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[Big Talk]

Write your thoughts on the book in general. Is the story being taken on well? Does Zahn have a good grip on Star Wars. Should they have made these into movies?
Go all out.
Warning - If you haven't read the book yet, maybe you shouldn't read these posts yet.
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First off, I thought it was a fast and interesting read. Coming from me, I think that may be saying quite a bit already. I believe this to be due to a seemingly expectable formula of writing action drama stories, however not having read a ton of these - I could be wrong. There would start the character development then some build up to action that splits a chapter, thereby propelling you to the next chapter. Anyhow, I agree with Jon in the use of a sort of cheap trick to reference Han Solo's (and others') character that we all know and love- using the line from the movies. (Jon, you can expand on that if you want.)

I liked the story about the force, how Luke is still learning about it on his own and is basically having to make up the rules as he goes. I also think that it was neat, and rather deliberate, how Luke could ultimately "use the force" without having to have his Jedi powers. Much of the story gets told with Luke having no Jedi power. I would like to see more Jedi stuff in the next book, though.

I thought the action scenes were just actiony enough, not too much. Sorta leaving you wanting a little more. I think that the book also felt like the beginning of a story... still winding up a bit.

Overall, I liked the book cause I like StarWars and think the spiritual messege is cool. I felt there to be a tiny bit of disinterest in the author part at times.... is that wierd? Maybe he was totally into it...I don't know. Just, some of the shortcuts taken seemed odd, perhaps that's the hazards of editors.


WHat? what's he talking about...
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Move simply

[Big Talk]

I think it's dope that you (More) have been reading so much!

I feel that this was a pretty good book to start the series. I did have a couple issues (as you stated More) about Zahn using some Star Wars cliches. Han Solo looks back and says, "Hey, it's me." I can forgive it though.
What I am interested in is the idea of the Force and the Light vs. Dark path.
Luke really starts to think about what is "right" and what is "not right". He realizes that doing an act that is not so nice that will ultimately do good is still not a good act. The path of the Light Side can be very difficult. Often one most think more creatively and stronger. If we use better thinking, perhaps there is always a "better" solution.
At any rate, I enjoyed the beginning and am eager to get ahold of Dark Force Rising.
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I wanted to comment on the Force, the Light side and the Dark, and ultimately the Jedi way. Not having trained myself on the specifics of being a Jedi I can't be an expert... and as you can see, I am but a padawan.

A true Jedi follows neither the light or dark side I think. They align themselves with a Master or Retainer and act on their behalf, there is no good or evil. I think that when you align yourself a particular way and decide that there is a dualism you must counter then the path to rightousness becomes a difficult one.

Anyway, I started the Dark Forc Rising.... giddyup giddyup giddyup giddyuuuuup!
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[divamama]

One of the reasons I don't like the game of Chess, is that it's a war game. I go into "protection" mode and guard my king, and barely let my pieces out. If it weren't for the pawns I don't think I'd play at all.

One of the things I find stressful about this first story is how constant the war is. One distressing moment followed by some action and more distress. I pictured Leia with a giant pregnant belly for most of the book, until Jon told me she was still in her first trimester so I could relax a little bit. I was constantly worried about those twins! Which is the only evidence that there was a moment of down-time - the fact that Leia is pregnant. But she and Han barely get to see eachother throughout the whole book so that must have been some honeymoon!

And how come the author doesn't let Luke "get any"? Is being a Jedi likened to being a monk? Perhaps he's saving himself? I think the closest he came to crushing on someone was before he found out his love interest was his sister! Which would make me take a few hundred showers and think twice, maybe even get some identification and a blood test, before I put myself out there again.

And then there's Thrawn. It seems unbelievable that this guy knows everything when or before it even happens. I get it that he's an admiral. I even get how he feels he KNOWS people through their art. Why isn't it possible that not all things are revealed through that one form of expression. There's no mention of how he's studied a culture's music, mating habits, circadian rhythms. People are multi-faceted. It bothers me that he's so cocky. As if these are simple folk who wear their hearts and wants on their sleeves, instead of being layered and quirky and inconsistent. Which most people are. It takes time, years even, to get to really know someone and even then they can still surprise you.

Which brings me to the other curiosity. What DO these people believe in? What are they fighting for? Is this a period of time when all there is, is war? Why did they start fighting? Is it really just about good and bad? What is the opposite of evil? Is it good too? Is "the force" the controversy? If some people believe, and some people don't, who or what are the people who have jedi qualities? Are they spiritual leaders? Deepak Chopras? Andrew Weils? Madonnas?

Han Solo has been running and scheming and planning and dodging forever. He relies on his gut intuition. So why isn't he a Jedi? Luke has been building his experience by the seat of his pants. Thrown, like Harry Potter, into each situation really mostly succeeding with the help of Leia and Han. And yet he is the Jedi Knight? He's still working on his gut instincts for crying out loud. Yes, it is okay to not know everything. In fact, it's foolish to think one might eventually know ALL things. But even more foolish to think just because you're deep in thought, or that you've got mad skills, that there isn't more beyond that. Did this Thrawn guy have it easy or hard growing up? Was his Mom and Pop super sweet to him and he just wasn't feeling that vibe? Or were they aggressive, mean, art-lovers who forced bad ideas down his throat? Did he have to survive the mean streets of Planet X on his own and that's how he got to be such a bad-ass?

I know. It's because I'm a girl that the lack of occasional character development bothers me. But that's one way to have likeable and despicable characters that you root for and follow. Right?

[Big Talk]

I think the reason that Luke doesn't get any is because he's a Jedi. I think being a Jedi is likened to being a monk. In all the movies, they are supposed to give up relationships like that. That was one of the things that turned Anakin into Darth Vader. He was secretly married and in love. I think Jedi's are supposed to be like Vulcans and the Sith are like Romulans. The first tempered by logis, the second ruled by emotions.

I thought Thrawn was an amazing character! He must have been strong with the Force himself. He could read not just single people, but whole civilizations by their art. I think that it must be like how someone can read the future in tea leaves. The leaves might not be actually spelling out the future. They just act a a catalyst for the readers own ESP. They could probably also use Tarot cards, the I Ching, your palm, or a crystal. His use of art seems similar. He can see how they think by the predictability of their art. Very cool idea in my opinion.

Your right, divamama, about the lack of spirituallity in this Star Wars universe. I don't know if that is a failing of Tim's or a thinness of the Star Wars trip in general. I just recently read the last two of Frank Herbert's Dune Books, Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse: Dune. Frank Herbert created there a universe that was truly deep. It definately deals with different religions and ideas in a gigantic universe of trillions and trillions of people. I am enjoying these Star Wars books even if they are a bit simpler than some other books I've read. It's enjoyable and even thought provoking. Perhaps future Star Wars books and/or Star Wars authors will "deepen" the Universe a bit by thinking about these things more.

As far as Han Solo is concerned; he's not a Jedi. Nor is he Jedi material. The Force is life energy. It is in everything, even Han Solo. Yet, only a few have the ability to use the Force. Perhaps everyone can in at least a small way. Maybe that is why Han Solo has such good luck most of the time. But only a few like Luke can really weild it.
There are a few Star Wars series that deal with Han Solo and probably his past. We just haven't delved into those books. Personally, I'm more interested in the Force side of things. Not the Smuggler side or the bounty hunter side. A little less shoot-'em-up-bang! and more of the mystic for me please.

This is a very readable series. It sets up the other series very well. Remember, this series was the fiirst time out of the shute. There were the movies (4, 5, and 6) and then these books. I think Tim is really trying to get the reader to associate his characters with the movies characters (ie Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher) - maybe a little too hard. In the next series Jedi Academy, Kevin does a much better job of building people that you root for and follow.
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