Jeff Diamond’s Comments (group member since Jan 27, 2010)

Jeff Diamond’s comments from the The Expanded Universe group.

I am wondering if it may be that they just haven't found their groove yet. It may just be taking time getting audiences more involved in the era, and the books will become much better later. It may be wishful thinking, but it's a possibility.

Pete wrote: "The question in all of your scenarios is can you justify killing an innocent person. It does not matter the number you put behind it, the question remains are you willing to kill an innocent perso..."

Good point. If you are willing to change your morals based on the situation you are in, then you are on the quick and easy path. I think that a lot of people fall into this trap, and end up changing a lot based on those decisions.

Jim wrote: "I have observed that in many cases, evil will persevere, even with a tactic that is ineffectual."

I think that this has a lot to do with the morality that the author is portraying. We live in a primarily Judeo-Christian society, and have a fairly long history of literature following this pattern. In college, Becky and I (Becky is my wife, and the other moderator of this group) took an Arthurian Literature class, and from the very earliest beginnings of literature in Europe, the forces of evil use one specific tactic (usually a deceptive, divisive and underhanded one) to try to destroy the good guys, and through virtue and right the light side prevails, as long as they don't succumb to the wiles of the bad guys. I guess you can call Star Wars a modern-day morality play. That we actually want to watch more than once.

Jim wrote: "If we are limiting the debate to what can or will happen in Star Wars, then "good" jedi will always be forced to resort to the tactics of their adversaries. And this dilutes the distinction betwee..."

And in my belief, the different tactics that both sides employ will drive them towards a stalemate where the evil side will be unable to adjust its tactics, and the good side will be unwilling to change theirs.

The first book in the Kyle Katarn trilogy is called something like "A Soldier for the Empire." It's not a novel like you would normally think about it, but it was more like a short story with illustrations.

Okay. Here's where we can start talking about the Video game tie-ins. There are quite a few things going on, like the Force Unleashed book. A while ago, we also got a trilogy about Kyle Katarn tying in with the Jedi Knight games.

Your thoughts on the subject???

I think that you have good points. Evil can be like energy or mass, and can never be stamped out. The only difference is that the dark side is more of an ideal. But really, I just brought up Newton's laws to be facetious.

I guess one question that I feel is becoming central to this discussion is when is vengance justified? The words revenge and avenge are actually the same word, just used in a different context. Revenge is a noun, and avenge is a verb. (I'm a language major, so I have to be picky about that.) So technically, if you take revenge or avenge somebody, the argument is true. Your motive is generally going to be personal gain or strong emotion. Maybe both.

I think that retribution may be a better word, because it can go both ways. So, a question that I have is whether or not "justice" is a socially acceptible way of getting retribution. I guess that's a new question, isn't it?

Okay. So there was some discussion about authors earlier. Everybody seems to have an opinion on this...go figure. So the question is asked. Who and why? You favorite, least favorite, you couldn't finish this person's book, etc., and why you do/don't like said author.

Me first!

I think that my favorite author is Michael A. Stackpole. I think that he seems to have enough description in his books that it is really involving, but is still fast enough to keep an ADD person engaged. Another thing is that he writes battles really well. A more in-the-moment type of writing. I like that. Another author that I like (there are many) would be Matthew Stover, the guy who wrote the Episode III book. That book in particular is interesting because it gives you a personal view of a character's thoughts and feelings, but still has a 3rd person narrative. I think that is cool.

The author that is probably on the bottom of my list is R.A. Salvatore. I couldn't finish his Episode II book. Of course, Episode II just seems to drag, but the author is supposed to make a story at least a little interesting!

Tirade ended.

It's true that the Old Republic is a good place to focus now, especially because there has always been such a huge focus on what has happened during the Clone Wars era and the Galactic Civil war. The Darth Bane series seems to me like it was just a test of the waters to see how well it would be recieved. Quite well.

By the way, thanks for mentioning Wookieepedia. I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses it.

Jacer3000 wrote:"Anyone else seen Star Wars in Concert?..."

Going back a little, Becky and I did when they were in Las Vegas. HOLY CRAP, was it awesome! We were in the same freakin' room with Anthony Daniels! Sweet. And they did an encore of the Imperial March.

Anyway, like I said, Assault at Correllia was my first, but now that I am reading more, I have found that there is a lot more to like than I had first anticipated. I haven't been reading at all the last few weeks, as I am in Japan, Star Wars books are few and far between, and with my job reading is not the highest priority. But as soon as I get back to the States, I'm going to get Star by Star and finish NJO.

A little unrelated, but I think that an author thread is in order given the little tirades that were happening earlier.

Jim wrote: "Tell me how to flag such things and I will do so. Sorry."

Yes. I sent a bulletin, but I am not sure how familiar everyone is with the site. I didn't know I could send a bulletin to everybody before that, so it is a learning process. But thank you for being willing to do it! :)

Thank you, Jim. I had not thought about that before. It's true that people like Obi-Wan were not taken out of the storyline, but continued to play a fairly significant role.

I will ask you, though that if you have anything in your comment that refers to a fairly significant plot point, please put a note or something. I knew about what happens at the end of Legacy, but some may prefer to live in oblivion. Thanks!

I don't know, but I would guess that if it is about the Rise of the Sith, it would be more about the most recent resurgence before the Battle of Yavin, culminating in Palpatine's rule.

It's interesting that you say that New Jedi Order is not as good as Legacy, because you never finished NJO.

(Just so everybody knows, Becky and I are married, and both big Star Wars Geeks. Ask about our wedding cake sometime.)

Anyway, I just finished Rebirth, and there are some things that are starting to pop up aboug the Yuuzhan Vong that are making me start to question their place - or rather, how they relate to the people in our beloved galaxy and their gods.

Anyways, it's a great series. That's pretty much what I'm trying to say.

Sweet. So the question is: When exactly do the new books take place?

What difficulty level? Becky have "The Great Star Wars Quiz" on our blog, but some of the questions are way easy.

Plus, let's be honest. This galaxy is pretty much established, so you could really have any characters doing anything, and you could have a relatively good story. For crying out loud, you could have a book about Tarkin and how he rose through the Imperial Navy. That may be a little stale, but still.

I think that the main reason that this era has heretofore gone unexplored is because it doesn't directly do with the movie characters, and it doesn't really have a direct impact on those storylines.

William wrote: "I don't think any fan fiction has ever been canonized. But this.... is well deserving of recognition of some sort."

True. There's a reason for that. Even some things that George Lucas has made aren't canon. Four words. Star Wars Holiday Special.

Do you think that this will ever be canonized or taken as a basis for another group of books?

Luke is, too. Regardless, they will have to meet their end sooner or later.