Where NJO is lacking - Relationships (Suppose spoilers might appear)

Look at the X-Wings novels. From 9 books, where we had to learn of most the characters, we had some form of relationship with:

Wedge/Iella
Corran/Mirax
Gavin/Aysr
Kell/Tyria
Myn/Falynn
Myn/Lara
Face/Dia

Add the comics, and you get a couple more(I believe, I know of at least one).

So, off the top of my head, seven. Now, let's count the NJO ones, discounting those already together:

Anakin SOLO/Tahiri

That's right, up to DJ, we had one proper relationship. Now, in the rest of the series, who can I honestly see getting a relationship?

Jacen SOLO/Tenel Ka
Jaina SOLO/Jag or Kyp(Depends on POV)


So, 19 books, three relationships. That is substandard. We should be drawn intrestedly into the emotions of the characters. Instead, we just get to wish our non-Solo favourites would get a relationship.

 

I agree. I looked forward eagerly to each book hoping that maybe, maybe this time we'd get a little Romance. Nothing until Conquest, then only little teasers.

Finally, Anakin and Tahiri. Well, that went well. HA!

The Jaina/Jag thing has me satiated for the moment, and I'm looking forward to some Wedge/Iella interaction in Rebel Dream.

As far as non-Solo characters, I'm still kind of stuck on my idea of Danni w/ either Ganner or Kyp. I really like Danni.

 

Exactly.

 

That's been the precise criticism of another book I read a few months ago - Jericho Moon. Excerpted from SFSITE's review:

Sex.

I don't mean explicit love scenes suitable for a bodice-ripper, I mean sexual tension. In Iron Dawn, Stover balanced his frank descriptions of bodily functions and battle carnage with earthly scenes that showed Barra's attraction to a particular captain. In this way we experienced both death and life, destructive and creative forces.

In Jericho Moon, the sexual and romantic feelings between Barra and Agaz seem forced. You don't feel the tension -- in writing classes it would be said that while Stover tells us they like each other, he doesn't show it.

When Barra says "Oh, it's real... I've been through plenty of close fights, with plenty of men, and none of them has ever made me feel..." I thought, What? Really? I'd never noticed her falling for Agaz beyond the occasional, almost gratuitous "She shook such thoughts away and concentrated on the problem at hand." Her struggle against getting involved with the captain in Iron Dawn is much more believable, much more obvious.

And without the sexual -- or, if you prefer, romantic -- tension, Jericho Moon reads like one long series of battles punctuated with moments of character bonding or comic relief. It lacks balance. The characters do have depth, but by the end of the book you get the feeling that something's missing.

 

I'm here to make you look good RF


I agree though. There isn't nearly enough mush in the NJO. Give us mush... I command thee!

 

I agree, RF. I think is directly a result of a significant lack of character development for any character besides the Solo/Skywalkers. Taking the time to explore emotions and flesh out relationships only happens when authors take the time to develop characters. Right now, the only developed characters are the Solo's and Skywalkers, and most of them are already married. It only leaves the Solo kids for a possible relationship. We've already seen one, and the beginnings of another, romance for them, but that's all we're likely to see. It's really unfortunate.

 

Reaperfett, I never pictured you as the romantic type.

I think that romance has been overshadowed by the Vong invasion, but, I hope that before the NJO is over, we see some mush.

 

I don't know if comparing that specific aspect of the NJO and X-Wing novels is a fair one or not. In X-Wing Stackpole and Allston were able to introduce new characters and have them be the focus of the story and interact with each other without having to write for the Solowalker family.


In the NJO the authors don't have the power to do this because most of the main characters were either taken or too young. However that may be changing now that the young jedi knights are growing up and maybe a new focus on some new characters like Ganner and Danni.

 

I just dont want any of those old corran lines, "Hey aby, its a war, and if I die tomarrow, I want to know we lived tonight", or something lame like that.

 

Reaperfett, I never pictured you as the romantic type

Compliment or insult?


And The X-Wings still had to focus on Wedge. It is plausable to do a relationship with subcharacters. They just get ignored.

 

"I just dont want any of those old corran lines, "Hey aby, its a war, and if I die tomarrow, I want to know we lived tonight", or something lame like that."

You'll see Chissdude, you'll see. It's been my experience that guys and girls have vastly different takes upon what is and isn't lame.

I've often found that things that sound lame to me sound "romantic" to my girlfriend. I don't question it, I just go with it.

 

I agree, RF. For the most part the interpersonal relationships in the NJO have been subpar to the say the least. Maybe we'll get lucky and start to see a real relationship develop between Kyp and Jaina. Not nececcarily a romantic one, but one that explores both characters souls, why they do what they do, what theyre really thinking, etc.

 

Not really a compliment or an insult Reaperfett, though I would never want to insult someone, unless I was joking with them. It was just a realization. I had never thought of you in that light before. Most men are not interested in romance.

 

To be honest, I never really thought about the lack of relationships in the NJO, but you're right, ReaperFett, there should be more. I would think that a "human" element of love and hope found in relationships would help to balance out the darkness and violence of the NJO.

Besides, if it's ok for Luke to marry someone who wanted to (and tried) to kill him, why not let some of the other Jedi (i.e. Kyp) find out how fun a relationship/marriage can be?

 

"i lost my comlink frequency... can i have yours???"

~NiKe SKyLaRK~

 

You don't need sex to make a book. I often find it takes away from the writing quality actually.

We don't need anymore romance in the NJO. Jaina's would be suitors are enough of that.

 

You don't need sex to make a book. I often find it takes away from the writing quality actually.

Didnt say sex, did I? All I wish is that people were more human, and relationships are a human thing.

 

It's disturbing to me I care more about whether Jaina and Kyp will get together than I care about whether Coruscant is reclaimed

 

MUSH! GIVE ME MUSH!!!!!!!!!


Actually, I think we get quite enough of that in Fanfics...

That was for Lianna and vogt's benefit...

but I agree that we do need more, and deeper, and more real relationships. I'm getting kinda hacked at the only relationships being Jaina and whoever you like. We argue about that too much...

Actually, I like arguing about it. But I think Ganner and Danni should get together. She and Kyp really aren't that compatable. I

 

I agree! far too few relationships in NJO. I mean, romance IS a part of Star Wars! or what would the movies be without the lines between Han and Leia?
I was so happy seeing Anakin and Tahiri get close until Star by Star. the news crushed me. that was just horrible!
now I have to be distracted from that and that's done best by Jaina and her wannabe lovers.
the part in Conquest where she was blushing at Kyp's sight was very interesting. I never thought of those two before that. but I can see Jaina with Ganner or Jag, too.

 

JAINA AND JAG!!! I invoke page number 246 of Rebel Dream as my evidence i mean
**SPOILER**







she flies an absolute SUICIDE MISSION to save him and all, of course they end up together! DUH!

 

And the relevence of that was..........?

 

Well, see... Jaina and Kyp would be fine (other than the fact that Kyp's a dink and needs to be beaten bloody with a vibro-stick), exept for the fact that he's old enough to be her FATHER! His bits an pieces prolly don't even work anymore! I mean, c'mon, they're a technologically advanced galaxy an all that, but I doubt they have the wonders of Viagra there!

Jaina and Jag, well... That's much more believable. Same age group, and there's gonna be that tension there between them because Jag can outfly Jaina, an that's something that she's not used to - competition. Jaina can smoke Kyp with a lightsaber, in an X-Wing, however you look at it.

 

Oh good friggin Gosh the man is in his thirties! Does no one realize that he's in his prime? I mean he's not even in his late or MID thirties...

He's 18 in the Jedi Academy Trilogy and that's 11 years after a New Hope and now it's 25 years after a new hope which is a 14 year difference.

18 + 14= THIRTY TWO

Obi Wan is that old in the First Trilogy movie, David Boreanas on Angel is that old! Sheesh

 

David Boreanas on Angel is that old! Sheesh

Nope... Boreanaz on Angel is about 250 by this point...