Star Wars Love

The Courtship of Princes Leia

by

Dave Wolverton

I don't see Star Wars as a lovey dovey type story even when it is all about relationships. For that I am thankful. This story shows a large range of just how love is found. The book starts out with a contrast between Han and Isolder and their love for Leia. Isolder is obviously a foil for Han to highlight his maturity. I probably can't get away with calling Han mature since a major part of the plot comes from him kidnapping Leia but lets ignore that bit for now.. Contrasted to Han, with much of his life is a struggle for financial gain, Isolder has everything he needs. Isolder, despite not knowing Leia, professed his love for her right away. Yet the only thing the two have in common is their duty to their people. Han does state his love for Leia after a slow growth of affection. This leads to the most important contrast. Isolder saw Leia as the perfect Queen Mother, strong but kind, he could only love her in that limited view. Han, by contrast, love Leia for who she is. The plot does a very good job of showing the readers this.  Both Han and Leia give consideration to each other throughout the story. Even with all the possible relationships this commitment is not see elsewhere, even by those who are not lovers but have other relationships.

Luke and Teneniel's potential relationship is intriguing but obviously not one that would work. Teneniel has strong and fast proclamations which is far from what Luke needs. Rapid change has left Luke wounded. His quick attachment to Obiwan and his subsequent loss had a strong impact on Luke. This loss isn't the only one that happened in a short amount of time after uniting with an individual. The current loving relationship that he has is with Leia. It would be slow to form but unyielding in strength.

(Sadly this was meant to be uploaded in August but do to time restraints my writing has taken a back seat.)

Death Star: Final Thoughts

Death Star by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry

I try not to run away with more intent then was probably placed in a story but when the main plot point is an explosion of everything the story was about, and you know it is coming before even starting, all that is left is reading into the meaning. I’m going into my final thoughts with only vague feelings. I only have a few things to say. Nova being force sensitive is interesting when paired with his interest in philosophy. This pairs thinking and intuition. These are almost polar opposites but in this case the pair together saves him, figuratively of course. His interest in philosophy allows him to have ideals but his intuition allowed him to act. This is also in contrast to Tenn Graneet. He believed it when he was told the ultimate weapon wouldn’t be used, as if a weapon has ever failed to be used. Weapons are always used at least once before the impact of what the weapon can do is realized. This happened with nuclear weapons, there was fear there, mass fear, for years but only after they were used. Graneet didn’t think passed what he was told and he suffered for it. In the end there was no redemption for him. Teela and Vil are another contrast but in this case it brings harmony. Teela was all about structure, which is a requirement for her being an architect, and Vil needed fluidity in order to adapt to situations as a pilot. Both are needed in society.

Rodo, we don’t know much about him other than Memah saying he values beauty and his ability to keep those around him safe. Did he love her, in what way, did he not? I don’t think it matters. What is important about him is he saw the world and he acted when needed without false pretenses. He showed loyalty without expectation and through this he found contentment. Motti, Dalla, Tarkin, who cares. I will say I was disappointed in Tarkin’s last thoughts. I found his only real admirable trait is keeping things in perspective. He aimed big sure but never dismissed possibility and what he saw before him. Yet at the end he lost that all-encompassing perspective. As for Memah and Ratua, I should probably say something about stability, I’m just not sure what.

The Death Star itself can be seen as one big metaphor but for what? In this case I feel there is one good answer and that is the Death Star is society. There was a big emphasis on many types of people within this story. All walks of life and social standing was present along with types of relationships. It isn’t a stretch to say that society is the way to view the Death Star. What is important though is what the meaning of its destruction is. The Death Star is a society that did not meet the needs of the individuals in that society and could not sustain itself do to this.

Death Star: Darth Vader

Death Star by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry

Chapter(s): 11

 

 I almost feel I should have waited on the last essay and finish chapter 11, though I didn't have much to say up to page 200 so maybe it is for the best that I didn't. The extra time gave me some ideas though. My thoughts on Vader have changed. I’m sure most think of him as having turned evil. To me, now at least, it feels almost like he hasn’t and is using his own force powers to do so. There is also an allegory to a phoenix within the first paragraph. Yes it is meant to show how he died, came back, and changed. The thing to remember is the phoenix is still the same bird. It is also important to remember it has a positive connotation. When we first see him he says he is still Anakin Skywalker in some ways. Palpatine clearly started his brain washing but all this time Darth Vader has been reinforcing it. “He let the dark side take him, let it envelop him in anger and hatred (72).” It is almost like he can’t keep it up on his own. Really if he is good the whole time and is using his suffering to power up his force power that is just twisted.

I’ve been thinking about the force lately. I don’t know much about it. The Star Wars books I’ve read focused on other characters. With the mentions of it in here I have wondered about a few of the details. It says that the force, at least in Vaders control, has the ability to stop hearts. If it can do such a thing why isn’t it seen more? I thought about it and came up with something I feel works. I believe the body has a resistance and it takes time, that is often not available, to overcome if it is possible to get by at all. It is kind of similar to how Obi-Wan were able to distract the Stormtroopers from the droids. It isn’t a stretch to see how that was orchestrated. They were not sure what they were looking for so it wouldn’t be too hard to overlook them. Now with your life in the mix it gets to be a bit more complicated. First of all your body can betray you if you are panicked and afraid. There is also a mental part to it. If you fear something you have to believe it can do you harm and lower the resistance you would hold. All and all pretty useless against a Jedi or someone who isn’t of a weaker will than the force user. This isn’t to imply there isn’t still a physical aspect like how objects are moved but there is a new quality in the use with a person’s own will.

 Reaves, Michael, and Steve Perry. Star Wars: Death Star. New York: Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, 2007. Print.

Welcome

Words have power just by reading them. This makes reading literature one of the most fulfilling uses of your time. Just reading brings fulfillment but looking for a deeper understanding brings satisfaction. Not only do I wish to read more I wish to respond. I want to get my thoughts in order and out into the world.

I don't read that much but I am getting better. I believe a blog will help. Blogging has done wonders for my creating at Dreaming of Fish. There is just something so motivating about having to show the world.

If you couldn't tell this blog has a secondary theme beyond literature, that is Star Wars. Within the last year I was at GoodWill, the only place I can afford books normally, and there was more books for Star Wars then I could imagine being in one place. There had to be 50 books. It was like a Star Wars fan died. I had wondered what the chances of the originals being there. Chances turned out to be pretty good because there it was with a few others near year 0. That day I walked home with the first three, The Lando Calrissian Adventures, and The Han Solo Trilogy. Han Solo, How could I say no? I loved them all.

The Star Wars series meet all my needs. It had war, it is from another world yet not so removed from mine, it has multiple; powerful themes, harsh romance; no fluff for me, and good humor. Even with multiple writers the standard remains high. I love great lines and Star Wars provides. many lines are well worth the second read, even more so when delivered as scathingly as "it looks like it's up to me to save our skins. Get into that garbage chute, flyboy! (120)."

Star Wars has to be the biggest anthology on one world ever. I get supper into series to the point I don't want to let go when I find a good one. This series has the content to back that up. Just recently I got my hands on a copy of Death Star. Building projects and politics, sounds boring but it is anything but. It highlights what could have easily been avoided when thinking of the Death Star.

Mind you I won't only be going on about Star Wars. I have other interest and a good few books on my shelf. I look foreword to showing you a glimpse into my thoughts and hope you will read along with me.

One last thing: Warning this blog is spoilery as a caucus full of maggots!

Lucas, George. Star Wars. New York: Ballantine, 1993. Print.