Interview with a Star Wars Jedi Master

If you have been to a book store in the last few decades, walked the Science Fiction section and NOT noticed the many shelves dedicated to Star Wars - just stop reading here. I have nothing for you...

Seriously.

We are talking 100+ books. Dozens of authors. And a lifetime of devotion from millions of fans. How can you miss it??? (list of star wars novels)

No one I know compares to the level of my brother, Rodney, who I feel very confident in naming as a Jedi Master. He has been collecting and reading Star Wars novels for as long as I can remember. He has read (almost) all of them. I'm sure that if George Lucas saw the amount of money my brother has spent over the years, he'd be reclining in the Skywalker Ranch thinking that it really is easier than stealing a kid's milk money... Fortunately my brother is lactose-intolerant. So win-win.

After so many shelves in our house dedicated to Star Wars (I, myself, began to treat his collection as a little library), and so many losses to him in Star Wars Trivia Pursuit, my family has appropriately dubbed him an authority. So what better resource to discuss the legacy of Star Wars and their novels? I've only read about eight. Rodney has informed me there are about 120 published (of which he has read, and owns 84). So I'm certainly not qualified.

When I started the interview (a.k.a barrage of questions after dinner), my first question was "why Star Wars?" Sure, I remember the movies as a staple of our childhood; I don't think either of us remember seeing them for the first time. But I never felt compelled to read any of the novels, and to this day have refused to read anything but the Episodes (except for two: The Courtship of Princess Leia and Tattooine Ghost). Rodney insists his hobby started at the suggestion of our mother. (Go Mom! I mean, I always knew she liked SW, but this is still a surprise.) As a parent concerned with their child's lack of interest in reading as a kid, she took him to the Star Wars section at Barnes & Noble and made him pick one. Smartly, he went with the Original Trilogy (IV, V & VI). But he says that it was Shatterpoint that drew him in completely... Understandable since the only series he'd really enjoyed prior was The Series of Unfortunate Events. No contest. So again, "why SW?" Because Series of Unfortunate Events had a lull in publishing of the series, and Lego Bionicle didn't have books for adult-level reading, and our mom rocks.

Surprisingly, his favorite novel is still Shatterpoint. For being his second book, wasn't that kind of a disappointment? I was certainly bummed to hear that he doesn't think it ever really got better (that's a lot of years to read something that's just "good" but not great). He explains that to no fault of the other stories and authors, nothing compares to the initial excitement of reading the first book to draw you in; to make you realize this story is more than just fan fiction for a well loved movie series... It's also a Mace Windu book. That can't hurt anything.

For the record, he also really liked Death Troopers. His favorite series involved the Republic Commando Squad. But he testifies this in particular is the best "horror SW". Which I didn't even know was a thing. But apparently the secret to the series success is that even though it is one giant story arc and universe, each mini-series is very different and each author's style of writing is different. So it never gets dull. And fortunately  by the end of the '90s they retired their formula of presenting a evil doom-bringer that seemed unstoppable, giving the main character (i.e. Luke) some personal growth point to overcome, and by doing so they are capable of stopping the otherwise unstoppable foe. The newer antagonists are bigger and badder, and stick closer to the Empire's structure in that it takes many novels for the characters to work together to defeat.

Which ones did he keep avoiding or hasn't read yet? He hasn't kept up with the new ones that come out much, since they mostly deal with the Clone Wars and early SW events. Lucas has made it apparent he's more focused on recruiting new generations of SW fans than keeping his long-time fans happy. The new books don't come out as often, and while they keep consistency (apparently mistakes are few and far between), they are geared more towards the new generations of fans. This strategy doesn't seem to bother Rodney. In fact, he even has respect for the authors who only wrote one or two before realizing the force just wasn't strong within them (in other words, they sucked at it). Sure, they are a pain to read, but they must have made huge efforts to study SW to maintain their great record for consistency; a feat which only those really dedicated to SW would even attempt. For those he likes, I asked if he ever crossed-over to read anything else non-SW they have published? Not really. He enjoyed James Lucerno and Aaron Allston, but he doesn't read any non-SW authors unless they've contributed to other series he's dabbled in.

When I asked for specific books he disliked, he confessed that he couldn't finish the last of the Han Solo Trilogy. I agree that they aren't very well written. (Add the first one to my list. I guess that makes nine.) And the non-Chewbacca side-kicks are annoying. Like the cat guy. No good. And the Lando Calrissian Trilogy apparently includes flying whales. I dunno. Other least favorite characters? We agreed that Darth Bane's apprentice sucks- the whiney little girl with a bad temper. Yeah, her. (Ten! I've read ten!). And the Sorcerers of Tund. Who knew...

What am I saying? Rodney knew. Of course.

So where does he see the future of the SW universe? He isn't sure, and he doesn't think LucasArts is either. When Old Republic's MMORPG came out everyone focused on that particular arc. And Clone Wars TV shows are generating more revenue than the novels ever did; but they are also leading the way on the story's canon, pushing the books aside or even forcing re-writes when there are discrepancies. Now that Disney has acquired SW, it doesn't look like the way is any more clear. With the promise of future SW movies VII, VIII, & IX (well, that just looks weird...) that will very likely ignore the books, he's not sure what room they've left for new books at all.

But for those who are wanting to get into the book series now, he recommends reading the Episodes first, and then branching out to the other SW series that have the same authors.

It will be interesting to see where they go, and if Rodney follows. He's currently focusing on Tolkien's works; having read The Silmarilion three times now. (He does not re-read SW, other than for reference and study.)
Finally, I asked, "Do you think you'll ever read the Star Trek series?" Everyone at the table got quiet, and waited for an answer...

"No."


May the Force be with you!

-BeetHats