ST New Canon Material (novels, TV shows, comics, games) and Eps. 8 & 9 - CAUTION: SPOILERS A'PLENTY!

So we have learned some new tidbits:

Spoiler

that Vader had no idea about this presence in the Unknown Regions, and that Jakku has some kind of wellspring in it that Rax pushes Tashu down? This seems to have some kind of destructive, chain reaction effect, but what? It sounds like the plan was to destroy Jakku and along with it the Empire and NR forces? If so, why aren't the NR forces destroyed? Interesting how Rax may allude to Rey as one of the seeds that survives the destruction? Also new: that force in the UR that Palpatine senses actually seems to be "calling him." So it does seem like we have a hint of Snoke here.

I still think LFL could have provided us more here. Most of it feels like a repetition of what we knew, with just a few new bits here and there. Better than nothing though. No one can theorize now that

Spoiler

Vader

had a relationship with Snoke; that seems off the table.

Also, if Snoke is the presence in UR, then he seems completely different than Plagueis (which we already know).

I

 

I agree, it even had a little bit Luke (between ESB and ROTJ) in it.

 

I'm not too picky, but I love the new EU stuff. I quit drinking so I told myself I can buy the books and comics with the extra cash. Plus, I just give people a list of stuff to get me if they ask for present ideas. I feel like the comics and Claudia Gray have been the highlights so far. I really want to see more Luke and Snoke in some future comics.

 

I was in the exact same boat. Until I read Bloodline and Lost Stars. Claudia Gray is the best Star Wars writer.

 

And the Darth Bane trilogy.

 

The red, grey, and white "junior novels" should really just be called Star Wars novellas..... they just happen to be shelved in the children's section of book stores.

 

I didn't like Lost Stars which seems over-hyped online, but that's just me.

 

HAHAHAHA (empire's end spoiler) poor

Spoiler

Jar Jar
“Heard joke once: Gungan goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel after Empire. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great Gungan clown Jar Jar is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Gungan bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor...MEESA Jar Jar Binks

 

Concerning the Aftermath III and Jakku

Spoiler

what if Rax dumping Tashu in the core is made Jakku a planet where one can't sense the force from the outside? Because the core was corrupted. So that's why no one was able to locate/sense Rey's presence. Even in TFA the only thing Snoke/Kylo felt was the Awakening they didn't know who or what caused the Awakening/turbulence in the cosmic force.

 

They are back!

Spoiler

Update on the morning of 2/13:
I finished Part 2. Not too much that was revolutionary. In summary, Jas and Norra were captured and inprisoned; Bones helped Norra, Jas saved the two of them by stealing a bounty hunter's (Mercurial Swift) ship.
There is an interesting interlude on Christophsis with the church of the force. There are some members that believe that stolen kybers need to be "returned home." One of the members questions the entire existence of the force, but is involved because his mother is one of the founders of the church of the force. This might contradict my earlier idea that the "hokey religion" Han refers to on Jakku is the CotF.
However, there was a bit of elaboration on a different religion on Jakku. A group that Rax was a part of as a child. It was quite vague, but there was a guy who had the title of "Anchorite." Yes, anchorite, not acolyte. It seems that they do believe in the force, but are not as dedicated as the members of the CotF, who seem obsessed with the jedi. They also quote a bit of the Journal of the Whills. I will include it in a second comment, because it's quite interesting. Additionally though, the interlude ends with the son of the founders saying "all hail the light, the dark, and they gray"
More to come...

Reading of Journal of the Whills, p. 178, Christophsis interlude:
"The truth in our soul, Is that nothing is true. The question of life Is what then do we do? The burden is ours To penance, we hew. The Force binds us all From a certain point of view."

ALSO, the Shattered Empire comic is brought up. There is mention of the sentinels. Rax talks to one and says the ones dedicated to him are more "sentient, smarter. Though none truly match Palpatine's strategic brilliance and his dark, terrible mind, they approximate it enough." In this time, Rax finds out Sloane is alive and on Jakku.

The weird droids that look like Palpatine. These things
http://imgur.com/qD9ZSjb?r

Hmm, I suppose the book clears it up a bit. Rax refers to them as sentinels. He says "a visit from a sentinel like this does not come lightly. Other sentinels were merely messengers: they appeared, gave commands, and were gone. But these, the ones reserved for Rax and their master plan, are smarter."

For now. There will be more.

 

No spoilers mentioning that sheriff in Boba's armor or the Acolytes of the Beyond ?

 

No spoilers about Ben or Leia?

 

Nothing yet. A little bit about Mon Mothma

Spoiler

It's mentioned Mon Mothma really doesn't want to engage in war. She is very tired of it. I will update you if anything comes up!

It appears that they didn't reach the battle part yet.

 

Without reading any more of it than that little excerpt with Lando, and with the knowledge that Chuck Wendig typed it, I can confirm that it sucks.

 

I'm still trying to get through Aftermath: Life Debt. I enjoy the story but Wendig's writing can be torturous to read. Lost Stars and Bloodline are by far the best of the NEU IMO.

 

I admit I skipped everything that isn't spoilery or about Rae Sloane and Imperials. Most of Nora&crew stuff is a skip in my book. I only really read parts with Brendin Wexley because he's the Winter Soldier.

 

So if I'm reading the spoilers so far correctly the main take-aways across the new canon so far are:

Spoiler

Kyber crystals, different beliefs in the Force, moving beyond the light and dark, well-springs of the force, force imbued relics and some power (most likely Snoke) lying out in the Beyond that the imperials and probably others (Rey's parents?) went searching for.

 

Satipo yep, lines up with Filoni stuff too. Less B&W but more nuance.

 

http://comicbook.com/starwars/2017/...dalorian-arc-may-not-be-going-where-you-thin/

 

And R1. Basically, everything the Story Group is building the story new lore towards.

 

and so far I'm not happy with this grey anti hero stuff, but that's maybe only my opinion.

 

Kyber crystals and other Force users were already explored in TCW and the old EU also had different group of Force users than Jedi and Sith, nothing new here. Only difference so far are the Force worshiping religions and an emphasis on the whills.

 

Acolytes of the Beyond update!

Spoiler

ACOLYTES OF THE BEYOND update:
Interlude, beginning of part four, Devaron:
There is an old Jedi temple on Devaron. There are two dozen members of the Acolytes of the Beyond. One girl, Kiza, is a young member. She mentions that there are "masters" of the Acolytes. There is elaboration on the views of the Acolytes: "The shadows cannot feel this themselves, for they are not conduits for the Force, but merely slaves to it. As are all living things. All are caught in the river of power that is the Force, trapped by its currents. Only those who wield the dark side of the Force are capable of changing those currents; they are riverbreakers. They do not surrender to fate. They are its foes."
The acolytes attacked a city one evening so that another member, Remi, could steal "a relic from a fallen Sith. A lightsaber." Only the most esteemed of the Acolytes are allowed to carry and use lightsabers. This is not an isolated attack; it is one of many across the galaxy.
Kiza contemplates her role in all of this. At this time, "a new shadow joins them. This shadow, blacker than all the others. It is their master. It is YUPE TASHU"
Tashu gives Kiza a relic. It is the mask of Viceroy Exim Panshard. "A mask made of meteoric metal and containing the screams of a hundred innocents slaughtered for the viceroy's pleasure. Masks have power. Some are worn in the grave. Others worn in life. This like the others in my collection, has gathered the darkness of the living Force! Wear it. You are anointed, Kiza of Corellia."
Tashu also grabs the lightsaber from Remi and gives it to Kiza. Remi tries to turn on her and she kills him with the blade.

 

It's still the same thing we've had in the new canon. The emphasis continues to be on good vs evil.

 

Spoiler

It's true that Han said "hokey religion"? It don't make sense, he said it in ANH because he didn't see someone using the Force before. Now Han is married with a woman who uses the Force and his best friend is a jedi