A moment to Discuss the book Twilight

OMG!!!! I loved this book. Yeh, it's about vampires, but they are the benevolent type...and it's a love story. It's just got these great characters, which isn't that why we get so smitten by characters like Kyp in the first place. You know, isn't that why there is fan fiction?

The characters in Twilight are Edward and Bella. It is told in a first person narritive by Bella (the human). she's a great character and you love her, but you love Edward too, even though, as a vampire, he has obvious flaws.

Maybe that's why I like Kyp. He has in his grasp the ability to do great evil, but he choses not to, no not by abstaining but by controlling himself. It is his strength of character and his ability to do good and help others that makes him a hero.

Wait who'sthat about: Kyp or Edward? See it doesn't matter. It's the archetypre of the flawed hero, the redeemed, the even the tragic hero. It's interesting reading. And hey, maybe we see something of our own flaws and forgivance in these characters.

I still love to ponder free will versus genetics and that there always is a choice.

this links to the twilight site: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com

Ben's Thoughts in Tempest

p. 268 …”during their practice sessions, not even Jacen could always tell when he was lying.”

p. 270 His thoughts on Jaina:
“Jaina was just as volatile and unreasonable as Jacen claimed. It was a wonder she lasted as long in the military as she had- but then the standards of the New republic forces had not been nearly as high as they were now that Jacen and Niathal had reorganized the military. These days, someone as hot headed as Jaina would never even make it into flight school-and he couldn’t imagine how she ever became a Jedi Knight. Jacen was always telling him that a good Jedi used his anger-not the other way around. “

I thought these two passages were interesting. In Bloodlines Ben also asks Jacen to teach him to hide his presence in the Force. He also has the ability to lay down a sonic blast that knocks people flat momentarily.

He is one powerful 13 year old.

Plot Summary of LOTF books 1-3

Ok, so now I have read 3 of the LOTF books. If I had to summarize the plot thus far and tell you the theme...could I? Typically this comes easily to me, but for some reason I can't. Maybe it's because when I get these books I read them in a race. Last night I read Tempest from 5 PM to 12:20 AM and was done. Perhaps I am simply going so fast I am not giving myself time to process the material. Maybe I need to calm down and try a new technique (yeah right, Exile is next and Kyp is in it so you know I'm gonna spas! At least this time I was perfectly calm about Kyp's non-involvement, honestly it would not have made sense in the story line. So here is my attempt at summary.

This is the external conflict and plot:

The story begins with Corellia's dissatisfaction with the GA. The tension rises and negotiation fails. There is an assassination of the Corellian leader and misunderstanding regarding who attacked. It ends with battle between Corellia and the GA and a GA blockade. By the second novel Corellia has officiallly declared independence. This is the beginning of the Civil War. The GAG is formed with Jacen Solo as its commander. Protest becomes terrorism and civil rights are weakened as laws become oppressive. After two months things have not improved, in fact more worlds are likely to defect and join Corellia. Corellia makes a calculated attempt to draw Hapes to their side. This requires the execution of Tenel Ka since she is GA loyal. The murder is foiled however her usupers rally a small fleet and a battle is fought over Hapes in which the GA wins and Jacen is seen as a hero.

Now for the Internal Conflict and Plot:

This is harder because it is dependent on whose point of view is being presented. Obviously we have a Force powerful thinker named Jacen who is willing to learn more about his destiny. He embraces the Sith teachings willingly asa way to bring peace to his galaxy. He is a narcissitic man who thinks he can use his great power to save everyone, however in his manipulations and the manipulations of the bitter Sith Lumiya war is perpetuated. Jacen knows how to work people and in a short amount of time is given a very special position as head of the GAG (read Gestapo). In this position he rises to power and popularity within the fear fed culture of Coruscant. After two months he is the hero, given his own SSD and he takes the initiative to go to Hapes to protect GA interests there (do you really think it matters to him about Tenel Ka? I don't). Despite his ever questionable behavior he is popular as ever and the push is on from the top to make him a Jedi Master.

Things Poised to Happen

Lumiya hints there are other Sith.

The whole Korriban thing

Jaina is free of Zekk and Kyp, yet both respect her and are friendly, the relationships are still in tact.

Potential Imperial Knights, potential alliances to fight Jacen, potential loved ones to die and change the character

Jacen has his own SSD. That took only three books, wow!

Battle meld ala Palpatine

Luke isn’t falling for Jacen’s charms

“Jedi vs. Sith” round whatever….

Jacen nearly looses an eye to Aurra Sing

Couldn’t help but think of Krayt’s fake eye

Ben wears Yuuzhan Vong inspired armor

Couldn’t help but think of Krayt’s armor and that worried me…what if Ben becomes Krayt? That’s one Sith turn that would make me mad and sad.

What to Make of the Exile Excerpt on Kyp

Allston took time to develop these pages and his thoughts, why? These novels are brief and concise compared to the NJO, there are few pages lost to random thoughts. So why let us know the following about Kyp:

-He’s contemplative as he thinks of the war and his first thoughts are on the homecoming relief of the soldiers. Allston touches on his empathic side, which is not usually explored. We are in Kyp’s thoughts and that rarely happens.

-He seems enormously peaceful and calm (until he drives a sports car like speeder of course)

-He still is enormously powerful in the Force and frivolously rocks the Jade Shadow with telekinesis.

-He is investigating Ben

-He is privy to the info that Omas and Niathal want Jacen made master, and he doesn’t seem to like that idea anymore. You get the feeling he’s been thinking about Jacen a lot more lately.

-He has a girlfriend!!!!!! And it is not Jaina!!! He realizes what he really thought about her 12 years before and Allston attempts to show Kyp as much more mature now.

Will Kyppie make the DP of Exile? I hope so!!!!

Side note: Allstons' physical description of Kyp was amusing. He was wearing the hood up on his Jedi cloak and when it blew off in the breeze of his open speeder his hair was very long and nearly smacked Luke in the face. It is also described as having grey in it. Is Kyp the new Qui gon? I mean that was what I got out of DN when I had no background on Kyp. Kyp the hippie free spirit.

I was a Teenage Sith Apprentice

Thoughts on Ben in light of Tempest and the new exile Excerpt.

OK, Ben is not dark (yet) but he is being taught the kind of sneaky skills associated with the Sith. He comments, what did other Master’s teach?

And Ben most definitely considers Jacen his Master, and he most definitely considers him the strongest Force user. At this point Jacen has the power over Ben because he has twisted Ben’s thoughts and point of view to believe in absolutes. He has developed in him a code of discipline that causes Ben to see his cousin Jaina as a lesser Jedi because she is “undisciplined” (ie. She thinks for herself). He is simply to young to get the big picture.

It wasn’t surprising when the boy tried to arrest Han. He was just doing his job. His duty is to follow orders. He is definitely not Jedi trained to follow his conscience (though he would likely believe he was following it while following orders).

So that leaves the kid in need of a master. Now Allston’s excerpt shows Kyp’s involvement with the Family. Kyp will investigate Ben’s light saber accident. What if it is decided Ben needs proper training and he works with Kyp? After all, Kyp was also a teenage Sith apprentice and I believe those two are the only two. So idealistically there is an understanding. But you know it is too late for Ben. He is loyal to Jacen and his thoughts are so firm it will take years to open his mind.

Jacen’s done a good job with his protégé.


Thoughts on Ben after reading Exile:

Ben has just turned 14 while on a set up mission to test his ethics and his strength. Ben travels to find an Amulet [sounds so hokey i had to read it twice] and he basically follows the hero's quest route. He is on Ziost, a former Sith planet that reaks of the darkside. He gets his Amulet and has to help a 6 year old girl, but in between his ship is destroyed and they are without food. His thoughts are brutal and dark (he'd leave the girl, later he thinks about eating her, and finally he downs a tie fighter with a boulder thrown by the Force). Lumiya ordered him killed by this tie-fighter because he saved the little girl and she thought he'd be too kind to be a Sith. so we see Ben thinking and weighing his choices. He constantly thinks how would my mom do this? (his enoamored by her "spy" stuff) and he thinks what would Jacen think of my thoughts and actions? And basically every time he comes to the conclusion that Jacen would think his actions were qacceptable given the circumstances. (justification)

In the end Ben flies a Sith Meditation sphere which had called to him in his thoughts and which you operate through a Force connection.

I thnk Ben will continue to fall to the dark through his absolute belief in Jacen and his ability to do what needs to be done. But I think he may not fall completely unless something presses him over the edge.

Review of Tempest

Hapan Trechery, secret trysts, betrayal, Vader moments, and cold realizations, it’s all here in Tempest. We have the core characters and some useful peripheral ones too. Denning allows multiple characters screen time and gives everyone but Mara Jade a backbone and personality. Yes, you read that right, Luke has spunk and he does not waver!!!!!! The Force is used in satisfying ways and the author let’s you into the characters’ thoughts.

I have to say once again I wasn’t disappointed. Denning was able to convey enough setting to me that I pictured the whole thing and he kept building the kinetic energy all the way to the end just as in SBS. He danced us through multiple characters too, which was a favorite part of the NJO. As many characters as NJO? NO! But still, it wasn’t the “BIG 4” show.

Jaina had some real screen time and I liked it. Zekk had a personality and got to live (to fight another day). And my favorite screaming with excitement moment: JAG FEL !!!!!!! He’s back and he’s bitter!!!! YES! He should be bitter, he was practically left for dead and marooned on Tenupe for 2 years. Then he gets exiled from the Chiss Ascendency and let’s face it, the military was everything to him. Oh the joy, please Jag, please become the first Emperor! It would be too cool. At least we know he is free and doing his own thing. I just hope he has a hidden agenda and is already secretly working for the Empire. Palleon left the GA and we haven’t heard from him, so we can hope they are concocting their plan. (Well we know the Empire arises in a few years).

Let’s just get the bad out of the way:
Allana would not have a speech impediment befitting a preschooler in need of special services! She’s a Force user and probably has the potential to be a really powerful one! For Kriffin’ sake Denning, what were you thinking. She’s going to seem precocious and she should! I don’t want my future Sith Queen to be an idiot!!!!!

I guess humans don’t really get their relationship poodoo together until they are in their 40’s. The only flirting and innuendo going on was Han/Leia and Luke/Mara. Tenel Ka and Jacen didn’t even have clearly hidden passion, droids feel more. Jaina at least has fantasies of Jag, but she thinks maybe she doesn’t want to be with anyone! OK, I’d like a little more romance in these novels, after all, if they are like a soap (and let’s face it they are) they need some sordid affairs.

So Denning has set up some things to carry on, namely is Lumiya dead? I hope so, it’s time for Jacen to step up to Sith Lord, and she was getting very annoying. She told Alema he was ready. “Jacen has the knowledge to complete his journey.” She also stated to Alema. “Sly, ruthless, and deadly, I couldn’t be more proud.” Hopefully Luke did blast her to death!!! Their fight by the way was exciting and not easy for either of them, and though Luke was in uber mode (which I think strains the edges of darkness) he never used the dark side or appeared tempted to.
What else is left hanging? Ben’s future. Luke forces him back with him to Coruscant, but what will happen next? Ben is not happy about this and he doesn’t respect his parents. It’s highly unlikely he’ll be coming around to the light any time soon.

Kyp at 16

Remember "James at 15"? I never got it maybe cause I was like 7 at the time. Kyp arrived in Coruscant aboard the Suncrusher; as he dismounted the space ship he exclaimed "now that's a city!" He was at times described as a boy, teen, young man, and by Han: a kid. He had lived in Kessel so long he had nearly abandoned hope until Han and Chewbacca, and then he had hope, it quickly returned, lots of it and he wasn't going to give it away. After facing death and helplessness at the Maw he discovered something new, he could abandon fear also. Abandon it completely? No, but he seems able to put it off for needed times (such as escaping the Maw and flying past black holes). He also shows limited fear when he meets Exar Kun. (okay so some of it is pure teenage intrepidness).

How is Kyp with Han? He instantly seems to trust him and follow his lead. He is described: "had clung to Han..." They seem to think of each other as friends, but with a 25 year span I'm sure Han had some paternal feelings for him. I'm sure Han must have invited him to stay at his home for the month Kyp is described as being on Coruscant. Heck even Wedge says the kid deserves some vacation after all he'd been through (not that Wedge would be wanting to champioin him for long!).

So Kyp tries to be fearless, yet is nervous Luke won't accept him. It's obvious being a Jedi became very important to him once he realized what he could do with his powers. He is very curious and likes learning (which we all know get's him into trouble).

So what would Kyp's brief time on Coruscant been like? Hmmmm do I hear fanfiction?

Why I still love Kyp

It was fun reading Keyes' book. Kyp had a significant role and his words made a lot of sense to me. This was a pivotal point when he could have torn the order in half, but deep down he is so loyal to Luke, he just won’t do it.

Luke sighed. "I was young, then," he pointed out. "There was much I did not understand. Aggression is the way of the dark side."

This is “Yoda speak” (I absolutely hate the little green toad). Yoda likely could have beaten the likes of Palpatine, but “aggression is of the dark side”. Poor Luke. He never had any decent teachers. Even Owen and Beru were passive and more worried about the binary function of moisture evaporators than nurturing their nephew’s curiosity and critical thinking. I’d like to believe that Kyp learned to think from his mom and dad.

Kyp is an eloquent speaker and very persuasive. Why does anyone follow Luke? His arguments make less sense.

"No!" Jaina whispered to Anakin. "If Kyp leaves, he'll take too many with him.""So?" Anakin said. "Are you so sure he's wrong?""Of course I—" She stopped, paused, started again. " It won't help any of us if the Jedi split. We have to try to help Uncle Luke. Come on."

I love this line because it clearly shows where their instinctual loyalties lie. They just had tough time turning their backs on their uncle.

"It's too bad I didn't take care of Kyp years ago," Mara said.

Why does Luke worry so much about the dark side, but allows Mara to make dark side comments ALL THE TIME!

I recommended Dark Apprentice to a student today. I said, “ the coolest JedI is in this book.” the student said, “Luke? Darth Vader?”

I said “no, Kyp.”

This poor kids gonna go home, read, and think, “how is Kyp cool?” He just mind raped a woman, attacked Luke, and declared himself a Sith and ends the book with his sun crusher attack! Well if the student gets through the book maybe I should encourage COF to get to the Kyp redemption. I think it’s easier to love Kyp when you are an adult rather than 11. It will be interesting to hear the student’s take on this is he actually completes the book.

Occasional Random Thoughts

It's all about genetics, right? Where did Kyp's power come from, mom or dad. We speculate in fanfiction, but we know in the NJO era the power is often inherited. The more Midi-chlorians you have (with training) the stronger you are, the faster you are, the clearer you can see the future, the less concentration you require to move massive objects (dark siders do it with even greater ease because they make objects move instead of just willing them to move) etc.

Yeh, but midichlorians make me think of IQ. You can have the potential, but you also have to have the nurturing of the gift and the training to learn to use it fully. If midi’s are like IQ, why would Jacen have less than Luke? I mean really, if midi’s were like any genetic gift why would it dilute. You can inherit intelligence, musical, athletic etc…you are less or greater than your parents. Why would Force gifts be any different?

Someone mentioned willingness to use skills….Jacen has that over the other JedI because IMO he is a Sith. Maybe he isn’t quite the master yet, but he is a Sith. Sorry it’s my opinion.
Yoda could have beaten Palpatine. He refused to use the dark side. Thus he sent the galaxy into 20 years of darkness and oppression.

LOL My IQ of more than 120 is meaningless. I am only a teacher. I do not use my full potential nor work in a brain intelligent demanding job. I have never tapped the potential. Isn't that also true of Jedi?

What the Kriff is Star Wars About Anyways????

What is the spirit of the movies? I’ve been thinking and I think it is that they are goofy and for kids. GL says he makes them for kids, they just aren’t serious. You never get the feeling that anyones really gonna get hurt and even if they are in danger you know it’ll all work out in the end. I think the two best movies were also in ways the most adult ESB and ROTS. Especially the end of Sith with the tragedy of Anakin, very adult, not happy at all. Bantam era books were more like the movies. You had ridiculous tyrants and Luke would fight these dumb acting enemies. There were always power hungry Imps and kidnappings. But the bad guys were distinct and not like you and me.

That’s why NJO started to be more mature. The plot was more mature even though the bad guys weren’t like you and me, but the bad guys definitely were not the bumbling dark Jedi type either.

Now with LOTF you have no bumblers. The enemy looks like you and no one is easily right or wrong.

Love Immortal

Jedi

Jaina

Solo

and

Jedi

Zekk

Do they belong together?

Kinder...gentler

Kyp Durron,
active Jedi Master





Did you ever stop to think why was Kyp made a master so young?

On another site someone brought up that it may have been done for political reasons to prove to society that Luke trusted him and society should accept him.

this is of course what Kyp is saying about Jacen.

Of course, I think Jacen has the knowledge to be a master also.

Let's talk narcissism

From Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, 1994, commonly referred to as DSM-IV, of the American Psychiatric Association.

An enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectation of the individual's culture, is pervasive and inflexible, has an onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time, and leads to distress or impairment.

A personality disorder is a pattern of deviant or abnormal behavior that the person doesn't change even though it causes emotional upsets and trouble with other people at work and in personal relationships. It is not limited to episodes of mental illness, and it is not caused by drug or alcohol use, head injury, or illness.

While grandiosity is the diagnostic hallmark of pathological narcissism, there is research evidence that pathological narcissism occurs in two forms, (a) a grandiose state of mind in young adults that can be corrected by life experiences, and (b) the stable disorder described in DSM-IV, which is defined less by grandiosity than by severely disturbed interpersonal relations. The preferred theory seems to be that narcissism is caused by very early affective deprivation, yet the clinical material tends to describe narcissists as unwilling rather than unable, thus treating narcissistic behaviors as volitional -- that is, narcissism is termed a personality disorder, but it tends to be discussed as a character disorder.

Narcissists are very reluctant to open up and trust, so it's possible that their NPD is not even recognized by therapists in short-term treatment. Most clinical writers seem unaware that narcissists' self-reports are unreliable. This is troubling, considering that lying is the most common complaint about narcissists and that, in many instances, defects of empathy lead narcissists to wildly inaccurate misinterpretations of other people's speech and actions, so that they may believe that they are liked and respected despite a history of callous and exploitative personal interactions.

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy. Grandiosity is a special case, but lack of empathy and exploitative interpersonal relations are not unique to NPD, nor is the need to be seen as special or unique. The need for constant attention is also found in Histrionic Personality Disorder, but HPD and BPD are both strongly oriented towards relationships, whereas NPD is characterized by aloofness and avoidance of intimacy. Grandiosity is unique to NPD among personality disorders, but it is found in other psychiatric illnesses.

Psychopaths display pathological narcissism, including grandiosity, but psychopathy is differentiated from NPD by psychopaths' willingness to use physical violence to get what they want, whereas narcissists rarely commit crimes.

So this is a tough call for Jacen, he commits crimes, but is legally sanctioned by the government and society (at the moment at least).
The disorder begins by early adulthood and is indicated by at least five of the following:

1. An exaggerated sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

...in public, saving their conceit and autocratic opinions for their nearest and dearest. Common conspicuous grandiose behaviors include expecting special treatment or admiration on the basis of claiming to be extraordinarily intelligent or talented. For Jacen this would be leading Rogue Squadron and ordering Jaina to do something ethically questionable.

2. Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

Well this one is easy...unlimited power. Making peace in the galaxy.

3. Believes he is "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

Translation: Narcissists think that everyone who is not special and superior is worthless. By definition, normal, ordinary, and average aren't special and superior, and so, to narcissists, they are worthless. For Jacen: this is the analogy of the Gardener

4. Requires excessive admiration He's a media darling and handsome to boot!

5. Has a sense of entitlement
Translation: I am the Chosen One

6. Selfishly takes advantage of others to achieve his own ends Where to begin...Tenel Ka and the Hapan Fleet, way back to Ganner's sacrifice? Lately he uses the World Brain and the Ferals...I'm sure I could think of more.

7. Lacks empathy He used to be empathic with animals which empowered his Vongsense, but he doesn't genuinely feel. I think Jacen has to act out feelings and emotions, but I don't think they come to him naturally.

8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him We haven't seen this blatently yet, but it has potential.

9. Shows arrogant, haughty, patronizing, or contemptuous behaviors or attitudes " I'm a Jedi, my ideas are right, that's all you need to know."

Props to the real people

I use a lot of real people on these pages for my images. I just wanted to take a moment to give them credit and thanks for the inspiration:


Zekk: Travis Fimmel
Jaina: Kate Beckinsdale
Kyp: Billy Crudup
Jag: Olivier Martinez

Tenel Ka: Lynn Collins
Allana: Anna Popplewell
Jacen : Tom Welling
Ben: Patrick Fugit

Mara: Kristin Scott Thomas
Luke: Mark Hamill
Han: Harrson Ford
Leia: Carrie Fisher

I love Ben Skywalker

I think this has a lot to do with me being a Middle School teacher and Ben being the age of an 8th grader. Ben is really a great character. The authors have gone through great lengths to make him a believable 13 year old. He's confused, at once a man, and then a boy. He sees the world in absoultes, but he questions what is happening around him. He loves those he knows like Jacen his mentor/cousin/father and his own parents. He wants approval of the Galactic alliance Guard, he wants to prove himself. and when things go wrong he needs the affirmation of those around him to tell him he's okay. Yet he is independent and strong. He is 13, practicing adulthood, and doing the best he can.


Let me just say I adore Ben S. Never before has SW undertaken such a bold step to take a child and press him into adulthood. I don’t think they ever had anyone as young as 13 kill. I think that is likely why KJA changed Kyp’s age between the two books from 16 to 18 because he didn’t want flak about a mass murdering child. Poor Ben, he killed two Corellians during a raid who likely didn’t need to be killed. I think the scene was written from his point of view so you have to read into it that the Corellians could have been subdued but not killed and that Ben panicked a bit and it may be said he was in over his head with the amount of responsibility Jacen put on him.

Ben will believe e is tainted and thus be more susceptible to Jacen’s Sith influence because he will feel soiled and unable to be a perfect Jedi like his dad would want. He already feel s alienated from his father and he hates the idea of the Skywalker legacy. He will want his own path and he will think he will find it with Jacen.

Luke has very limited control over Ben, very! He has no idea how to intervene. I get a bad feeling we are at a cross roads in time and if Luke had gotten Ben to the academy at this point in Bloodlines time it would have been okay, but now Ben had killed and he has crossed over in his mind. He is still at an age of absolutes.

For the Love of Kyp !!!

So Kyp gives Luke a bit of parenting advice. Luke’s in deep with the screw up’s with Ben. The kid’s just started his teen years and he’s apprenticed to a Sith Adept and has been raised by this Sith since he was nine. I think this is the pivotal point where Luke could still exercise some control over Ben, but past this, I think we’ll see trouble.

People who hate Kyp are likely going to say him recommending Jacen as Master was really dumb and proves he is a fool blinded to Jacen’s evil. I don’t think Kyp is acting the fool. I think Kyp recognizes there is a multi layered situation going on. One, Jacen is popular with the public and any action towards him by the Jedi Order will be scrutinized. Two, he is definitely beyond the Order…”we all know what he can do.” Three, it’s best not to alienate those who might oppose you. [point the old order never got with Anakin Skywalker].

Kyp remembers Luke’s gesture of placing him on the advisory Council and how that reconciled the two men. And I think maybe, but I am not sure, we see some Jedi compassion on Kyp’s part. He knows the benefit of Skywalker welcoming him home after his dark side. He wants to extend that to Jacen preemptively.

Later we see two other references to Jacen as Master. One from the media and the other as Jacen is thinking. So perhaps it will happen in the next book. All Sithliness aside, Jacen is a master of the Force and is older than Kyp was when he was made a master.

So maybe Jacen is not a sociopath...

...he's just a narcissist. I did a marathon reading of bloodlines last night and I am too tired to post my reactions yet. Suffice it to say Karen Traviss did NOT ignore the Jedi, but she writes an entirely human story. It didn't feel like Star Wars at all and I don't know why yet, let me ponder that. I mean after all, what the kriff does SW "feel" like?

My instant reaction was to like the book. I think I like the idea of war not being a black and white issue (wrong/right whose side you on). I liked seeing Ben's thoughts, I'm intrigued by crazy Jacen. I feel real pity for Luke and Han. Han should retire, and he can't and it is ridiculous and embarracssing. Luke is dithering, but htis time it makes sense. Mara is still failing to win me any simpathy and Jaina's part is too small.

I will write a complete review later when more awake! Oh and Jacen does mind wipe during a torture session; so the picture I made is accurate.

Levels of Insanity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociopath

This should help others who fully believe Jacen Solo is normal to find the true light.

Jacen Solo is not normal and this is one link to help define that insanity. He is cold and he has choosen the dark side rather than fallen to it. From another site:

List of Common Psychopathic Traits
Glib and superficial charm; Grandiose sense of self-worth; Need for stimulation; Pathological lying; Conning and manipulativeness; Lack of remorse or guilt; Shallow affect; Callousness and lack of empathy; Parasitic lifestyle; Poor behavioral controls; Promiscuous sexual behavior; Early behavior problems; Lack of realistic, long-term goals; Impulsivity; Irresponsibility; Failure to accept responsibility for own actions; Many short-term marital relationships; Juvenile delinquency; Revocation of conditional release; Criminal versatility

Obviously some of this fits and other pats do not!


Anakin Skywalker "fell" to the darkside due to weaknesses he had from his enslaved childhood onward. In the end we see a delusional and psychotic Anakin who becomes fueled by hate as Vader, but he is neaver fully evil. The good remains, why? He has feelings...he is not a psychopath like his grandson.


And while we are on darkside "falls" let's talk Kyp. More similar to Anakin than anyone else. Kyp falls due to PTSD being left untreated. He needed some serious intervention following Kessel and instead he goes to Yavin and gets put in a room where a Sith Lord's ghost easily seduces him. He acts in passion and emotion, he is delusional, thinking he can use evil to create good, but never is he psychotic. He is always fully aware of what he is doing. He never looses sight of love (he is at Carida trying to locate his brother..he is moved by Han's words). His story is tragedy, but you can see he is really a good person. More so than anakin.

The Skywalker's have messed up genes and I am hoping the new series answers why!!!!!

Real world quotes apply

We had to destroy the village in order to save it.... that came from another blog spot, but it made me think of how crazy people think sometimes. It is as real in life as in fiction. Bush certainly seems to agree with hits sentiment in regards to Iraq.

And here in this SW page it is the folly of Jacen's thought.

Of course Jacen is a sociopath...is bush?

So Jacen the fiction boy has an excuse for wanting to destroy the village. but how many times in human history has a leader done the unspeakable? And here is another quote:

I am death the destroyer of worlds...from the Bhgivad Vita(sorry 'bout spelling) Oppenheimer supposedly quoted that about the atomic bomb! Hello!

So that's wher ethe Kyp Durron Destroyer of worlds thing came from. there is nothing original in Stat Wars, but it is intersting to find the real source.