SPOILER Light of the Jedi discussion

I must say "wreck punk" playing in the background of the Nihil scenes in the audiobook is a really cool touch! Heavy metal is now canon

--- Double Post Merged, Jan 14, 2021, Original Post Date: Jan 14, 2021 ---

I thought their entrance was pretty cool and their organisational structure is pretty interesting, but overall, they still feel very underwhelming to me... I can see how the brutality, masks, chemical weapons and poison, image elements like "riding the storm" etc. is threatening to normal citizens and systems with lack of defences; and their use of those hyperspace Paths surely adds to the danger they pose as well, but in the grand scheme of things, for me they are still just a bunch of marauding space pirates...

 

I just finished it. I listened to the audiobook. It had a very Mad max with Jedi feel to it. I'm not sure how I feel about it being a "major" introduction to this era of the Star Wars universe. It felt more like a filler book, instead of something more. I like the Jedi overall, but the villains just seemed too dumb to get out of their own way from time to time. I don't know where things are headed, but for me it was very meh.

 

The performance of Marchion Ro in the audiobook reminds me of Brad Dourif, especially as Piter De Vries in Dune (or shades of his Grima Wormtongue in LOTR). The very deliberate, almost monotone, cold character of it.

I found the Nihil pretty daft, like the lackies in an 80s kids’ cartoon until towards the end when Marchion Ro asserts himself, when it suddenly felt to me like that was the point.

And it’s interesting to me that he broke up a ‘rule of three’... I mean that is pretty portentous, isn’t it?! Is he a proto-Sith? Or will his story intersect with a Sith? I feel like it will in some way. And with the San Tekka connection (interestingly another Dune connection via Max von Sydow), that’s really interesting to me. Dune was cited by Claudia Gray in the launch video I think... hmm.

“This will begin to make things right” - Lor San Tekka, The Force Awakens

Just some idle speculation, but what if the San Tekkas are instrumental in the rise of the Sith, ultimately the Empire and First Order... ? And we are witnessing the origins of that legacy? Lor’s dedication to right the wrongs of the past.

“You cannot deny the truth that is your family” - Lor San Tekka, The Force Awakens

I dunno, something to ponder anyway, or read back in a few years and laugh at how far off I was

 

I just wonder... Marchion Ro mentions how his family, generations ago, was hurt by the Republic and the Jedi. One of his ancestors also began the Nihil, at least that is how I understood it. Is there any chance that he is related to Darth Nihilus?

 

Details and observations about Light of the Jedi. I provide the exact page number if you want to zoom right to it for further analysis:
(Page 49) Jedi Vector ships contain weapons, but they need to be “activated” by inserting one’s lightsaber into a control panel.
(Page 128) Jedi master Yarael Poof is still a member of the Jedi council. So he is at least 200 years old.
(137) hyperspace lanes closed caused economic crisis. Reports of “hoarding” goods/material (Can this be a sneaky reference to the Coronavirus pandemic? Charles Soule said book was rewritten to reflect the times.)
(Page 153) Even 200 years before the Clone Wars, the Republic “doesn’t have a standing military.” The Nihils are fully aware of this.
(Page 177) The San Tekkas ( Vellis and Marlowe, a gay couple) reside on Naboo. They have done a great deal of research about hyperspace. Can the San Tekka’s research be related to Luke Skywalker’s ties with Lore San Tekka centuries later?
(Page 182) astroids cannot exist in hyperspace because “you’re in a bubble of space-... each lane is... its own distinct plane of existence.” This fact made the Legacy Run disaster so bizarre.
(Page 186) Mari San Tekka relative (I think older sister?) is secretly Marchion Ro’s nagivator on the Gaze Electric. She is treated as a prisoner, deprived food until she gives paths through hyperspace. Over 100 years old.
(Page 199) Veils are an ancient Jedi mode of transportation. “A flying stick,” almost like a witch’s broom. Has four small wings, engine in back, small chair, “incredibly fast and maneuverable.”
(Page 224) The Nihiles have not been around long. Marchion Ro’s father started the order. In his father’s day it was little more than a small “gang.”
(Page 226) Wet Bub, a member of the Nihiles, a fierce gungan fighter.
(Page 231) when pieces of the Legacy Run exit hyperspace, it’s called an “Emergence.” The Nihils threaten the planet of Eriadu with an Emergence; a miscalculation destroys the planet anyways.
(Page 257)- another jedi weapon of long ago “laser cannon.” lightsaber is inserted inside the tube, is able to “blast out” energy from lightsaber in “bullets,” with same color as lightsaber blade.
(Page 261) Jedi named Indeera is able to fly two vectors at once. Pilots one while using the Force to steer another.
(Page 265) food riots on Utapau (another sneaky reference to COVID-19?)
(Page 300-301) council meeting between Jedi and Chancellor discussing whether Jedi should be involved in war. “Great Sith War” is mentioned, consensus is that Jedi should interfere militaristically. “Whatever the Force wills.”
(Page 329) battle with the Nihil. The Nihil are able to pop in and out of hyperspace at will, causing confusion and mass destruction during the battle. Sskeer breaks his arm in the battle, but is still alive.
(Page 342) the Nihil resort to suicide attacks, ram ships into Republic ships.
(Page 352) Ro captures Jedi Master Loden Greatstone. By the end of the book, Loden is still a prisoner. Ro says he “needs” the jedi, but gives him back his lightsaber.
(Page 360) mere pages after the Republic declares the Nihil defeated (they are not,) the Republic stresses “We are all the Republic.” At the same time, Ro gives a speech to the Nihiles mirroring the same thoughts: “We are ONE” he says in speech.
(Page 367)- Ro threatens Loden Greatstone with a strange stone/metal rod with ancient carvings around it. My impression is that this is some ancient Sith weapon because it looks crude and evil. The entire rod glows purple. It is clearly stated that Loden feels uneasy and terrified- for the first time in the book. This strange rod is never explained but seems VERY important.
(Page 369)- The master architect of the Starlight Beacon is named Palo Hidalla. Is this a sneaky reference to Pablo Hidalgo, the master architect-of sorts of all things Lucasfilm? Maybe.
(377)- Alone in a garden on Starlight Beacon, Loden Greatstorm’s padowan, Elzar Mann, has a strange vision. There is a purple mist (is this a connection to the purple glow of the weapon on page 367?) It is clearly stated that the Jedi in Mann’s vision are experiencing something they have never felt before: fear.

 

Just a few notes:
The hyperspace lane lockdown - Iirc, Charles said that there weren't rewrites to this scale after the COVID delay. He had the majority of that written prior.

The laser cannon, I thought that was part of the weapons system from the Vanguard that Loden ripped out in case of emergency? Though, I guess we can say that the rifle that Jocasta Nu has in Soule's Darth Vader comics could be from around this era given how it operates, so perhaps it could be the same style as that.

 

Sounds to me that Marchion Ro was part of the "Nameless" or was at the very least associated. I'm thinking that rod is of Nameless design. As per a prophecy in Master & Apprentice:

"Only through sacrifice of many Jedi will the Order cleanse the sin done to the nameless."

And in this trailer, there's some blink-and-you-miss-it sketches of The Nameless:

 

Intesting theory. If anything, I would say associated. Mainly because how he is described, and his concept art doesn't quite line up, but a connection could be interesting. A lot of ways that may be able to go.

Aside that, oh my word that is a terrifying design. I hate it but I love it.

 

Kind of reminds me of Majora's mask / Skull Kid from ... Majora's Mask.

 

Also similar in design the Darth Nihilus's mask.

 

Those sketches of “The Nameless” are truly terrifying. Probably the first well-designed “bad guy” I’ve seen in the High Republic era. Does anyone know anything else about “The Nameless?” I did not catch that prophecy in Master and Apprentice.

--- Double Post Merged, Jan 23, 2021, Original Post Date: Jan 23, 2021 ---

Correct about the cannon. I re-read it. He did rip it out of the Vanguard... However, Loden certain knew how to re-purpose that canon to use it as a lightsaber blaster, as if he had done it before, knowing what the result would be.

 

I didn't agree at first, but I'm now kind of seeing it in these two pictures:

 

Just finished. Really loved getting to spend time in period were there are Jedi's again, the way they deal with emergence at the start is great, the making it rain seen is cool and really loved the chase across Elphrona. They way they expand the lore of hyperspace is cool to.

Lots of really cool new characters introduced in the book, but maybe one of the flaws of the book is it might try to set up to many new characters and can feel a bit start stop, just as a plot line gets interesting it cuts away. But it still lots of cool characters to play with in future books. Really liked Avar Kriss and her relationship with Elzar Mann brings some interesting dynamics relationships within the jedi order.

For a lot of the novel, you are thinking its going to be hard to to create jeopardy for Jedi in this new era with no sith or dark side force users seemingly around, but the end of the novel does seemingly set up away to deal with that.

Really my take away at the end of the book, is the lent pretty big into Marchion Ro being this massive threat, its gonna get fans speculate who he is what it means again. I just hope they have answers that live up to the hype they gave him, if not its gonna create a bad feeling among fans again which star wars doesn't need right now. While it will be nothing like it was after fans learnt that the creators of the new trilogy didnt plan any answers for the force awakens mystery boxes, as not as many fans read the books, but it will still create a bit of a backlash.

Over all view, good set up novel, realistically though how it is remembered will come down to how well the elements it sets up are paid off.

 

There was one writing detail I found fascinating, at least as an explanation for that end of chapter/jump feeling. Whether it landed for people or not is a different matter. Charles, in one of the interviews said that he brought that sort of element from his comics history. Each chapter has a sort of mini-arc or moment in it, and the ending often on some sort of cliffhanger like setting a comic to lead to the next one.

i think the weirder part for me is keeping in mind timescale. I believe Elphrona is occurring over less time compared to the other parts of the story? And that’s a bit weird to think about when reading it alongside everything else. I might need a timeline to better see that

 

See I feel like we are intentionally lead to feel this way towards the Nihil. I have a feeling they are going to cause much more chaos than just the junkies and marauders they gather. I feel like Marchion Ro is 100% using them as meat for the grinder with a MUCH larger scheme.

So I believe they specifically said there won't be any Sith within this period, but I did not make the connection of Lor San Tekka and the San Tekka's in LotJ until you pointed it out. Like you, I feel like the San Tekkas will be an instrument in the fall of the High Republic due to their exploration and tinkering of Hyperspace, and I don't think it will be the Sith who cause the "collapse" or "end" of the High Republic.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I found myself thinking in the ways of the older stories, but when we started losing Jedi, no one feels safe, which is something I have been honestly waiting for in a Star Wars story. Give me fresh amazing heros and heroines that could die at a moments notice, so things feel REAL. I for one can't wait for more of the High Republic.

--- Double Post Merged, Feb 5, 2021, Original Post Date: Feb 5, 2021 ---

So if you watch the High Republic Show on the Star Wars YouTube channel, they actually explain, time is happening concurrently.

 

maybe... good review... the light saber joystick bit was creative...

Spoiler

the relationship of Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann was very interesting I wonder if it will develop further... very interesting indeed. Bell should graduate straight to Jedi Knight if Loden makes it back. the Steelee's gave the book the Star Wars western feel which I always enjoy. I would love to see a Vector or the Ataraxia in live action. The Jedi seem so regal in this time period.

On another note, I'm currently reading a book on African martial arts called Fighting for Honor. I don't know what Star Wars novel I should read next? The Rising Storm, Victory's Price, or the High Republic into the Dark? Has anyone read any of these Star Wars books? If so what do you recommend?

 

Thanks, TRS it is.