Fate of the Jedi: Vortex - by Troy Denning
(WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!)
I am going to propose Star Wars Rule #4.
Star Wars Should Be Fun.
Simple as that. Star Wars Should be Fun. If you are watching in the theater, when something happens, everyone should be able to cheer together - that there should be mutual joy shared together. We all cheered along when Han yells, "Great shot kid, that was one in a million!" Even in the Prequels - we all cheered when Yoda whipped out a lightsaber and was ready to go to town.
In Vortex, when we got to the main points, I didn't know whether or not to cheer.
I don't know if I can chalk this up to this book in particular, or just the whole series, but it struck me really strong here - I didn't know if I should cheer. Were there ever times to cheer, to be happy?
There are two prominent deaths in this book - neither one is a rousing moment -- but shouldn't they be? They lead the Jedi to step forth and quit political dithering and fight evil... but do we cheer? Is it a good thing? When we suddenly see Vestara's lightsaber - do we cheer? When we hear the word... love... do we cheer?
And it's not that I don't like moral quandaries - I think they can be good - they can be compelling, they can be educational. Moral quandaries are the heart of the whole conflict between the light and the dark side of the force. But even with those - there comes a point to cheer, a point to say, "No, I'll never join you" and smile.
And the thing is, the reader might think this means I think it is foolish that Luke would go evil hunting with Sith -- I don't think it's horrible (maybe poorly written and too focused on trying ot betray each other)... but should I?
What's the point? What's the lesson I'm supposed to learn? Who is the hero, who is the villain? When this person dies, should I be happy? Sad? View it as a good thing, a bad thing, just something that needs to happen?
I just don't know - I don't get the point. Of course, maybe events are just a swirling vortex of events that we can't escape...
And while that can make a fine story for a spy thriller or an episode of Law and Order -- it's not Star Wars. There's so much politics, so much media, so much courtroom, so much doubt -- and it's not dramatic irony, it's not where the characters are in doubt but we know what is right. It's just... doubt.
I don't know what I can say that is really good - I'll try.
The EU - Well written action I suppose the action scenes were written well. I suppose.
The Bad - A Reporter's fate - okay, if you don't know why this is bad, look here at my previous post
The Ugly - How Many Ex-Girlfriends Can One Man Kill? So, I imagine the planning session for the Fate of the Jedi Series went something like this:
Sue Rostini: Well, I just don't know what we can do with this series to give it zip and vigor.
Troy Denning: KILL SOMEONE! BLOOD, BLOOD, BLOOD MAKES THE GRASS GROW!
SR: Yes, but who? I mean, in the New Jedi Order we killed Chewwhathisface and that Bothan leader fellow, and of course Anakin Solo. And in Legacy we killed many folks, including Mara and Jacen. Who do we have left to kill?
TD: Well, which of those deaths upset people the most?
SR: Well, I think Jacen's saddened people, but Mara's death just got people really upset.
TD: I know - we have to some how resurrect Mara and kill her again! And again!
Aaron Allston: Um, how about we just write a good story instead of kil....
TD: SILENCE FOOL! WE MUST HAVE DEATH!
AA: I was just saying that mayb...
TD: SILENCE! Or we'll do to your precious Rogue Squadron what we did to Traviss' Mandalorians.
AA: (sits appropriately cowered)
SR: Troy, this bickering is pointless. We are running out of important people to kill - and Lucas won't let us take out any of the main ones from the movie. Who can we kill to bring emotional impact?
TD: Mara. We resurrect her....
SR: No, that won't work, too hokey.
TD: Ah, what if we have a villain whom Luke thinks is Mara - and then he kills her?
SR: That's a start, I suppose - but even then, is that going to hold us for 9 books? I mean, we got a bit out of Mara's death and even his slaying of Lumiya or whatever her name was...
TD: That's it! Why don't we have Luke one by one kill off every single former love interest from the entire expanded universe? That will be heart wrenching!
SR: Brilliant! I go look up his former girlfriends on Wookiepedia!
Christie Golden: I'm game - my other gig is killing off almost its entire universe.
AA: Um, can't we just have some fun adventures?
TD: Shut it, Allston, or I swear Iella will die by Wedge's hand in book three.
AA: Shutting up, sir.
TD: Yes, yes. . . find them for me Sue, find all of Luke's former loves, and they will be slain. Bwahahahahahaha!
At least, I'm thinking that's how it must have gone - but I could be wrong.
Oh well, thus is life.
The Grade - D+ Too many quandaries, too much confusion and ignoble death. Ugh.
Showing posts with label Rules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rules. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
EU Rule #3 - Leave the Universe a Better Place
Here is the 3rd Rule of writing in the EU - Leave the Universe a Better Place.
One of my favorite lines from Star Wars is Darth Vader saying, "The power to destroy a planet is insignificant compared to the power of the force." This, I would contend, is actually part of the Star Wars theme - that simple destruction is insignificant - that the ability to destroy is ultimately... lacking.
Indeed, the wonder of Star Wars as a whole is that it creates - that it creates wonderful new worlds and vistas to explore - new adventures to be had. That is part and parcel of the wide-eyed wonder we had seeing the films, playing with our toys -- whether the first film we saw was Episode IV or Episode I.
However, some folks dabbling in the Star Wars Universe end up focusing rather on the destructive potential in the Star Wars universe, rather than its creative elements. Your story needs to leave the universe a better place - and if you are on a destructive kick, that won't work.
This isn't to say that there isn't destruction. Take the great example - the destruction of Alderaan. It is a shocking, horrible event. . . but just that. An event. We don't know anything about Alderaan (expect that Leia claims they are peaceful) - its destruction simply serves to demonstrate danger... but in terms of our experience, nothing really is lost. The Star Wars Universe isn't lessened by Alderaan's destruction.
However, in the EU, there have been plenty of times where for whatever reason, massive destruction happens - but not of unknown places, not of new things so the destruction just illustrates power, illustrates the fact that people and places we know and love might be in danger... but true destruction.
When a known character is killed off - that does damage to the Universe - unless in their death there is some great, wondrous heroic good that can balance the loss. But it's not good. Re-reading the older books I realize how much I miss Chewie. But when a known character is killed off - all their potential, all the stories, all the things you as a reader could imagine about them, all the speculation for upcoming books - these are destroyed as well. (I don't even get to rant about how various authors butcher Mara Jade's Character anymore - I'd rather have my favorite characters poorly written rather than bumped off)
The same thing holds to planets -- this is the great flaw of the Yuhnzan Vong invasion -- too destructive, too much ruin eventually to places we know. I miss Ithor -- it was developing an interesting history and story... then BAM... gone.
Oh yes, I know, destroying established things gives us a sense of loss, it let's us know the stakes are real.
If you are writing in the Star Wars Universe, your job is not to convince us that you are a serious writer who can make things happen, it is to leave the EU a better place, a fuller place, with more stories.
Killing a character rarely does that. Obi-wan - well, sure. A villain - of course (as long as it is artfully done). Even Ganner - at least a myth grows out of it, mythical overtones for a side character - that enriches the universe.
But simply a "hey, we mean business, and things are really dangerous, and folks are going to get hurt" - that doesn't create, that doesn't make the Universe a better place. And, really, it has no place in the EU.
(Or in other words - only kill off your own characters and planets!)
One of my favorite lines from Star Wars is Darth Vader saying, "The power to destroy a planet is insignificant compared to the power of the force." This, I would contend, is actually part of the Star Wars theme - that simple destruction is insignificant - that the ability to destroy is ultimately... lacking.
Indeed, the wonder of Star Wars as a whole is that it creates - that it creates wonderful new worlds and vistas to explore - new adventures to be had. That is part and parcel of the wide-eyed wonder we had seeing the films, playing with our toys -- whether the first film we saw was Episode IV or Episode I.
However, some folks dabbling in the Star Wars Universe end up focusing rather on the destructive potential in the Star Wars universe, rather than its creative elements. Your story needs to leave the universe a better place - and if you are on a destructive kick, that won't work.
This isn't to say that there isn't destruction. Take the great example - the destruction of Alderaan. It is a shocking, horrible event. . . but just that. An event. We don't know anything about Alderaan (expect that Leia claims they are peaceful) - its destruction simply serves to demonstrate danger... but in terms of our experience, nothing really is lost. The Star Wars Universe isn't lessened by Alderaan's destruction.
However, in the EU, there have been plenty of times where for whatever reason, massive destruction happens - but not of unknown places, not of new things so the destruction just illustrates power, illustrates the fact that people and places we know and love might be in danger... but true destruction.
When a known character is killed off - that does damage to the Universe - unless in their death there is some great, wondrous heroic good that can balance the loss. But it's not good. Re-reading the older books I realize how much I miss Chewie. But when a known character is killed off - all their potential, all the stories, all the things you as a reader could imagine about them, all the speculation for upcoming books - these are destroyed as well. (I don't even get to rant about how various authors butcher Mara Jade's Character anymore - I'd rather have my favorite characters poorly written rather than bumped off)
The same thing holds to planets -- this is the great flaw of the Yuhnzan Vong invasion -- too destructive, too much ruin eventually to places we know. I miss Ithor -- it was developing an interesting history and story... then BAM... gone.
Oh yes, I know, destroying established things gives us a sense of loss, it let's us know the stakes are real.
If you are writing in the Star Wars Universe, your job is not to convince us that you are a serious writer who can make things happen, it is to leave the EU a better place, a fuller place, with more stories.
Killing a character rarely does that. Obi-wan - well, sure. A villain - of course (as long as it is artfully done). Even Ganner - at least a myth grows out of it, mythical overtones for a side character - that enriches the universe.
But simply a "hey, we mean business, and things are really dangerous, and folks are going to get hurt" - that doesn't create, that doesn't make the Universe a better place. And, really, it has no place in the EU.
(Or in other words - only kill off your own characters and planets!)
Sunday, October 31, 2010
EU Writing Rules #2
Here is the EU Writing Rule #2
Remember That You are Writing for Star Wars
This is a simple concept. Star Wars is a genre of story unto itself. It is action-serial pulp set in Space. It is adventure with a bit of romance and humor tossed in. There is a certain feel that a good Star Wars story should have.
What happens is sometimes people tend to view Star Wars more as a "Universe" where a bunch of stories can take place - and you can set stories in the Star Wars Universe that don't feel like Star Wars. Some of the early Bantam novels fell into this trap - you had some very witty and engaging Science Fiction novels that explore some great themes -- but stopped feeling like Star Wars.
Now, of course, there are places where other ideas merge into Star Wars. The very first scene of Star Wars plays off of classic Sci-Fi (that Star Destroyer is jaw dropping). The Cave Scene of Empire is right out of a psychological thriller. However, these are flavors - not the main focus.
Keep your Star Wars feeling like Star Wars -- not like some other sort of Novel with a bit of Star Wars sprinkled on it.
Remember That You are Writing for Star Wars
This is a simple concept. Star Wars is a genre of story unto itself. It is action-serial pulp set in Space. It is adventure with a bit of romance and humor tossed in. There is a certain feel that a good Star Wars story should have.
What happens is sometimes people tend to view Star Wars more as a "Universe" where a bunch of stories can take place - and you can set stories in the Star Wars Universe that don't feel like Star Wars. Some of the early Bantam novels fell into this trap - you had some very witty and engaging Science Fiction novels that explore some great themes -- but stopped feeling like Star Wars.
Now, of course, there are places where other ideas merge into Star Wars. The very first scene of Star Wars plays off of classic Sci-Fi (that Star Destroyer is jaw dropping). The Cave Scene of Empire is right out of a psychological thriller. However, these are flavors - not the main focus.
Keep your Star Wars feeling like Star Wars -- not like some other sort of Novel with a bit of Star Wars sprinkled on it.
Friday, October 29, 2010
EU Writing Rules #1
I am going to randomly work up a list of rules for people who are going to be writing for the Expanded Universe.
...
I'm sure all the muckity-mucks are paying close attention and I'll be getting an excellent check from Sue Rostini soon.
...
(Sigh - if I did, it would probably just be in Imperial Credits.)
At any rate, here it is, Rule Number 1 of Writing Star Wars.
Bigger is NOT Better - or in other words, Don't try to pull trump on George Lucas.
One of the major flaws of many Star Wars books is that instead of just providing new situations for characters to have exciting adventures in, they will try to bring out something bigger and badder. These fail. Horribly.
For example, consider the " Sun Crusher" - the worst superweapon plot device ever. So, George Lucas gives us the big, giant Death Star with the power to destroy a planet (shame it has a design flaw). In the Jedi Academy Triology, Kevin Anderson gives us the Sun Crusher, which is:
A. More powerful than the Death Star (it can make Stars go Nova)
B. Easier to use than the Death Star (only needs a single pilot)
C. Is impossible to destroy with no flaws (Quantum armor? Really? Really really?)
What this does is sort of just make the whole thing seem ridiculous. The concept of Star Wars already requires some suspension of disbelief -- when you violate the given rules of the universe beyond the established ideas, it just make things seem so much more ridiculous - sort of like an unintentional, mood shattering argument to absurdity.
Of course, this doesn't just happen with weapons - it can happen with the Villains, where you have villains that are just superized versions of their predecessors - so we'll have Lord Nyax who is supposed to be a super Vader... This just doesn't work. Really, it doesn't. Make a new villain. They are wicked and evil - go have wicked and evil fun with them.
And the worst place this happens is with the heroics of the heroes. See, this is the big problem - we see our heroes do neat things, and sadly, some authors seem to think, "Ah, they can do neat stuff, therefore they are heroes. I will make them better heroes by having them do even more teh aewsoemest stuff." Heroes in Star Wars aren't heroes because they have power, they are heroes because they use whatever talents or skills they have in helping and defending others. If you want to make them seem heroic, don't whip out a new power or feat, have them find creative ways to use their powers to help.
This is one of the reasons why I like the Timothy Zahn novels. He tries to fix the overpowering of Luke in his Hand of Thrawn Duology by forcing Luke to power down... of course, then we have just a few years later Troy Denning's Dark Nest Trilogy basically being a giant "I'm Luke Skywalker, and I can do ANYTHING" fest. And masses of bugs, to boot.
Sometimes we are slow to learn the rules -- I knew I should have written and posted these 9 years ago, but I figured we would all just learn from Zahn, the dean of Star Wars authors. Oh well.
So there it is - don't just try to build up something bigger, or meaner, or more cool and powerful. That's not the essence of Star Wars.
Oh, and as an addendum, since I'm re-reading Bantam books. Listen, Mara Jade IS the ideal romantic interest for Luke. What in the world were all these authors trying to do to make better ones? I mean, I read about them, and they are just. . . why, why would Luke settle for gals like... them when Mara is waiting for him. Thank you, thank Mr. Zahn for just putting the two together and being done with it.
Oh, what - they did WHAT to Mara? And they brought back how many old girlfriends? Really? Where did they dig up these old fossils, I mean. . . ugh.
Please, please authors - stop trying to violate Rule Number one. Don't try to top Lucas (and don't try to top Zahn either).
...
I'm sure all the muckity-mucks are paying close attention and I'll be getting an excellent check from Sue Rostini soon.
...
(Sigh - if I did, it would probably just be in Imperial Credits.)
At any rate, here it is, Rule Number 1 of Writing Star Wars.
Bigger is NOT Better - or in other words, Don't try to pull trump on George Lucas.
One of the major flaws of many Star Wars books is that instead of just providing new situations for characters to have exciting adventures in, they will try to bring out something bigger and badder. These fail. Horribly.
For example, consider the " Sun Crusher" - the worst superweapon plot device ever. So, George Lucas gives us the big, giant Death Star with the power to destroy a planet (shame it has a design flaw). In the Jedi Academy Triology, Kevin Anderson gives us the Sun Crusher, which is:
A. More powerful than the Death Star (it can make Stars go Nova)
B. Easier to use than the Death Star (only needs a single pilot)
C. Is impossible to destroy with no flaws (Quantum armor? Really? Really really?)
What this does is sort of just make the whole thing seem ridiculous. The concept of Star Wars already requires some suspension of disbelief -- when you violate the given rules of the universe beyond the established ideas, it just make things seem so much more ridiculous - sort of like an unintentional, mood shattering argument to absurdity.
Of course, this doesn't just happen with weapons - it can happen with the Villains, where you have villains that are just superized versions of their predecessors - so we'll have Lord Nyax who is supposed to be a super Vader... This just doesn't work. Really, it doesn't. Make a new villain. They are wicked and evil - go have wicked and evil fun with them.
And the worst place this happens is with the heroics of the heroes. See, this is the big problem - we see our heroes do neat things, and sadly, some authors seem to think, "Ah, they can do neat stuff, therefore they are heroes. I will make them better heroes by having them do even more teh aewsoemest stuff." Heroes in Star Wars aren't heroes because they have power, they are heroes because they use whatever talents or skills they have in helping and defending others. If you want to make them seem heroic, don't whip out a new power or feat, have them find creative ways to use their powers to help.
This is one of the reasons why I like the Timothy Zahn novels. He tries to fix the overpowering of Luke in his Hand of Thrawn Duology by forcing Luke to power down... of course, then we have just a few years later Troy Denning's Dark Nest Trilogy basically being a giant "I'm Luke Skywalker, and I can do ANYTHING" fest. And masses of bugs, to boot.
Sometimes we are slow to learn the rules -- I knew I should have written and posted these 9 years ago, but I figured we would all just learn from Zahn, the dean of Star Wars authors. Oh well.
So there it is - don't just try to build up something bigger, or meaner, or more cool and powerful. That's not the essence of Star Wars.
Oh, and as an addendum, since I'm re-reading Bantam books. Listen, Mara Jade IS the ideal romantic interest for Luke. What in the world were all these authors trying to do to make better ones? I mean, I read about them, and they are just. . . why, why would Luke settle for gals like... them when Mara is waiting for him. Thank you, thank Mr. Zahn for just putting the two together and being done with it.
Oh, what - they did WHAT to Mara? And they brought back how many old girlfriends? Really? Where did they dig up these old fossils, I mean. . . ugh.
Please, please authors - stop trying to violate Rule Number one. Don't try to top Lucas (and don't try to top Zahn either).
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