#phan-tu zenn

[lowcountry-gothic]

Cataclysm, by Jake Bartok.

[dancingdorito]

there being literally 3 works in xiri and phan-tu on ao3 and 9 for gella and axel is my villain origin story

[darth-memes]

[wantonwinnie]

Something I touched on in my review of Convergence and have been thinking about since finishing the novel is how it depicts the pursuit of peace. (Spoilers ahead).

Eiram and E'ronoh are defined largely by their war footing with each other, and any lapse in that war is pretty insignificant. A ceasefire is never more than a few days. People enjoy the slight reprieves, but food remains rationed. E'ronoh is overcome with smog. Its leadership is constantly looking for a fight (save princess Xiri). Meanwhile, Eiram has many homeless and starving while its leadership is corrupted (dealing with the Path of the Open Hand, building bio-weapons, etc.). War and violence is always the default.

These temporary ceasefires are a sort of “passive” or negative peace so to speak, i.e., the mere absence of conflict. That is all well and good for preventing deaths, and it is the first step toward something more lasting perhaps. But is nowhere near sufficient. The novel starts with a ceasefire that is easily broken, as were all the others, due to the extreme lack of trust between the two planets.

Avoiding war alone does not build any trust or any “active peace,” i.e., a lasting and meaningful one. The majority of the novel involves (most) characters going step by step toward a more active peace via building trust between the sides as well as with the Jedi mediators. But the events show us that the process is long, grueling, and nonlinear. The negotiations routinely get derailed by old wounds, third party instigators, and (multiple) betrayals. And near the end, it is almost broken before it even starts. Xiri, Phan-tu, and the Jedi must immediately - and constantly - defend any gains they make toward lasting trust and respect.

I think the novel sends multiple messages regarding an active peace. First, most obviously, is that it is a worthwhile pursuit. The main fact that convinces each side’s to pursue negotiations to the end is their peoples’ suffering. That suffering is front and center in both Xiri and Phan-tu’s findings during the adventures they have on each planet. The people’s material well-being should be prioritized over outdated grievances.

Second, while being worthy, an active peace is hard work and requires constant attention. The negotiations take many days; things are constantly trying to derail them; and by the end they still have to make a treaty outlining the planets’ future relationship. Any complacency diverts to the default or at least risks collapse given enough time.

This is in line with the rest of Star Wars. The Republic, becoming complacent with the negative peace, is laden with distrust and corruption by the time of the Prequels. Politicians have largely given up maintaining an active peace in favor of their own self-interest, allowing the king of self-interest himself to take over. Moreover, the “peace” brought on by the Empire is the pinnacle of negative peace at best via the absence of conflict through ending all real or potential opposition. At worst, and oftentimes, the Empire creates violence anyway, especially in the poorer Outer Rim.

Third, an active peace requires mutual trust through an appreciation of each other’s cultures and characteristics. It is not literally to say that arranged marriages always end a war, but Phan-tu and Xiri’s love represents the way to get to the active peace. Over the course of the novel, they realize each other’s strengths and weaknesses, their quirks and wounds, and their beliefs. They gain appreciation not merely by learning about these, but by understanding them through shared experiences. Each planet realizes the same things and end up believing they are stronger together as a result.

Fourth, an active peace also requires a third party who believes in the goal and has the capacity to protect it - the Jedi. They aren’t just diplomats but beings who pursue an understanding of others and respect for life and cultures. The Republic may be a third party, but they might not be neutral. Even at this point, while the Republic is not nearly as corrupt, Chancellor Mollo seems more concerned with expanding the Republic’s influence through a stable peace than the peace itself. This isn’t necessarily bad, but given the Republic has material interests of its own too, the warring planets need the Jedi to work through the negotiations. The Jedi’s convictions and absence of material stakes are helpful to attaining the active peace, albeit through an imperfect process. And Chancellor Greylark, ever the politician, is more concerned about public image than the public good for its own sake.

This book kicks so much ass. It gets better the more I think about it.

[clumsystarwars]

Star Wars: The High Republic: Cataclysm review

The characters of Phase II continue to bring me joy. This phase has been so fun, and I love reading about my faves Gella, Aida, Creighton, Axel, Xiri, Phan-tu and QN-1. The whole story around them is just beautiful.

I loved Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton’s young adult novel Path of Deceit, especially the story surrounding the Path and the planet of Dalna.

Seeing the Path of the Open Hand’s story continue in this book was very intriguing and makes them one of my favourite villains. The Mother particularly reminds me of Emperor Palpatine, with the way her hair goes darker the more she’s with the Nameless.

Don’t go in expecting more from Marda and Yana, as their story finishes in Path of Vengeance. But, you can absolutely expect Yaddle. She is awesome, and i can imagine that green puppet talking and jumping and fighting.

I love the epicness in this book. So much action and one of the most epic battles in Star Wars. I was on the edge of my seat, taking in all the scenery and brilliance of lightsabers and emotions galore.

This is the Revenge of the Sith for the prequel era of the High Republic. It is so fun. So awesome. Tragic. But also, very moving and wholesome at times. It’s typical Star Warsy fun!

The Axel and Anakin Parallels are awesome, considering Axel’s story throughout Convergence and Cataclysm is built upon making mistakes.

It’s characters like Axel that have enamoured me with The High Republic: Phase II

I am stoked to read Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott. It’s been a short phase, but I really loved it.

I would love for a tv show to focus on the High Republic Phase II era. It would be awesome. Just lots of stories could stem around the Path of the Open Hand, one of the coolest and intriguing parts of this Phase. The cult-like demeanour of the Path and it’s loud opposition to the use of the Force is something that I’ve been wanting: more Force sects other than the Sith or the Jedi.

This Phase has done at lot on shedding light on the various Force related cults or sects. The Church of the Force, the Brotherhood of the Ninth Wind, the Sorcerers of Tund, I can definitely see a Convocation spin-off. Maybe about other Force sects. Lots of room for stories.

[roguerebels]

The High Republic: Convergence Review!

Star-crossed lovers! Two Houses, both alike in dignity! Dual lightsabers! Shadowy threats! Generational enemies! And a celebrity wedding! Check out Sal's review of #TheHighRepublic Convergence! #StarWarsBooks

“Some mysteries aren’t to be unraveled, Jedi.”Axel Greylark Two heirs from the Forever War-torn twin worlds of Eiram and E’ronoh find a path to peace by proposing a marriage alliance. But with an assassination and tensions high, peace may not be a choice. With this fragile alliance at stake, the Jedi and the Republic send Jedi knight Gella Nattai and Chancellor’s son Axel Greylark to investigate…

[the-high-republic-tournaments]

The Great High Republic Bar Brawl Round 1: Match 1

Avar Kriss VS Phan-Tu Zenn

In one corner, we have the Marshall of Starlight Beacon herself, the Hero of Hetzal…Avar Kriss!

VS

The prince of Eiram, one of the two unifiers of Eiram and E'ronoh. He may be more of a lover than a fighter, but he’s pretty handy with a blaster when he needs to be…Phan-Tu Zenn!

(art credit to Jake Bartok)

[kanerallels]

Axel: This is the worst alternative bonfire I've ever been to

Phan-tu: You've been to other alternative bonfires?

Axel: Any part that's not a bonfire is an alternative bonfire

[lilacandgray]

This is now a Xiri A’lbaran and Phan-tu Zenn stan account.

[monkeinabox]

Ending to Convergence got me smiling all silly, kicking my feet

[lowcountry-gothic]

Convergence, by Jake Bartok.

[vergencescatter]

The Night of Sorrow

It was as a break in the darkness, a sudden force against the quickening tides of diminishing hope; in the face of nigh certain death for the remaining Jedi and Dalnan forces, as the Levellers encroached and all light on Dalna appeared to have been extinguished:

In the southern sky, no less than thirty ships, some of them enormous cruisers, descended from the dense cloud cover above. Gella was also looking up [...]. A faint voice crackled from the comlink that Gella had taken from Master Sun. [...]"This is Captain Xiri A'lbaran, leading Thylefire Squadron from E'ronoh." "And this is Phan-tu Zenn, leading ground forces from Eiram." Master Yoda's voice spoke. "Fight together, we will." A familar sleek E'roni starship roared overhead, spinning as it shot down a junker over a fallow field. Axel knew it must be Xiri. The other ships began to land throughout the Path compound, with E'roni troops in copper-hued uniforms and Eirami troops in blue uniforms taking the fields in droves. [...] Starships lit up the sky, engaging the Path-aligned ships and brightening the ski with their cannon fire. [Cataclysm, p. 355]

This was such an emotional moment.

With Aida dying, as Creighton lay alongside her seriously injured and unable to fight any more. Youngling Cippa curled under Priv's arm. The enforcer droids pressing relentlessly forward in their hunt, too much for the remaining Dalnan forces scattered throughout the fields of death. Master Yaddle doing everything she can to resist what would be an overwhelming defeat. Meanwhile, bodies littered everywhere on the muddy ground, slippery with rain water and blood. The ashen remains of fallen Jedi, the essence of which previously consumed by Levelers, are starting to dissolve in the wet. And then, at its bleakest, in the cataclysm of violence, the cries of Char-Ryle-Roy echo as he is killed by one of the Levelers, leaving Gella to search deeply inside herself to find reserves of belief and resolve. In the instant she burst forward as a shield with two lightsabers in hand, taking on rows of encroaching Path fighters, I honestly thought she would be next to fall. It was such a grim moment; just so bloody dark. Truly a Night of Sorrow.

And then the ships arrived.

[lowcountry-gothic]

Star Wars: The High Republic: Phase II, by Jake Bartok.

[lowcountry-gothic]

Star Wars: The High Republic: Phase II, by Jake Bartok.

[kanerallels]

Phan-tu: It feels like yesterday I met Xiri. It's hard to believe that it was... the day before yesterday

[darth-memes]