DARTH PLAGUEIS

[GRWelsh]

I am reading the Star Wars novel, DARTH PLAGUEIS. I don't normally read SW novels, but I am enjoying this one. I recently rewatched Ep III, and the references to "Darth Plageuis the Wise" piqued my interest. This book is dark and political and the author really knows his SW background detail.

I guess my attitude towards the new SW movies is hopeful. Some of the people that work on the franchise seem to "get it" even more than Lucas does, if that makes any sense. At least they are better writers.

If you really think about it, Disney could anger the fans without even having to add any Disney-fied elements. The elements to piss people off are already there... For example, they could do:

THE ONGOING ADVENTURES OF YOUNG ANAKIN AND FRIENDS

Recasting another ten year old kid as "Young Anakin," he teams up with his pals, a Gungan and an Ewok, and of course R2 and C-3PO, and they get into all sorts of trouble together.

"Remember when we defeated the most dangerous bounty hunter in the Universe, Jango Fett, and how we did it by accident?"

That would be totally Lucas.

[geneweigel]

I gave up on the novels when I impulse bought some DARTH MAUL novel (in 2001? Shadow Hunter?) and it was the same style as the previous novels.

I think in general, SW novels suffer from the idea that they don't have to stand on their own legs and also that no writer wants to add too much originality to a franchise.

[GRWelsh]

Jan 14, 2014 14:30:36 GMT -5 geneweigel said:

I think in general, SW novels suffer from the idea that they don't have to stand on their own legs and also that no writer wants to add too much originality to a franchise.

I can't really argue with that. If you expect a SW novel to be great literature or to have groundbreaking new ideas, you're probably going to be disappointed. They probably range from 'entertaining' at best to 'dreck' at worst. The one I am reading now is entertaining.

Some of the things I like about it:

- It makes the prequels better. One of the things I didn't like about the prequels is that the whole political background wasn't always very clear, such as what was going on with the Trade Federation, Separatists, and the clone army being grown at some Jedi's request. In the movies, it was a combination of boring and confusing. This book ties a lot of that together in a logical way.

- One of the best things about the prequels -- in what were otherwise flawed movies -- was the depiction of Palpatine and the performance of Ian McDiarmid. I felt like they got the Emperor completely right and Darth Vader completely wrong. A SW novel that focuses on one of the best characters from the movies is a strength.

- Certain details, such as the midi-Chlorians, are handled in ways that aren't totally annoying.