Star Wars, Geek Culture, and Power Converters
Wookieepedia engaged in a master class in tone deafness and now not to handle April Fool’s Day this week. Since then, their community and sympathizers have been trying to pass it off as not a big deal and just a “joke.”
That’s a load of garbage, and Dunc concisely explains why.
Be better than this, Star Wars Fandom.
USA Today has the exclusive news that Star Wars Reads Day will be returning again this year on October 11th.
Today I can report that Star Wars Reads Day will return for its third year Oct. 11 — a fact that doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, since it keeps getting bigger.
Last year more than 2,000 events took place, so expect just as many this time around. Several publishing partners will come together for the festivities, including Disney Publishing Worldwide, Abrams, Chronicle, Dark Horse, Del Rey, DK, Klutz, Quirk Books, Random House Audio, Scholastic and Workman.
Keep an eye on starwars.com/reads and facebook.com/StarWarsReads for the latest info on signings, parties and special events in your town.
Numerous authors participate with the festivities, so stay tuned to see if an Expanded Universe author will be at a location near you.
Artists, designers, and other ILM/LFL members discuss the greatness that was Ralph McQuarrie.
George Lucas, Mark Hamill, and Ben Burtt discuss the lightsaber in this featurette.
Kicking off the show, the hosts highlight what’s New on the Blog. In Memory of Aaron Allston: Nanci’s post, Brian’s post, and a podcast. Honor Among Thieves released: Go/No-go and Bria’s more in-depth review. Bria finished out the Hondo Caravan. Yes, she watched all of Season 5 in one week, and then forged ahead with the Bonus Content. Of note, she thought what happened to Barriss was crap. The Doctor is in! Congratulations to Emily on successfully defending her dissertation! Bria reviewed The Star Wars #6. Nanci discussed why The Sequel Trilogy needs a Skywalker. And finally, TeamWedge has come and gone. It was a valiant effort on the part of Wes Janson, but Wedge fell to that pesky astromech, R2-D2. Let’s throw our support to the original Rogue Leader, Luke Skywalker. He faces tough competition, but horrible pilot, Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first round.
In Fixer’s Flash, the hosts have found some time to geeky pursuits while putting together Ikea furniture. The Clone Wars was watched and consumed, but more on that later. Nanci’s been working on a new novel. Both the hosts are getting set for MegaCon.
Deak’s Dirt starts with news that Kevin Hearne’s Luke novel is set for release on January 13. Check out Leland Chee’s Twitter for information about The Clone Wars chronological order. There’s ACTUAL Episode VII news! Confirmed! It will take place 30 years post-RotJ; will feature some familiar faces and a trio of new leads. Artoo is still the only confirmed character. What is going on with EU characters marching in the Star Wars Weekend motorcade? Nanci’s post, Brian’s post. Finally, Mark Hamill is going to be at Star Wars Weekends!
This week in Bigg’s Bull#*$&, Lupita N’yongo is rumored to be close to signing on for Episode VII. Other actors are in consideration as well (surprise surprise).
It’s The Clone Wars bonus content on Camie’s Concerns this week. The hosts recap the final episodes and bid a final farewell to the show.
Tosche Station Radio is the official podcast of Tosche-Station.net and a part of Majestic Giraffe Productions. If you like what you hear, please leave a review on the iTunes Music Store. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Nanci and Brian are the co-founders and writers of Tosche-Station.net. You can find Nanci on Twitter with the handle @Nancipants and you can find Brian with @LaneWinree.
This podcast has been brought to you in part by Her Universe and Audible.com.
To the 501st Florida Garrison Leadership,
First, I recognize the challenge of working in conjunction with Walt Disney World on this parade. I do understand that space is limited. I do have full faith that, as an organization, you’ll be able to do what is best for Disney, your members, and the resort guests during Star Wars Weekends. I have this faith because I and many others have seen you succeed at this very event numerous times. The presence of the 501st and Rebel Legion are perhaps the most popular features of the motorcade for both casual park-goers and longtime Star Wars fans.
It is because I’ve seen this garrison do such great things that I am concerned with recent news of character prohibitions that have apparently been made on your own accord and without orders from either Lucasfilm or Disney. We have heard from your own members that characters are not being allowed due to what you have called “recognizability.” More troubling is that we have heard that this policy is being applied in what appears to be inconsistent and seemingly arbitrary fashion. Members have been told that relatively obscure characters like Starkiller are in, but other (and potentially higher profile) characters like Mara Jade are out.
While I understand this policy’s macro goals of promoting costume quality and maximizing parade space, I am worried that it carries with it some unintended and extremely unfortunate consequences. Additionally I understand that this policy has been in place for some time, but it appears that it has never been as strictly applied as it is this year. Perhaps worst is that it restricts a shallow pool of options for female members of your garrison. There are not nearly as many female characters in the Star Wars universe as there are male characters. The subjectivity of a recognizability policy appears to have already cut out options for this already underserved and underrepresented portion of the Star Wars fanbase.
While I may be out of line to suggest this, I feel it’s important to do so. There’s power in representation, but that representation has been difficult to find within the more mainstream confines of the Galaxy Far, Far Away. By barring Mara Jades, Jaina Solos, the Admiral Daalas, and other diverse but less-than-easily-recognizable characters because they’re not as easy to name as Darth Revan or Darth Maul, you take away the opportunity to reach out to the underrepresented.
If these less recognizable characters are allowed in the motorcade and just one young person of an underrepresented demographic (be they a minority, a girl, or what have you) sees someone like them in that parade and develops the first seedling of interest in Star Wars as a result, isn’t that worth it?
I implore you to reconsider how strict this policy is becoming. This motorcade happens numerous times throughout the (now extended by an additional weekend) event. There’s room for everyone, because we’ve seen such a wonderful array and variety of characters before. Allow this to be representative of all fans and to reach out to a larger swath of potential fans.
Going through with this policy may prove to be needlessly divisive. Worse, it may drive away some of the most loyal and devoted members of the 501st and the Star wars fandom as a whole. It carries with it an air of the dangerous and hurtful True Fan mentality and an unintended but present message that says “The character that resonates with you doesn’t matter.”
It’s a big Galaxy, and there’s room for all of us.
May the Force be with you,
Brian Larsen Editor, Tosche-Station.net Co-Host, Tosche Station RadioWe interrupt our usual programming for a shameless bit of bragging.
Congratulations are in order for staff writer Emily, who just passed dissertation defense this morning and now holds a Ph.D in English. Tosche Station now as a doctor on staff.
Well done, Emily!
Brian, Nanci, and Bria sit down for a roundtable special episode of Tosche Station Radio in memory of Expanded Universe author and superior wit Aaron Allston. We discuss our memories of reading his books, interactions at conventions, and the impact he had on our lives.
“I have come to a conclusion that is important to me. I no longer believe that the momentum of a life headed in a worthwhile direction ends when that life does.” -Wedge Antilles, Wraith Squadron
Yub Yub, Aaron.
Time for another installment of Go/No-Go, our spoiler-free, mission control-style look at whether or not you should put your hard-earned money down for a newly released book, film, comic or what have you. On the launchpad today is Empire and Rebellion: Honor Among Thieves by James S.A. Corey.
Bria’s take: SWEARHAT is an excellent successor to Razor’s Edge in that it keeps incredibly true to spirit of the Rebellion, the Original Trilogy, and (most importantly) the characters. And just like Razor’s Edge before it, Honor Among Thieves is fun. Like most of the books set between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, the need for a new Rebel base feeds into the plot. This book manages to take that plot line and weave it in and out of the book’s main plot, keeping readers guessing as to where it’s actually going to go. Not only did James S. A. Corey get Han and Leia dead on but they also created a new character, Scarlet Hark, who is an absolutely joy to read. I would love to see her incorporated into more Rebellion and early New Republic era stories. In short, this fast paced and well characterized story is a good addition to the Expanded Universe. SWEARHAT gets a definite Go from me.
Brian’s take: SWEARHAT (Best acronym or BEST acronym?) is an extremely fast-paced and enjoyable adventure and a solid follow-up to Razor’s Edge. For one reason or another, Han Solo has been a character that has been hard to get right on page, but James S.A. Corey has gotten it pitch perfect. You can’t help but read the lines in Han’s voice because every mannerism and spoken line is just so Han. Of course, you’ve always gotten my attention when a well-rounded and compelling female character is introduced, and Scarlet Hark fits the bill. Overall this book is a zippy and enjoyable read and is well worth the pickup. All I can say is that when the Expanded Universe gets sorted out, I hope Del Rey brings James S.A. Corey back, because the duo clearly gets the franchise and it would be wonderful to see more from them. This is a Go from me as well.
Verdict: SWEARHAT is a go, so pick it up when it hits bookshelves tomorrow. Also stay tuned for a more full-length and spoiler-filled review.
It was just last night on the podcast Nanci and I were jokingly talking about how awesome it would be for Aaron Allston to write a second Starfighters of Adumar book in which Wedge, Tycho, Wes, and Hobbie run off to play diplomat again and mutter “we’re too old for this shit.” If anyone could have made that setup work, it would have been Aaron Allston. His ability to tap into the humor of Star Wars (and life in general, really) was unparalleled. If there was one lesson you could take away from his works, it was that there was always room for levity and laughter.
(Continue reading under the cut, warning for discussion of depression and suicide)