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Topic:
Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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Havac
Title: Lit Mod of Awayness
Registered:
Sep '05
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Date Posted:
7/22/06 10:02pm
Subject:
Author Analysis: John Ostrander
- Date Edited:
5/5/07 8:36pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Rogue_Follower
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Analyze John's authorial skillz without bashing or gushing. What does he do well? What are his weaknesses? Does he fill a niche in SW writing? So on and so forth.
Previous Author Analyses:
Steve Perry
Brian Daley
Barbara Hambly
Dave Wolverton
Troy Denning
Ann C. Crispin
K. W. Jeter
Sean Stewart
Haden Blackman
Greg Keyes
Michael Stackpole
Kevin J. Anderson
Matthew Stover
Michael Reaves
Aaron Allston
Go at it! 
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Recipient of Thrawn McEwok's Sexually Ambiguous Tusken Raider™ and a Special Golden Ewok™
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Sauron_18
Registered:
Apr '05
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Date Posted:
7/22/06 10:25pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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Ostrander Rocks! 
Best Comics I've ever read/seen/heard/felt 
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cyris8400
Registered:
Jan '06
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Date Posted:
7/22/06 10:51pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
- Date Edited:
7/22/06 10:52pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
cyris8400
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First of all, John knows his way about the EU (or at least is willing to incorporate a lot of EU elements). Adding in places like Anzat and Tibrin and Antar 4 into his scripts gives us a visual aid to things we've only imagined in purely written material.
Of course, his EU nods are more than Anzat, and span from the Trandoshan "Scorekeeper" goddess to adding in Rakata temples on Honoghr.
When partnered with Jan, I cannot recall a single instant where he (or they) created a new planet or species, which I consider to be a good thing.
Despite the fact that Anakin was technically the guy everyone should have been interested in, I liked Quinlan Vos and his tale much more than Anakin's, and considered the Anakin-Obi-Wan stuff to be more or less filler among the comic series (Jabiim and Obsession were rare exceptions, but still found the Quin stuff more engaging by comparison).
I'm finding it hard to think of anything critical to say of his work.
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Sauron_18
Registered:
Apr '05
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Date Posted:
7/22/06 10:54pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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Oh yeah, I love it when John&Jan bring something in like the Rakata (in Honoghr) or the Ancient Sith (Korriban) and recently a lot more of the Vong (Legacy), it makes it all seem so much more real and connected to the GFFA
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masterskywalker
Registered:
Nov '01
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Date Posted:
7/22/06 11:06pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
- Date Edited:
7/22/06 11:10pm (4 edits total)
Edited By:
masterskywalker
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On Star Wars:
John has a really good grasp of what makes Star Wars Star Wars. Yet at the same time, he's not afraid to go off in new, unexplored directions. He's not afraid to tackle the big questions like the nature of the darkside and its corruption, nor does he fully seem to promote the idea that the old Jedi were perfect. Quin expressing his doubts to Kolar was able to sum up the hidebound nature of the Jedi in a single short conversation. He also has a knack for making more memerable subcharacters than I can count, Vile, Zao and Aayla most of all. On that note, bring back Zao for the dark times! I want to see him open a soup kitchen and run it until he meets up with Luke and makes him try his terrible food. 
On his non Star Wars works:
The Spectre is my favorite of John along with Sucide Squad in a photo finish. Even in honest to goodness comic bookdom, he makes his stories serious, funny, tragic, exciting and to be treated with respect. Honestly, I wished more people talked about faith like John does, as I don't think enough people in the world who are 'unbelievers' (and I use that in a purely categorical/technical term so no lynching) understand what its all about for people who do. Faith isn't something that's just for crazy people, it's something that matters, whether you believe what's behind it or not, and it's something I always enjoyed coming out in John's work.
And for the record, Deadshot's coversation with Marie at the end of his four part mini I still find to be the best piece of character driven comic bookdom I've ever read.
"The cards are dealt... let em lie."
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Peace to corrupt, no less than war to waste.
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Excellence
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
7/22/06 11:11pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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I'd forgotten that ridiculous Bossk tale.  What comic referenced the Trando scorekeeper deity?
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cyris8400
Registered:
Jan '06
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Date Posted:
7/22/06 11:41pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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Republic #81 referenced the Scorekeeper.
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I prefer "Godfree" as opposed to "Godless."
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Excellence
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
7/22/06 11:43pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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No wonder. The Endgame TPB. Hasn't come out yet . . . and not half price for me too. 
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My utilisation of complex locution to ask what's more pathetic, fans who worship their
movie actors, or the actors who couldn't give a damn, is more a reflection of my own
superincumbent mental actuity than any circumscribed lexicon. Don't you agree?
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Crox
Registered:
Apr '06
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Date Posted:
7/23/06 1:03am
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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I've heard good things about John and would like to check out some of his comics. Can anyone recommend some of the better ones? I also asked this in his thread on the author board.
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ChildOfWinds
Registered:
Apr '01
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Date Posted:
7/23/06 8:02am
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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Crox
I've heard good things about John and would like to check out some of his comics. Can anyone recommend some of the better ones? I also asked this in his thread on the author board.
His Quinlan Vos stories are great. Start with the first collection called, "Twilight".
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Jedi Vince
Registered:
Aug '99
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Date Posted:
7/23/06 11:00am
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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I think John Ostrander is the best overall writer in the Expanded Universe.
To me, there simply isn't a writer who understands George Lucas's universe more -- in terms of the rules, tone, and overall sense of excitement. Because of this, he knows exactly what boundaries can be pushed to make his own work fresh and unique.
Of course, it doesn't hurt to have an artist like Jan Duursema working alongside him for most of his entries -- there's also no doubt her creative input has helped push their collaborations to the amazing heights on which they reside.
Legacy of the Force has completely exploded onto the scene, and has laid the foundations to what may be the most profound chapter in the EU.
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 John McCain in '08 Before voting in November, read the series "The Audacity of Socialism" written by Investor's Business Daily. If you still want to vote for the Obamassiah, you have problems.
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Nemuro
Registered:
May '03
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Date Posted:
7/23/06 11:15am
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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JLA: Incarnations ...
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Havac
Title: Lit Mod of Awayness
Registered:
Sep '05
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Date Posted:
7/23/06 3:34pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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I really enjoy John's work. He's got a good grasp of Star Wars, and works in plenty of EU references. Heck, he's probably responsible for 99% of all Clone Wars references to pre-AOTC Clone Wars material. He makes great, creative stories that work well within the comics medium. I'm really impressed by his pacing. He's able to pack in a ton of story without making it feel rushed. From all indications, Legacy is going to be one of the highlights of the EU.
However, I do have one problem with his work. It's a particularly glaring, annoying habit of his: must all aliens in the galaxy speak in Jar-Jar-style pidgin Basic? Not a single thug or smuggler in the galaxy can speak the galaxy's lingua franca properly if they happen to be nonhuman? It strikes me as silly and unneccessary. Still, if that's the worst I can say about him, that's pretty good.
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Slaughter is the best medicine
Recipient of Thrawn McEwok's Sexually Ambiguous Tusken Raider™ and a Special Golden Ewok™
"Reality doesn't care if you believe it." - Boba Fett
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Sauron_18
Registered:
Apr '05
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Date Posted:
7/23/06 3:46pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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Thugs and smugglers aren't very educated people, and even if they once were they don't hang around educated people, so why would they have a proper accent? If you see he chooses "bad" language in places where(judging by their Earth counterparts) you would expect people to talk like that.
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Rohniss
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
7/23/06 3:51pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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I unashamedly believe John is the best writer of the "Modern" EU (comics and books), and definately a top 5'er all timer. During Republic I kept wishing theyd drop Anakin and Obi-Wan off a gigantic cliff and just let John do his "Quin Thing". in short. ne plus ultra.w
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Bodknocks_
Registered:
Apr '04
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Date Posted:
7/23/06 3:55pm
Subject:
RE: Author Analysis: John Ostrander
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John is the Han Solo of the EU comic world: Bold, daring, clever, ladies man, flys around space with a tall hairy guy, etc etc...
I guess what I'm trying to say is, he's a pretty cool guy. He'll probably end up posting in this thread, which only reinforces that idea.
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http://boards.theforce.net/Board.aspx?brd=10417 -- The Hoosier Alliance "Believe me, buddy, if I were you, I'd go right up there and ask her if she wants to ride on my rancor." -- Han to Luke Recipient of Thrawn McEwok's Twin Twi'lek Masseuses™
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