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[peopleareicebergs]

Visual depictions of women in the Thrawn Trilogy comics; or, how much I hate the effing catsuit

As you may have noticed, I bought digital copies of the Thrawn Trilogy comics, and reread the series (though honestly? I skimmed a lot. Most of Dark Force Rising). 

I HAVE NO REGRETS. 

The thing about the series that interested me the most was the art. There are three artistic teams across the series, each with a slightly different style. Here’s the gang:

  I can’t say enough good things about the background work the first artistic team does. Gorgeous planets, interesting interior design, fun page layouts. BUT. I have some of issues when it comes to the way the artist who drew the issue draw people. ESPECIALLY with their depictions of women. Get ready for my feminist killjoy rant on how comics are terrible. 

Let’s start with Leia. 

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[peopleareicebergs]

1. Mara loved Palpatine. When you’re a child, you love your parent/parental figure rather unconditionally, because you don’t know any other way. You trust that they have your best interests at heart, because you have nothing else to compare their parenting to. As she got older, she could perhaps have better recognized that Palpatine’s guardianship was not like other parents’ guardianship, but she would also have recognized that he made her feel valued and special, and had given her invaluable skills that set her apart from almost everyone in the galaxy. Why *wouldn’t* she love him?

3. As I see it, “How was she able to finally break through” is a question that was never satisfactorily answered in anything that was ever considered canon. She was at Point A, and later she was at Point B, but the necessary work to get from A to B was never explicitly undertaken.

Mara Jade: Meta Mondays

To facilitate some more discussion about our favorite Force-sensitive former assassin, I wanted to introduce a new feature to the Mara Jade Network: Meta Mondays! I’ll post a few discussion questions each Monday on a Mara-related topic to try and generate some meta and head canon discussion. Please feel free to jump right in!

Today’s topic: Mara Jade and Emperor Palpatine

1. Did Mara truly love Emperor Palpatine or was it a product of brain washing?

2. What do you think Mara’s training was like? What subjects did it involve?

3. How did her relationship with Palpatine and the subsequent realization for her of what it really was, affect not only how she related to other people post-The Last Command but how she loved or was capable of loving other people? How was she able to finally break through to being able to care about or love other people again?

[peopleareicebergs]

After how popular the first iteration of this flowchart got (thank you all so much for that, by the way, it’s really awesome that it helped so many people out), I was inspired to create a second volume, with even more species and resources than the first. Well, after a month or so of work, it’s finally here! Just in time for the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope, here’s “What Species To Choose For Your Star Wars OC: Volume 2″!

For this new version, I upped the ante with everything. I went from including 75 species to a whopping 150 (which is still only scratching the surface of the full list, I’m afraid), and I tried my best to include more species from “The Clone Wars”, “The Force Awakens”, and “Rogue One” as well. Not only that, but down below I’ve included more resources as well: in addition to each species’ Wookieepedia articles, I’ve provided (where available) videos of the species in action, informational videos, and name generators, all to give you as much info as possible for your OC. Furthermore, among some other minor formatting tweaks, I’ve also added the option to choose answers via dice rolls (thanks to  @empress-only-in-name for that idea), for anyone who would prefer a more random choice in species. Finally, I think it’s also worth mentioning that the wonderful @pomrania re-created the flowchart in a text-based format here, if you’d like to check that out.

Let me know what you all think of the new version! I tried my best to take into account everyone’s requests and suggestions, so hopefully it all worked out to your liking! Do let me know if there’s anything I can add or change, though; it will be a while before I make a Volume 3, if ever, but I’d be happy to tweak this version if it helps. Also, if you end up using this to make a character, please consider either tagging me or using #StarWarsOCFlowchart so I can see it; I don’t care about getting credit or anything, I just want to see what you guys come up with!

But yeah, I think that’s all I have to mention! I hope this helps some people out!

Links to resources are below the cut:

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[peopleareicebergs]

So I keep thinking here about what happened at the *beginning* of the war. Maybe there's more to this in the novelization, but in the movie at least, iirc, Yoda goes to Kamino to see the clone army. It's supposedly an army ordered by the Jedi, and he's head of the Jedi, so this makes some sense. But then he chooses to take that army with him and command them to essentially start a war.

I see his thought process in that moment, on Kamino, to be something like this: "jfc, I have been so goddamn blinded by the dark side that the fucking sith put together armies and the beginnings of a galactic war under my watch. I have tried and tried and tried to do my best to keep this galaxy peaceful, standing up against all the terrible things arrayed against peace and justice, trusting in the Force no matter how much tragedy I witness -- and it all comes to this. Today is no longer a day for leading from the sidelines, for letting the dark side play the galaxy like a game. Today is a day to fucking TAKE AN ARMY AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."

That's a bit exaggerated, perhaps, but I still feel like it is frankly incredible that Yoda - Yoda of all beings! - makes the choice to take command of an army and order them to take up arms against the droids. Is it despair that makes him choose this? Is it anger? Is it the influence of the dark side?

Is Yoda just protecting those he's attached to at any cost? You could argue he means to use the clones purely for defense. He may not fully know there's a literal army of droids ready to start a war. But in that case, here's an 800 year old who has spent his life learning how to let go when it's time to let go - and now he lands in the arena on Geonosis and tells the universe (the Force?) that he does not want to fucking let go this time. Maybe he feels that letting go this time isn't in keeping with the light side of the Force. Maybe he feels that the dark side has clouded everything, and the only way left to fight it right now is to FIGHT IT.

As long as anyone could remember, Yoda had spent most of his time in the Jedi Temple with the very young. Playing with them at ages two and three—hide-and-seek, dodge-bolt, Force tag. The early rambling lessons in the garden where he taught them the secret lives of vegetables, the irresistible burst of shoots, and flowers playing dress-up; clustering them around to watch an orb-spider weave its web, or a bee bumble its way into a mass of blossoms.

When the first combat training started, with falls and rolls and footwork games, Yoda led them. For one thing, he was just their size. 

-Dark Rendezvous

[peopleareicebergs]

I personally think some kind of despair was part of Yoda's decision. In 800 years, he must have realized that children tend to pick up a lot of their ways of thinking from their parents. (Luke and Leia bear this out; the reason Luke can see the good in Vader and Leia can’t has a TON to do with the kinds of people their adoptive parents were.) And since Yoda’s leadership just ended in the destruction of the Jedi, he's not too keen on the idea of one of the twins picking up anything significant from him.

(On the topic of despair, is it possible Yoda felt that watching one of Anakin’s kids grow up would constantly remind him of what happened, and isn’t 100% confident in his ability - especially as he approaches the end of his life - to curb his own despair?)

As long as anyone could remember, Yoda had spent most of his time in the Jedi Temple with the very young. Playing with them at ages two and three—hide-and-seek, dodge-bolt, Force tag. The early rambling lessons in the garden where he taught them the secret lives of vegetables, the irresistible burst of shoots, and flowers playing dress-up; clustering them around to watch an orb-spider weave its web, or a bee bumble its way into a mass of blossoms.

When the first combat training started, with falls and rolls and footwork games, Yoda led them. For one thing, he was just their size. 

-Dark Rendezvous

[peopleareicebergs]

Baze/Chirrut in the Context of Chinese Culture

aka “Look for the Force, and you will find me” and the Giant Middle Finger towards the Chinese Inequalities

So a couple of weeks back, I saw this video of an interview of Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen, in which someone asked them about Baze and Chirrut’s relationship. They said a lot of things, mostly teasing, but the video ended with Donnie smiling and saying, “They’re very good brothers.”

My immediate, visceral reaction is bull-fucking-shit. And a sense of absolute glee because I know he knows that he’s talking bullshit.

I’ve been thinking for the last couple of weeks about why it’s bullshit. This post is the result. It’s pretty long, so: tl;dr Chinese culture is about extremely structured and strict societal relationships, and Baze and Chirrut’s smashes that all into pieces to show how people can be equal and not fit into boxes.

Disclaimer: I grew up in a staunchly Chinese family in a Chinese-majority country and grew up consuming media from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. But I did not grow up in any of those places. My country of origin is pretty damned Westernised. If I get anything wrong, please tell me.

I have brought my tl;dr to a new fandom and I still keep it under a cut.

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[peopleareicebergs]

[peopleareicebergs]

Today I posted the final chapter of my first ever fanfic. I'm probably more than a decade older than the average person who can say that, but better late than never, I guess. Over the last three months, I've discovered how much I enjoy writing, how challenging and how rewarding it can be. I started my fic as an outlet for some of my Mara Jade feelings - and wouldn't you know it, I ended with more feelings than I had when I began. I guess there's no choice but to keep writing!

[peopleareicebergs]

STAR WARS LORE LINKS

Reference Sites

Wookieepedia (THE FUCKING BIBLE)

Star Wars Galaxy Map (THE FUCKING ATLAS)

Aurebesh translator

The Complete Wermo’s Guide (Language site including but not limited to Huttese, Ewok and almost fifty other known languages in the ‘Verse)

Mando’a dictionary

Communities

The Force Dot Net

Star Wars Subreddit (for the occasional neat discussions) 

Club Jade (where mostly ladies who love the EU come to roost)

Star Wars tumblrs I frequent

The Zen’othian Archives (massive amounts of Legends lore)

Star Wars Style (fashion blog)

Attack of the Clothes (fashion blog)

Star Wars Villains

FYSW

Just a few of the references I use - will update as needed. Throw me suggestions if you have any!

[peopleareicebergs]

This is a website with vector art of a bunch of different lightsabers. You can sort them by blade colour and type, hilt shape and more, you can click on them to see more information on the weapon and its owner, and you can even download the art. Very useful for anyone looking for a reference!

[peopleareicebergs]

Hello! What do we know about poison in the Star Wars universe, other than that it exists? Any info on specific types? Wookieepedia is sparse on this.

There are several known types, but some only work on specific species. There are also some substances that are not poisons but can be used as such (some coolants and fuels are toxic to near-humans, many common foodstuffs are toxic to one species or another). I’ve picked some more common substances that could be/are used as poisons and organized them by type.

Venoms: Worrt venom, krayt dragon venom (used as a poison in powder form), chuba poison (causes strokes), Kodashi viper venom (found only on Dathomir; there are no known instances of it being harvested from the snakes), rock wart sting juice (used in powdered form), Quesh venom, Dozoisian Snark Venom (lethal to humans, used by mixing with liquids).

Biotoxins: Irksh poison (used by the Yuuzhan Vong), Sith poison (not lethal, but used to make the victim unable to resist the dark side of the Force), mycotoxin (made from cerulean slime mold).

Actual real poisons: Synox (colourless, odourless and tasteless), the unknown poison used in the assassination of Onaconda Farr, dioxis (the gas Nute Gunray used in TPM to try to kill Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon), KillTab (a method of execution), teccitin (used by the Empire before 0 BBY), toxical (extremely deadly and fast-acting), malkite themfar (a neurotoxin used by bounty hunters), suicide pills.

Things that aren’t really poisons: Cyanoxis D-587 (intended to kill conduit worms), Cyclone (intended as a stimulant, used during the Cold War), insecticides (intended for pests, deadly to insectoid species), silicartha (used on Tatooine to kill small pests), hydrogen cyanide (a gas that happens to be fatal to humanoids), coolants.

Keep in mind that some of these are only (as far as we know) used in specific eras or by specific people/groups. Feel free to ask for more information about a specific substance or type of substance, especially if you need a poison to act against a non-humanoid being.

I hope one of these works!

~ Jacen

[peopleareicebergs]

Eleven-ThirtyEight: A Political and Cartographic Look at the Post-Galactic Concordance Galaxy

[peopleareicebergs]

happy mother’s day to all the fictional mothers who were sacrificed to generate a tragic backstory

[peopleareicebergs]

Mara Jade Fanfic Recs

Two recommendations for Mara Jade Fanfic Week!

Title of work: slipping into the ground or into your arms Author: BananasAreForParties Link to fic: http://archiveofourown.org/works/6450529/chapters/14762935 Brief summary: More than colleagues. Less than friends. Better than acquaintances. They remain in balance. The Command, the dark whisper, slumbers and Mara has no desire to poke a sleeping rancor. To dance with Skywalker. . .could it ever be worth the risk? Mara and Luke succumb to the gradual formation of their Force bond through an activity far more pleasing than fighting for their lives. Why I recommend this: This is one of my all-time favorite fics. It captures Mara beautifully, powerfully, and poignantly, and is such an enjoyable ride from start to finish!

Title of work: Kinesthetic Force Author: peopleareicebergs Link to fic: http://archiveofourown.org/works/10186436/chapters/22623830 Brief summary: A few weeks after TLC, Mara Jade takes on a new challenge, begins to probe the extent of her Force prowess, and grapples with the question of what she wants from a certain farmboy. Why I recommend this: This is the first fanfic I’ve ever written. It’s given me some of the most fun I’ve had in my life. It’s a WIP, but approaching completion and updated weekly. (Also I’m super nervous to share it like this and hope you enjoy it!)

[peopleareicebergs]

Luke and Mara-☯️

Likes and Dislikes

Luke Skywalker loves water. He’s fascinated by it, takes overly long showers until someone dares to remind the hero of the Rebellion that they are on water rations. He loves sweet cakes with dense crumb and frosted with blue whipped toppings made from the bantha cream–the slight sour tang offsets the richness of the cake. He likes strenuous workouts and sparring sessions, and finds the adrenaline invigorating. And he loves flying, and flying fast.

And Luke dislikes long political meetings, dressing up for formal functions, and the crushing loneliness of being the only Jedi Master left in the galaxy.

Mara Jade dislikes…many things. Most things. But she dislikes carelessness and disloyalty and a lack of a personal moral compass most of all. She detests those who prey upon the young and helpless. But she also hates watered-down caf, blood-sucking insects, and planets with more than one sun–it’s havoc on her fair skin.

And she likes…ration bars. They’re not exactly appetizing, but they are practical and travel extremely well, just like her. She also has a fondness for symphonies and arias from her visits to the Imperial Opera as a child. She loves salty foods and clear, fresh broths with noodles and herbs. She likes throwing knives for target practice and prefers this over using her blaster to hone her aim. She loves high-thread count sheets, though shimmersilk sheets she finds distasteful and tacky, and she hates how it catches on her skin when her hands and feet are too dry.

And Mara also likes Luke Skywalker. It took her a while to admit it, because she did like him far earlier on than she’d ever care to admit, but his earnestness, his goodness, when he has a slight scruff on his face, and his mild insanity, especially in the midst of battle, with which she can so deeply relate, won her over. It’s a rare thing to find someone you like. Rarer still to find someone who understands you and still accepts you for who you are and in fact, admires you all the more for it.

Send me a symbol and a character/pairing and I’ll write a head canon

[peopleareicebergs]

“mark hamill doesn’t even know about mara jade”

[peopleareicebergs]

I’ve heard from a lot of people that, when making a Star Wars OC, they get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of species and they have trouble choosing just one. So, at 3am about a week ago, I had the idea to put together a flowchart to help make that decision easier! I picked out 75 different species, both the well-known and the more obscure from both canon and legends, and grouped them by everything from the shape of their horns to the number of arms they have. I tried my best to have it be coherent and make sense, so hopefully there’s some use for it!

Links to info and (for some) videos showing off the species are below the cut. Some species have less than others to go off of, so I apologize in advance if I can’t find much. Hope this helps, though! :D

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