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Lit We need a novel about Tarkin

Discussion in 'Literature' started by FTeik, Aug 29, 2013.

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  1. Bib Fartuna

    Bib Fartuna Jedi Knight star 4

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    Nov 4, 2012
    "We need a novel about Tarkin"

    I can imagine Palpatine using the royal "we", proclaiming to the propaganda Holonet News, that a novel SHALL be written about Tarkin... ;)
     
  2. Gorefiend

    Gorefiend Chosen One star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 23, 2004

    He seemed pretty nice and he did stare down that insane Supreme Commander fellow[face_dunno]



    Well he went from 1000 crew under him to 37000 ;)
     
  3. Darth_Pevra

    Darth_Pevra Chosen One star 6

    Registered:
    May 21, 2008
    Exactly. "He is nice" is a pretty good summary of what we know of him.
     
  4. Bib Fartuna

    Bib Fartuna Jedi Knight star 4

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    Nov 4, 2012
    Are you inflating this, using the Saxton scale?
     
  5. Gorefiend

    Gorefiend Chosen One star 5

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    Oct 23, 2004

    More then one can say about Tarkin at least. ;)


    Much worse.... I quickly checked given crew numbers. [face_shhh]
     
  6. Darth_Pevra

    Darth_Pevra Chosen One star 6

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    May 21, 2008
    Not even remotely. We know far more things about him from the movies. That he is a technocrat believing in the power of technology, that he has little respect for the Jedi religion, that he is in a way a rival to Vader but holds some respect for him (evidenced by calling him friend), that he is arrogant and impatient when it comes to traitors or political bickering in his own inner circle. He is also a psychopath.
     
  7. Gorefiend

    Gorefiend Chosen One star 5

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    Oct 23, 2004

    I was really just reference the nice thing, Tarkin clearly is anything but. :)
     
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  8. Bib Fartuna

    Bib Fartuna Jedi Knight star 4

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    Nov 4, 2012
    I think Tarkin and Vader were "friends" just as much as Obi-Wan and Anakin were portrayed as "friends" in the prequel trilogy.
     
  9. Darth_Pevra

    Darth_Pevra Chosen One star 6

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    May 21, 2008
    I must admit my interesting in reading about yet another nice guy Imperial who turns into a rebel sympathizer is close to nil.
     
  10. Gorefiend

    Gorefiend Chosen One star 5

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    Oct 23, 2004

    Oh I doubt Needa likes the Rebels but is just doing his job and he would be interesting because he is one of those Captains left over from the Republic, of course Tarkin is much more prominent and influential, but as the most recent SW novels just showed as again it often helps if it is about small things. :)
     
  11. The Supreme Chancellor

    The Supreme Chancellor Jedi Master star 4

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    Sep 4, 2012
    LOL.
     
  12. General Immodet

    General Immodet Jedi Master star 5

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    Dec 5, 2012
    I have always been interested in the Tagges. Loved them in the old Marvel comic series.
    And we still have that aide of Orman Tagge hanging out somewhere...

    I think it is interesting to see how many important people try to give their family members prominent positions in real life.
    Particularly in the past it is interesting to see the noble houses seeking alliances with one another by obliging their children to marry into another family. When one family was attacked by an enemy, the other family members would sent reinforcements.
    Political alliances, intrigues at the court...

    For me, the Tagges always were that typical noble family of old days.
    By the way, Ulric Tagge later became the head of the Corporate Sector. I would love to see him assemble a force to protect his precious sector against the Vong.
     
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  13. Iron_lord

    Iron_lord Chosen One star 10

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    Sep 2, 2012
  14. Havac

    Havac Former Moderator star 7 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

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    Sep 29, 2005
    Tarkin is one of the most fascinating and central film characters to get almost no development outside of reference material. There are no shortage of stories that could be told about him. In his youth, he was an academic prodigy -- starship engineering and xenobiology were among his talents, and he was an accomplished poet and political philosopher -- who befriended Raith Sienar and became an intrepid naval officer securing the borders of civilization (with his brother following along). He hailed from a prominent and powerful family on a powerful world, one filled with relatives in politics, business, and the military. His cousin was a famous Senator and war hero who led the ascending Militarist faction. He left the military and went into politics, where he became an ally of Senator Palpatine and a secret agent of Darth Sidious. He was beginning to ascend the political ladder, but returned to the Republic Judicials in order to take up a position on Coruscant, possibly a very senior one, and aid both Palpatine's administration and Sidious's secret efforts as part of a New Order cabal that reflected his beliefs as a fierce Militarist. Militarism, with Tarkin as a leading proponent, grew in power as the Clone Wars broke out, and Tarkin served with distinction and fame in the Clone Wars, both as a famous military officer and as the governor of Seswenna sector (this is a wrinkle that's still to be worked out, but I prefer the explanation that Tarkin reentered politics and was elected as the governor, but remained in the Judicial Reserves, and was recalled to service during the war), defending his crucial battleground home sector alongside his brother. Emerging from the Clone Wars a military hero and a leading voice in the political movement that formed the core of support for Palpatine's new Empire, he became one of the first Moffs, and then swiftly the first Grand Moff, overseeing the project to create Palpatine's ultimate weapon and controlling an incredibly vast breadth of territory. He became the most important man in the Empire outside of Palpatine and his personal legates, a colossus of the Empire's political thought, whose doctrinal influence as an Imperial Founding Father was surpassed only by Palpatine himself. Meanwhile, he married for money and power rather than love, fathered a son who rose high in the ranks during the Clone Wars but then died shortly after the Empire was established, took a much younger mistress whom he elevated up the ranks, and when his brother died young he took in his niece and raised her.

    He's basically The Most Interesting Man in the Galaxy, with an incredible depth of life experiences around which stories could be told. I have long, long, long wanted some stories exploring Tarkin.
     
    tjace, Bib Fartuna, COMPNOR and 2 others like this.
  15. Iron_lord

    Iron_lord Chosen One star 10

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    Sep 2, 2012
    His sponsorship of weapons research (to the extent of being willing to bombard a planet just to motivate the scientist trainees he's raising up) could probably fill a book in itself.
     
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  16. General Immodet

    General Immodet Jedi Master star 5

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    Dec 5, 2012
    Interesting! Makes me think of how the Sforza's came into power.
     
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  17. Bib Fartuna

    Bib Fartuna Jedi Knight star 4

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    Nov 4, 2012
    I'm not judging your character, however, I am highly curious, from an alternate-universe perspective.

    If you lived in 1930's Deutschland, would you be a member of the Nationalist Socialist Party?

    Please respect the forum, and be honest. I am not judging you by your answer, either way.

    Edit: And I just realized I posted rashly, as you being a Mod, I thought you were that jello fellow ... however, the question equally applies.

    I'm not accusing you of xenophobia, or racism or the traditional Nazi accusations, just wondering if you and the Jello fellow would be captured up by the military sentiment of the time...
     
  18. General Immodet

    General Immodet Jedi Master star 5

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    Dec 5, 2012
    As I said before, National Socialism itself is not evil. It were the people behind it that were eviland then I am not even speaking about all of them.
    Everyone is (like Schérer said) determined by what has been given to him by birth, by his education and by the situations he has been through.
    If you lived in Germany in an impoverished family (remember the bank crash!), you would support the National Socialist Party as well.

    !! That does NOT mean I agree with what the Nazi's did. I just think people should stop looking at things in terms of white and black. It just is a grey zone. !!
     
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  19. Bib Fartuna

    Bib Fartuna Jedi Knight star 4

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    Nov 4, 2012
    Because quite honestly, I would. It is SO hard to imagine yourself in someone else's shoes, and in another time.
     
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  20. Bib Fartuna

    Bib Fartuna Jedi Knight star 4

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    Nov 4, 2012
  21. FTeik

    FTeik Jedi Grand Master star 5

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    Nov 7, 2000
    "There is no atrocity commited by the worst psychopath, that can't also be done by a normal, ordinary guy, who loves his family and thinks he has a job to do."

    My apologies for not quoting Terry Pratchett correctly, but I hope you get the gist of what I'm meaning.

    It is exactly this, what I want partly explored with this novel. That scary and - I admit - fascinating idea, that the Tarkin's of StarWars and the Heydrichs, Himmlers and Berijas of the world are not demons from the TwilightZone or monsters from outer space, but humans like you and I. That after a hard day's work you could meet them at the local bar without knowing, what they do for a living and have a nice conversation about the weather and the national football-league or whatever peaks your interest.

    @GeneralImmodet:
    No, no and no. You are wrong about National Sozialism not being evil. You just have to read "Mein Kampf" to understand that. Sure, the Nazi's had a lot of cool toys and the uniforms of the Wehrmacht and the SS were designed by HugoBoss, but their ideology was pure poison. Under National Sozialism - if you belong to the lucky ones - you will be subject to the will and necessities of the state and the Fuehrer, if not your only purpose is to be exploited, enslaved and exterminated for the benefit of Volksgemeinschaft of the aryan Herrenmenschen.
     
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  22. Bib Fartuna

    Bib Fartuna Jedi Knight star 4

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    Nov 4, 2012
    Turning this topic around 360 degrees...

    I actually would like an Oscar Schindler novel of the Star Wars universe ... a non-politician ... a non-jedi ... someone who was against the Empire's sexism, xenophobia, etc, someone who saved a lot of species 'souls', in their small way.
     
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  23. Iron_lord

    Iron_lord Chosen One star 10

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    Sep 2, 2012
    Death Star did this quite well with the main gunner, Tenn Graneet. That said, he ended up extremely conscience-stricken.

    The Rise & Fall of Darth Vader takes the tack that Tarkin at least, was insane.

    EDIT: The quote:

    "I think it's time we demonstrated the full power of this station," Tarkin said. Turning to Motti, he commanded, "Set your course for Alderaan."
    "With pleasure," Motti replied with an evil smile.
    Realizing what Tarkin intended, Vader surveyed the man with new respect. The Dark Lord had done many horrendous and unpardonable things, but it seemed that Tarkin- at least in this situation- was even more diabolically inventive. However, Vader had one problem with Tarkin's scheme. "Alderaan is one of the foremost of the inner systems," Vader said. "The Emperor should be consulted."
    "Do not think to challenge me!" Tarkin snapped. "You are not confronting Tagge or Motti now! The Emperor has placed me in charge of this affair with a free hand, and the decision is mine! And you will have your information that much sooner."
    Vader had long suspected that Grand Moff Tarkin was insane, but it was not until Tarkin had addressed him just then, without a trace of fear, that Vader was left without a doubt. Vader said "If your plan serves our purpose, it will justify itself."
    "The stability of the Empire is at stake," Tarkin said. "A planet is a small price to pay."
     
  24. Bib Fartuna

    Bib Fartuna Jedi Knight star 4

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    Nov 4, 2012
    It's quite ironic that psychopath's and sociopath's often give the public front of sanity. I have had a few discussions with some people from work about this lately. I have a book on my Amazon.com wishlist about this:

    http://www.amazon.com/Snakes-Suits-...TF8&colid=1MAEHN223PH6Q&coliid=I2TIVPZ6TA7DK6
     
  25. FTeik

    FTeik Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Nov 7, 2000
    The problem with this is, that I don't think, that Vader is a reliable source when it comes to judge other people's sanity. Especially since from a purely machiavellian POV the destruction of Alderaan makes a lot of sense: It was one of the three core-founders of the Rebel-Alliance, a major financial supporter of the same, many of the leading personal of the RA were on Alderaan (ANH-novel), it was a prominent core-world and its defences were among the finest in the entire galaxy. Not only is the empire nearly decapitating the RA with destroying Alderaan, it shows to the entire galaxy, that a) they can destroy any planet, that opposes the empire and b) they will destroy any planet, that opposes them. If the DeathStar hadn't been destroyed, it might have really meant the end of the war.

    Keep also in mind, that to people like Tarkin the nascent Rebellion is nothing more, but a repeat-in-progress of the separatists-crisis and the clone-wars, that followed it, with all the thousands of planets wrecked and billions of people killed. Considering this a single planet and its two billion inhabitants is really a small price to pay, if the empire also manages to stamp out the emerging bushfire.
     
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