My five-year-old cousin once described me like this: "I know what Donna likes. She likes Jesus, books, Star Wars, and me." He isn't wrong. 😊 I am always looking for ways to combine my favorite things. (This is why I own a Star Wars devotional book.) My new favorite way came with the discovery of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
Many people are not aware of exactly what the EU is. The simple definition is the EU is a series of publications (books, comics, graphic novels, & more) telling the Star Wars story. It extends from before the prequels to after Return of the Jedi (my second favorite movie ever made, if you needed the reminder). For 30+ years, this was the way to "fill in the gaps," so to speak in the Star Wars Universe. Choose a time period you want to know more about, there's a book (or three) for you. The EU wasn't limited to one author cranking out volume after volume with their name on the cover along with an overworked co-writer, but is made up of multiple authors working together to make this intricate system of storytelling. Then, somewhat abruptly, in 2014, Disney (the new owners) announced this was no longer the way the story goes and their stories were the new canon. The EU was re-branded "Legends." This may have been okay if Disney hadn't screwed up everything.
Perhaps, I should explain. It's no secret that A.) Han Solo is my favorite movie character of all time and B.) the Han Solo/Leia Organa relationship is the one relationship in all of movie-dom I feel should remain untouched & unsullied. In one movie, Disney shattered my fangirl heart. Sad and dejected, I found solace in a place I'd almost forgotten.
I had been aware of the existence of Star Wars books since I stumbled across one on vacation as a little girl. Working in the library, I got an idea of exactly how many books there were. (FYI - There are a lot.) Being a fan with a little bit of mad money, I bought a few books with the occasional gift card if nothing else than for the fact it was Star Wars (okay...and the fact some of them had Han on the cover). After the heartbreak that was The Force Awakens, I was going through a box of books and ran across them. That's when it hit me. I didn't have to settle for the new Dis-canon. There was another way to see my couple (and, frankly, everyone else) get a better ending. The big question was, could it hold my interest like the movies did? A little bit of investigating (thank you, Barnes & Noble) and I found the book to try, Tatooine Ghost by Troy Denning. If this post were to have a subtitle, it would be "How A Book Saved My Star Wars Fandom." As it turns out, this was the perfect place to start. Its actual purpose may have been to be the link between the prequels and the original trilogy while letting Leia come to an acceptance of her heritage, but, for me it was more. It let me get a peek at the Han & Leia I wanted to see...the Solos I needed to see. It let me get excited for a different future than what was played out on the big screen.
There has been no new EU material published in a long time, the focus now being the new canon. This is a mistake. For the last 3 years or so, I've seen the Star Wars Universe become a divided fandom, more bitterly so in the past 6 months than ever before. Reviving the EU (or Legends or whatever they wish to call it) could be a tool...if not the tool...to unite it again. For years, comics and movies have co-existed in separate dimensions. Why do you think the distinction is made between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marvel comics? Each has its own fans. Those who favor multiple worlds where Tony Stark is involved with a number of different significant others or not be a Stark at all can read that storyline and those of us who are thrilled to see Tony Stark finally engaged to Pepper Potts after 10 years and over a dozen movies get this in the MCU. Star Wars fans deserve this same option.
My wish is to see new EU books, comics, graphic novels, etc. There are those who are working to this end and to them I say more power to you! It's a worthy fight. Don't stop. I will celebrate my favorite unofficial holiday with my Millennium Falcon lanyard, Han Solo earrings, Princess Leia pin, and my Star Wars pencils. However, it gives this bookworm a happy feeling to know that I can also curl up with a book where there's an "alternate universe" and a happily ever after for my favorite duo.
HAPPY STAR WARS DAY!!
There has been no new EU material published in a long time, the focus now being the new canon. This is a mistake. For the last 3 years or so, I've seen the Star Wars Universe become a divided fandom, more bitterly so in the past 6 months than ever before. Reviving the EU (or Legends or whatever they wish to call it) could be a tool...if not the tool...to unite it again. For years, comics and movies have co-existed in separate dimensions. Why do you think the distinction is made between the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marvel comics? Each has its own fans. Those who favor multiple worlds where Tony Stark is involved with a number of different significant others or not be a Stark at all can read that storyline and those of us who are thrilled to see Tony Stark finally engaged to Pepper Potts after 10 years and over a dozen movies get this in the MCU. Star Wars fans deserve this same option.
My wish is to see new EU books, comics, graphic novels, etc. There are those who are working to this end and to them I say more power to you! It's a worthy fight. Don't stop. I will celebrate my favorite unofficial holiday with my Millennium Falcon lanyard, Han Solo earrings, Princess Leia pin, and my Star Wars pencils. However, it gives this bookworm a happy feeling to know that I can also curl up with a book where there's an "alternate universe" and a happily ever after for my favorite duo.
HAPPY STAR WARS DAY!!
