What makes a written character sexy?

A Book cover?

how they are discribed?

How other characters react to them?

Or is it something inherant to their characterization?

Jaina Solo is described as an attractive young woman, but dose she come off as sexy?

Same with Jacen.

A certainly get the vibe that Mara Jade was sexy, but despite Leia's Metal Bikini, i don't get the same vibe from Leia in the EU. Definatly not in NJO or any of the books afterwards.

 

Star Wars novels are pretty much void of any type of language that can define sexy. Pretty yes, sexy not so much. It's funny because the PG'ish style of the novels certainly doesn't apply to violence levels, but does seem to apply to language and sexual content.

The comics do a much better job on that front but they have the added visuals of course.

Off the top of my head I can only think of one novel that attempted to use something close sex appeal, yet that was Xisor in Shadows of the Empire, and it really didn't do the trick for me.

 

The one thing I really remember about Dark Nest was all the descriptions about Alema Rar's sexiness.

Perhaps that's what I couldn't stand the character.

 

I really think it's extremely individual. Buttkicking women in tight leather/whatever are probably the only "standard" there is. And think Mara's temper (cool and fiery at the same time) is adding to her sexiness.

I've always thought Luke is sexy as h... (and that's despite his haircut) and I know many think the same about Han - but it's because we have the characters livid in our memories - those novels that capture the characters well enough also manage to make them sexy.

I've never found Jacen sexy - but I think Anakin Solo had clear potential; I loved his mix of spirit, earnestness and stubbornness - very like his uncle. And his self-confidence didn't make it worse at all. I think Ben has potential too; humor and snarkiness is definitely qualities when it comes to becoming sexy.

As for Obi-Wan, much of it is in his elegance.

 

She's promiscuous, she doesn't wear underwear, she's a former slave dancer, she's an amputee and she's bat**** insane.

Sounds like a great lay.


To answer the op, the answer is just in the soul and the mind's eye of the beholder.

Most of these characters have canon images, so that takes care of any physical characteristics. Even if there are no images for the character, there are many ways a writer can accentuate the physical attributes of a character.

A character's personality and behavior can be found to be attractive or unattractive, depending on the reader. Humor, kindness, passion and intelligence, it's all sexy to someone. Confidence and self-esteem are usually found attractive.

Mood and attitude can be highly variable. Some people are attracted to cheery, positive spirits while others, believe it or not, are attracted to negative, gloomy types.

Body language is a huge part of sexual attraction and communication in general, but it can be hard to capture. How do you write something that is both non-verbal and subconscious? It takes a great deal of knowledge on the subject, in-depth character study and attention to detail to portray something that is actually very subtle.

Sorry - that word has to be asterisked.

 

Wit. Wit. Oh my God, Wit.

 

I think, as readers, few people found her 'sexy' though- they made such a big point, not so much that she was sexy and alluring, but that that's just who she was (and yes, it was annoying as hell).
And CT-867-5309, I think we're referring to the pre-amputee stage, haha. So promiscuous, sans underwear, former slave dancer, and bat**** insane, yes. On that note though, is she actually promiscuous, or just a tease?

In my experience of what I've found 'sexy' in Star Wars characters (and being female, those are all males), it has NOTHING to do with physical description and everything to do with action, attitude...

I can't remember which book it is in NJO... hm...one of the Edge of Victory books, I think... where Kyp Durron is flirting with Jaina periodically and often in a remarkably dick-ish way... but the whole point is about how he's a man of action and he's independent and he takes control of the situation, opinions of Luke/other Jedi be damned...

I don't know that I'd call that 'sexy,' but it's hot in a bad boy way.

As for Jaina, she's supposed to be more tomboy than anything, but perhaps that's part of the appeal? She's pretty, but lacks any extreme measure of vanity to bring it out more.
I find the few and far between parts in FotJ when she's getting dressed up for a date with Jag to be slightly out of character there. I guess because neither seems the type to want to be in the public eye in such a situation, I don't know.

And another one who didn't asterisk that word.

 

I agree with Kataja. I have always thought Luke and Obiwan were very sexy. I have always preferred the good guy, noble, courageous, honest, and humble. I understand why Han is so popular, but just not to me. The heroes like Luke and Obiwan are way more attractive to me than the bad boys. Looks are not that important, although Ewan McGregor and Mark Hamill are attractive enough, just not GQ male models and that is okay.

 

Intelligence makes sexy.

Has always been true for me. Good looks won't do a thing if the character is stupid. That's a problem in places as SW sometimes because characters are sometimes bent to plot and different authors will write them differently. Luke finds a clever solution in Book A but doesn't find his own butt with a map in Book B. The first would be more sexy to me than the latter.
I always considered Thrawn sexy, but I come from thinking Spock sexy... It's probably pathological with me.

 

I shall second this, though it is a more recent development for me (Outbound Flight contributed greatly to my Thrawn-crush, and I just read that a month ago or so... Choices of One too, I love a younger Thrawn).

With Thrawn though, it isn't just the intelligence- it's the cunning, the confidence, the almost mystic nature of his successes... and then just his sheer abilities as a leader.

And, of course, those dreamy red eyes... obviously...

 

Don't forget his ultra sophisticated artistic tastes.

 

Tenel Ka was a sexy character to me even before she appeared on any covers. Same with Hapan ladies based only on their description in Courtship! Wolverton was an ace in the field of creating mystery and sexy female characters (using veils, legends, etc. to spice up the feel).

Jaina was sexy due to inheriting Leia's role and beauty but based on her own portrayal alone? not too much. Yet, her covers and art look good, and her technician look, halfway burried into machinery smeared with oil has some appeal to some people.

Also in general Jedi nudism tendencies throughout the EU tend to make them imagined as more sexy due to them showing off or not caring about nudity. (hints mostly, but enough to convince)
examples:
-Siri Tachi changing clothes in front of Obi Wan, Anakin and Ferus (Jedi Quest)
-Barris Offee meditating in the nude (Medstar)
-Young Jedi Knights cast nudebathing in river on Yavin IV and not caring other nudity cases throughout YJK and NJO
-Aayla Secura
-Luke's first Jedi class fully nude bathing under Great Temple in hot spring (JAT)
-Leia, Winter, Mara, Mirax, Tionne, Iella nudebathing in public swim center of Coruscant (Union)

this open minded tendency of characters towards nudity makes them appear more sexy in many peoples minds.

though we are used to get character looks fast in guidebooks, comics or covers so that we do not have long to base appearance on description only.

lets take a look at where we still have the opportunity:

-Seha Dorvald
-Nelani Dinn (fanart only pictured her)

Nelani was described successfully as a beauty. Seha is more in action yet still some consider her to be a beauty due to athletic nature of Jedi training.


so in general, if author mentions a characters beauty it does not stick with fans as beautiful. what sticks is if the way other characters react to them, etc. all fits that picture. Imagine Callista, alias Cray Mingla, said to be a beauty but only when we heard Han Solo's constant bitching about what he'd do with her, she came across as a true beauty. The descriptions of looks might help some to interpret their dream woman into the vaguely described character, yet aside that, the description alone is not important, the overall composition is far more so.

 

PS: to all who think intelligence is sexy (I agree by the way!): Why then is it that in real life the most intelligent boys wait longest for their girls if getting any at all? luckily I am married already.. but dear girls, think about it when you next meet an intelligent nerd

 

And dear boys: there are other things besides boobs.

It's not just intelligent boys who wait a long time for the opposite sex to stop being idiots.



Nudebathing in Union? I thought they were at a spa....



Basically any time a character is portrayed as powerful but sensitive. So Luke Skywalker. I can see Ben growing up like that as well. And Jag has become appealing to me as he's gotten older.

 

colojedi7 - glad we agree

Etain - Luke finds a clever solution in Book A but doesn't find his own butt with a map in Book B. The first would be more sexy to me than the latter.
Definitely a point. But when it comes to Luke, I don't care if he can find his butt - I'm more than willing to help him...

CeiranHarmony - Luke's first Jedi class fully nude bathing under Great Temple in hot spring (JAT)
I wish, but I think they actually wore robes... pretty darned annoying...

JediMara - powerful but sensitive
Yeah, I think you nail it...

 

Ascension is quite worthy of some Jag-drooling.


And I can happily report that I'm married to an intelligent nerd.

 

Still looking for an intelligent nerd here. They seem to be either intelligent, or nerds. Some of them are also a good 10 years younger than me.

I never got the big deal about nudity. Doesn't have anything to do with sexy for me. Not to see does more for me there. *shrug*

I think what makes a younger Thrawn possibly more appealing is - dare I call it youthful enthusiams? He's not as closed up and overall cold. A bit like Spock in this Side of Paradise. It's preferrable that the object of desire be capable to feel as well. And that not only if you happen to be the Mona Lisa or Venus of Milo.

 

I think what makes Outbound Flight Thrawn intriguing beyond post-movies Thrawn is not just youthful enthusiasm, but a certain... almost wide-eyed curiosity. We were all so used to the Thrawn who seemed to know EVERYTHING, and then Zahn gave us the Thrawn who has spent his whole life in the Unknown Regions, who has never met humans... and then he takes it all in stride and uses it to his advantage even as he learns customs and cultures and languages...

But there is a sense as well of idealism... not so much that he posses it in any great amount, but the fact that he respects it so highly in Maris Ferasi suggests that he is more complex than that 'closed up and overall cold' version we see when he is older. He almost WISHES he could be so naively idealistic as she is, but knows the realities of his life and of the galaxy at large.

And then there is the depth of character shown by his obvious affection for his brother, his regret over what happened to Outbound Flight... again, things we NEVER see when he is bent on restoring order to the galaxy in the later trilogy.

I've been playing around a bit with reconciling these various views in some early fanfic jottings... it's tricky work!

 

The Powers That Be seem to think that lekku and midriff tops seems to do the trick.

 

true, many boys are stupid when they see boobs... guilty as charged! yet, I can proudly say that I'd rather read a good book than look at a girl back in my time


and yes, Union had a spa-nudebathing mix, cause the panel where they are in mudbath they are naked, always only around with towels and nude when in water/mud.

 

beginning of the scene in JAT had them leave robes behind in total darkness... then when danger came, somebody switched the light on and all hurried for their robes. reread it

 

a very good point, not seeing is far superior to outright nudity indeed, or selective showcasing of skin. which is why I mentioned Hapans and veils above as my prime example. the mystery does more than the revealing. which is why erotica and porn are two different things... you can have erotic without any nudity at all.

 

But some skin in necessary isn't it?

 

[image=http://media.masslive.com/television_impact/photo/nathan-fillion-castle-ec7e9dc7910428f1_medium.jpg]

"It's biological."