Jedi Council Forums - Author Analysis: Aaron Allston

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Author	Topic: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
Havac Title: Lit Mod of War Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 1/20/06 5:43pm Subject: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston - Date Edited: 1/20/06 6:13pm (2 edits total) Edited By: Havac
	I plan this to be the first of a series: threads in which you can discuss and analyze the authors of Star Wars. Rational, intelligent discussion about the authors. No bashing allowed, but no gushing, either. Also, I don't want to hear "OMG, teh joiners suk!!111!!!!" in a Troy Denning thread, nor do I wish to hear "Stover is liek teh awsomist evar!!!11!!" -- I want actual legitimate analysis. If you can't contribute intelligently and constructively, I WILL refer you to the mods. Sample topics for discussion: what are this author's strengths/weaknesses? Would you like to see this author write in SW again? If this author has an upcoming book, what do you expect from it? What are some common fan responses to this author, and are they justified? However, this will not be a speculation/discussion thread for their books, but an overall look at the author as an author. I'd like to continue with another author when the Allston discussion dies down, and when that dies down, I'll move on to another. I absolutely will not be discussing controversial, flame-inducing authors such as Zahn, Denning, or Luceno until the series is well-established. I thought Allston would make an excellent beginning subject, because he is widely liked, has much to analyze, and yet there's just enough controversy over him to spark restrained, but interesting debate. I'll be saving my opinions until others have chimed in; I don't want to be seen as setting the tone or trying to push one side. Go at it. -----signature----- "Is there a captain's hat involved in this?" "I . . . don't know what department I want. I need . . . pants."
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Pershing Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 1/20/06 6:08pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	Allston I think should be thanked primarily for fleshing out existing characters we knew little about, and creating entirely new ones that held their own in the presence of the best. The man as far as I know pretty much defined the personalities of Janson and Hobbie. However what I enjoyed about his "filling in" of characters was Warlord Zsinj and his lackey General Melvar. I swear those two must have been the only two in the Empire with a real sense of humor. Their personalities made them rise above the standard Warlord mold. As for his OC, you might say that Kell Tainer is a poor man's Corran Horn, but personally I think his character went through more (and more enjoyable) development than Horn. And let's face it (pun not intended, I promise) Face is one of the most consistently entertaining characters in the SWU. I could go on about the other characters, but since there's nearly twenty I'll stop here about the Wraiths. Adumar was a fun little book that I think was a perfectly solid read. I was glad it didn't feature galaxy-spanning conflicts and instead concentrated its events on a single planet. I would really enjoy seeing more small-scale stories like this one. And seeing the four heroes run the gauntlet towards the end was just awesome. As for Allston's NJO novels I believe he once again presented us with a compact story that did not see each group of heroes bounce around from one part of the galaxy to the other. Seeing the newer Wraith's I thought was nice and knowing that Piggy is still around was good to see. I think the only weak point was when Lord Nyax came out of nowhere. Although I do appreciate the finalization of the Ismaren characters. Plus I enjoyed seeing the seemingly-incompetent fleet commander (his name and rank escape me) manage to rise above himself. The destruction of the Lusankya was also well done. Finally there was an issue with Wedge entering the fray and personally downing a dozen coralskippers. To which I respond: Should we expect nothing less of Wedge Antilles? All in all I think Allston's main strengths are his humor, good characterization, and the ability to weave an engrossing tale even though he hasn't been allocated epic story arcs or plot points other authors like Denning, Luceno, or Zhan have. -----signature----- "I think, therefore I am. Therefore I must destroy" - old droid proverb "You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with until you understand who's in ruttin' command here." - Jayne Cobb
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ThrawnRocks Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 1/20/06 8:39pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	Allston. There's so much to say about the guy, and nearly all of it is great. He obviously is the funniest Star Wars writer there is. Although I didn't like the Wraith novels as much as the Rogue ( ) They were still bery well done and had great characters. Then of course, there is the definitive Allston novel: Starfighters of Adumar. We all know how funny it is. The funniest Star Wars book IMO bar none. It did a great job at showing the fab four as we had not seen in the X-wing novels yet. They are truly awsome together, in many ways. I liked his work, however, I never held him in high regard as an actual author until I read Rebel Dream. He there showed that he was able to juggle humor and a serious storyline very well. Rebel Dream was one of my favorite NJO books (opperation Imperial Hammer kicked ass). However, Rebel Stand dissapointed me in comparison. The Nyax thing was very boring, and took up too much time. However, I did find the final battle over Borleias was very well done. I very much enjoyed the destruction on the Lysankya (although I was a bit sad) and was very impressed by Wedge's show of skill. Yes it's unrealistic, but Star Wars has never been that realistic. You have good guys showing great feats like that all the time. Plus it's Wedge Antilles. And for the first time ever, I was actualy afraid that Wedge might die, which is a very difficult feeling to arouse, since it is Wedge Antilles. I am very much looking forward to Allston's LotF books, and especialy seeing Wedge and co. again! -----signature----- My Icons: http://www.powow.com/thrawnrocks/icons.html Roan Fel's badassery knows no bounds. "The next Allston book should be all Syal and Myri, all the time." - Jello
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ConservativeSoldier Registered: Oct '05	Date Posted: 1/20/06 9:00pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston - Date Edited: 1/20/06 9:02pm (2 edits total) Edited By: ConservativeSoldier
	Allston's strengths reside with his ability to dazzle the reader with humor, and his ability to make you care about minor characters. And he's not a bad story teller to boot (even if he has been, thus far, fairly constrained). And I think the above two qualities define Allston in the EU. And anytime an author has a definitive presence among fans, you know he's doing something right, as he's distinguishing his writing style in a positive manner and reinforcing his prose and report with the readers. One of the weaknesses I see in Allston is a lack of major character development. Sure, you have examples of Kell Tainer growing not to hate Wes Janson and you have Lara Notsil (i.e. Gara Petothel) maturing as an entity in the Wraith books. However, this seems to be the exception and not the norm with Allston. It seems to me that with Allston's characters, you can always anticipate the role that they're going to fill. Janson is going to be the ace pilot with the mind of a half-burned school boy. Face is going to be the charismatic leader that's always cracking jokes about the mission and his fellow Wraiths. Wedge is going to be the sardonic voice of reason amongst his peers, yet grudgingly loving and appreciating their antics. So in a way, the big negative I see with Allston, can be a positive, as you have character reliability. So it should come as no surprise that Allston is one of my favorite authors. Period. And that includes non-Star Wars novels. -----signature----- Aut vincere aut mori! Joe Biden says paying taxes is patriotic. Joe Biden is an idiot. John McCain '08.
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Sn4tcH Registered: Oct '04	Date Posted: 1/20/06 10:27pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston - Date Edited: 1/20/06 10:29pm (2 edits total) Edited By: Sn4tcH
	I'm not going to go into a great amount of detail, because I don't exactly have a way with words. But I will say Iron Fist is still the only book that actually effected me emotionally. Now I didn't go and cry or anything extreme like that, but it's the ONLY time a book has gotten more than a mere "awwww" out of me. I nearly gave up on the EU out of anger, because of an event that happened in the novel. Now you might say, "How is that a good thing?" Well any author that writes a character so well that it invokes THAT kind of feeling when something bad happens to them, it just says something. A lot of his stuff is written in a realistic sort of way, that it hits real close to home. Like the humor for example. Some people say Starfighters had too much humor in it and that it became immature. Well, I know plenty of people who act the way the rogues did in that book, it didn't seem immature, it seemed realistic again. I can only give praise to him. He wrote what I consider to be my favorite Star Wars book, Iron Fist. All the other books I've read seems like a history lesson. Coming in late in the game like I had (I started reading the EU around the same time The Unifying Force came out) I knew that the big three were going to survive. It's just trying to catch up on events for me right now. But stuff like the Wraith books, with real fleshed out OCs (As for Wedges and Jansons characters, Allston can't be blamed, the characters had already been developed by Stackpole.) that remind you of real life friends, getting in danger, that sticks with you. -----signature----- http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/web/thread.jspa?threadID=2000183542&tstart=30 The Batmite76 Batman Continuity Project PM me if you want to help!
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tal0nkarrde Registered: Dec '05	Date Posted: 1/20/06 10:54pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	I have loved Aaron Allston's writing style ever since he over the X-Wing Series where Mr. Stackpole left off. I wrote a line in a review of the Enemy Lines series that pretty much sums up exactly how I feel about this writer: "Allston doesn’t just write Star Wars, he creates it around you, leaving you with the impression that you are right there standing beside your favorite heroes in a quest for good over evil." -----signature----- Visit www.g-pop.net for all things entertainment!
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rogue_wookiee Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 1/21/06 9:28am Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	I don't really have anything to add. I've always really enjoyed Allston and I can't wait to read his LotF books. waits for a post from his Excellence -----signature----- “You’re probably the biggest taxer in the country, even bigger than the Congress,” - Ron Paul on the Federal Reserve. Be aware of inflation and how it affects our daily life. http://mises.org/story/2914 -What You Should Know About Inflation
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Havac Title: Lit Mod of War Registered: Sep '05	Date Posted: 1/21/06 10:00am Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	Well, I'll jump in now. I'd say Allston has a niche in SW, which is something incredibly important. It means that he brings something to the table no other author does, or at least not in the same way. His niche is his humor -- laugh out loud, frighten the people sitting next to you humor. This, unfortunately, has led to his being seen as something of the class clown of SW -- funny, but just a goofy jokester, with no real depth and grossly immature. I'd argue that, however. Allston has a tendency to go for real depth in his writing -- the fact that there's humor doesn't make it shallow. He seems to really like psychological issues, and I wonder if he isn't a psychology major. Donos has PTSD, Phanan absolutely loathes himself becuase of his disfigurement, Kell can't handle stress or leadership positions and has to deal with both his and his father's cowardice, Wedge feels burdened by all the deaths under his command, Janson refuses to grow up, Face is out to punish himself for making Imperial propaganda as a kid, Runt has multiple minds, Piggy is a genius trapped in the body of a pig . . . . Allston really likes his issues. Allston also seems to have a skill for avoiding redshirt syndrome -- every single one of his kills is sufficiently fleshed out and dies in such a way that there is a satisfying emotional climax. There's nobody who dies just to make a point. One weakness, however, is the derivative feeling of Wraith Squadron. A human male flight leader protagonist with a strange alien roomate who uses odd pronouns going through training on Folor to make a squadron. Wedge opposed by a general in command of a wing of another type of fighter. A loyal returning-Rogue XO. How much of this was editor-directed, how much was his idea, and how much was unintentional, I don't know, but it was a little distracting. All-around, though, Allston is a solid author and I would be glad to see him continue writing. -----signature----- "Is there a captain's hat involved in this?" "I . . . don't know what department I want. I need . . . pants."
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Corellia_Sunrise Registered: Apr '01	Date Posted: 1/21/06 10:13am Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	I have to agree with most everything said above. Despite the humor in Allston's novels I have to say that Ton Phanon's death really affected me. So I don't think that his books are all fun and games. I think that Allston creates relatable characters. I am really looking forward his book kicking off the Legacy Series. And with recent complaining in mind, I also think that Allston "fixed" Jaina in the NJO, at least in his books. -----signature----- Go Cards! Go Avs! I was told I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume
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Tiershon_Fett Registered: Oct '00	Date Posted: 1/21/06 11:51am Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	I always appreciated his humor. That he can make you laugh out loud during an invasion of lunatics is a rare talent. -----signature----- It's been an experience. 8000, and done!
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frozenphoenix32 Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 1/21/06 11:53am Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	I think Allston's a great author. I haven't read the Wraith Squadron series, but his Enemy Lines Duology was exceptionally captivating. I'm looking forward to Betrayal.
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Excellence Registered: Jul '02	Date Posted: 1/21/06 3:22pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	The Wraith trio was decent reading, rogue wookiee. The other triune was a waste of Ents. -----signature----- Rock-a-by baby, on the treetop, Beaming with pride, the filth they hold, But when the wind blows, my temper implodes, High above a pit, filled with sharkticons, Down will come hardcover addicts, beaming no more. ©
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Lank_Pavail Registered: Sep '02	Date Posted: 1/21/06 3:33pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	Most of the points I would've used have been made, so I'll simply say this: Allston makes you care about the little guy. And in a universe filled with larger than life characters, that's a huge accomplishment. -----signature----- High Keeper of stuffed EwokWJFC New holiday fic! http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/29552605/p1/ http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=14345682&brd=10477&replies=8 Admiral, JO
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Kudzu Registered: Jun '05	Date Posted: 1/21/06 3:59pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston - Date Edited: 1/21/06 3:59pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Kudzu
	My only words here are: Chapter Seventeen, Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream, by Aaron Allston. -----signature----- Super Golden Ewok™ Recipient It should be the right of every American to go out and get wasted the day they're told that they're being sent to war. Ron Paul for U.S. President 2008
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ThrawnRocks Registered: Apr '04	Date Posted: 1/21/06 4:33pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	Kudzu posted: My only words here are: Chapter Seventeen, Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream, by Aaron Allston. QFT "Can we do it again?" -----signature----- My Icons: http://www.powow.com/thrawnrocks/icons.html Roan Fel's badassery knows no bounds. "The next Allston book should be all Syal and Myri, all the time." - Jello
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Ender_Sai Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Feb '01	Date Posted: 1/21/06 5:58pm Subject: RE: Author Analysis: Aaron Allston
	I enjoyed his stuff, but people told me, "Oh, you have to read Wraith Squadron, it's really, really funny!" - like Havac said, they told it was "lol" funny. Eh, I really didn't feel it was, but I've read too much Pratchett to consider Kettch humourous. What I did like about his stuff though was that he focues on a tiny portion of the galaxy. It wasn't "life and limb in the balance" stuff, it was purely and simply about people fighting the good fight. We need more of this, though I'm never likely to call Allston "funny" because as I said, when you read The Light Fantastic for example, it just trumps Wraiths for humour. Having said that, he was at least light hearted enough about it that we knew he was having fun and not competing for a Pulizter prize. Which is what we need. E_S -----signature----- In this truth he knew himself to be. From sinking sands he stepped into light's embrace.
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