A New Venture

So I’ve been blogging about Star Wars for a year now, and I LOVE it. It’s so much fun, and there’s always something to say about it, whether it’s about the films that have been around for years, or the new stuff coming out. I’ve truly found my tribe here, people that understand Star Wars, people that just GET IT. I will never stop blogging about Star Wars (just giving you fair warning, lol).

But once upon a time I was a writer of fiction. Nothing published, just one story and a couple of essays that won contests. I loved writing fiction, but after years of doing it (decades), learning about it, pursuing publication–and not really getting where I wanted to go–I got tired. I wanted to do something new, something that excited me again. Hence, the Star Wars blogging.

But the fiction bug has begun to creep in again, and I thought maybe I’d try it again. Only this time, I thought I’d write some Star Wars fan fiction.

Here’s the thing–I’ve never been a huge fan of fan fiction. I think it’s great that some fans want to write about the main characters of Star Wars: alternate stories, new adventures, love stories, etc., and I wish them all the luck in the world with that. But I’ve never been interested in that, either writing it or reading it. To me, the main characters and their stories in canon have a kind of sanctity about them–they’re perfect as they are, and I won’t touch them.

I’m more interested in the kinds of stories contained in the From A Certain Point of View books:

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Celebrate the legacy of The Empire Strikes Back withthis exciting reimagining of the timeless film featuring new perspectives fromforty acclaimed authors. On May 21, 1980, Star Wars became a true saga with the release of The EmpireStrikes Back. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, forty storytellers re-create an iconic scene from The Empire Strikes Back through the eyes of asupporting character, from heroes and villains, to droids and creatures. Froma Certain Point of V

These are stories that take place in and around the main characters and storylines, but are usually told from a minor character’s point of view, or some totally unexpected viewpoint. I’m interested in writing those sorts of stories (and so I have to get going and actually read these books already). Mostly, I want to create my own characters in the Star Wars universe and place them in familiar settings and storylines, with a main character or two making a cameo.

Anyway, the whole point of this post is to let you know that while I’ll still be blogging about Star Wars, I may scale it down a bit–maybe two posts a week for My Point of View, and a book review on The Star Wars Reader when I actually finish a book, so I have more time to work on the fiction.

I’d also like your opinion on this plan–what do you think? Would you be interested in reading these stories? Should I put them right on this blog, or create a new one just for the fiction (with links on my current blogs, of course)?

I’m warming up to this idea and getting a little bit excited about it, and have a few ideas. Comment below and let me know what you think!

My Ranking of the New Upcoming Star Wars Shows

With the release of the cast of the Obi-Wan Kenobi show, and a new trailer for The Bad Batch, it’s ratcheting up my excitement for the new shows. First, I want to briefly address these recent announcements, and then I’ll rank all the new upcoming shows based on my preferences and why.

First, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Starwars.com released the cast list and stated production will begin in April. From what we understand, it will release sometime in 2022. I’m going to go ahead and admit I don’t know half the actors in the cast list. Ewan and Hayden are obvious, and Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse are returning as Owen and Beru from Revenge of the Sith. The only other person I know is Indira Varma from Game of Thrones. But that’s all right–I prefer unknowns (to me) in Star Wars, as they don’t bring along any of their other roles. They’re blank slates and can truly become the character for me.

As far as the trailer for The Bad Batch, it’s getting me a bit more excited for the show. The characters themselves aren’t as interesting to me as the setting of the show itself–post Order 66 as the Empire takes power. I love the Clones and want to see what happens to them after that fateful order, and whether or not the Bad Batch have a chip in their brains as well (I’m guessing no? Maybe?) Fennic Shand is an interesting addition, and was that Saw Gerrera I saw? As far as that kid goes–hmm. Not sure what that’s all about, but we’ll see. Looking forward to this show’s premier on May 4th.

So, without further ado, here’s my personal rankings based on my excitement and interest of the new shows coming up:

10. Droids. I don’t necessarily hate the kid’s shows, but no thanks.

9. Visions. I’m not sure what this is all about, but it might be interesting.

8. Lando. Look, I love Lando, but for a whole freaking show? I’m not sure that will work. But of course I’ll watch.

7. Boba Fett. So I loved Boba in The Mandalorian. Does that mean I want a whole show of him? Not really. But I’ll tune in to see what it’s all about.

6. Rogue Squadron movie. Not a show, of course, but the next movie coming out in 2023. I’m not a huge fan of pilot stories, but it’s a Star Wars movie. I’m going to go see it.

5. Rangers of the New Republic. Again, pilots. But will probably cross-over with Mando, so I’m on board.

4. The Bad Batch. As explained above, I want more Clones. This is what we get, so I’ll take it. I’ll probably love it, lol.

3. The Acolyte. Super curious about this one. I think it takes place about 50 years prior to The Phantom Menace, at the end of the High Republic. I’m thinking darksiders, Sith stuff, maybe Plagueis or Palpatine. Finally, some Force-users! Dark side, in all likelihood, but I’ll take it.

2. Ahsoka. Duh. I can’t wait to see Ahsoka in live action again, looking for Thrawn, maybe find Ezra, maybe with the help of Sabine. This one’s gonna be good!

#1. Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is, of course, my number one, because: Obi-Wan. As you might have figured out if you read this blog, Obi-Wan is my favorite character. For a long time, fans have wondered–just what did Obi-Wan do to fill his time on Tatooine while watching over Luke? And since most of us would happily watch Obi-Wan drink tea in the desert for 6 hours (am I the only one?) this will be a real treat. With Hayden coming back as Darth Vader, the excitement level is off the charts, at least for me. I can’t wait to see how it’s all gonna play out.

I didn’t include The Mandalorian Season 3 simply because it’s not a “new” show, but obviously looking forward to it returning, sometime in 2022. I’m really gonna miss Baby, though.

What are your thoughts on these shows? Which ones are you looking forward to? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

Friday Fashion Show: Padme Amidala

Today I just wanted to do something fun and frivolous, and thought I’d put on a Padme Amidala fashion show. She’s the best-dressed woman in the galaxy, and absolutely beautiful. I haven’t included any outfits she wore as Queen of Naboo (maybe some other time), but just the ones she wore as Padme–Senator, wife, mother. These are by no means all of them; this post would probably go on forever, as every new scene seemed to require a new outfit.

No matter what the occasion, Padme did it in style.

PADME AMIDALA PURPLE SENATORIAL GOWN tutorial — Anakin’s first glimpse of her after ten years.

Padme Amidala (clone) ❤ liked on Polyvore featuring c padme amidala and movie — I’d choose simple garb for traveling, but not Padme.

The backless lake dress is one of my favorites.

This picnic dress is another one of my favorites.

I call this one the Dominatrix outfit. Poor Anakin.

Wish I was this gorgeous in the morning.

The Tatooine outfit marries desert sensibility with understated fashion. I love this one.

Beautiful nightgown, but how does she sleep with those pearls?

I love the copper headpiece and the hairdo here, but the outfit, not so much.

Natalie Portman | Padmé Amidala | Star Wars — This is so lovely, but I can’t remember it in the movie. Cutting room floor?

Senator Padme Amidala, 'StarWars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'. Final senate appearance headpiece, designed by Trisha Biggar. — “So this is how liberty dies.” Her hairpiece is similar to the Rebellion/Resistance symbol.

Padme Amidala's "water gown". This is Episode III, during her funeral. She's wearing the charm of the necklace Anakin gave her! It's on her ring. — Even in death, she’s stunning.

And who can forget the wings of Clone Wars?

Thank you for attending the Padme Amidala fashion show, I hope you enjoyed it.

What’s your favorite Padme outfit? Let me know in the comments!

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My Five Favorite Aliens in Star Wars

There are literally dozens of aliens from Star Wars, and there are so many that I find interesting that it’s hard to choose just five as favorites. But I forced myself, and this is the list I came up with:

Kaminoans. Their moral values notwithstanding, I just love these tall, willowy aliens from Attack of the Clones. I love the way they seem to float as they walk, their slow manner of speaking, and those loooong necks, lol. But it’s their eyes that really capture me. Big, dark, almond-shaped, and it looks as if there are galaxies spinning in them. Elegant and ethereal. They are from the planet Kamino.

Twi’leks. The first Twi’lek I ever saw was Jabba’s slave girl in Return of the Jedi. I got the impression they were beings known for their loveliness, at least the females, and that’s often true. Hera is certainly lovely, and plenty of others are, too. But Xi’an from The Mandalorian? Not so much. It’s the Twi’lek’s diversity that I love–their skin can be many different colors: green, blue, red, tan, and many others in between. Their lekku can have different patterns, and they often decorate them with bindings. And again, I just think they just look cool. They’re from the planet Ryloth.

Togrutas. Togrutas are another species that have lekku, as well as montrals on the top of their heads. They sweep around them like a crown or a headpiece, which adds to their impressive mien; and they have white markings on their face, which I believe are as different as each individual. Ahsoka and Shak-Ti are the Togrutas I’m most familiar with. Togrutas are from the planet Shili.

Nautolans. I seem to have a thing for lekku and tentacles, lol, as Nautolans have several long tentacles sprouting from their heads. I also love their green skin and large, black eyes. Kit Fisto is the main Nautolan I’m familiar with, and I have to admit I like the look of Clone Wars Kit more so than the movie version. We also get to know him better in Clone Wars, and I loved him in the book The Cestus Deception. There is also a Nautolan in the new novel Light of the Jedi, a Captain Bright. I learned from him that their tentacles can sense emotions and moods from other beings. Nautolans are at home in the water, and come from the waterworld of Glee Anselm.

Whatever Klaud is. Klaud is basically a big space slug, which normally would turn me off, but there’s something about him that just charms me. Maybe it’s those big, googly eyes, or the girlish shriek he lets out when the Falcon is under attack in The Rise of Skywalker. I learned in the novelization that Klaud has a keen mind and a talent for the mechanical (despite being armless), which is why Leia assigned him to the Falcon. I looked up his species, and according to Wookiepedia, he is a male Trodatome. No information on his home planet, however.

Can we all agree that Klaud deserved better and more screen time in the Rise of Skywalker? : saltierthancrait — Klaud

What are your favorite Star Wars aliens? Let me know in the comments and we’ll talk about it!

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Like to read Star Wars? Check out my sister blog The Star Wars Reader. I regularly review Star Wars books, both Canon and Legends.

The Mandalorian: Fan Art

I’ve done several posts on Star Wars fan art, and it was great fun. I haven’t done one for The Mandalorian yet, and I’ve found some great artwork that I wanted to share. Enjoy!

This one is absolutely lovely, with Grogu touching Din’s face as in the final episode of Season Two. The blue butterflies are a nice touch.

I love how this one shows the two faces of Din Djarin.

carousel image 0 — Isotoniclab, etsy.com

This one is a whimsical, colorful rendition of Din, Grogu, and Ahsoka. I love her staff (the one we see her with at the end of Rebels) leaning against the tree.

This is a great one of Din and Grogu with Cara Dune. I love that shiny, iridescent armor!

I’m guessing that’s one of Tatooine’s suns reflecting off Din’s helmet in this great piece.

And because my daughter constantly plays Fortnite, I just had to include this official screen art. Baby looks like he’s having a blast as Din shoots off laser bolts.

Official loading screen art for Fortnite.

Hope you enjoyed this fantastic fan art. There’s so much great talent out there, I’m sure I’ll be posting more now and then as I can’t help myself. Do you have some favorite Star Wars fan art, or make your own? Share in the comments below!

Image of Grogu with Ball courtesy of He-Be, redbubble.com.

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My Five Favorite Things About Attack of the Clones

I’m continuing with my “Five favorite things” theme on all the films with Episode 2, Attack of the Clones. You can check out my five favorites of The Phantom Menace here.

Favorite Scene

The Battle of Geonosis. This is the climax of the movie, when all the s**t hits the fan. For me, it really starts with Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme battling the beasties, and then the Jedi arrive led by Mace Windu. AND THEN Yoda arrives with the clones to mop things up. It’s really a great sequence of events, a lot of action, battles, and things blowing up. AND THEN, it all leads to…

Favorite Duel

Yoda vs. Dooku. Obi-Wan and Anakin get to duel Dooku first, but they fail spectacularly and quite quickly, with Anakin losing an arm and Obi-Wan getting a boo-boo on his leg. (I have this sneaky feeling that Dooku has a soft spot for Obi-Wan, as he’s his Padawan’s Padawn. Kind of like a grandson). But then Yoda arrives to fight HIS Padawan, and the battle really begins. This is the first time we’ve seen Yoda fight with a lightsaber, and it’s fantastic. He limps in with his walking stick, and then proceeds to jump and whirl and fight circles around Dooku. I think I laughed and clapped with delight the first time I saw this duel, it made me so happy. Dooku knew he was in trouble and had to distract Yoda by threatening Obi-Wan and Anakin, and then he made his escape. So cool.

Favorite Line

“The day we stop believing democracy works is the day we lose it.” –Queen Jamilla of Naboo

Funniest Moment

Most Impactful Character

Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan simply rocks in this movie. He does some Jedi-CSI investigating to find Kamino and discovers the clone army, finds Jango, fights him, and follows him to Geonosis. Without all this, the Jedi never would have rooted out Dooku and his Separatist cronies. And the only way any of this occurred is because Obi-Wan “we’re not getting into an investigation” Kenobi dived out Padme’s window to follow the assassin droid.

In a lot of ways, I think Attack of the Clones, out of all the movies, is the most fun.

What are your favorite AOTC moments? Comment below and we’ll talk about it!

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So You Wanna Be A Jedi?

If you’ve followed my blog, you know I’m a huge Jedi fan. I love anything Jedi-related: Jedi Knights, lightsabers, the Jedi Order, their philosophies and beliefs. I’m fascinated by them, and admire them to a certain degree.

If I lived in the Star Wars universe, I’d want to be a Jedi Knight. I bet a lot of fans would agree.

Well, what if I told you that you could be a Jedi in this world? It’s true! At least, when it comes to following the philosophies of the Jedi, and perhaps some lightsaber training. The Force? Good luck on that!

You may not be able to move objects with your mind (unless you’re supernaturally gifted), but you can become a part of Jedi activities here on earth:

School of Sabrefighting

Want to impress your friends and properly use that lightsaber replica you’ve been clumsily swinging around? Look no further than the School of Saberfighting. I’ve watched some of their Youtube videos of their performances, and they’re amazing! Not only do they perform choreographed duels inspired by Star Wars, they also give lessons to those who want to learn. (If I was at least 25 years younger, I’d consider it! It looks like hard work, but fun).

Here’s what they say on their About Page:

School of Saberfighting is one of the first teams in the world that specialises in public performance of duels inspired by Star Wars, and also provides training for those who wish to learn this form of stage fencing. Many of our trainees have won the highest stage fencing athletic titles in various Russian championships, and acted in fencing combat scenes in theatre and films. They also collaborated with a Combat Choreographer from Hollywood, and performed during the World Fencing Championship 2015.

Check this out:

This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.

Temple of the Jedi Order

Is Jediism a real religion? Perhaps not legally, but there is a group called the Temple of the Jedi Order, and it’s recognized as a nonprofit entity. On their homepage at templeofthejediorder.org they describe themselves thus:

The Jedi here are real people that live or lived their lives according to the principles of Jediism, the real Jedi religion or philosophy. Jedi followers, ministers, and leaders embrace Jediism as a real living, breathing religion and sincerely believe in its teachings. Jediism does not base its focus on myth and fiction but on the real life issues and philosophies that are at the source of myth. Whether you want to become a Jedi, are a real Jedi looking for additional training or just interested in learning about and discussing The Force, we’re here for you.

Additionally, they list what the Jedi believe:

Jedi Believe
In the Force, and in the inherent worth of all life within it.

In the sanctity of the human person. We oppose the use of torture and cruel or unusual punishment, including the death penalty.

In a society governed by laws grounded in reason and compassion, not in fear or prejudice.

In a society that does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or circumstances of birth such as gender, ethnicity and national origin.

In the ethic of reciprocity, and how moral concepts are not absolute but vary by culture, religion, and over time.

In the positive influence of spiritual growth and awareness on society.

In the importance of freedom of conscience and self-determination within religious, political and other structures.

In the separation of religion and government and the freedoms of speech, association, and expression.

– Temple of the Jedi Order –

They also have other doctrines, including the Jedi Code, which many of us are familiar with, as well as The Three Tenets (Focus, Knowledge, Wisdom), The Creed (adopted from the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi), The 16 Teachings, and the 21 Maxims. They insist that “real” Jedi do not worship George Lucas or Star Wars; but apply the tenets of Jediism to everyday life.

So there you have it–if you want to be a Jedi, it’s totally possible–if you’re willing to put in the hard work and discipline. The life of a Jedi is not an easy one and requires great sacrifice. Maybe that’s why I admire the Jedi in Star Wars so much–it’s a difficult path (just ask Obi-Wan).

So on second thought, maybe I’ll just continue to admire them from afar and remain at my desk typing away with my tea nearby. That’s my path, but there’s still opportunity to pursue it with discipline, integrity, and responsibility. A Jedi writing warrior–my pen is my lightsaber, my words are my Force abilities, lol.

What do you think of these organizations? Would you be a Jedi if given the chance? Comment below and we’ll talk about it!

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Star Wars: New Show Extravaganza!

So a week ago, Disney announced its lineup of new Star Wars content coming out in the next few years, and I have to say that I was surprised, overwhelmed, and giddy with all the great stuff coming our way. I’ve chewed on all the information we got, and thought I’d post my reactions to the shows they announced.

Obi-Wan Kenobi. This is the one I’m most looking forward to, and honestly, if they dispensed with everything else and just gave us this one, I’d be happy (but I’m glad they’re not). And who wouldn’t be excited to learn that Hayden freaking Christensen is coming back to Star Wars for this show? Fireworks, stars exploding, and nuclear explosions–all at once–can’t describe how exciting that is. 2022 is SO far away, wah!
Andor. I loved Rogue One, and especially loved Diego Luna’s character of Cassian Andor. I’m sad that he died at the end of that movie (as they all did, of course) but at least we can see him again in this “spy-thriller” type of show. I liked how Rogue One showed the darker aspects of the Rebellion and the tough choices agents like Cassian had to make. I’m sure this show will feature more of that moral ambiguity.
Ahsoka. I’m very excited for this one, as I loved Ahsoka’s guest appearance in The Mandalorian. Naturally, we want more of her. And since she’s looking for Thrawn, it stands to reason we’ll see him, too. And maybe Ezra Bridger? Fingers crossed.
Rangers of the New Republic. I’m not as invested in this one, as pilots and X-wings and whatnot don’t necessarily hold my interest. I can see how some people would love it, though. And I’m presuming Cara Dune will feature in this show (maybe?), in which case I’ll be tuning in. And I’ve heard this one, Ahoska, and The Mandalorian will be crossing over at some point to culminate in one awesome finale. Sounds excellent.
The Acolyte. I’m very excited for the High Republic books that will be coming out next year, and as this show takes place towards the end of that era, I’m looking forward to this show. I believe it will be about some Dark Side powers that will be rising at this time (the Sith, I presume, working under the radar to rise once again). So while the books won’t have Sith in them, this show will show us what they’re up to, I’m guessing.
Lando. I loved both Landos–Billy Dee Williams in the OT and ROS, and Donald Glover in Solo. I’m guessing Glover will continue his role as Lando; and while I don’t necessarily NEED this show, I’ll probably tune in.
The Bad Batch. I thought the Bad Batch introduced in the last season of Clone Wars were interesting and different, a unique take on the clones that we never thought of. But that was about it; my interest ended there. So when I heard about a possible animated series starring the Bad Batch, I thought, meh. But now that I’ve seen the previews, and thought about what might be explored in the show, I’m all aboard for this one. I want to see how Order 66 affected them (if they have chips at all), and how they get on after the end of the Clone Wars and during the rise of the Empire. I’d love to see other clones, too, and what happens to them after Order 66. There’s a lot to explore here, and it could be really awesome.
Rogue Squadron. As I said above, I don’t get too excited about pilots and X-wings and all, so when they announced that the next movie coming out in 2023 would be about Rogue Squadron, I was a bit disappointed. I am, however, thrilled that a woman (Patty Jenkins, director of Wonder Woman) is FINALLY directing a Star Wars movie. I’ll definitely go see it, and who knows? I’ll probably love it.
Visions. This seems to be a series of Star Wars anime shorts. If you love anime and Star Wars, it’s a match made in heaven. I’m more “meh,” about it, but again, who knows? I’m willing to be surprised, and am predisposed to love Star Wars in any form.
A Droid Story. This seems to be an animated series geared toward younger viewers, and concerns a new droid that is guided by C3PO and R2D2. Not at the top of my list, but it could be fun.

And of course, there will be the third season of The Mandalorian around Christmas of next year. I’m wondering how many seasons we’ll actually get, and what direction it will go in, but I’ve loved everything about it so far, so I really don’t care, to be honest! I just want more Mando and Baby, together forever, maybe taking back Mandalore with Bo-Katan. I can’t wait to see where it’s going to go.

I can’t believe we’ve got all this Star Wars content coming out, it’s just so surreal and amazing at the same time. I never would have guessed, back in 1983 when I was 12 years old, that I’d be swooning over so much Star Wars 35 years later. Life is definitely a strange and wondrous thing!

What shows are you looking forward to? Comment below and we’ll talk about it!

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Like to read Star Wars? Check out my sister blog The Star Wars Reader. I regularly review Star Wars books, both Canon and Legends.

5 Star Wars Areas I’d Like to Learn More About

I’ve been a Star Wars fan for most of my life, about four decades so far. But I’ve had to play catch up this past year, as I’d only been a fan of the movies for most of them. Since starting to blog about Star Wars, I’d realized the galaxy far, far away was even bigger than I had ever imagined, with all kinds of other content I’d missed out on over the years. I’ve since watched the Clone Wars and Rebels animated series, read quite a few (mostly canon) books, and have steadfastly kept up on The Mandalorian.

Reading other people’s Star Wars blogs, watching their YouTube channels, and participating in fan groups has alerted to me to so many other areas of Star Wars I haven’t even gotten to yet. But I hope to correct that in the near-future and learn about these sub-areas of Star Wars:

The Old Republic. There is a section of the fandom that is extremely passionate about the Old Republic era, and I believe it is mostly from gaming and a few Old Republic Legends novels. I’m NOT a gamer, but I am a reader, and so I am planning on reading the novels. Revan and Darth Bane are two names I constantly hear about when it comes to this era, as well as many other Sith Lords. My problem is, I’m not a huge fan of reading books about villains. I’m a Jedi girl, and though I’m pretty sure there are probably Jedi in these books, they seem to be focused on Sith Lords, so I worry I won’t be able to get into them. Also, they kind of freak me out! So Old Republic fans, please change mind here and give me a reason to love them!

The Yuuzhan Vong and Jedi (Luke?) by sugarsart on deviantart.com

Legends alternative universe. I’m talking about the Legends books that tell the story of Han and Leia’s three children: twins Jacen and Jaina Solo, and Anakin Solo, as well as Luke and Mara Jade’s son, Ben Skywalker. There’s also the big crisis of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, and many, many other storylines. It’s a rich history of Star Wars, and I don’t want to ignore it. But it’s vast, with well over 100 books in its inventory. I’ve read a few Legends books (and reviewed them over on my sister blog The Star Wars Reader), ones that don’t directly contradict canon. I’m especially interested in the prequel and clone wars era right now. But I will get to these Legends some day.

Bo-Katan, Sabine Wren, and…some other Mandalorian.

Mandalorian History. Especially now with The Mandalorian craze, a lot of people, myself included, are getting more interested in Mandalorian history. The Mandalorian arcs were some of my favorites from the Clone Wars series, and there were a few episodes with Sabine Wren and her family in Rebels. I know there was a Mandalorian Civil War, and the Empire’s Purge; as well as some ancient war between the Jedi and the Mandalorians. Death Watch. The Dark Saber. And of course whatever we’re getting through The Mandalorian series. But I’m wondering if there are any cohesive histories out there, or information on the clans and how they operate. I’ll have to do some research, and if you know of any information, please let me know!

Thrawn and the Chiss. I find the character of Thrawn fascinating, and despite what I said above about not being interested in stories about villains, I would like to read all of the Thrawn books. The difference is, Thrawn is a different kind of villain–he’s not malevolent in the traditional bad guy kind of way. He’s not cruel for cruelty’s sake, he doesn’t desire the destruction of innocents for any selfish reasons. He simply has his loyalties to the Empire and has a job to do, and he does it brilliantly. He’s a bit cold and calculating, kind of like Tarkin, but I like Thrawn better than Tarkin. He has an appreciation for art and culture, and is a genius problem-solver. He’s like a Chiss Sherlock Holmes. And speaking of the Chiss, I’d like to learn more about his people, where they come from, what makes them tick. All this is in the Thrawn books now coming out by Timothy Zahn, who first brought Thrawn to life in the Legends books way back when (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command). I did read the first book in that series a hundred years ago, but it didn’t thrill me, and I don’t remember much. I’ve recently tried reading the first canon book simply called Thrawn, and I got halfway through it. As I’ve said, I love the character of Thrawn, but the book was so damn slow I got sidetracked by other books. But I am determined to read them. Someday.

Comics. I’ve never been a comic reader, but I’m coming to the realization that the comics contain a ton of Star Wars content that I’d love to know. There’s a billion Legends comics, but I’d be more interested in the recent canon comics at this point. I’d never seen myself ever buying comics and reading them (a 49 year old woman reading comics? It’s just so odd) but then again, I never thought I’d watch Star Wars “cartoons.” And I’m so glad I did, because I’d be missing out on so much. There’s a series on how Ben Solo came to be Kylo Ren that interests me, as well as a Vader comic that explores him trying to find out how Padme died, coming into contact with Sabe, as well as being harshly punished by the Emperor for doing so. This all sounds like great stuff! I’d be a bit picky with the comics, but I wouldn’t mind having some on my shelf.

Exploring all this Star Wars content will happily fill the rest of my life. It’s a work in progress, a “scholarly” pursuit, if you will, a never-ending passion. And with new content always coming out, it will very probably never end until I pass into the Force myself, lol. This gives me great joy.

What about you? Are there areas of Star Wars you haven’t explored yet but want to? Let me know in the comments, and we’ll talk about it!

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My 5 Favorite Animals in Star Wars

There are some wonderful animals that are included in Star Wars, and though some of them are merely beautiful or super-cute, some of them play a vital part in the saga. To be clear, these are non-sentient beings, not aliens that simply look like animals (the Ewoks, for example).

Tookas, also called tooka-cats were a subspecies of feline cats. They were often kept as pets, but were also considered by many to be feral nuisances. When properly trained, they could be excellent hunters of pests. One specific breed of tooka was the Loth-cat, native to the planet Lothal. Tooka were known to enjoy milk. Tooka were common in the underworld of Coruscant, where they hunted Nuna. Tookas first appeared in the Star Wars franchise as "Adoris feline" in Otherspace, an adve...

Lothwolves and lothcats. I put these two together, because they’re both from Lothal in Rebels. The lothcats are cheeky little creatures, and Ezra, who is from Lothal, has a kind of connection with them through the Force. He’s sort of like Obi-Wan, who also shares a connection with animals. The lothcats helped out our Rebel friends on a few occasions through Ezra. And the lothwolves are my absolute favorite–they’re strikingly beautiful, but more importantly, they seem to be connected to the Force themselves, being able to travel long distances in a short amount of time, utilizing a kind of Force-powered hyperspace (like the Pergil, which I just remembered and want to include here) . And of course, the main Lothwolf who calls himself Dume harbors the spirit of Kanan (that’s what we’re led to believe, anyway). The lothwolves may not even qualify for this list as they’re arguably sentient creatures (along with the Pergil).

Meet the Mysterious Crystal Foxes of Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Vulptices (crystal foxes). I loved these tinkling, crystalline foxes from The Last Jedi. Not only are they beautiful, but they helped (perhaps unknowingly) what was left of the Resistance escape the cave on Crait. When danger threatens, do what the natives do: run and find a back door!

I got Porg! Quiz: Which Adorable Star Wars Creature Should You Have as a Pet? | Movies

Porgs. Let’s face it, these guys are just adorable.

Varactyl aka Boga | Star wars canon, Star wars episodes, Star wars universe

Boga the veractyl. This is the beastie that Obi-Wan rode on Utapau when he was looking for, and pursuing, Grievous in Revenge of the Sith. The novelization of the movie gives more insight into the communication between Boga and Obi-Wan; we find out Boga is a female, and that she trusts Obi-Wan implicitly. And I bet you can hear her trilling call in your mind right now.

Pin by David Kurle on StarWarsTheRiseofSkywalker in 2020 | Star wars ii, Star wars facts, Star wars episodes

The Vexis Snake. This is the injured snake-thing that Rey healed on Passana in The Rise of Skywalker. Normally I would put this under the category of “monster” because, hello, giant snake. But this one is simply hurting, and gives Rey an opportunity to show us her Force-healing skills. Once he’s all better, he just slinks away. And it shows Rey’s compassion for all creatures. When Poe was ready to shoot it because it scared him, Rey felt its pain and healed it.

Honorable mentions

Beasts of burden–tauntaun, eopies, dewbacks, bantha, fathiers, blurggs, etc. Let’s give a shout-out to these creatures that haul our characters’ gear, as well as their butts, over long distances in often extreme environments.
The mudhorn in The Mandalorian. This beastie eventually became the sigil of Din Djarrin, in The Mandalorian. I kind of felt bad for her, because she was only trying to protect her egg. The mom in me cries out, lol.
Ahsoka’s owl. I believe it’s called a covoree, and this bird appears with Ahsoka in Rebels on several occasions. It’s Ahsoka’s spirit animal and guide, or morai, and some believe it is representative of The Daughter, from the Mortis arc in Clone Wars, because of its similar coloring. The Daughter represented the Light Side of the Force. The covoree most notably showed up when Ezra pulled Ahsoka into the World Between Worlds, and acted as a guide.

There are others that would probably qualify as animals, but I put them under the “monster” category, because they instill fear in us: wampa, sarlaccs, giant spiders, rancors, krayt dragons, that sort of thing. Maybe I’m being unfair–but at least I included the vexis on my list, right? “Favorite Monsters” might be a good post for next time.

There are also tons of animals that are described in Star Wars books, but they’re too numerous to count here, so I’ve just included those in the films and shows.

What’s your favorite Star Wars animal? Did I miss anything obvious? Let me know in the comments!

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Like to read Star Wars? Check out my sister blog, The Star Wars Reader. I regularly review Star Wars novels, both Canon and Legends.