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Topic:
"How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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Thrawn McEwok
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
May '00
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Date Posted:
9/2/06 3:28am
Subject:
"How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
- Date Edited:
6/19 8:51am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Thrawn McEwok
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Anyone else out there still old enough to remember "How Zahn Could Fix This Mess"?
It was a movement in the mid-late '90s, in reaction against the direction the franchise storyline was heading under Bantam - not so much Samidzat as agit-prop. The basic idea was how Timothy Zahn and his characters - properly characterized - could put right the bad things that had happened to the GFFA since the end of The Last Command...
Initially, Sean Fallesen posted a short 'fic to RASSM under the title "How Zahn Could Fix This Mess". He was soon followed by another poster (v.2.0), and a few months later, a revised version of the original (v.1.2) was produced.
Versions of both 'fics ended up at the ClubJade archive, along with several others on more-or-less similar themes - and there are plenty more 'fics from those years around the internet that owe at least a nodding acquaintance to the concept. You could even say that Specter of the Past was the apotheosis of the idea...
The way Zahn did fix the mess is part of the reason SotP is still one of my favourite Star Wars novels, though I'm told it stands up well to reading straight on from the end of The Last Command as well. As to 'fic, a particular favourite of mine is Canon or Cannon, which seems to be available currently only in the Wayback cache, but I should also mention a fashion for literal character-assassination, which saw lots of characters gruesomely removed from the stage - amongt them Anakin Solo himself...
Anyway... that's enough ancient history: the point of this thread is to reapply the same concept to the current situation, with Anakin Solo rather than Zahn as the mechanism for fixing things.
The 'fic can be any genre, any length, any style; the "fix" can be in the form of retconn, redemption, or ruthless killing-spree. The more meditative among you might use this as an opportunity to think about what the problem is, why, and how to put it right - but I'm sure that some people can right great 'fic without indulging those concepts.
The only real parameters are these:
1.) It has to involve Anakin Solo in a pivotal role.
2.) It has to resolve the 'messy' post-NJO situation.
Please post a link in this thread when your 'fic goes up...
- The Imperial Ewok
-----signature-----
A/T = OTP  "To write one Solo twin as an angstbunny, Master Skywalker, might be considered unfortunate. To write BOTH that way looks like carelessness."
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CeiranHarmony
Registered:
May '04
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Date Posted:
9/2/06 3:49am
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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soon I will post mine
-----signature-----
www.njoe.com (Govsec Author)
"Less is more!" Union
"Make Love, not Clone War."
Starkiller vs. Skywalker vs. Death Star = The Force Unleashed
My life is an Idiots Array, PURE SABBACC
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Healer_Leona
Registered:
Jul '00
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Date Posted:
9/2/06 6:24pm
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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Interesting challenge. I'm unaware of the "How Zahn XCould Fix This Mess", or many of the bad things in the EU.
I still look forward to seeing what comes of this.
-----signature-----
Still crazy after all these years.
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rebel_cheese
Registered:
Jul '06
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Date Posted:
9/3/06 10:06am
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
- Date Edited:
9/3/06 10:48am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
rebel_cheese
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I actually have a plot bunny about this sort of thing but I don't know when it'll see the light of day. It could be as late as 2008 before it's even written . . .
-----signature-----
Padawan of princess_of_naboo E-married to the amazing padawanlost  Member of Charon_Force Beginning's End: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=28450077&brd=10477&replies=1
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YodaKenobi
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
May '03
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Date Posted:
9/4/06 1:37pm
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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Can we submit stuff from three years ago? 
Seriously, I really like this challenge and can't wait to see what other people come up with for it 
-----signature-----
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Thrawn McEwok
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
May '00
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Date Posted:
6/19 8:53am
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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rebel_cheese posted:
I actually have a plot bunny about this sort of thing but I don't know when it'll see the light of day. It could be as late as 2008 before it's even written . . .
Well, it's 2008 now. Done yet?
YodaKenobi posted:
Can we submit stuff from three years ago?
Seriously, I really like this challenge and can't wait to see what other people come up with for it
Yeah, if it's not been posted before. Five years ago, even.
This thread is now the last, best hope for Star Wars. I suggest we use it!
- The Imperial Ewok
-----signature-----
A/T = OTP "To write one Solo twin as an angstbunny, Master Skywalker, might be considered unfortunate. To write BOTH that way looks like carelessness."
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Idrelle_Miocovani
Title: Solar Power loving Scattergories Hostess
Registered:
Feb '05
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Date Posted:
6/19 5:18pm
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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Oooh! Mesa likens this. My muse has been inspired. I'll see what I can do.
-----signature-----
"He said, 'Don't die under my command, you're enough of a pain without the paperwork.' That was it."
"Tell him, 'Fine, there's no way I'm dying before you do, you morally bankrupt Colonel with a God complex.'"
Padawan of DarthIshtar
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YodaKenobi
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
May '03
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Date Posted:
6/19 5:49pm
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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I still really like this two years later
Looking forward to seeing what people come up with
Wes
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Jedi-Ant
Registered:
Jan '07
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Date Posted:
6/19 6:24pm
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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This looks like a neat idea.. I might have to throw some ideas around..
-----signature-----
Solar Eclipse - Twilight/SW X-Over: http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/28626695/p1/?0 And it grew both day and night, Till it bore an apple bright, And my foe beheld it shine, And he knew that it was mine. - A Poison Tree, William Blake.
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Thrawn McEwok
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
May '00
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Date Posted:
6/20 5:48am
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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Idrelle_Miocovani posted:
Oooh! Mesa likens this. My muse has been inspired. I'll see what I can do.
Glad to hear it...
But, uhh... does it involve Gungans?
Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to this!
YodaKenobi posted:
I still really like this two years later
Still got that old 'fic?
YodaKenobi posted:
Looking forward to seeing what people come up with
Me too!!
Jedi-Ant posted:
This looks like a neat idea.. I might have to throw some ideas around..
Do you need someone to catch them? 
But wait! There's a in there... Vergere?! 
Thanks for the response, guys! 
- The Imperial Ewok
-----signature-----
A/T = OTP "To write one Solo twin as an angstbunny, Master Skywalker, might be considered unfortunate. To write BOTH that way looks like carelessness."
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Idrelle_Miocovani
Title: Solar Power loving Scattergories Hostess
Registered:
Feb '05
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Date Posted:
6/20 8:20am
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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Thrawn McEwok posted:
Idrelle_Miocovani posted:
Oooh! Mesa likens this. My muse has been inspired. I'll see what I can do.
Glad to hear it...
But, uhh... does it involve Gungans?
Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to this!
Now, what gave you that impression?
No, it doesn't involve Gungans. I was practicing Gungan impersonation to be misleading.   The fic is a secret! 
-----signature-----
"He said, 'Don't die under my command, you're enough of a pain without the paperwork.' That was it."
"Tell him, 'Fine, there's no way I'm dying before you do, you morally bankrupt Colonel with a God complex.'"
Padawan of DarthIshtar
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Tahi
Registered:
Jun '02
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Date Posted:
6/20 4:08pm
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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This is an evil and cunning plan - a plan so cunning, you could could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.
No, there will be no weasels in the story.  But Gungans . . . . hmmmmmm
-----signature-----
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Thrawn McEwok
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
May '00
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Date Posted:
6/20 7:47pm
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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Idrelle_Miocovani posted:
Now, what gave you that impression?
I can't believe anyone would just talk like Jar-Jar for no reason?
Idrelle_Miocovani posted:
No, it doesn't involve Gungans. I was practicing Gungan impersonation to be misleading. The fic is a secret!
So, there are Gungans in it? Sneaky! 
Tahi posted:
This is an evil and cunning plan - a plan so cunning, you could could put a tail on it and call it a weasel.
No, there will be no weasels in the story. But Gungans . . . . hmmmmmm
Does this mean we get a 'fic? Involving A/T and Gungans? Naboo?
- The Imperial Ewok
-----signature-----
A/T = OTP "To write one Solo twin as an angstbunny, Master Skywalker, might be considered unfortunate. To write BOTH that way looks like carelessness."
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brodiew
Registered:
Oct '05
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Date Posted:
6/26 8:28am
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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Just a thought about Anakin alive in LOTF. I think the climactic duel would have been much more intense and emotional had Anakin faced Jacen rather than Jaina. She is so damaged and apathetic, that killing her brother really meant nothing to her.
Anakin always had such passsion. I could see his intensity, as was Luke's when he faced Vader, burning brightly in such a duel.
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Trepidation
Registered:
Aug '05
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Date Posted:
6/26 1:14pm
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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brodiew posted:
Just a thought about Anakin alive in LOTF. I think the climactic duel would have been much more intense and emotional had Anakin faced Jacen rather than Jaina. She is so damaged and apathetic, that killing her brother really meant nothing to her.
Anakin always had such passsion. I could see his intensity, as was Luke's when he faced Vader, burning brightly in such a duel.
I've thought about this as well. It would have made for a more emotional investment in the reader. One of the most memorable scenes from NJO was Jacen and Anakin sparring with lightsabers (or perhaps a bit more than that) inside the Millennium Falcon while Jaina scowled and looked on. It wasn't a big deal or a scene of importance...but the fact that I recall it out of such a huge series says something about the pairing.
-----signature-----
"I've met people who figure me for a spoiled Jedi brat." --Jaina Solo
"Nooooooooooo !!!!!" *snort*---Trepidation
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Thrawn McEwok
Title: TFN EU Staff
Registered:
May '00
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Date Posted:
6/28 1:30pm
Subject:
RE: "How Anakin Could Fix This Mess" [ByTS post-NJO Fan Fiction Challenge]
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Trepidation posted:
brodiew posted:
Just a thought about Anakin alive in LOTF. I think the climactic duel would have been much more intense and emotional had Anakin faced Jacen rather than Jaina. She is so damaged and apathetic, that killing her brother really meant nothing to her.
Anakin always had such passsion. I could see his intensity, as was Luke's when he faced Vader, burning brightly in such a duel.
I've thought about this as well. It would have made for a more emotional investment in the reader. One of the most memorable scenes from NJO was Jacen and Anakin sparring with lightsabers (or perhaps a bit more than that) inside the Millennium Falcon while Jaina scowled and looked on. It wasn't a big deal or a scene of importance...but the fact that I recall it out of such a huge series says something about the pairing.
I think that psychologically, they thought quite hard about the Jacen-vs.-Jaina duel. The problem was, there simply wasn't the action setup. In the OT, we saw Luke witness the Vader/Kenobi duel - the first time he met his father - and then he faced him in the trench run (saved by Han - one step removed again); the plot of ESB was the setup for his duel with Vader - which he rushed into and got wasted. That knowledge them provided the drive for his character's direction in the next movie... which culminated in the single most awesome piece of swordfighting in the saga.
For my money, Luke powering down Vader with that music is still the sock-rocking moment of Star Wars.
But what did we have in the NJO and "Legacy of the Force"? We were told that there was a Yuuzhan Vong fetishism with twins fighting. We were told that Jaina resented Jacen as he took control of the Galaxy. In between, they bitched at each other through their Force Bond through the attack on Thrago. In hindsight, Denning gave us some very good characterization moments, where Jaina yelled at Jacen.
But there wasn't the sense it was going to come to lightsabers. It didn't push into the story enough. If we had Jaina whupped in a fight by Jacen in Invincible or something, that might have made it work.
It's quite telling that Anakin's duel with Jacen WAY back in Vector Prime still stamps itself more powerfully on the characterization and the readers than three whole series' worth of buildup and psychological complexity before the Jacen/Jaina rumble.
But I agree. Anakin and Jacen have always been more natural antagonists than Jacen and Jaina, I think. It took a lot of pushing to get those two opposed, and for some reason, the narrative held back from doing it effectively. Then again, the natural conflict here is Anakin against Luke, I'm starting to think - Jacen was just a more perfect Luke Skywalker all along.
Look at it this way: Anakin/Tahiri represented "something new", but while Luke's allowed married Jedi, he seems increasingly ambivalent, and he takes their kids away and brainwashes them. Heck, the Jedi themselves are acting like brainwashed drones.
Something's gotta give.
Something's gotta give.
Something's gotta give.
- The Imperial Ewok
-----signature-----
A/T = OTP "To write one Solo twin as an angstbunny, Master Skywalker, might be considered unfortunate. To write BOTH that way looks like carelessness."
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