Fanclub High Republic Fanclub

I’ve been really excited by the High Republic content that has been released so far. I’ve fallen in love with the era and the characters, so I thought it might be cool to have a place where fans of the High Republic could chat about what makes the High Republic era awesome to them.


Some discussion topics to break the ice (though please feel free to introduce your own topics or questions because I’d be delighted to see this thread and fanclub grow):

1. What do you find most interesting about the High Republic era? How would you like to see it continue to develop in the future?
   
2. What High Republic books, comics, or other material have you read? What did you enjoy most about those materials?
   
3. Who are some of your favorite Jedi introduced in this High Republic era? What Jedi would you like to see more of in the future?
   
4. What do you find effective about the main antagonists, the Nihil and the Drengir? How would you like these villains to be portrayed in future works?
   
5. Have you felt inspired to make any fanfiction or fanart set in the High Republic era or with the High Republic characters?

To provide some of my own answers to these questions, I’d say that I find the High Republic Era really interesting because it shows us a Republic and a Jedi Order truly in their prime--even more so than in TPM even. We get to see the Republic in an age of optimism and expansion led by a Chancellor who is truly inspiring and seemingly not corrupt, a figure beings can legitimately admire. There is a sense of unity with the Republic and a belief that everything and anything is possible. Literal Great Works are being built and an attitude of “We are all the Republic!” prevails. How refreshing and optimistic especially in the real world context of the pessimism of pandemic. It’s also super fascinating to read about the Jedi outposts throughout the galaxy, the colonization of different regions in the galaxy, the evolution of technologies like bacta and hyperspace travel, and the building of projects like Starlight Beacon.

I’ve read Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule, Into the Dark by Claudia Gray, and Test of Courage by Justina Ireland. I’ve really loved all three of these stories. Light of the Jedi was awesome for doing so much of the worldbuilding and laying the groundwork for the High Republic Era as well as introducing a wide cast of characters that could be delved into in more detail in other works. Into the Dark had Claudia Gray’s trademark excellent writing style and complex characters with compelling psychological perspectives and genuinely surprising plot twists. Test of Courage was very mature for a middle grade book and really tackled difficult emotions like grief, Dark Side temptation, and the hard question of how Jedi deal with loss. I also loved how the different books introduced new Force lore, new Jedi powers, and new Force perspectives. I’ve also read the High Republic comics featuring Keeve Trennis.

Some of my favorite Jedi introduced in this era are Elzar Mann and Avar Kriss, and I’m drawn in particular to the relationship between them. Light of the Jedi really ended with a bombshell about them, and I feel very invested in their story. I also love Vernestra and Imri, and it’d be awesome to see more of their Master/Padawan bond going forward. I also like Reath for his curiosity and bookishness, and Keeve Trennis for how witty she is and how she wrestles with her insecurities. I’d like to see more of these Jedi in the future as well as more Stellan Gios since I’m intrigued by him, and I think he’ll be in the spotlight a bit more in the next adult High Republic book if the front cover is any indication.

The Nihil make interesting villains as foils of the Jedi (representing despair and darkness where the Jedi represent hope and light) as well terrorists and beings who can slip under the radar when needed to make themselves all the more dangerous. The Drengir are spooky with their mind control powers and with their history of tangling with the Sith that I’d like to learn more about in future stories.

I've felt inspired to write some fanfic set during the High Republic era with such characters as Vernestra Rwoh, Stellan Gios, Avar Kriss, and Elzar Mann. I hope to write more High Republic fanfic in the future featuring more High Republic Jedi.

So what about you? What do you love about this exciting new Star Wars era?

(Note to mods: I didn't see a High Republic Fanclub started, so I wanted to begin one, but if there is already one, please feel free to link me to it and close this thread. )

 

Yay, I have my first poster in the fanclub, and it is none other than the wonderful @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha Welcome to the club!

I'm with you in that I really love how the technology that is so familiar and used in the OT and PT eras like hyperspace and bacta is still being discovered and operates in ways that beings (including our protaganists) can't predict. It makes things interesting and I think it helps make the High Republic era feel distinct and unique. I like seeing how technology progresses in the Star Wars universe from one era to another. It's a fascinating sort of journey to follow.

I agree that Starlight Beacon is a great project and symbol for the Jedi.

And the Temple outposts are awesome and make a ton of sense to me since I imagine the Temple outposts can help make Jedi feel more connected and aware of local problems and tensions as well as keep the Jedi situated so that when the problems and tensions arise they can lend aid more swiftly. It is interesting to think about all the different activities that could have gone on at these outposts. Your idea of Luke deciding to set up ancillary Temples in your fanfic sounds like a wonderful application of this principle.

Light of the Jedi and Test of Courage are both great, and I hope that you will enjoy Into the Dark when you get a chance to read it as well. I agree that Light of the Jedi was fast-paced and riveting. I especially think the shorter chapters helped with the quick pace. And Test of Courage did have a great combination of characters, and I found Imri's grief and brush with the Dark Side powerful to read about.

Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann are awesome, and I do really hope that we get to see more of them in future High Republic content because I am in love with them already and totally shipping them. Master Greatstorm and Bell do have a lovely dynamic. In general, I think the Master and Padawan relationships in this era have been a real treat. And Imri and Vernestra do both have great personalities and a compelling dynamic with each other. So many great characters that I'm attached to already!

I hope the Drengir work for you as a villains when you do get to read about them. The ruthlessness of the Nihil does make them seem like worthy adversaries to the Jedi and the Republic and they don't seem to have the clearcut ideology of an enemy like the Sith or the Empire or the Separatists so that does make for a change that can help the era feel like a different time period with different villains than we have seen before.

I do like a lot of the creativity we are getting in this era and the effort to make the stories consistent and coherent with each other is something I've also noticed and appreciated.

 

@clone commander bossk Happy to have another fan of the High Republic era here to join the club

I agree that all the variety among the Jedi in terms of ages and species of the characters is awesome, and I am also with you in enjoying the different philosophies and outlooks on the Force that different Jedi have. Like how Avar experiences the Force as a song, and Elzar more as an ocean. I hope to learn more about how other Jedi experience the Force in future High Republic content.

That's cool you read Light of the Jedi and are reading the comic series. I'm really enjoying the comic series as it's being released myself, and look forward to seeing how it continues to develop. I think Light of the Jedi is a wonderful introduction to the era and to a wide cast of characters. Just a great piece of worldbuilding. And the comics does show that spooky, intriguing side to the Drengir. I think we'll continue to see more of them in the comics as the series progresses.

I do recommend reading Into the Dark especially if you are interested in the Drengir because more might be learned about the Drengir in that book (not that I want to spoil anything). Of course I'm also biased because I love Claudia Gray's writing style and characterization.

You're right that Sskeer is pretty awesome, and I am a fan of his dynamic with Keeve Trennis. Within the first page of his appearance of the first High Republic comic, I thought he had some great lines and interaction with Keeve. Like:

Keeve: Sorry about the tree, Master.
Sskeer: No, you're not.
Keeve: No, I'm not.

And I also like Loden Greatstorm. So many great Jedi in this era.

I think you're right that the Nihil are very chaotic as an enemy unlike the Empire. They are almost this violent force of chaos in the galaxy where the Jedi are a force of peace and order. So what a contrast! It will definitely be interesting and nail-biting to see how Marchion's plan unfolds

You are braver than me to attempt fan art. I can draw no more than stick figures myself. Good luck with your efforts to draw Sskeer!

Wonderful to hear there might be Sskeer stories from you soon. I'm always excited to see more High Republic stories in the fanfic section!

@WarmNyota_SweetAyesha Thanks for the great discussion questions! They are definitely giving me a lot to think about this morning, which is perfect for getting my brain in gear!

In answer to your question, I do hope that we will see recurring characters that appear in stories by more than one author because I think it will help the stories feel more interconnected and cohesive and reflect all the effort it seems these creators are putting into collaboration. Besides it could be really interesting to see someone like Vernestra appearing in an adult book in the future, for example. There have been some appearances of Vernestra Rwoh and Avar Kriss in the comics, for example, and the comics seem to develop Sskeer (a minor character in Light of the Jedi) a bit more, so hopefully we'll see more things like that as the High Republic era continues. I think it'll help make everything feel more interconnected and like separate arcs of the same big story if that makes sense.

I think you're right that the Nihil don't seem to have a clearcut ideology. Almost like a chaotically, randomly striking band of criminals. So it would be very hard to predict and counter their activities or to negotiate any sort of agreement or settlement with them (such as might be possible with a political or cultural conflict between groups of beings). It will be interesting to see how the Jedi and the Republic are able to counter the Nihil as the story of the High Republic era continues to be written. Because really the random attacks are good for creating narrative tension with the plot but do make it harder to achieve resolution due to the lack of a clear or coherent ideology. A lot to think about for sure.

I kind of hope that the High Republic Jedi remain more distinct from the PT era Jedi to make them feel more unique and as if they are really from a different time period with their own sort of attitude and perspectives. I also really like the sort of optimistic feel about the Jedi in this era, although maybe a large part of that is the pandemic and me just wanting feel good material as a result. Perhaps once the pandemic has abated, I won't be so attached to the optimism of the Jedi of this era. That being said, I could understand the desire to want to show how the Jedi progress and change into the Order that we see in the PT, and it could be cool to see that evolution take place in High Republic content especially if it is well-done. I suppose I will probably be happy with whatever they decide to do as long as we continue to get such amazing content. The High Republic era has really gotten me so excited that I feel like I'll be happy and grateful for however the story progresses and just so pleased with this time period and all its Jedi that we got to meet. Seeing the High Republic and the Jedi in their true, shining, glorious prime has been a real treat regardless of where the story goes next basically.

I could totally see the High Republic books and content published so far becoming "nostalgia" reads for me in the future much as TPM may be my ultimate Star Wars nostalgia film. Like how ROTS is the Star Wars movie I watch when I want to break my heart and cry my eyes out, but TPM is a film when I want the comfort of seeing a society in a sort of Golden Age even if there are chinks in that Golden Age and ominous signs of the darkness growing in the shadows. There is still that sense of innocence and something feel good that makes for a perfect nostalgia type experience for me. So I could definitely see the High Republic books and comics we have so far slotting into that role for me.

And if the High Republic era goes a bit darker in the future, I suppose it would be like ROTS, where my heart is ripped out and I cry my eyes out but hopefully in a way that brings a sense of catharsis.

 

@Cowgirl Jedi 1701 So glad to hear that you like the High Republic era based on what you've seen on YouTube videos and fanfic you've read!

 

One thing I like about the Jedi of the High Republic era is they seem to be less strict than the PT era and to really allow different interpretations of the Force to exist within the Jedi Order.

I could imagine a Jedi like Qui-Gon Jinn, deemed to be something of a maverick and unconventional Jedi by the time TPM rolls around, fitting in quite well during the High Republic era.

So, it is interesting to see there have been these sort of shifts within the Jedi Order's long history.

 

Yeah, I think in the High Republic, the Jedi help the Republic but it's almost like a partnership of equals between the Jedi Council and the Chancellor, whereas by the time the PT rolls around, the Jedi seem to equate serving the Republic with following the wishes of the Chancellor and/or the Senate. At least until ROTS when the Jedi finally start distrusting Palpatine.

 

@gizkaspice Yeah, the outfits are great. I'd love a TV show inspired by this era. It could have some wonderful costuming.

@WarmNyota_SweetAyesha Yes, I was excited from the moment the High Republic was announced, and this era has just been amazing so far. I was hooked from the time I started reading Light of the Jedi. Then I went on to love Test of Courage and Into the Dark as well so this era has me so excited right now. And that is awesome to know that the summer 2021 content is still considered phase 1. I hope this era lasts a long time and creates lots of incredible content.

 

Sorry about the delayed responses I've been dealing with a flare-up of TMJ pain in my jaw, ear, and teeth that has made many things more painful than usual. (One of the many downsides to my anxiety is occasional TMJ flare-ups like this that have me rushing to the dentist to confirm I don't have any major cavities.) Anyhow, leaving my personal struggles aside, to get back to the business of replying like I intended:

@clone commander bossk You're right that I think we'll have lots of High Republic content with characters like Ssskeer to look forward toAccording to an Amazon email I received, the next High Republic comic (issue #4) will be available on the 7th of April, five days from now, and I'm also really excited about the newly announced audio drama set during the High Republic era called Tempest Runner. I've already pre-ordered with Audible. The last audio drama about Dooku, Jedi Lost, was amazing, so I hope this production will be just as top-notch. Lovely to see how much content we are getting for the High Republic since I'm so enthusiastic about this time period and its characters!

@WarmNyota_SweetAyesha I'm with you in that I really love how the High Republic Jedi are presented as having different Force talents and perceptions of the Force. For example, someone like Elzar Mann sees it as an ocean, and another person like Avar Kriss defines it as more of a song. Some of my favorite parts of Light of the Jedi were the varying perspectives Jedi have of the Force, and the different abilities that Force users posses. By the PT, things did seem to be a bit more uniform within the Jedi in terms of how the Force was perceived and in terms of Force abilities with the possible exception of the sort of Jedi deemed "unconventional" for that era like Qui-Gon Jinn.

I do wonder what could have made the Jedi move from being fairly flexible and open to varying Force interpretations and Force abilities as in the High Republic era to being more rigid in terms of their Force philosophy and Force skills. I suppose it could be the threats of the Nihil and the Drengir. Perhaps the Jedi get too attached to protecting the order and government of the Republic itself, seeing it as a way to combat the Nihil and the Drengir, and lose sight of the fact that many politicians are more corrupt than the Chancellor we meet in Light of the Jedi, and so becoming to enmeshed with Republic politics--to obedient to the Senate and less independent--can be something of a slippery slope.

I also wonder if there for some reason is a decline in the number of Jedi from the High Republic Era to the PT era, since in the High Republic era there seem to be all these Jedi outposts designed to provide regional assistance in particular areas that seems very efficient and effective, but by the PT, there is the temple on Coruscant from which the Jedi must travel to their assigned worlds. In a way, all the outposts encourage the Jedi of the High Republic era to take a broader perspective that incorporates an awareness of what is going on in the Mid and Outer Rim planets and settlements, but with the Jedi of the PT being based on Coruscant with no other significant outposts, they could become more focused on Coruscant and attuned to the politics/perspectives of Coruscant with less awareness of the unique regional situations and politics throughout the Mid and Outer Rim planets. It might be like a gradual shift over time as numbers of Jedi decline for whatever reason and the Temple outposts begin to close until there is only really one on Coruscant.

Definitely an interesting question to ponder for sure

 

A link to the Tempest Runner on Audible for anyone who wants to pre-order like I did. Looks like a release date of August 31st of 2021, so coinciding with the summer releases of more High Republic content.

The only real description of the Tempest Runner's plot I've seen so far does make it sound Nihil centric (focused on Lourna Dee) so the idea that she is Kassav's replacement might make sense. It could be interesting getting a story from the Nihil perspective since it could flesh them out a bit more as adversaries and I imagine the plot could be quite exciting and chilling with how ruthless the Nihil can be both within themselves and toward the wider galaxy.

I agree that the Dooku audio drama was superb, so I am really looking forward to this High Republic audio drama. Definitely will be something to listen to while I do chores, commute, and exercise

 

Yeah, I'll have to re-read Light of the Jedi in preparation to remind myself of everything Lourna Dee related. And also just to enjoy the awesome book that is Light of the Jedi again!