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June 2021 Canon Group Read: From a Certain Point of View
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Mod
Read 10 short stories a week starting June, 15th.
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I'm in for this read! May got away from me and I completely missed all the group reads.
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I don't think I can stomach reading Revan again, so I think I'll jump in on this, too. I bumped into my copies of the book this eveing and pulled down the trade paperback. Let's see how these short stories stack up.Which topic would this fit into from the 2021 reading challenge?
Mod
Task #3 Read a SW short story anthology.
Zuzana wrote: "Task #3 Read a SW short story anthology."Thank you! I missed it when I looked.
I just finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix today and picked up From a Certain Point of View and read the first three stories.
Gary Whitta's "Raymus" is pretty good. Christie Golden's "The Bucket" is okay, and the constant "TK-4601" and "TK-9091," etc was getting irritating. Ken Liu's "Sith of Datawork" might be one of the worst things in Star Wars I've ever read. Are his short stories in The Legends of Luke Skywalker that bad?
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1. "Raymus" by Gary Whitta. I liked the idea of captain Antilles thinking about his family and finding comfort in them being safe on Alderaan (the irony). What I didn't like was the execution. What was with the melodramatic style. His description of Leia's eyes as "brown orbs" made me roll my brown orbs.
2. "The Bucket" by Christie Golden was okay. Not great, not terrible. The usage of TK number while thinking about himself was a gimmick to make the name at the end of the story "climactic". It still kinda worked. I agree with Don that the overusage of TK-xxx was getting irritating.
3. "Sith of Datawork" by Ken Liu. I didnť mind this one frankly totally irrelevant story. Had it been in a shorter collection I might have been annoyed. The truth is I've worked for a government agency long enough to find the story about Imperial red tape mildly amusing.
4. "Stories in the Sand" by Griffin McElroy. Jawa as the MC. It was okay I guess.
5. "Reirin" by Sabaa Tahir. A feminist Tusken stealing from Jawas. This story felt incomplete to me. Does it have a continuation someplace else?
6. "The Red One" by Rae Carson. Poor R5 unit - nobody knows that he's in fact the hero of the movie. Without his sacrifice Artoo would have never been bought by Uncle Lars and met Luke. It was enjoyable.
7. "Rites" by John Jackson Miller. A young and arrogant Tusken Raider A'Koba learns important lessons about courage and fear. This was the first story I really liked (despite a bit of stereotyping Tuskens) . Note to self: Move Kenobi up my TBR list.
8. "Master and Apprentice" by Claudia Gray. Qui-Gon's Force ghost has a conversation with Ben Kenobi. Favorite story of the bunch so far.
9. "Beru Whitesun Lars" by Meg Cabot. Late aunt Beru reflects on her life. Superficial. The worst one so far. Glad it was short.
10. "The Luckless Rodian" by Renée Ahdieh. Han Shot first. :D I am glad that TPTB let the author keep that detail. BTW Greedo hates Han because his former lover Uncelta dumped him to get together with Han. An okay story.
My top 3 so far:
1. "Master and Apprentice" by Claudia Gray.
2. "Rites" by John Jackson Miller.
3. "The Red One" by Rae Carson.
The stories in this anthology are so bad that I am done. I read the first twelve and nothing stood out. I can't suffer through another twenty-eight of these overly sappy and boring stories. The simplicity, brevity, and level of writing in From a Certain Point of View leaves nothing interesting for serious readers to enjoy. I cannot recommend From a Certain Point of View. The stories are not even remotely interesting. They try to draw on Star Wars nostalgia without any subtlety and it is exhausting to have the motion picture's themes and artifacts forced into gratuitous use. While I understand why the publishers issued a book with forty stories, it is just too many. The stories are just too shallow and too vapid to capture the imagination.
Mod
BTW How far have you gotten, Don?
Anyway I wonder if by the end I'll be able to compose a list of 10 stories worth reading out of these 40.
Don wrote: "The stories in this anthology are so bad that I am done. I read the first twelve and nothing stood out. I can't suffer through another twenty-eight of these overly sappy and boring stories. The sim..."I am 16 stories in and I tend to agree. Some are mildly amusing, but I am having a tough time engaging with these. The peripheral character's stories feel incomplete as their own story and seem to only exist so they can have a few moments of tie-in with the New Hope. Also, reading multiple stories about different side-character thoughts about the same event such as the cantina scene from the New Hope is a bit much. I am going to stick with it to the end, but am not really enjoying it that much so far.
I remember liking some of the stories, hating the Tarkin one and several others but giving it three stars because some of them made me laugh. I haven't reread it, but I think I'd probably agree with you Don if I were to reread it.
To be clear Tarkin isn't the pov character in the one I clearly remember hating, the mouse droid that got kicked is the character we are following.
Mod
THIS! I totally agree, Todd. Maybe that's why I enjoyed Qui-Gon's story the best.
Zuzana wrote: "BTW How far have you gotten, Don? ... I'll be able to compose a list of 10 stories worth reading out of these 40."I got through the twelfth story, "We Don't Serve Their Kind Here." I just can't press on with so much other reading I want to do.
I think a curated list of worthwhile stories is a good idea. I know something that like can be subjective, though. It may be helpful so that readers can steer clear of poor story telling in things like "Beru Whitesun Lars" and "Reirin."
Mod
Those two were really bad.
Are there any stories from those 12 you really enjoyed, Don?
Zuzana wrote: "Are there any stories from those 12 you really enjoyed...?"I like "Raymus," though it has its flaws. I think it is one that is worth reading. I wish it was longer and had time to develop.
"The Red One" has potential, but Carson botched it. The droids seem like children, not highly advanced, AI computers on wheels with near limitless computing power. The "voice" of R2-D2 was all off and it could have been any droid with how vague the story is written. But, as a concept it is compelling. She whiffed on the execution.
Those would be two I'd submit as worth reading, with the above caveats.
Honorable mention to "Not for Nothing" for breaking the mold and delving into music as a story (as opposed to starships, 'laser' swords, and 'a sandy-haired boy that enters the cantina') in Star Wars. Its problem is that Lafferty starts the tale after the story had begun and never got to finish. It is incomplete and begs for development and context.
I gotta thank you guys for entertaining this discussion. This group's dynamic is patient, understanding and very mature. As impatient as I am with this book, you good folks have been more than patient with me as I've excoriated the work of these authors. The really cool thing is that your comments have compelled me to revisit the anthology with a more open mind. This is why group reading and discussion is important - you can have an impact on someone else and how they perceive and contemplate books (and life). Thank you guys and gals.With that said, I re-read the first five stories last night with a different mindset. While I use Zuzana's quotes below, I considered every post made and used hers because they are a good 'one-stop' to encapsulate discussion.
Zuzana wrote: "1. "Raymus" - I liked the idea of captain Antilles thinking about his family and finding comfort in them being safe on Alderaan (the irony). What I didn't like was the execution. What was with the melodramatic style. His description of Leia's eyes as "brown orbs" made me roll my brown orbs.
3.5 stars
Whitta does a great job of connecting the last seconds of Rogue One to the first minutes of A New Hope. I think this story is thoughtful. He captures Leia well in terse statements I can hear in her voice. The tragedy of Raymus's ending coupled with the lost opportunity to send his family his last words, and the looming demise of their lives is compelling and composed well in brief. I also liked the plot device Whitta uses to indicate how their ship was followed. It could have used a bit of Luceno's technical language, but it was good enough for a short story. The "brown orbs" (also, the finger on the cheek) did not bother me. I do think it is valid commentary from Zuzana, though. I would put "Raymus" on a Must Read list.
Zuzana wrote: "2. "The Bucket" - It's okay. Not great, not terrible. The usage of TK number while thinking about himself was a gimmick to make the name at the end of the story "climactic". It still kinda worked ... the overusage of TK-xxx was getting irritating."
2.5 stars
Yep: Okay, not great. The main character actually has a name: Tarvyn Lareka. After a second read I understand the constant use of TK-xxxx is a build-up to the humanization of stormtroopers as the story and ends he doffs his 'bucket.' It is a poignant moment. Read this story if you want to see brief insight from a stormtrooper moments before Princess Leia is captured on Tantive IV. Not bad. I'd give it an honorable mention with a "read at your own discretion" distinction.
Zuzana wrote: "3. "Sith of Datawork" - I didnť mind this one frankly totally irrelevant story. Had it been in a shorter collection I might have been annoyed. The truth is I've worked for a government agency long enough to find the story about Imperial red tape mildly amusing."
2 stars
A second reading of this allowed me to appreciate the idea of imperial bureaucracy. It is a bit funny to think a 'paperwork' shuffle can deflect blame and there is truth that resonates from that idea. It did make me smile as the deluge of datawork piled up to cast aspersions on another imperial officer to explain why R2 and C-3PO escaped destruction. I would say it is one the reader can miss, but I understand why it has a place in Star Wars lore - it explains a big A New Hope question in irreverent terms.
Zuzana wrote: "4. "Stories in the Sand" - Jawa as the MC. It was okay I guess"
2.5 stars
I found this one boring, but not bad. It does address another A New Hope question: what happened to R2-D2's memory, what was wiped and what was not. If that is important to you, read this. Otherwise it is a plain story about a Jawa who bumps into the most famous droid in literature. I think this is a 'read at your own discretion' story.
Zuzana wrote: "5. "Reirin" - A feminist Tusken stealing from Jawas. This story felt incomplete to me. Does it have a continuation someplace else?
1.5 stars
Reirin does not appear anywhere else in Star Wars lore. The character is just a thief and a sneak. She is stealing an kyber crystal. So, I think the story's goal is to create a mystery to ponder, which is a good literary method, but Tahir fails in the effort. This is one the reader can miss.
I am going to keep reading, so thanks again, friends. I think I'll consolidate to this post as I continue. I reflect on 'mixed bag' notion as Zuzana said. We do need to accept that as readers. And even more important, some readers may like parts of the work that others do not. I needed that reminder. I apologize for dumping on the stories. They were not made just for me, but for all, and I respect that and I respect your opinions.
May the Force be with you.
Mod
Having said that, I am glad you gave this particular book a second chance. I like reading your impressions of the stories.
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The problem with most of the From a Certain Point of View short stories I've read so far is that they don't bring anything new & interesting to the lore.
Zuzana wrote: "Another criterion I use for SW short stories is whether they are relevant to the overall story (here to the Ep 4 movie) or not. Are they impactful on the SW universe at all, if so in what way?"This is a great perspective to keep: relevance is important, especially if the title implies a relationship to a specific work. Does the story or do the stories add to the overarching saga? Great standard to adhere to.
I re-read three more stories yesterday.
Zuzana wrote: "6. "The Red One" - Poor R5 unit - nobody knows that he's in fact the hero of the movie. Without his sacrifice Artoo would have never been bought by Uncle Lars and met Luke. It was enjoyable."
3 stars
This is a salient little tale. I did not like the childish 'voices' of R5-D4 and R2, but R2 is in character beyond the 'voice' Carson gave him. I wonder why Artoo does not stream or transmit his remaining data to R5-D4 to show, rather than tell, his story and the importance of his mission. The 'dialogue' between the two droids is too simple and lacks depth for me. However, the Force subtly compelling R5 to action is a nice touch, and the story has a very satisfying ending. I think this is a Must Read story.
Zuzana wrote: "7. "Rites" - A young and arrogant Tusken Raider A'Koba learns important lessons about courage and fear. This was the first story I really liked (despite a bit of stereotyping Tuskens)."
2.5 stars
This story does not hit as high of a note for me as it does for Zuzana. It delves into two tales at once and the short story format is a poor place for competing themes. The reader is better served exploring Tusken coming of age rituals in Kenobi , and left to enjoy a more in-depth story of Tusken intervention Luke's and Kenobi's meeting in "Rites." It is too much at once. Credit to JJ Miller for getting a Kenobi character canonized. "Rites" does do an admirable job of describing the feeling the Tuskens experienced when Kenobi makes his grand entrance into the saga. I wish a better plot device was used to begin the story. With some more thought and work, this could be a great short story. I think it is Read At Your Discretion material.
Zuzana wrote: "8. "Master and Apprentice" - Qui-Gon's Force ghost has a conversation with Ben Kenobi. Favorite story of the bunch so far."
3.5 stars
This story is well written. I am not a fan of the evolving Force ghost idea (I still scratch my head at Yoda's story arch in The Clone Wars season six), Gray presents this theme well, and admirably conjures the character and personality of Jinn. The conversation in this story is vivid, relevant, and creates a strong link between The Phantom Menace and A New Hope. Slot this story on the Must Read list.
Thirty-two stories to go. I am kinda excited about that.
Hey Don - The Death Star stuff is pretty spotty, but there are a couple of Yavin patches worth reading. My suggestion would be to start each story. If it's not a reflection of the scenes in the movie, then "Skip ahead a bit, brother". You might be able to salvage a bit of the remainder. Pro Tip: Skip the dianoga.
Patrick wrote: "My suggestion would be to start each story. If it's not a reflection of the scenes in the movie, then "Skip ahead a bit, brother."This is great advice, Patrick!
Jumping back into the book, here is my progress and thoughts so far.
Zuzana wrote: "9. "Beru Whitesun Lars" - Late aunt Beru reflects on her life. Superficial. The worst one so far. Glad it was short."
1 star
This story is an absolute Must Miss. It is four pages of meaningless banter that makes me cringe. It is as if Beru is at a gossip session with other shallow old ninnies. I have no idea what Cabot was thinking or what her editor was smoking when they thought this was okay.
Zuzana wrote: "10. "The Luckless Rodian" - Han Shot first. I am glad that 'the powers that be' let the author keep that detail. BTW Greedo hates Han because his former lover Uncelta dumped him to get together with Han. An okay story."
2 stars
This one can be skipped. Greedo is portrayed as a sulky, embittered, cry baby as he waits for and approaches Han Solo. The love triangle is a bit weird for me. Worse, Greedo's character seems off. I think Ahdieh missed the characterization of the universe's most famous rodian. The ending is rushed and feels disappointing, considering how important the moment is in the saga.
I can't piggy-back on Zuzana's comments anymore, so I am on my own here. Bare with me.
11. "Not for Nothing"
3 Stars
I like this one by Lafferty as it meanders off into the life of a band, but stays firmly rooted in Star Wars and in the heart of A New Hope's opening sequences on Tatooine. Laferty deserves some credit for pulling this off. The memoir style of presentation works, too. I did not care for it initially, but a second, slower reading changed my mind. While I really like it, I would say it is a Read at Your Discretion, as its musical trope may not have much appeal.
12. "We Don't Serve Their Kind Here"
2 stars
The anger and mental health issues Wendig suffers from show through in this story and it is quite stark. The reason why Wuher hates droids is unoriginal and predictable. I was hoping for a different backstory to the crusty old bar tender's past. There is a surprise realization as the story concludes for the main character. But, it was lost on me as I do not like the main character or the author. I would say this is a Read at Your Discretion story.
13. "The Kloo Horn Cantina Caper"
4 star
I like this story a lot. It has many layers, twists and turns. DeConnick and Fraction weave a fun and engaging 'who done it' with a great moral about friendship and doing the right thing. It is not strong in its ties to Star Wars or A New Hope. All we have are places and species to tell us we are in a Star Wars story. "The Kloo Horn Cantina Caper" could happen in any setting, and that is okay. While it is simple in language and tone, the characters have complexities in their myriad personalities, and it makes for a great read. I would love to say this is a Must Read. But, it does have a heavy Young Adult feel to it that may not be for all readers. So, I give it the Read at Your Discretion treatment; and I hope you do.
14. "Added Muscle"
1.5 stars
Boba Fett does not talk like he is some punk out of a Fast and Furious movie. For four pages all he does is talk and he sounds like a high school drop out. Less talk is better for one of the saga's most iconic figures, and Dini blew it. Great idea; poor execution. I know Boba Fett fans will have a heyday with my comments. It is not Boba Fett in this story. I say it is a Must Miss, but I imagine the masses will feel differently.
I have to read "You Owe Me a Ride" and "The Secrets of Long Snoot" again. The former I had no idea what was happening and did not care. The latter, the same. It would not be fair for me to comment without understanding them better. I look forward to stories not set in Mos Eisley. Please, tell me that is happening...
May the Force be with you.
I read Empire Strikes Back From a Certain Point of View a couple of months ago. It was good but had too many weird junk stories which involved the creatures including the asteroid space slug.i cant wait for the Return of the Jedi From a Certain Point of View whenever it comes out next year or whatever but they better not go overboard.
even the Legends of Luke Skywalker stuff all of it was just dumb
Don wrote: "I have to read "You Owe Me a Ride" and "The Secrets of Long Snoot" again."Okay, I had to read "You Owe Me a Ride" three times to form my opinion on it and read "The Secrets of Long Snoot" twice to get it.
15. "You Owe Me a Ride"
1.5 stars
I read this three times because I kept thinking that I was missing something; a word, phrase or sentence that presented a reason why I cared about the two sisters in the story. There is nothing there, regrettably. "You Owe Me a Ride" is just a random, boring story about a couple of broads that want to get off of Tatooine - like everyone else on the planet. There is nothing original here and the writing is mediocre at best and lame at its worst. Cordova drops a lot of names to try to make the story interesting, but ultimately it is just an unimaginative read. A definite Must Miss.
16. "The Secrets of Long Snoot"
4 stars
This is a mature, well written and thoughtful story by Dawson. It takes a couple of pages to set its pace and get going, but it does not disappoint. Finally, we have a story with depth that tells a solid story about a character that is meaningful. Long Snoot's story is compelling and engaging. It does not rely on brushes with the saga's 'big name' characters; Dawson creates an interesting story on the merits of Long Snoot as an individual. This story frames the character well relative to the larger events in A New Hope and I think it is a Must Read.
Twenty-four stories to go.
17. "Born in the Storm"1 star
This author has no idea how military units are organized and this story starts with this phony string of vernacular that is way off. And the 'report' that conveys the story is fraught with misplaced and unnecessary exclamations points: the surest sign of bad writing. "Born in the Storm" is a rip-off of Finn's story, except poorly written and much smaller in scope and importance. If you want to hear stormtroopers act like high school drop-outs, then this is for you. Otherwise, this is a Must Miss.
18. "Laina"
2.5 stars
This is an effort at making a poignant story about a rebel soldier who's lost so much and yet has more to lose as he fights the empire. I think Wheaton misses the mark. The emotion he was aiming for does not emerge. It is listless. This may be due to the short story format. It may be ineffective writing. Either way it is a Read at Your Discretion story.
19. "Fully Operational"
4.5 stars
The moments before the fateful and iconic meeting of Tarkin and Vader with the joint chiefs on the Death Star is brought to fantastic life with Revis's story. In short order she captures the spirit of the encounter and provides plausible and entertaining insight into the discussion in that black conference room. So, so good. A Must Read.
20. "Am Incident Report"
4 stars
A fantastic follow-up to Revis's "Fully Operational," Ortberg provides a solid account of Admiral Motti's report on Vader's behavior of the above-mentioned meeting. The writing is terse and impactful and not a word is wasted. Slightly less dramatic and important to the saga's story than "Fully Operational," but a Mist Read nonetheless.
I am halfway through!
21. "A Change of Heart"3.5 stars
This story is well written and does a very good job of presenting Alderaan's destruction while Tarkin toys with Leia in the Death Star's overbridge. Wein does well at describing the contained emotions of a an elite stormtrooper as he witnesses from a front row seat the to catastrophe of Leia's home planet - the events of which engender a change of heart in a way only a soldier can experience. A Must Read story.
22. "Eclipse"
3 stars
"Eclipse" is a mother's and wife's story of Alderaan's last moments told in succinct, but impactful language. It does not offer any significant insight into the saga, but it is written well and it is engaging. "Eclipse" is a Read at Your Discretion in my estimation.
23. "Verge of Greatness"
4 stars
Hidalgo presents a fantastic look into the mind and disposition of Tarkin as the death star becomes "fully operational" after the demonstration of its power above Jedha. There is a very interesting and well-conceived character interaction that readers should experience. Hidalgo is a good writer, knows his Star Wars stuff well, and does not disappoint with this one. It is a Must Read.
24. "Far Too Remote"
3.5
A somewhat funny single-panel comic right out of a newspaper. Worth a look: Must Read/See.
25. "The Trigger"
I have never read a Doctor Aphra comic, but this story by Gillen has me interested. Thankfully, this short story is not as 'comic book' as I feared it would be. It is thoughtful, well written and a fun and interesting read. I am not sure if I hate or like Aphra, and that lends to how well she is characterized by Gillen. The story is relative and offers a good 'off camera' scene from A New Hope. It is not required reading, and though I say it is Read at Your Discretion, I recommend it.
26. "Of MSE-6 and Men"
1 star
After a string of solid stories, this one reminds me that the book has some stinkers, and "Of MSE-6 and Men" is one. It offers nothing to the reader in regard to the story of A New Hops or to Star Wars in general. It is just a boring story with no point. The idea of the droid's boot processes and beeps is clever for the first five seconds; then it is tedious and lame. A definite Must Miss.
27. "Bump"
3.5 stars
An engaging story from the perspective of a specific stormtrooper that is an interesting read. This little reflection adds depth, context, and some seriousness to a laughable moment in A New Hope that audiences have usually chuckled at for years. And, I think the stormtrooper mentality is depicted well by Acker and Blacker. While I am slotting this as Read at Your Discretion, because it is not important to the saga's story, I recommend it.
Wow, thirteen stories to go. They get pretty good in this middle section, with one stinker and a one or two average tales. It has been worth plowing through some of the garbage to get this far and find some of the gems.
I have not been able to get in as much reading as I like this week, but I have a few more stories to summarize.28. "End of Watch"
3 stars
This is a good little exposition 'off-screen' imperial characters involved in the Detention Block AA-23. Christopher offers some fun Easter eggs. I like this one because it gives the imperial perspective on Leia's break-out from her interrogation room in the death star. I would like to say this is a Must Read.
29. "The Baptist"
3.5 stars
Initially, "The Baptist" had me rolling my eyes and wondering why I care about the dianoga (the creatures in the trash compactor in the iconic death star scene). Turns out, this an imaginative and unique story. The story develops well and takes on significant meaning as it unfolds. I do not want to spoil anything here, but it is a great little read if you care about the background of the trash monster. It is written in a Young Adult voice, and that is appropriate for the nature of the dianoga. While I really enjoyed it, I can see it is not for everyone, so I put it on the Read at Your Discretion list.
30. "Time of Death"
1.5 stars
Scott presents nothing new in this effort to provide perspective from Kenobi as he decides to perish at Vader's 'blade.' The story is not original, offers no significant insight, and misses the emotion it needs to have an impact. I just could not wait for this one to be over. Scott flirts with the Force ghost thing, but does not add to the theory or or premise. It just flashbacks we already know about with a little added detail, but noting important at all. I say it is a Must Miss.
Ten more to go. Should be done this weekend.
I finally finished this book! Took me forever to slog through this thing. It is way too late to post more notes. So, I'll do it later this weekend. It will be a tough one to rate because it is an anthology. It does not seem fair to give it a general rating. A few gems, a lot of average and too many stinkers.
Mod
My thoughts - part 2
11. "Not for Nothing" by Mur Lafferty. This was a well-thought out memoir style story of the Modal Nodes band & their "tour" to Tatooine. Doesn't bring anything essential to ANH and yet it's an enjoyable fun read.
12. "We Don't Serve Their Kind Here" by Chuck Wendig. Why did the bartender hate the droids so much? The reason is not that original or shocking. Ties the story to the Clone Wars. The ending of the story was nice, to get through the first 75% was a chore.
13. "The Kloo Horn Cantina Caper" by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Matt Fraction. I listened to the story on audio and I hated it. The voices for the characters were so annoying I couldn't cope. It killed my enjoyment of the book for a while. I stopped listening three times and every time it took me longer to get back to the audiobook. That's why I am so behind. The story seemed convoluted and the moral at the end unoriginal. I was surprised that you liked it so much, Don. I'm ready to admit that the audio presentation made me biased against the story. Once I finish all 40 short stories I'm going to give it a second chance and re-read it on my Kindle.
14. "Added Muscle" by Paul Dini. It was such an interesting idea. Explores Boba Fett's doings on Tatooine during ANH. I just didn't like the execution. His inner voice sounds like a stereotypical macho guy's false bravado all the time and I couldn't stomach his naivety when he flatters himself that Jabba sees him (and treats him) like a true friend. What was that?!
15. "You Owe Me a Ride" by Zoraida Córdova. So the two swindler/bountyhunter sisters need to amass enough credit to leave Tatooine. They have some history with Han. Was a bit boring.
16. "The Secrets of Long Snoot" by Delilah S. Dawson. The author suceeded where most others failed. She created an interesting fully realized main character and added a bit of lore (Kubaz's history with the Empire). You don't miss anything essential if you skip it but I thought it was really good.
17. "Born in the Storm" by Daniel José Older. A stormtrooper hating on his job reports an incident on his Mos Eisley patrol to the automated computer system (?). I wasn't keen on the yahoo personality of the main character, once again aggravated by the audio presentation. I liked the idea of describing what effects the Jedi mind trick had from the POV of the affected (even after the fact). Deserved better execution.
18. "Laina" by Wil Wheaton. Aimed for sentimental and poignant. Ended up a tad much melodramatic for my taste. I knew right from the prologue where the story was heading.
19. "Fully Operational" by Beth Revis. General Tagge's reflections on the political situation, potential dangers to the Empire from the Rebel Alliance and his participation on the Death Star briefing (the one where Darth Vader chokes Admiral Motti). Nice tie in with the Rogue One movie. References the destruction of Jedha, Battle of Scarif, Director's Krennic's legacy and how dangerous the stolen Death Star plans might prove to be in the hands of the Rebellion. Loved this story. A total must read.
20. "An Incident Report" by Daniel M. Lavery. Admiral Motti reports on his assault by Darth Vader. Motti is (intentionally) portrayed as a whiny pompous bureaucratic ass. I liked that. Not as much as "Fully Operational" but still an enjoyable read. I even chuckled at Motti's claims that Vader "literally attempted to shove his religious beliefs down his throat."
Top three stories from this bunch:
1. "Fully Operational" - the best by far
2. "The Secrets of Long Snoot"
3. "An Incident Report"
Don wrote: "I finally finished this book! Took me forever to slog through this thing. It is way too late to post more notes. So, I'll do it later this weekend. It will be a tough one to rate because it is an a..."Congratulations Don! I am so proud of you for being able to go back and tough it out until the end! I really appreciate all of your notes and opinions. We agree on many of the stories. Some of our differences are likely due to the differences between the mediums of consumption that we chose. What I really appreciated is that your notes made me rethink my evaluation on a couple of stories. Some of my perceptions were likely corrupted by my annoyance of a couple of voice portrayals. We'll have to design complimentary tattoos to display our accomplishments. Mine would be deigned around headphones, and yours would be designed around an open book. Of course if we were to scale them to the level of effort, we'd have to bolt something to our backs, and we'd end up looking like Buzz Lightyear!
Zuzana wrote: "Don, it's fun to compare what we both liked and where our opinions differ.My thoughts - part 2
11. "Not for Nothing" by Mur Lafferty. This was a well-thought out memoir style story of the Modal ..."
Zuzana, like Don, you've done a fantastic job with notes and your evaluating! You also made me rethink a couple of stories. I feel like many of the characters were misrepresented though. While the Motti tale was entertaining ( From a Certain Point of View), he was the Chief of the Galactic Imperial Navy. His frustrated behavior on DS-1 is believable in the movie, but doesn't really match the behavior pattern of a senior flag officer. The Greedo piece was weak. Greedo was essentially an enforcer for one of the most powerful crime families, and should be portrayed like a Luca Brasi from the Godfather, or a Furio Giunta from the Sopranos. Jabba would never have anything to do with someone that apparently couldn't steal lipstick from an unlocked car under the cover of darkness. It would draw too much attention to Jabbas operations.
I agree it's totally fun to see everyone's take on the stories. It gives the anthology a lot more vigor than the work merits on its own!
Mod
Regarding your opinions on Greedo's portrayal, I totally agree. Moreover, it's very inconsistent from one story to another. It can be explained by changing point of view (characters that commented on his personality were talking through their as**s). Having said that, I didn't feel like there was one take on him that I found believable. The only thing I thoroughly enjoyed was that in "The Luckless Rodian" Han shot first. While it seemed an okay story in the first bunch (1-10) it keeps sinking down to "rather bad" as I'm finishing more stories.
EDIT: Originally I wrote Greedo instead of Han. *facepalm* Fixed now.
Okay, love me or hate me; love From a Certain Point of View or hate it, here are my thoughts on the last ten short stories. It was a haul reading this. My suggestion to future readers: do not read this from cover to cover. Explore the stories as you watch Star Wars movies or read other saga content. These stories may or may not give you insight - you'll have to be your own judge. 31. "There is Another"
2.5 Stars
In this story, Schmidt makes it abundantly clear he detests Luke. We get a strong-arm rendition of how much Yoda favors Leia over her twin brother in this Luke snub-job. "There is Another" is true to the idea of From Another Point of View in that it stridently posits Leia as the potential Jedi 'from a certain point of view.' The thing is, was Luke suppose to be a member of the senate and secretly run a rebellion on the side? No, it does not fit. I appreciate Schmidt's 'alternative point of view' on this, but it does not ring true. There is so much wrong in the story's concepts that I wonder if Schmidt saw the prequel trilogy. This is one of those stories rewriting Star Wars lore to cast aspersions on Luke. I say it can be skipped. But, those who favor Force ghosts may like this. It is too contradictory to the saga for me.
32. "Palpatine"
5 Stars
If you read anything in this book, it must be this poem by Doescher. It is so freaking good! It captures Palpatine's character so well and in such creative, vibrant language the way only poetry can. Must Read.
33. "Sparks"
2.5 stars
Kemp is not the best writer in general, and this story is his usual average effort. "Sparks" is a double-entente: the name of the main character's droid, and a reference to the jumbled, poorly written, "We are the spark that'll light the fire, that will restore the Republic..." mantra from The Last Jedi. Not much to see here except a few A New Hope Easter eggs. It tells the story of Y-wing pilot Dex as he joins the Gold squadron's fight against the Death Star at Yavin 4. It is a perspective of the battle from another character if that is what you want to read. Otherwise, this one can be skipped.
34. "Duty Roster"
3 stars
This is an account of small drama in the rebellion's pilot ranks and exposition of the Battle of Yavin as seen from Base One. Fry makes an okay effort at portraying the drama and emotion of the Battle of Yavin as it unfolds above the rebel base. "Duty Roster" mixes in a not-so-subtle Wedge Antilles thread in the form of innocent banter. As a whole it is a view of the space battle from an obscure side character, which is interesting, and this account is the story's strength. This is a Read at Your Discretion.
35. "Desert Son"
3.5 stars
Brown delivers a touching story from the perspective of Biggs Darklighter that does a great job at sounding like a Star Wars story and bringing emotional impact. "Desert Son" takes the reader into the seat of Biggs's X-wing as the space battle rages around him. It sounds like a human story and has a great pace and feel. This one is a Must Read.
36. "Grounded"
3 stars
Rucka adds another ground observer to the Battle of Yavin in this interesting little story. The main character, Nera, is not that interesting to me, though she does get good development in a short amount of time. The interesting concept of "Grounded" is the way Nera recounts the battle on her datapad. I thought it was a very human and very interesting approach to telling the story. It is decent story, though it is dappled with some minutia that forms Nera's personality. I add it to the Read at Your Discretion list.
37. "Contingency Plan"
3 stars
I see Mon Mothma as a necessary character arch-type to move plot along in A New Hope, not more than that. This story develops her as a human being well and in a logical sense. Freed tells a good story, though a bit dry. "Contingency Plan" is a Mothma soliloquy and nothing more. If you are a fan of this venerable character, read "Contingency Plan". Otherwise, Read at Your Discretion.
38. "The Angle"
2 stars
I hoped I would like "The Angle," and I tried to like it. I am not a Lando Calrissian fan, so this one is a tough sell to me. Because of that, I want to temper my thoughts here and leave "The Angle" to the more discerning Lando proponent. But, I think the game of klikklak as told by Soule is so stupid. I don't think it sounds fun or makes sense and is not tense or dramatic. Bad game design. There had to be a better way to present Lando's ability to read people. I do like how Lobot is portrayed and given a bit of background. Otherwise, I think Soule whiffed on this attempt. Must Miss.
39. "By Whatever Sun"
2.5 stars
"By Whatever Sun" is written in the familiar tones and voice as other Johnston work. It is a simple, unassuming short story that takes place in the audience chamber on Base One as the awards are presented to A New Hope's main characters (sorry, Chewie). It tells of how a rebel's heart swells at the close of the movie. Unremarkable and a Read at Your Discretion.
40. "Whills"
3.5 stars
Like "Palpatine," this one surprised me. I do not get into the whole Whillss-as-Force-as-God-and-then-we-have-midi-chlorians conversation, because those ideas are too far out there and really do not matter in the saga's grand picture. I mean, the Star Wars saga is about people, right? The Force and whatever it is should be left as a nebulous, esoteric idea we cannot grasp because of its mystery. That is what makes it so compelling - we do not know. I was worried that "Whills" was another poor attempt at defining the Force/God/midi-chlorians thing. Thankfully, it is a fun read with ample doses of levity that pokes fun at the whole issue of the Force/God/midi-chlorians debacle that rages through fandom. This is a Must Read and a fantastic, light-hearted finish to the anthology.
Mod
I will try to compose my lists, too once I'm done.
Zuzana and Patrick, thanks for the great discussion as we've explored this book. All of this is subjective and we all use different criteria in our evaluations of the content. As you can see, I focus more on the writing, pacing and development of the stories. Zuzana looks for a good read with complexity that resonates and has the right touches of Star Wars theme. Patrick, you are the most pragmatic and look at continuity and plausibility - does it pass 'the sniff test?" I love reading both your takes, so thank you! This is what makes a reading group valuable - our differences as well as our similarities in outlook and expectation. And yes, I do read because I want to rely on my own prosody. I think narration can (but not always) displace author intent and tinker with tone in unanticipated ways. Okay, moment of truth: my attention span is too short for listening! There is that, too.
I'll get a full review up later this weekend. It gonna be tough, so I want to think on it some more. In the meantime, I'll be looking for the right tattoo artist, Patrick. :)
Zuzana wrote: "Don, if you had to recommend 5 most relevant stories and 5 you liked the most (the lists can intersect) which ones would you choose?"I have not ignored this question! Just short on time. I have my list in my head, but want to devote more time to articulating it. I'll post it later this week.
Zuzana wrote: "Well, Don, if you had to recommend 5 most relevant stories and 5 you liked the most (the lists can intersect) which ones would you choose?"Did you ever finish this, Zuzana? Seemed like you were struggling to get through, and I totally get it.
My Five Recommends Based in Relevancy to the Saga
1. "Palpatine"
The fear that Palpatine holds for Obi-Wan Kenobi has always been understated. With this poetic entry, Doescher brings that tone of unease and displeasure to light. "Palpatine" gives the reader fantastic insight into the mind and heart of the emperor and his anxiety about Anakin's former master. It is a must read because of this.
2. "Fully Operational"
The tension during the meeting on the Death Star was boiling over before the conference started, and this story gives that scene more background and context. Definitely read this to see the state of mind and anxieties of this scene's characters.
3. "The Red One"
The red R5 droid chosen over R2-D2 gets an important story boost. It is far from my favorite, but it gives voice to the fateful event of the 'bad motivator' from the famous scene in the movie.
4. "Duty Roster"
This entry captures the tension as the Battle of Yavin unfolds for those not flying X-wings. This is a must read because it is pertinent to the battle, discusses background on the scene's characters, and underscores the themes of pride, arrogance and tragedy.
5. "Desert Son"
This story is like Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers, Star Wars style. Brown gives Biggs the big brother treatment he deserves, but we have never seen. This is a must read because it gives depth the Bigg's sacrifice and adds emotion to the scene.
Honorable mentions for relevancy: "Change of Heart," "Stories from the Sand," and "The Sith of Datawork."
My Five Recommends That I Love
1. "Palpatine"
Iambic pentameter? Check. The ravings of a mad man? Check. Confidence as weakness? Check. This poem has it all. It is an odd entry to the anthology, but hits on several literary levels. Palpatin'e arrogance, hatred, and depravity come to life in this story. A must read for its sheer genius and relevance.
2. "Fully Operational"
Well written and insightful. Read this because it is character driven and has depth for how short it is. Many points are made that the movie could not convey. Revis captures the mood and tone of the conference and its characters. So, good.
3. "The Secrets of Longsnoot"
A mature, well-written short from Dawson, this story is engaging and relatable in a way most stories are not in the anthology. I like it because it stands alone, apart from the greater saga on its own merits. But, it is still Star Wars without blaring Star Wars names and themes. A must read because of all of these elements.
4. "The Kloo Horn Cantina Caper"
This story has a strong Harry Potter feel, and I like it. The young adult feel creates a great background for the story's plot and morals. If you like Harry Potter's style and theme, this short will satisfy you. Read it because it is a great escape from the saga's larger stories, but still exists comfortably into the galaxy far, far away.
5. "The Verge of Greatness"
Hidalgo delivers a fantastic view into the minds of Tarkin and Motti in this short. It packs a punch and adds much context to the events of Rogue One and its aftermath. More importantly, it plants the seed of a very salient and interesting "what if" scenario that it worth considering - and was obviously discussed. A must read because it is true to human emotions and motivations, all in a Star Wars context.
Honorable mentions for good reads: "The Trigger," "Bump," and "A Change of Heart."
Mod
Don, it was not the book it was real life getting in the way. Got another holiday and forgot my Kindle at home. So no reading for a while. Back to work and back to normal reading tomorrow. I'm about 28 stories in. Will post my thoughts when I finish.
BTW Great lists. I'm looking forward to finally getting to some of the stories you mentioned, esp Palpatine's POV.
Mod
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21. "Change of Heart" by Elizabeth Wein. An ambitious career stormtrooper that's part of Darth Vader's guard has a change of heart after witnessing Leia's torture and reflecting on Empire's actions. Nice characterization.
22. "Eclipse" by Madeleine Roux. This was Queen's Breha's reaction to possibly losing Leia and her and Bail Organa's last moments on Alderaan. Again nice characterization of parents' feelings when their child is missing.
23. "Verge of Greatness" by Pablo Hidalgo. This was bound to be an important story anyway. It's Tarkin's POV. There's an interesting scene hinting at Tarkin's ambitions upon successful launch of the Death Star. Ties in with Rogue One.
24. "Far Too Remote" by Jeffrey Brown. A single-panel comic showing what must have happened on Dantooine after the Imps got there and found the deserted rebel base. It was a surprise. I won't lie I laughed.
25. "The Trigger" by Kieron Gillen. Never read any of the Aphra comics so this was my introduction to the character. I didn't buy her reaction to the execution order - isn't she supposed occasionally to work for Darth Vader? Why didn't she play this card? Might need to at least listen to the audio drama Doctor Aphra.
26. "Of MSE-6 and Men" by Glen Weldon. Bogged down in the annoying mouse droid-speak/protocol was an interesting story. An ambitious stormtrooper willing to exploit the situation when one of his superiors expresses (inappropriate) interest in him. During one of his shifts Luke and Han murdered him and stuffed him into a crawlspace. Let's talk of a different perspective on our heroes. Loved the premise, but the framing story of the mouse droid got really irritating after the first page.
What's with the title?! I didn't find any other connection to the Steinbeck's novella other than "mice" are akin to mouse droids.
27. "Bump" by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker. Finally, we have a stormtrooper that is not secretly a good person. This one is rather a piece of shit. He also happens to be the one who was mindtricked by Obi-Wan on Tatooine. What happens when he runs into "the two droids he was originally looking for on the Death Star? The irony of his resolve to return back to the Death star at the end was a nice touch.
28. "End of Watch" by Adam Christopher. So how did Luke and Han's shenanigans looked from the relative safety of the Death Star's Section Control Room? Not that bad if your watch has just ended before the sh*t hit the fan.
29. "The Baptist" Nnedi Okorafor. It's not badly written but do we need to know the point of view of the tentacled monster inside the garbage compactor? Apparently yes. The creature's name is Omi, she's Force sensitive and believes that she has a "higher purpose". It wasn't for me.
30. "Time of Death" by Cavan Scott. I wanted to love this one. But it's too chaotic with Obi-Wan travelling back and forth through time. "Eyes. Scream. Saber. Pain." on repeat was more annoying than dramatic. It doesn't bring anything new.
Top three stories from this bunch:
1. "Verge of Greatness" - the best by far
2. "Bump"
3. "Far Too Remote" - for the laugh
Mod
32. "Palpatine" by Ian Doescher. Do you want to read Palpatine's soliloquy in a fictional drama never written by Shakespeare? If the answer is yes prepare to delve into Palpatine's reaction to Obi-Wan's demise and his last cryptic words to Darth Vader in glorious 5 pages of iambic pentameter. Palpatine is uneasy about what Obi-Wan meant and the fact that Yoda's whereabouts and intentions remain unknown doesn't help. Ian Doescher's contributions to SW universe are retellings of the movies in Shakespearean style, eg. William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope. It feels like a gimmick to me. This particular soliloquy was fine though.
33. "Sparks" by Paul S. Kemp. Yes, in case you forgot, Y-Wing pilots were in the battle of Yavin, too. Standard fare.
34. "Duty Roster" by Jason Fry. Another Battle of Yavin retelling from a slightly more interesting perspective of one of the pilot who was not chosen to fly that day. A hot tempered pilot with anger issues is made to sit out the battle and is not happy about it.
35. "Desert Son" by Pierce Brown. Yet another retelling of the Yavin battle. This time from the point of view of Luke's friend Biggs Darklighter. This one is also good. If I have to recommend only one Yavin short story, this would be the one.
36. "Grounded" by Greg Rucka. Yet another retelling of the Yavin battle. This time from the point of view of a Rebel Alliance mechanic Nera. This gave me serious Battlestar Galactica vibes with focus on the ground personell and their contribution to the rebellion effort.
37. "Contingency Plan" by Alexander Freed. What was Mon Mothma up to while the battle was raging on? According to Freed she was on her way to Coruscant writing her surrender speech to Palpatine. Nobody not even her closest coworkers knew what she intended to do. WOW! Freed has guts, but I doubt that it's ever going to be confirmed in another piece of SW EU.
38. "The Angle" by Charles Soule. Lando is trying to earn some buck when he finds out about Yavin and Han's presence in the battle. He doesn't get it. This was superfluous.
39. "By Whatever Sun" by E. K. Johnston and Ashley Eckstein. The medal ceremony from the perspective of one of the on-lookers, a captain whose crew is from Alderaan. Didn't wow me.
40. "Whills" by Tom Angleberger. I can't believe that the collection's last short story is a crack!fanfic but here we are. An unidentified Whill is about to write down the SW history into the Journal of the Whills. Hillarity with plethora of meta jokes ensues. It's absolutely crazy but fun.
Top three stories from this bunch:
1. "Desert Son"
2. "Contingency Plan"
3. "Whills"
honorable mention: "Palpatine"
Mod
I absolutely agree, Don. I had to take a break in the middle of the book. There were too many stories and some of them got tediously repetitive. Yet another Imperial soldier's perspective, yet another cantina story, yet another re-telling of Battle of Yavin. This book is best consumed in small doses.
While I compiled my top five lists I was aware that tastes differ and that there have to be people who would strongly disagree with any selection I would make. :)
My Top Five Based on Relevancy to the Saga:
(in chronological order)
1. "The Red One". I bet you didn't know how important that poor R5 unit from the beginning of the movie was.
2. "Master and Apprentice". If you're interested in Qui-Gon's perspective on the whole saga and/or the lore regarding Force ghosts.
3. "Fully Operational". General Tagge's reflections on the political situation. Ties in ANH to Rogue One quite nicely.
4. "Verge of Greatness". Tarkin and his future plans. Nuff said.
5. "Contingency Plan". Changed my opinion on Mon Mothma.
My Top Five Based on my Enjoyment of the story/style:
1. "Fully Operational". Loved the political aspects and an intelligent villain.
2. "The Secrets of Longsnoot". This is one of the few short stories in this book that really stand on its own. A poignant story with a bit of new SW lore.
3. "Master and Apprentice". Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, prequels tie-ins. I was bound to love this story and I did.
4. "Desert Son". Biggs Darklighter is known only as Luke's friend & one of the pilots who died in the Battle of Yavin. This story nicely fleshed out his character.
5. "Palpatine". For sheer guts of writing Palpatine's POV in iambic pentameter and making it work. I just don't think the story is that relevant simply because it merely states the obvious - of course Palpatine was delighted to learn about Obi-Wan's death, of course he was slightly taken aback by his body disappearing into thin air, of course he didn't forget about Yoda being still at large and of course he was overconfident and didn't believe that there was anybody left who could oppose him. That's why I didn't put this story in my first list. 10 stars for style, 5 stars for content.
Mod
1. "Whills" - unapologetic crack.
2. "Sith of Datawork" - red tape here, red tape there, red tape everywhere - even in the Star Wars universe.
3. "An Incident Report" - Admiral Motti's incident report on Vader's asault of him during the Death Star briefing - crack treated seriously.
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That's actually a great advice, Patrick. Maybe if I heeded it I wouldn't have gotten stuck for so long.
I have finally found time to come back to this thread and I am pleasantly surprised you made it through forty stories, Zuzana! Great summaries and a lot of 'food for thought' for me when I revisit some of these stories. We've put so much work into this book and this thread we should all get medals and a special commendation in our Reading Challenge! I joke, but From a Certain Point of View takes a lot to get through. Then, to come here and organize your thoughts is a monumental task apart from the reading.
I loved this discussion - thanks so much. Kept me focused on the reading and engaged with the group.
Star Wars Legends Fan Group
Books mentioned in this topic
William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope (other topics)Doctor Aphra (other topics)
Kenobi (other topics)
Kenobi (other topics)
Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker (other topics)
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June 2021 Canon Group Read
Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View
Group Read starts on June 15th.
- Published in October 2017
- Set Prior to, during, and after Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
Forty years. Forty stories.
In honor of the fortieth anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope, this collection features Star Wars stories by bestselling authors, trendsetting artists, and treasured voices from Star Wars literary history. More than forty authors have lent their unique vision to forty "scenes," each retelling a different moment from the original Star Wars film, but with a twist: Every scene is told from the point of view of a background character. Whether it's the X-wing pilots who helped Luke destroy the Death Star or the stormtroopers who never quite could find the droids they were looking for, Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View places the classic movie in a whole new perspective, and celebrates the influence and legacy of the unparalleled cultural phenomenon, Star Wars.