter drama?

Nah idc about any of that. I listen to my friend complain about how shitty some of the popular tiktok books she reads are so that should count for something ig. 

22) What’s the longest book you read?

The Fifth Season was 468 pages so that one. Shortest was Rime of the Ancient Mariner with 77 pages (although I think it was shorter tbh)

23) What’s the fastest time it took you to read a book?

According to Libby I think like an hour and a half for the Absolutely True Diary which is kind of crazy. (not counting the Rime here obviously) but generally it only takes me a couple hours for most books. Poetry collections and nonfiction are different though.

24) Did you DNF anything? Why?

SO MUCH. Why? Because it sucked. No but like I was trapped with my most accessible library from Jan - May this year being the one at my high school, which just had SO much YA and books for like. Middle schoolers. This was at a time where my tastes were maturing a lot and I really wanted serious books. So even recommendations I would get from the librarians for books during this time would fall flat just because they were too juvenile for what I was into. 

25) What reading goals do you have for next year?

To beat my best friend in books read. Also like to try not to slump too bad and just like. Read a good amount. Finish my one spanish book so I can start my other spanish book. Have Wonder Woman beat Batman in my comic book stats. Yeah. 

As for tagging uh idk im like really congested right now so like. people do whatever i dont want to have to htink of anybody to tag *thumbs up emoji*

#blah

[starwarsnonsense]

Book Review: The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott (Spoiler-Free Review) ★★★★

Cavan Scott’s The Rising Storm kicks off phase two of the High Republic publishing initiative, continuing the stories of the characters first introduced in Light of the Jedi - as well as an assortment of new ones. I greatly enjoyed Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi, but it was - by design - a set-up novel that introduced the reader to a new era in Star Wars history and the vast cast of characters that populated it. Therefore, I was most intrigued by what Light of the Jedi teased for the future - and with that in mind, I’m happy to report that all the groundwork laid by Charles Soule has paid off. The Rising Storm is even better than its predecessor, taking the most intriguing elements of Light of the Jedi and exploring them more deeply. 

One of the core strengths of The Rising Storm is that it feels more focused than Light of the Jedi did, even though it still has a grand scope and covers a range of perspectives. Three Jedi characters get the most page time: Bell Zettifar and Elzar Mann both carry over from Light of the Jedi, and Stellan Gios makes his first appearance as a main character. Picking up from the events of LOTJ (I’ll use this abbreviation hereafter), much of the action of The Rising Storm is centred around ‘The Republic Fair’ - a sci-fi ‘World Fair’ intended to demonstrate the strength and unity of the Republic, which inevitably attracts the nefarious attentions of the Nihil. 

I’m always more interested in character development over plot, and found The Rising Storm (TRS hereafter) struck a pleasing balance - the plot of TRS is clear and propulsive, but it serves mostly as a backdrop to the different characters’ personal struggles and journeys. Of the three main point of view characters, I was probably most fascinated by Elzar - he was introduced in LOTJ as a wild-card who follows his own rules, somewhat beyond the purview of the Jedi Council. However, he was consistently shown to stay on the right side of the thin line separating the light side from the dark - I don’t want to spoil exactly what happens, but it’s safe to say that Elzar stumbles here. My favourite characters tend to be grey, with complex motives that are difficult to label as purely good or bad, and so it’s no surprise that Elzar is the stand-out character of the series so far for me. His psychology is the richest of all the characters, and his passions and frustrations make him eminently relatable. 

Stellan only features very briefly in LOTJ, and on the basis of that book I was slightly concerned that he and Elzar would feel too similar - I’m happy to report that I couldn’t have been more wrong. Stellan lies on another borderline - this one, between the Jedi Council and the Republic. A model Jedi, he’s something of a poster boy for the Jedi Council with close ties to the Republic’s political elite. While Stellan is less … troubled than Elzar, he’s still written in such a way as to feel flawed and vulnerable. Of the three main characters, Bell probably draws the shortest straw - he’s shown struggling with the loss of his master, Loden Greatstorm (due to the events of LOTJ), but is mostly used for action scenes that feel at something of a remove from the main action. However, he has a truly powerful moment at the very end of the book - I couldn’t possibly spoil it, but you’ll recognise it when you get there. 

There’s plenty of great character work in TRS - the Nihil characters also get deepened, and I particularly loved how Lourna Dee was developed here (I’m now VERY excited for her audio drama later in the year). Marchion Ro’s characterisation has definite echoes of Kylo Ren’s (or should it be the other way around?), from daddy issues through to gratuitous mask wearing, but is distinctly his own person. My favourite new character was Ty Yorrick - a former Jedi Padawan, she parted with the Order under bad terms and occupies the moral quagmire I’m so fond of. Her burgeoning connection with Elzar is one of the most tantalising parts of TRS, and I can’t wait to see it explored more deeply in future books. 

Overall, this is an excellent Star Wars novel - exciting, well-characterised and genuinely consequential. It’s a must-read for anyone who enjoyed Light of the Jedi, and makes the High Republic era even more vital to understanding the history of the Jedi. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Penguin Random House/Del Rey UK for sending me an early review copy. 

#star wars #the rising storm #the high republic #cavan scott #elzar mann #stellan gios #book #book review #bell zettifar #marchion ro #jedi

[bedlamsbard]

VERY SCATTERED thoughts on Star Wars: The High Republic: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule -- not terribly spoilery, but probably there’s some if you don’t want to not be spoiled at all.  I’m just going to copy and paste from last night’s Twitter thread(s), so this is definitely not in the top ten most coherent things I’ve ever written.

Under a cut for anyone who is avoiding spoilers.

Light of the Jedi is fine. Weirdly paced, probably a nightmare to read if you're going to read it over several days rather than in one day because of the size of the cast of characters (go back to doing those, Lucasfilm), very much a Western. 

I will say this, as someone who came out of the EU: this book is REALLY jarring to read if you're familiar with the EU, especially the Old Republic era but quite a lot of the later-set stuff as well. It's essentially a reset, but there are things in there that are just ???? like, okay, we're going to change where bacta comes from, sure...? why...?  hyperspace is weird and scary a mere two hundred years before TPM.  why...?

I had this vibe from A Test of Courage (which I read first), but I'm getting it here too -- the Jedi seem more...Christian. It's not something I can put my finger on or point to anything really specific, but something about the approach feels far more Western. I know the promo and publicity for the High Republic series leaned hard into the Knights of the Round Table vibe and it's very...I mean, I can't argue?  I'm not totally comfortable with it?

Coming out of the PT/TCW era as well, these Jedi seem more...what's the word I want. They're not necessarily different philosophically (except for the fact they read more Western-influenced than Eastern), but they're...smoother. That's not a great descriptor. The PT era Jedi feel scrappier, and I don't necessarily mean that just because we mostly see them in the midst of the Clone Wars. (I came out of the PT-era EU, not just the Clone Wars era.) Maybe this is the event that's going to scrape the Jedi down to bare bones and sharp-edged teeth. Maybe I missed something not having read the PT-era new canon. Again, like, I don't think they're philosophically different, they're hmm. less...desperate?  and certainly part of that is that the PT Jedi are in their twilight, even before the Clone Wars, and the High Republic Jedi are at their height, but... *flips hands* I don't know.

also I'm going to be honest if I saw the words "we are all the Republic" one more time I was going to lose my mind. this is particularly noticeable because the government is apparently just the Chancellor and two ministers. you are telling me the Senate doesn't care?  perhaps I am particularly sensitive to this because of the U.S. politics we are all suffering through but WHERE WAS THE SENATE.

the Nihil are whatever.

a lot of the design choices in this book feel very Rule of Cool, which going by the way that the designs seem to have been done may actually be true. (lightsabers...holstered?)  (honestly I have my back up with how SW introduced them by basically going "ALL RIGHT COSPLAYERS HAVE AT."   and I feel kind of weird about the fact they went for the blonde white woman as their main Jedi.)  just a lot of this feels very "okay what if we do THIS because it's COOL" which like as a fic writer sure! fine! that's great! I'm tired.

I can't believe we have to live through three phases of this for at least the next three years.

anyway it's fine. the pacing in Light of the Jedi is fucked up -- mostly it's fine but then there's the back third and that's...not...great. especially if one is trying to apply timeline logic.

***

[this is a separate thread I wrote about the same book]

was not expecting the trend in new canon Star Wars to be authors being really weird about writing nonhumans but whatever like, they're doing it, but the descriptions are...weird.  it's the less fucked up equivalent of "she breasted boobily"

this is something I think about a lot because I write from Twi'lek POVs all the time, so I am probably more sensitive to it than average

would you describe a human in this way? no? then don't do it. (I should specify because lolsob people, would you describe whatever your idea of a Standard Person is in this way? no? then don't do it. because people are also weird about describing, amongst others, women and POC.)

this sort of thing isn't, like, BAD but it also feels very...unnatural.

IDK, this is one of the Star Wars things that I'm unusually sensitive about.

the author is less weird about describing some of the other nonhumans so I think it's entirely possible he doesn't think his audience knows what the fuck a Nautolan is

um.

if you didn't already know what Togruta looked like this description would make zero sense so it's kind of just reading like the author going "Togruta are sexy, check."

(I swear I'm getting other stuff from this book too, it's just the description thing is what I'm attuned to so it's getting the most commentary from me.)

[subthread in response to a question I got about this sort of thing]

I don't know that there's a pattern -- I'm not doing much SW reading because I don't generally find it enjoyable anymore, but what I usually look for are 1) in a close third person POV how is the author having the character describe themselves?

and then, is that described in a way that feels natural? (thinking about Freed having Hera call her skin "jade-colored" or here "tentacles emerging from the back of his skull.") is there an ever-present awareness from within the character that they're not "human-standard"?

2) how much does the narrative exoticize their non-humanness -- Soh talking about Togruta in this thread is a very obvious example, even if that's not a Togruta describing themselves.

if it feels like the narrative is going "LOOK! THEY'RE NOT HUMAN!" and then lays out the ways how based on their physical characteristics. and what the narrator chooses to describe and not (skin color, lekku, horns, etc.)

there can also just be some REALLY weird phrasing around the way authors choose to describe nonhuman characters -- thinking about EKJ's Ahsoka talking about how "her head had grown again", that'a a phrase that lives rent-free in my brain.

also Soule has a weird quirk I've noticed where nonhuman characters are not described as being "a Twi'lek" or "a Tholothian" but as "Twi'lek" or "Tholothian" -- using the species as an adjective rather than a noun, which grates a little on me because it's not SW standard.

and then also the decision about what's being described sometimes just feels WEIRD in a Star Wars setting, and it's particularly glaring here because there are some species Soule's singling out to describe and some that are just allowed to exist.

*snaps fingers* and also if the author will identify various nonhumans as their species, but never specify that humans are humans, even while describing skin tone, eye color, etc. (I mention this because I JUST ran into this in the book.)

the human default is really jarring in this book even if there are a ton of nonhuman characters, because he tends to not specify that the humans are human. like, I'm more attuned to it than most of the audience for various reasons, but. *flips hand*

like, this is definitely a thing I'm unusually sensitive to because of Backbone, so. *shrug*

#bedlam reads star wars #bedlam reads the high republic

[hinerdsitscat]

So Let's Talk About Star Wars: Into the Dark

I yelled a bit about The Light of the Jedi so now I guess it’s time to unleash all of my thoughts about the next book in the High Republic series.

I liked Into the Dark more than I liked LotJ, partially because I just really like Claudia Gray’s writing (writer of the most iconic scene in the new canon novels, in which Leia shows up to a party in her most Obviously Sinister outfit after the big public scandal about Vader being her father in Bloodline), but also because Charles Soule had to put a lot of energy into introducing the entire High Republic universe over the course of the first book, whereas CG could just get down to business. I also think the slightly pared-down number of characters and plotlines in ItD helped a lot: I spent a lot of LotJ not knowing which characters I should get invested in, because the first third of the book kept introducing characters and then immediately killing them off.

So let’s talk characters because DAMN they are delightful:

Reath Silas, You Fucking Nerd

No, really, the number of times I yelled “oh my god Reath you FUCKING NERD” out loud while reading this book was well into the double digits.

This precious city boy who just wants to read a book and be left alone, to the extent that they unofficially gave him his own desk in the Archives. Bless.

Also, just the sheer innocence of this child thinking that all the adults around him have everything figured out

But also: “I understand prosthetic arms are more advanced than prosthetic legs. More comfortable too.” and then CUTS OFF SOMEONE’S ARM (I had to edit this post like a week after the fact because I can’t believe I forgot about this scene)

The absolute lack of danger sense on this child, I stg... Meeting the scary genocidal plants? "OH MY GOD YOU'RE SENTIENT PLANTS CAN I ASK A FEW QUESTIONS?" Face to face with a Nihil soldier holding a blaster? "I REALLY WANT TO TALK PHILOSOPHY WITH YOU!" Having Cohmac dump a Massively Worrying Bit Of Heresy in his lap? "OH HELL YES, WE'RE GONNA TALK PHILOSOPHY, BEST DAY EVER!"

Speaking of Cohmac...

Cohmac Vitus, A Parade's Worth of Red Flags

Hoo boy...

This guy is the walking embodiment of Every Problem That Is Going To Bite The Jedi Order In The Ass When Anakin Skywalker Comes Along: trauma, repressed emotions, questions that Jedi dogma can't sufficiently answer, got an unexpected Padawan but can barely take care of himself... like, the only thing he's missing is a forbidden romance (Avar and Elzar seem to have that plotline covered, I think/hope...)

None of that is a criticism, by the way: I'm 100% over here with popcorn screaming "YES, FUCK THIS GUY UP"

Everything's going to hell and people are about to attack one another? FLOAT IN MIDAIR BECAUSE WHO'S GONNA MESS WITH THE GUY WHO CAN FUCKING FLY

Orla Jareni, Heading Off to the Jedi Order's Version of Hampshire College

Her plotline felt very much like something from SWTOR, but that might just be because I started playing the Jedi Consular storyline, like, yesterday?

I really liked her flashback plotline because, like with Cohmac, this was another example of "I really wish the Order had addressed this issue before Anakin came along..." Namely, that she spent the flashback mission trying to ignore her instincts in favor of what she was told, and it naturally led to a catastrophe. I got a lot of shades of "I keep having dreams about my mother dying! Eh, it's probably nothing..." so anyway, I spent a lot of Orla's plotline silently yelling.

Also THANK YOU CLAUDIA GRAY for this amazing new addition to canon: "Orla had recently declared herself a Wayseeker--a Jedi who would operate independently of the dictates of the Jedi Council. Some Jedi, from time to time, found themselves drawn to a period of solitary action, whether that meant meditation on a mountaintop, helping revolutionaries on a tyrant-ruled world, or even, in one legendary instance, becoming a minor singing sensation on Alderaan." I HAVE ABOUT HALF A DOZEN FIC IDEAS NOW, MOSTLY AROUND OBI-WAN BECOMING A TEEN HEARTTHROB POP IDOL.

Dez Rydan, the Cool Kid?

This guy gave me serious Ganner Rhysode vibes and so I was not in any way surprised when he got the absolute shit kicked out of him, because he basically had Doom written all over him. I was, however, surprised that he survived?

The Barash Vow was really interesting, and I was actually relieved that the Jedi Order had something close to rehabilitation, even if it was just "meditate a lot."

Leox Gyasi, aka "Master Yoda on (Medicinal) Spice"

There's a canonically asexual character in the GFFA!!!

Which would make him...

...wait for it...

...

...

...an ACE PILOT

(ducks)

Anyway, Leox is played by Tim Rozon-as-Doc-Holliday-in-Wynonna-Earp and you cannot take that mental casting away from me.

Affie Hollow, You Sweet Summer Child

Yeah, that about sums it up, though I love that she really did think she could change her Bird Mafia Mom.

I also really hope that this isn't the last we'll see of her.

She suffers through Reath's explanation of what Jedi are and then asks what is quickly becoming The Question of the High Republic series: "So do Jedi have sex or not?"

Geode: Stone Groot

I just want to say how ELATED I am that there was NO EXPLANATION for what Geode's deal was other than: he's a Vintian, from Vint rock person. That's it.

#star wars #star wars the high republic #the high republic #star wars spoilers #into the dark #star wars into the dark

[aion-rsa]

The Mandalorian: What’s Next for Grogu?

https://ift.tt/2JINSo7

This Star Wars: The Mandalorian article contains spoilers.

The seeing stone on Tython has done its job: Grogu is now in the care of the galaxy’s greatest Jedi, Luke Skywalker himself. The Mandalorian‘s finale, “The Rescue,” brings Luke in as both a surprise connection to the larger saga and a new mentor for the child. And the baby shows an immediate affinity for Luke, reaching out to touch even the screen Luke is shown on. They seem like a good match.

The episode is a delightful return of the saga’s leading man but also one that leaves us with lots of questions. Before we can get any answers, we watch the elevator doors close on Luke and Grogu in the final scene of the episode but don’t know what’s next.

During the time of The Mandalorian, we know Luke is traveling around the galaxy trying to find relics and writings left by the generations of Jedi who came before. It’s during this quest that he finds the sacred texts Rey encounters in The Last Jedi, as well as some records belonging to the High Republic‘s foremost Jedi, Avar Kriss. He has recovered a Force-sensitive tree that once grew in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant before the Empire took over, and he’s also trained his sister, Leia, to use the Force.

He’s in possession of a Jedi star compass found on the planet Pillio, which will eventually point him to Ahch-To, the planet where Luke will later go in his self-imposed exile right before the Sequel Trilogy. Just a few years after The Mandalorian, he will also set out to find Jedi ruins with his nephew Ben Solo and Lor San Tekka, the Force devotee who appeared briefly at the start of The Force Awakens.

Stream your Star Wars favorites right here!

So, in short, Luke has a whole galaxy to explore in order to figure out how best to build a new Jedi Order. He already has some information, but as far as we know, has not canonically started training anyone else in the ways of the Force at this point. In fact, until “The Rescue,” it seemed like Ben was Luke’s Jedi apprentice. Now Grogu might fill that spot. But Luke doesn’t have an academy to go home to yet.

But did Grogu eventually become one of the Jedi students who died when Ben Solo destroyed Luke’s academy? For one thing, Grogu isn’t around in the Sequel Trilogy, which might leave some people wondering if the little Jedi did die just before The Force Awakens. You can probably rest easy, though. He doesn’t appear in the comic book miniseries The Rise of Kylo Ren by Charles Soule and Will Sliney, which chronicles Ben’s fall to the dark side and shows the very moment Luke’s former apprentice destroyed the Jedi Temple. Since Grogu isn’t one of the Jedi students featured in those comics, you could reason he was no longer with Luke by the time the Jedi Master set up his academy. Of course, you could also make the very reasonable counter-argument that Grogu just didn’t exist in the Lucasfilm creative vault when the studio began crafting its Sequel era stories.

Just like with Luke taking Grogu on as his first(?) student, whatever fate awaits Grogu could just as easily be retconned into the timeline, meaning that his absence from the Sequel Trilogy will very likely be explained in another story. This does open up the possibility that the Lucasfilm Story Group could just decide that Grogu died off-screen during the destruction of Luke’s academy. But Disney wouldn’t kill off a beloved (and lucrative) character in such an unceremonious fashion.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Does this mean Grogu made it back to Din Djarin at some point between “The Rescue” and the Sequel Trilogy? This is very possible — and even likely. It’s no secret that Din and Grogu’s connection is at the core of what has made The Mandalorian so successful. Forget all of the nostalgia, references to classic cinema, and all of the Jedi and bounty hunter action. People ultimately care about this show because of this found family and what they mean to each other. This show wouldn’t hit quite as hard if its main characters weren’t so fully realized.

Disney seemingly breaking away from the central relationship on the show is likely more about building tension for a reunion at a later date as well as moving some pieces around on the galactic chessboard. At the end of “The Rescue,” it’s clear where Din is off to next. He’s allied himself with Bo-Katan and promised to help her retake Mandalore from the Empire once and for all. A battlefield hardly seems like a place for a mostly defenseless baby. Pulling Grogu out of the equation also makes it easier to tell a story as big as the reclamation of Mandalore without having to check in with the little Jedi every episode. And when Grogu’s on the show, you want him front and center, too.

Whether the Mandalore story is told in season 3, or if Boba Fett is taking over as the Mandalorian protagonist for a bit in The Book of Boba Fett, remains to be seen. What does seem inevitable is that Din and Grogu will reunite eventually to continue their story.

Read more

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How Boba Fett Actor Jeremy Bulloch Set the Template for The Mandalorian

By Joseph Baxter

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How The Mandalorian Captures the Spirit of the Star Wars Prequel Era

By Megan Crouse

But in the meantime, it’s exciting to think about where Luke and Grogu might be headed to first in the Jedi’s trusty X-wing. Could Luke take Grogu back to what’s left of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant to explore the little padawan’s past with the old Jedi Order? Or might they be headed to Chandrila, the capital of the New Republic at the time? Or maybe Luke will just set course for the next ruin or treasure trove of Jedi knowledge, a clear opportunity for Grogu to learn more along with him.

A more captivating destination could be Grogu’s home world, the mysterious birthplace of Yoda’s species. Ever since Yoda was introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, fans have wondered where the Jedi Master hails from, a well-kept secret that George Lucas refused to reveal while he was at the controls of the franchise. And Disney doesn’t seem any closer to answering that question…yet. With Grogu proving such a hit with fans, could Disney be tempted to explore more about the little Jedi’s roots in the undoubtedly mystical location?

It’d fit Luke’s story perfectly, too. He’d be able to learn more about his Jedi Master while in the process of becoming a master himself and passing on what he’s learned about the Force to another of Yoda’s species. It’s the kind of rhyming poetry Star Wars loves.

Whatever might be next for Grogu, we have many more months to speculate. The Mandalorian season 3 is scheduled to arrive in December 2021.

The post The Mandalorian: What’s Next for Grogu? appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/357RF5A

#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

[eirenare]

Tomorrow is the reveal day of Star Wars’ “Project Luminous” and I’m here just vibing thinking of the possibilities (keeping my feet on the ground tho)

I mean, you can’t make the tagline be “It's an energy field created by all living things... until...” and NOT expect me to be hyped, because that “until” implies something big, it’s just SO ominous

If we’re getting High Republic (and by the way it’s been teased lately, for example in “The Rise of Kylo Ren”), this is gonna be interesting because we’d be in uncharted territory

One of my wildest guesses: we might see more about the Knights of Ren

The KoR, even though they’ve been said to have a background, haven’t had seen it developed that much... The closest to that is “The Rise of Kylo Ren” (remember the moment when we thought we’d finally have something meaningful with them in TROS? Oh, such sweet summer children we were), and even in it there’s not that much info. In fact, as we get close to the 4th and last issue of the comic, there are questions floating and I don’t know if the last volume is going to have space enough for the rest of Ben’s story (could it be that we’ll see how he gets the Vader helmet/mask, perhaps?) and develop the KoR much more

Now the thing is... TROKR shows some interesting stuff about the KoR that, unless it’s explained a bit more in issue #4, it would seem to not be expanded upon anymore: the philosophy of the Ren (so cryptic and dark, I like it a lot), that it’s seemingly tied to that red lightsaber Ren wields

And the latest Visual Dictionary only adds to the intrigue because it revealed that they hailed from the Unknown Regions, and that their name and reputation were told about for CENTURIES and inspired cautionary tales about uncharted space... and we don’t know if the last KoR were directly connected to them, or just using their reputation (or... *coughs in World Between Worlds traveling theorizing*)

And it’s interesting because why would they reveal THAT on the Visual Dictionary, and then TROKR not show anything about it as of issue 3 of 4?

Not to mention that one of the authors of “Project Luminous” is Charles Soule, who’s the writer of “The Rise of Kylo Ren”

I think it’s just... too much of a coincidence?

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind more KoR. I mean, my first wish is always gonna be Ben Solo and Rey trying to find a way to each other (I just love them a ton okay?), but... more KoR would be a hard “yes” for me, I’d welcome it with open arms because I feel like they should’ve gotten something more—and dammit, I want more Ren

... Also, remember the TFA book with the designs of the KoR, and then above them the letter calling them “the 7 light?” Yeah I’m still thinking of that cryptic stuff even though it probably has no meaning now. And the fact that they all come from rejected appearences for Ben as his Kylo Ren persona is interesting, their defeat at Ben’s hand in TROS feels pretty symbolic

#Project Luminous #Star Wars Project Luminous #Star Wars #SW #The Knights of Ren #TROKR speculation #The Rise of Kylo Ren speculation #TROKR theorizing #The Rise of Kylo Ren theorizing #TROKR theory #The Rise of Kylo Ren theory #TROKR theories #The Rise of Kylo Ren theories #Ben Solo #Rey #Baby boy Ben Solo #TROS #The Rise of Skywalker #Star Wars speculation #SW speculation #Star Wars theorizing #SW theorizing #Star Wars theory #SW theory #Star Wars theories #SW theories

[alippy711]

FAWY- Bonus #2!

Happy Sunday or Saturday depending on where you are. 

Without further aideu I present to you the next installment of the FAWY bonus chapters. 

Let me know what you think and we will see where I go from here.

####

August in Prague: Flashback

“How is summer in Boston?” I groaned at his question and heard him chuckle. I took a deep breath, prepping myself for the word vomit that would ensue.

“Let’s see, I spend 8 hours a day in this house pacing the hallway mumbling to myself while I research and write these papers. Kim and Rose are crazy with wedding prep so I never see them. Matt and I are around each other too much and one of us might crack and kill the other one very soon. Basically im miserable and every human, except you, is driving me insane.” I fell onto my bed with a grunt venting my frustrations to the only person I wanted to see, who happened to be 3,000 miles away.

“So things are good, huh?” His laugh brought a smile to my face, which was hard to do these days.

“Summers amazing” My sarcastic tone brought out another laugh the sound alone sending my heart into a frenzy.

“Im sorry Ash, anything I can do?” The concern in his voice was sweet only making me ache for him more. I saw him a few weeks ago but those few days weren’t enough to make up for the two months he had previously been gone for.

“Teleport here so you can destress me”

“Why don’t you just come here?” I let out an incredulous laugh rolling my eyes at his off-hand suggestion.

“Oh sure I’ll just hop on a flight to the Czech Republic and do this paper there while traipsing around Prague”

“I mean why not? You can work while im training. We have libraries and café’s you can go to. It would be perfect” His nonchalant tone had me pausing when I realized that he might be serious.

“Wait, you’re serious aren’t you?”

“Totally serious. When do you nanny again?” I hopped up from my bed riffling through a mess of papers on my desk searching for my summer work schedule.

“Not until next week.”

“Perfect, I book you a flight for tomorrow and you stay until Saturday.”

“David, are you sure about this? I don’t want to get in the way of your training or anything else you might be doing.” I emphasized my words not hiding my double meaning at all.

“Yes im sure. I want you to visit. You won’t be in the way of anything I promise.” Excitement coursed through me just thinking about the possibility of seeing him for a whole week, in Prague. I could think of nothing better to distract me from my stress.

“But I don’t really have the money to fly to Europe.”

“Consider it a birthday present, just a few weeks late” I could accept this gift.

“Promise me that you’ll make me get this paper done because spending a week exploring Prague with you sounds so much better.” This all sounded totally crazy the more I said it out loud.

“I promise. No exploring until we both put in work” I could hear the smile in his voice and it made the butterfly’s in my stomach go crazy.

“Alright book the flight.”

“Already ahead of you. I hope you like first class.” I leapt off my bed with a squeal and ran straight to my closet.

“Holy shit. What do I pack for Prague? How’s the weather? Will it get cold? How hot does it get? Will the jet lag totally fuck with me? I think I need to go shopping.” I rambled out another 10 questions while David patiently answered each one.

##

Just over twenty-four hours, and a few long flights later, I was anxiously speed walking through the Prague airport towards baggage claim where David would be waiting. After what felt like the longest walk ever I finally came to a pair of automatic doors directing me to my promised land. The second I was through the doors my eyes were scanning the faces of the waiting people, thankfully it didn’t take long to find him. My heart skipped a beat when my eyes found his at the same moment he found me. The butterfly’s in my stomach went nuts when his face lit up with that chipped tooth smile that never failed to put a smile on my face. From the moment I saw him I could have sworn there was no one else in that airport besides the two of us. There wasn’t more than thirty yards separating us but walking wasn’t fast enough and I all but ran towards him while he watched and laughed.

“Im jumping you better be ready”

MY words made him laugh harder but he opened his arms and was ready for me as I jumped into his grasp. The second I connected with him his arms went under my thighs holding me against him as I wrapped my legs around his waist snaking my arms around his neck. I buried my head in the crook of his neck and took in a deep breath inhaling his intoxicating scent. For the first time since I last saw him I felt like all was right in the world, like my center of gravity had been restored. A feeling that, while lovely, simultaneously scared the shit out of me.

“God I missed you.” His words were muffled as he spoke and I felt his lips press against my hair while I nuzzled into him trying to suppress the excited squeal I let slip.

“I missed you too.” 

When I pulled back I was met with those beautiful blue eyes I missed so much. I brought my hands around from his neck placing them on either side of his face and kissed him hard on the lips. He kissed me back with more desperation than I expected and I was easily caught up in the way his lips moved against mine in perfect synch. However, when I felt his hands slide up my thighs to squeeze my ass I figured it was time to end our very public display of affection. I reluctantly pulled my lips from his allowing him to set me back down on the ground.

 I took a step back and let my eyes drift over him, an action which did nothing to help me recover from our kiss. He was wearing a salmon colored T- shirt with a pair of beige khaki shorts (with ridiculous holes in them) and white sneakers and was shockingly hatless, though I feel he did that knowing how much I love his hair. It wasn’t necessarily the outfit that had me biting on my lip but that thick summer muscle he had gained. I shook the lust from my head and looked up at him.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” He had an awed smile on his face as he reached for one of my hands, the simple act sending a jolt of electricity through me.

 “You and me both. I currently feel like im hyped up on caffeine yet completely exhausted, so this should be an interesting day.” I nudged his arm with mine and flashed him a smile.

“The jetlag is gonna kick your ass, just need to keep you busy.” The wiggle of his brows had me rolling my eyes with a smirk.

“Just get my bags first then worry about laying me down, Romeo” My comment brought out that laugh I love so much. The laugh that went straight through me warming the coldest parts of my soul.

“Ok, follow me” The adorable half smile he flashed had me swooning.

I cozied up to David as we stood near the luggage carousal waiting for my bags. He had his arm around my shoulders as I rested my head on his chest savoring in the moment.

“So what’s on the schedule for today?” I tilted my head up, chin resting on his chest while he looked down at me.

“Busy day exploring, unless you have work to do?” He asked with a raise of a brow.

 “Nope. Since I can’t sleep on planes I was able to get some work done so we can explore all day!” He smiled wide squeezing my side making me squirm.

“Perfect. We go see Old Town Square and Charles Bridge today. And if you behave I may even let you get a Trdelník.” He tapped me on the nose with his index finger while my eyes lit up at the mention of the Czech dessert I was dying to try.

 “Do you understand how excited I am? This is my first time in Europe im like a kid on fucking Christmas morning” David laughed as my voice grew higher with excitement.

 “Oh my bag!” My words were entirely too loud as I pushed away from him and rushed over to the carousal to grab my bag

“dostanu to za vás” David placed a hand on my arm holding me back to reach over me and grab my suitcase off the carousal.

“Thanks boo” He winked, setting my cheeks aflame.

“Time to see my city.” The huge smile on his face had my heart swelling. Seeing him happy and excited was going to get me through the major jetlag I was about to encounter.

“Lead the way” I smiled up at him as he took my hand in his pulling me towards the exit.

##

“David, are you kidding me? This city is gorgeous.” I heard him laugh as I looked up in awe at the incredible buildings surrounding me. We were in the center of Old Town Square and I was surrounded by more history than ever before and I was in love. My eyes bounced from the church over to the astronomical clock before finally looking back at David. His eyes were already on me as a huge grin split his lips and I returned the gesture with excitement.

“Boston has nothing on Prague” His cocky tone forced an eye roll from me while I walked over to him.

“Give me a few more hours of exploring and I might agree with you.” I placed a hand on his chest, smirking up at him while he shook his head.

“It will only take a Trdelník to convince you”

“You’re probably right. But I want to see more before dessert.” He took my hand in his and began walking from the square past the Astronomical clock pulling me deeper into the city surrounding me with colorful buildings.

“If you think this is good then follow me.” He had a glint in his eyes as he tugged me down the street and into the lobby of a hotel. He couldn’t wipe the smirk off his lips as he got into the elevator which took us to the top floor and opened into a restaurant.

 “D, where are you taking me?” I questioned passing numerous tables making our way to a set of doors that led outside.

“You’ll see” He shot a smile over his shoulder and my stomach flipped. He weaved us through the roof deck seating and up a few stairs leading to a corner table with a view that took my breath away. David moved aside so I could stand at the point of the building that over looked Old Town Square from above.

“Wow.” I breathed out taking in the incredible view in front of me. I was high above the colorful historic building and infamous red roofs Prague was known for and it was almost too much to handle.

“You can see everything from here. Look left and that’s Prague Castle.” David’s voice was close and one of his hands came out in front of me pointing towards the castle he was referencing. We walked around the roof deck bar for a for more minutes as he continued to point out more buildings while I took about 100 pictures.

“Ok time to see Charles Bridge. You can take pictures of me there, I look really good against the water.” I swatted his arm rolling my eyes as he laughed leading us out of the hotel. I hated to admit how much I missed his cockiness.

 I had a feeling I would never want to leave Prague. It was my first time in Europe but I had a hard time believing that it could get more perfect than this city and David living here in the summer just happened to be an added bonus.

We spent the rest of the day exploring some of his other favorite spots and I got my first taste of trdelník and demanded I was given at least one each day I was here. The city was beautiful and romantic only making my feelings for him grow. Then there was the catching up we did when we got back to his apartment which only fueled my fire. I had a feeling this trip was only going to make me fall harder for him and I wasn’t sure I could handle those feelings.

##

 I zoned out, blocking out the sounds around me, letting myself get caught up in the slow movements of the hammock I was seeking refuge on. It was my third day in Prague and while every stressful morning of research and writing was followed by an afternoon of exploring I was still struggling to fight off my jetlag and keep my school stress at bay. Though being with David was providing me with a wonderful way to release some of my pent up stress. However, this morning’s failed attempt to make progress on my paper were putting quite the damper on the part of the day I looked forward to.

 “Ash, jsi v pořádku?” David’s voice pulled me from my trance and I sent a forced smile his way.

“Yeah im fine, all good.” I waved him off while his smile fell, replaced instead by a serious look accompanied by a quirk of his eyebrow. David pursed his lips and held my gaze a sure sign that he could hear the bullshit in my words.

“Im stressed. My paper isn’t going well and im afraid I won’t be able to finish writing it then ill fail and I won’t graduate.” I dragged a hand over my face letting out a frustrated groan.  I was being dramatic but I couldn’t help it.

“Hey, look at me.” I let my head loll to the side, looking over to where he was sitting on the edge of his hammock one hand outstretched towards me. He flashed me a smile and nodded for me to join him. When I sat down next to him he dropped an arm around my shoulder pulling me close against him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and relaxed against him with a sigh.

“You will be fine. You’re the smartest person I know, smarter than Zee and he knows like 6 languages.” I laughed at his words looking up to find him smiling down at me. “Just take a deep breath. Let me take your mind off the paper then tomorrow you’ll get back to work and kill it. I know you can do this Ash, you’ve worked so hard just a little longer and you’re finished.”

His words had a lump building in my throat and I felt tears threaten to spill over. A vote of confidence was exactly what I needed to hear right now and it meant even more coming from him. He knew me well.

“Thank you, that’s what I needed to hear.” I smiled up at him as he reached out a hand, placing it on cheek before leaning down for a kiss. His lips were soft against mine making slow paces before his tongue slid across my bottom lip and I parted easily. I felt that familiar warmth spread through my body as we continued to kiss and when I pulled away I was met with his beautiful smile.

Then it hit me.

Besides the fact that he knew me so well there was another reason he was able to bring me back when I was stressed or overwhelmed. And in this moment it was plain as day.

I loved him. The thought alone was both exciting and terrifying at the same time.

I wasn’t naive, I knew what we weren’t and we were not a couple. These feelings complicated everything and they weren’t something I was planning on sharing with him. They were something I planned to compartmentalize like I do with all feelings I refuse to let reach the surface.  

I knew from the moment I met David that he was special and I fell for him instantly. The fact that it took me almost a year to realize I love him shows how much I tried to fight this. Between the way he makes me feel and his ability to keep me grounded combined with the way he’s looking at me right now, love was inevitable.

And it’s nothing short of a recipe for disaster.

There’s no way for me to come out of this without heartbreak but I can’t give him up and I’m willing to risk the pain to experience what it’s like to be in love with my sunshine boy.

It’s like Tennyson said, it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

#david pastrnak #david pastrnak fic #nhl imagines #nhl rpf #david pastrnak imagine #boston bruins #nhl pic #falling away with you fic #I need to go to sleep so I can wake up in 2 hours and watch the all star game

[debvors]

i’m halfway through into the dark by claudia gray ( from star wars: the high republic series) & so far it’s really good! it’s my first time reading a star wars book & i might pick up some more 👀

#probably the ones on the high republic so probably charles soule’s books #and i’m attached to every character surprisingly!! #i hope it stays that way #star wars #star wars the high republic #into the dark #claudia gray #book #bookblr

[shinylitwick94]

Finished “Light of the Jedi” by Charles Soule.

I thought I was done with Star Wars novels. Apparently not.

This was great fun!

Light of the Jedi is the first part of the new canon’s high republic stories. It therefore follows completely new characters and a new story within the familiar SW setting. (Almost) no known characters means very few expectations and since it’s far back enough in time, you also don’t already know what happens to everyone.  It’s the sort of thing I tend to like anyway, even in other series and settings so it’s really no surprise I enjoyed this.

Like other SW novels, it’s an extremely easy read, and also a very quick one. I think it took me less than a week, and for the first half I was alternating it with heavier books. You could probably read this in 1-2 sittings if you committed.

Personally, I loved the new characters, especially the Jedi. It’s just nice and fun to get to see them being true heroes without thinking about how Order 66 is going to kill them all. And they’re an interesting and diverse group too, with slightly different takes on the force and the code and what their role is supposed to be. I liked Avar and Elzar specifically, but I’m also very, very fond of Burry. Of the non-jedi characters I would say the one that stuck out to me most was the chancellor, and then, of course, our new main villain.

I also liked the weird sort of cultish vibe of the Nihil as villains and I think they found a good balance for their threat level at this stage - they can cause real and even severe damage, but they don’t feel particularly overpowered either. The mystery of their leader is nicely set up and makes me want to learn more.

The plot was ok - the first third is probably the strongest and most intense, but the rest of the story holds up fine. The one thing I didn’t like is that there is a little too much cutting back and forth between two stories that don’t seem to take place at the same time, which I get is done for pacing reasons, but still feels a bit odd.

Most of all I just like how hopeful the whole thing feels, and how blatant it is about that. Is it cheesy? Sure. Have you watched Star Wars? The cheese is part of the journey (the other part is angst, which I’m sure will be coming soon to this series as well).

It’s not a challenging book, it’s not introspective (I kind of wish it was a bit more introspective tbh), it’s a light read that is, essentially, a happy and feel good adventure and it’s not ashamed of that. I kind of needed something like this and I’m glad I picked it up.

#shinylitwick reads books #light of the jedi #charles soule #star wars #sw #now if you'll excuse me i'm off to watch youtube videos of people being angry about hyperspace #and why that totally ruins star wars #totally

[gffa]

Hi! Sorry to bother you, but I saw there's an entire section dedicated to the SW novels on your page, so I figured you are the best person to ask this to. While I've watched the movies I must admit I'm a newbie in regards to any work that expands the canon universe, but I'm particulary interested in the prequels and especially in learning more on Anakin and Obi-Wan's relationship, so I was wondering if you might be so kind as to give me a few suggestions on which novels I should read? :)

Hello!  That’s absolutely not a bother, I clearly love talking and I enjoy doing recs for things as well!  :D  Keep in mind that I haven’t read everything, so I may be missing some things, but I can absolutely at least get you started!Canon hasn’t explored Obi-Wan & Anakin much in the novels yet (though, I think we’re starting to explore that area), but if you’re okay with reading comics, the Obi-Wan & Anakin five issue mini-series and Age of Republic comics (or at least the Obi-Wan one and the Anakin one) are both really fantastic for exploring them.I would also suggest the Dark Lord of the Sith comic from Charles Soule, which is set post-Revenge of the Sith, it’s about Vader, but he is still very much Anakin Skywalker and it’s a 25-issue long look at his shitty choices, his attempt to deny that he had other paths he could have chosen, and still chose this, that he was too afraid to look at what he’d actually done, so he just keeps going.  (The first Darth Vader comic by Kieron Gillen is also really good, probably one of the best of all the comics, but it’s more centered on the OT and the events that happen there.  Still a fantastic look at his character, but if you’re more into the prequels, Dark Lord of the Sith is more focused on that.)Canon also has Choose Your Destiny - An Obi-Wan & Anakin Adventure by Cavan Scott, which I’m not fond of the CYA style, but I loved that book very much, it’s such a delight and has Anakin being an absolute human disaster, it has Obi-Wan and Anakin struggling to learn to work together, and, best of all, because Palpatine isn’t around at the moment, they actually have a chance at working things out between them here!In the anthology novel From a Certain Point of View, you should at least read Master and Apprentice by Claudia Gray, Time of Death by Cavan Scott, and There Is Another by Gary D. Schmidt, which all are really good for those characters, and Obi-Wan and Anakin especially.  The rest of the book can be hit or miss (and that’ll depend on who you ask, but I think An Incident Report by Daniel Mallory Ortberg is also a must-read, it is the funniest thing pretty much ever) but those three are really worth reading.The Ahsoka novel is definitely about the titular character making her way through the galaxy during the time of the Empire, but there are some QUALITY flashbacks and thoughts about Obi-Wan and Anakin, so I would absolutely recommend this one, too!  Same for Dark Disciple by Christie Golden, it’s not really precisely about Obi-Wan and Anakin, but they get moments in it, and it’s a continuation of TCW and adapting a story that was going to be part of the show.For Legends, I like Wild Space a ton, it’s not quite a coherent plot (it’s more like two books stitched together and it doesn’t really earn its ending, imo) it’s the single most quotable book I have ever read and I love it because it’s so over the top while still remaining fun.  It’s HIGH FUCKING DRAMA, everyone is dialing it up to like a hundred, Obi-Wan and Anakin can’t go five damn pages without thinking of the other, even when Anakin should be thinking about Padme or Obi-Wan should be focusing on getting out of a jam.  It’s just an absolute scream.  I haven’t read Miller’s other two books, but they’re probably pretty good, too.I also like Labyrinth of Evil (though, I haven’t finished it) by James Luceno, Kenobi by John Jackson Miller (it’s a very slow read with the non-Obi-Wan parts on Tatooine, but the Obi-Wan parts are nicely ouchy about his relationship with Anakin, even after everything that’s happened).  Yoda: Dark Rendezvous is good as far as I’ve read it, though, more focused on Yoda and Dooku, but if you’re interested in the prequels, it’s a great book to read!It’s been awhile since I’ve read the Jedi Apprentice books and they’re very, very obviously written before all of the PT movies were made, much less before The Clone Wars was made, and so I’m not sure I recommend them or the Jedi Quest books (I also have trouble getting into the author’s style), so you can’t really take them for their worldbuilding or that these events happened (because they’re contradicted by stuff that comes later), but I do find that Jude Watson can really write a quotable as hell turn of phrase when she’s on.  So, it’s a half-rec, just with some caveats!  (I would anti-rec anything by Karen Traviss, who has said some pretty awful things IRL, but also clearly haaaaaates Obi-Wan and all of the Jedi, so when she wrote about them, it wasn’t very much fun.)The novelization of the Revenge of the Sith movie by Matthew Stover is also no longer canon, but is an absolute MUST READ for Obi-Wan and Anakin feelings, because they are WILDLY INTENSE in that book and it’s a really fascinating look at both of the characters, Anakin especially.  Shatterpoint by him also gets a rec just for being by the same author!SHORT VERSION:  Start with the Revenge of the Sith novelization and Wild Space, both of them aren’t canon (and often are contradicted by canon) but are FANTASTICALLY ENJOYABLE reads, then the Choose Your Destiny: An Obi-Wan & Anakin Adventure and the From a Certain Point of View short stories, then Labyrinth of Evil, and then maybe some comics and go from there!  ♥

#adharaskywalker #fic recs #novels

[irinapaleolog]

The fourth and final issue of Marvel’s The Rise of Kylo Ren has been released, bringing an end to the highly popular limited comic series written by Charles Soule. If you haven’t read them, then be warned, there are going to be a lot of spoilers here as we unpack all the information we’ve learned about this fan-favorite character. We’ll also be looking at the various tie-ins into the greater Star Wars lore.

Let’s get to it!

1. Ben didn���t destroy Luke’s Jedi Temple In The Last Jedi, Luke believed that Ben destroyed his Jedi Temple after their brief battle. In Luke’s retelling, Ben burned everything to the ground and took a handful of students. However, in The Rise of Kylo Ren Issue 1, we see a confused and distraught Ben quite a distance away from the Jedi Temple. As he looks on towards the temple, it blows up. Ben is clearly shocked and upset, saying that the destruction of the temple wasn’t what he wanted. We come to learn that it was actually the Knights of Ren who destroyed the temple in an act of revenge against Luke.

2. Young Ben had a good friend While none of this was covered in the film trilogy, nor would we have expected it to, The Rise of Kylo Ren gave us a little look into the life of young Ben Solo. In The Last Jedi, Luke mentions the other students he took on when he started his training Temple, and while we are introduced to three of those students in Issue 1, we don’t really learn about them until Issue 3. There are three students in particular that Ben talks to Ren about: Voe, Hennix, and Tai.

Voe, a student strong in the force, had an adversarial relationship with Ben. While Ben, with his mighty Skywalker blood, was unsurprisingly strong in the force, Voe did everything she could to measure up to Ben. According to Ben, “She wanted to be me, or better than me.” In the end, she felt nothing but anger and shame for feeling that anger.

Hennix was a student who approached the Force much differently that the other students. To him, the Force was a puzzle that he aimed to solve. Ben enjoyed his company because he was different and funny.

And finally, there was Tai. It’s clear that Ben had a different relationship with Tai than he did with the other students. Tai could sense that Ben was walling himself off from the others. And Ben, being as closed off as he was, opened up a little to Tai. This created a strong bond between the two of them that is further seen in Issue 4. Tai encourages Ben to be himself even as Ben is feeling the sheer weight of his bloodline as a Solo, as a Skywalker, and being named after one of the greatest Jedi in history. At this point Ben is struggling with the light and dark side of himself, and Tai, probably sensing that struggle, is the only one to acknowledge that Ben is not as dark side as he thinks he is.

3. Ben met the Knights of Ren while on a mission with Luke In Issue 2, young Ben goes on a mission with Luke and Lor San Tekka to an abandoned Jedi Temple on the planet Elphrona. Once they enter the temple, they encounter the Knights of Ren who are there to steal ancient Jedi artifacts and Ben meets its leader, Ren. After the Knights tangle with Luke, Ren addresses Ben and seemingly tries to recruit Ben into the Knights. Ren tells him that there are other paths to follow and as they leave, Ren purposely leaves his helmet in the temple. The helmet will eventually play a role in helping Ben contact the Knights.

It also shows that Ben has known Lor San Tekka for a long time which makes the opening scenes in The Force Awakens particularly devastating.

4. Snoke and Palpatine were always in Ben’s mind The films only briefly touch upon the idea that Snoke was always in Ben’s head, talking to him and molding him. Leia attributes Ben’s turn to the Dark Side as Snoke’s doing. And in The Rise of Kylo Ren, we see the proof of that. Even as a young boy, Ben could hear Snoke in his head and he would have conversations with him. And after the events at Luke’s temple, Ben makes his way to Snoke, to the only voice that was with him from the beginning.

In The Rise of Skywalker, we find out that Emperor Palpatine was also a voice in Ben’s mind. Which makes sense, since Snoke was a clone created by Palpatine. But in Issue 4, we also see how Palpatine’s voice encourages Ben to fight and ultimately strike down Ren, thereby claiming leadership of the Knights of Ren. In fact, in Issue 4, we see Palpatine in Exegol just as we see him in The Rise of Skywalker. So yes, clone Palpatine was around for a while.

5. Young Rey sensed Ben’s turn In Issue 4, we get the big duel between Ren and Ben Solo. After Ren kills Tai, Ben Solo decides it’s about time to do what he has to do. Taking his dead friend’s lightsaber (mirroring Rey’s dual lightsaber fight with Palpatine), he attacks Ren. The fight culminates in Ren’s death, but not before we see Ben’s final turn to the Dark Side. Claiming that he is the shadow (also mirroring Rey’s “I am all the Jedi”), Ben doesn’t hold back in this fight. Drawing from his anger and his hate and his shame, he can hear the voices of Palpatine and Snoke urging him to strike Ren down and ultimately claim his birthright. As Ben deals the final blow, we see Leia sense his turn, and surprisingly, we see young Rey on Jakku feel something cold. This confirms that the dyad was connected long before the films.

6. Kylo is a name from Ben’s childhood The Rise of Kylo Ren shows us Ben’s dark turn, but we also get a brief story behind his name. Ren, obviously comes from the Knights of Ren and their leader, but Kylo comes from a more innocent place. In Issue 2, Snoke tells Ben that he was not born Snoke but that he became Snoke (or rather, cloned as Snoke?). This leads Ben to consider what name he will take should he join the Knights of Ren, the name that will allow him to bury his past and retain a part of him that he “wants to cut away” since he feels his whole name comes from lies. This means that “Kylo” was who Ben thought he was, his true self, and not the name of a famous Jedi he never met.

7. Snoke was Injured by Luke We never see it, but the injury to Snoke’s face was caused by Luke. In Issue 1, Ben says to Snoke, “Look what Master Luke did to you.” And that’s all the information we get about it. There are some theories as to how it happened, and it would be interesting learn about the relationship between Snoke and Luke. Obviously, Luke and Leia knew about Snoke for some time because of his ties to the First Order, but when and how did Snoke and Luke wind up in the same place?

8. A Jedi holocron reveals a major character from the High Republic When Ben is telling Ren about Luke’s other students, specifically Hennix, we get a look at a Jedi holocron. When Hennix opens it, we see the hologram of a woman who says, “Hello searcher, I will guide you on your way.” It is the same holocron Luke finds in the abandoned temple in Elphrona.

Writer Charles Soule later revealed that the Jedi’s name is Avar Kriss, and she will play a major role in his upcoming book The High Republic: Light of the Jedi.

9. Elphrona In Issue 2, Luke takes Ben and Lor San Tekka to an abandoned temple on the planet Elphrona. In an attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order, Luke travels to this temple to pull whatever Jedi artifacts he can. The outpost on Elphrona was built during the High Republic and this is where the Jedi stored a lot of their artifacts including weapons, Jedi and Sith holocrons, and texts.

Unfortunately, the temple was lost in Issue 2 when Voe, Hennix, and Tai find Ben as he’s trying to locate the Knights of Ren, A battle ensues, and Hennix is killed by Ben (albeit on accident?), and instead of killing Voe and Tai, Ben destroys the outpost in an attempt to bury the two Jedi within it.

10. The Conflicted Nature of Ben Solo Throughout the four issues, we get a clearer picture of the ongoing conflict within Ben Solo. Rey talks about the conflict in the films because she can sense that it’s still very much alive within him. In the series, he constantly feels the pull between the light and the shadow. During his duel with Tai, Tai tries to reach the light within Ben (much like Rey does), but Ben explains his conflict, “Whether it’s Luke Skywalker or Snoke, neither one sees me as a person. I’m just a…legacy, just a set of expectations.” Throughout his life he’s been told which path he must take. He was groomed by Snoke to embrace the shadow, he was taught by Luke, Leia, and Han to embrace the light.  

This all gives new meaning to his “let the past die” mantra. He mentions it twice to Rey in The Last Jedi. First on Ahch-To: “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to. It’s the only way to become what you were meant to be.” And, “It’s time to let old things die,” he says after the throne room battle, “Snoke, Skywalker, the Sith, the Jedi, the Rebels; let it all die.” He is tired of the incessant pull of both the light and the shadow on himself (and maybe on the galaxy as a whole), and the only way to be rid of it is if he kills it himself.

But even when he takes on the title of Supreme Leader, he’s still conflicted. Rather than taking his own advice and let the past die, he lets it gnaw at him which culminates in the duel between him and Luke on the planet Crait. Needless to say, his internal conflict is not resolved after that battle.

It is interesting when you consider the amount of people who constantly fought to pull Ben Solo to their side. Palpatine, Snoke, Ren, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Lando, Rey, and Tai all actively fought for Ben in some way. The tragedy is that most of them died in that pursuit (and Rey is no exception, she would have used up her life force to save Ben on Kef Bir if the spoilers from The Rise of Skywalker novelization are true). What’s heartbreaking is that regardless of the people who loved him, minus Snoke and Palpatine, Ben Solo believed the dark voices in his head; he truly believed that he’s meant for the Dark Side. “I am the shadow,” he tells Ren. “I am a monster,” he tells Rey.

It’s not until the end of Rise of Skywalker that he finally chooses as side, as Ben Solo, but at a substantial cost. All those who fought for him are gone (or gone-ish). He killed his father, his old friends, and countless others. Only Rey remains. But it’s telling that once Ben Solo renounces the Dark Side, his first and only real act is to fight by Rey’s side, and ultimately sacrifice himself to bring Rey back to life.

Ben Solo’s story takes us on an emotional journey of a young man who never truly found his place in all this. It’s a story of legacies, familial expectations, and the eternal pull of the light and dark. It’s also about redemption, internal struggle, and embracing who one is. These reasons are why Ben Solo will remain one of the most popular and most relatable characters in Star Wars lore.

What do you think? Were there other things you learned about Kylo Ren in this series? Let us know!

The Rise of Kylo Ren Issues 1-4 are available now at your local comic book stories, or you can get digital copies through Amazon’s comiXology app.

#the rise of kylo ren #kylo ren #ben solo #star wars

[aion-rsa]

Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi Ending Explained

https://ift.tt/2LSrARe

This Star Wars: The High Republic article contains spoilers.

Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace, the High Republic era was a time of relative peace for the galaxy. Wars weren’t being fought, and the Jedi weren’t limited by the Sith’s machinations. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still some threats waiting out there in the far reaches of unexplored space.

By the end of Light of the Jedi, the flagship novel by Charles Soule that kicks off Lucasfilm’s new The High Republic series of books and comics, a new conflict is just beginning, as a mysterious band of pirates known as the Nihil reveals itself as a new threat for the Republic and hyperspace itself. But just where is this story headed after the last page of Light of the Jedi? Here’s what the ending of the first book tells us:

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Who will lead the Starlight Beacon?

The space station Starlight Beacon symbolizes everything both the Republic and the Jedi stand for, acting as a light in the dark of the Outer Rim’s unexplored spaces. During an era when not all of the galaxy falls under the jurisdiction of the Republic and many hyperspace lanes are yet to be properly mapped out, the station is pivotal for navigating the Outer Rim. It also holds research laboratories, hospitals, cultural events, a Jedi temple, and provides neutral ground for resolving conflicts. (It’s also a military station, in case that conflict can’t be prevented.)

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In Light of the Jedi, many characters were on their way to this space station’s opening ceremonies when the fight against the Nihil broke out, and return to the Beacon only at great cost. The Jedi Master meant to lead the station is dead, and no one has been named as a replacement. This means the dedication of the Starlight Beacon at the end of the book, though presided over by Republic Chancellor Lina Soh, doesn’t formally have a Jedi leader. The station is secure for now, but its opening is touched by tragedy.

Therefore, the dedication of the Starlight Beacon is told from an omniscient point of view. This serves its own purpose to go along with the general message of the book: the point is that the Republic and Jedi’s victory is a collective effort and a collective win. Jedi Master Avar Kriss is probably a likely candidate to become the leader of Starlight Beacon’s temple, but even she isn’t a lone hero solely responsible for the win. Honoring one person above any other would have defeated the purpose. Either way, Avar is likely to continue to have a major role in this story going forward.

What is Marchion Ro’s goal for the Nihil?

While the Jedi are rallying under the slogan of “We are all the Republic,” the villains are hyping themselves up for their own cause just as effectively. For Nihil leader Marchion Ro, that means a chance to solidify his own precarious power base. Previously more of a figurehead for the loosely allied group of pirates who shared spoils and numbered in the thousands, Marchion now aspires to make them an enormous army under his firm command.

By the end of the book we learn the Great Disaster that kicked off the whole story was in fact an intentional terrorist attack caused by Marchion’s unique hyperspace technology. From there, the Nihil and the Jedi move into open conflict. His final scene reveals he had a longer game, too. Now that he’s captured the Jedi Loden Greatstorm, he expects other Jedi to come, drawn by Loden’s suffering and that of Marchion’s other captives.

Read more

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And once they get there, they’ll find something new. Marchion has what sounds like a Sith object: a wand that so far has only glowed purple and given off bad vibes from its ominously carved surface. It’s unclear what exactly this thing is, especially because the scene isn’t from Loden’s perspective. We don’t know whether it has a particular sense in the Force.

We do know it’s part of Marchion’s plan to get revenge for something the Jedi once did to his ancestors. He wants to “accomplish what [his ancestors] could not”…and whatever that goal is, it involves both the Jedi and the Nihil.

What does the vision mean?

After the opening of the Starlight Beacon, the Jedi have some time to enjoy their victory. Meanwhile, Elzar Mann, Avar’s best friend and a newly minted Jedi Master, experiences a vision that leaves him on the floor. He sees “Jedi, many he knew, friends and colleagues, horribly mutilated, fighting battles they could not win against awful things that lived in the dark.” Jedi flee for their lives, and Elzar himself is left alive to watch it until he too is “unable to escape what was coming.”

From context clues alone (the “sickly purple light,” mostly) we can guess this is connected to the artifact Marchion Ro holds. We don’t know much more about it, but if it has something to do with the Sith, it could be an inherently violent and corrupting Force like other Sith artifacts seen in canon. Soule’s own Lando comic series featured a Sith helmet that could possess a person and drive them to violence.

This artifact could also be connected to the Drengir, The High Republic series’ other villainous faction. Introduced in the YA novel Into the Dark by Claudia Gray, the Drengir are plant-like aliens. The Jedi in that book released the Drengir, who had once been imprisoned on a space station by ancient Force-users. Marchion knows about the Drengir, too. This is wilder speculation, because there doesn’t seem to be any purple light around the Drengir, and they were imprisoned in a battle that didn’t have anything to do with Sith.

Whatever might be coming for the Jedi — whether it’s the Drengir, the Sith, or something else entirely — it sounds like it’ll effectively bring an end to the peace that the galaxy has so long enjoyed.

The High Republic story will continue in The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott, the next adult novel in the series, which is out on June 29. Check out our full reviews of the adult, young adult, and middle grade High Republic novels below!

The post Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi Ending Explained appeared first on Den of Geek.

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