User blog:Brandon Rhea/ASWS interview


 * This is a response to interview questions posed by Unit8311 for CUSWFN:

I’m very satisfied with the current storyline of the entire ASWS. For my parts of it, I’ve been working for four years now this month (December), and this is the first time I’m entirely pleased with how the whole thing is coming together. The part that I enjoy the most is that every storyline is connected. Whether it’s the Exodus from Had Abaddon, the Third Jedi Bendu Schism, the Great Territorial War, the Clone Wars or the Galactic Civil War, there are connections to everything, which is pretty remarkable considering the first conflict I mentioned and the last conflict I mentioned are one hundred thousand years apart. I think all of it, whether it’s written by CBT, Solus, Edward Oliver or myself, is just fantastic.

The progress is about what it’s always been: slow, yet steady. The odds of ever finishing the entire thing are slim to none, but there are certain things I do hope to finish, such as the stories of Ussej Padric Bac and Annikin Skywalker. CBT at this point is getting his stuff out faster than I am, so I’m glad to see that determination there. I hope to pick up the pace on The Chosen One once the current semester is over, with the goal of finishing the novel by early 2009 (cross your fingers and pray to God).

Vic’s departure is essentially based on his desire to work independently again. As for specific details you would want to ask him. I wasn’t too thrilled about it because I thought the big continuity was, for lack of a better term, pretty special. At this point it just feels like there’s something missing. I deal mostly with large scale galactic stuff, whereas CBT is working on smaller scale stuff, such as the relationship between Epin Lanmaw and the young Princess Leia Organa, in The Alderaan Affair and the prequel and sequel novels that are to follow. Victor’s focus on family-oriented stories is incredible and adds a great deal of depth to the story of Star Wars, so I just find it unfortunate that it no longer adds that same depth to the Alternative Star Wars Saga.

The reaction to the saga so far has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s surpassed my expectations, really, although that’s not to say that there’s no criticism. That would be impossible, unless you find a novel titled “Star Wars, by Jesus Christ”. For example, it’s been mentioned that The Alderaan Affair could have a bit more detail. In terms of The Chosen One, some people don’t particularly enjoy the Ophuchi characters because they don’t agree with having a quasi-religious group in the saga. Other people also don’t like the character of Mace Windy because they feel that he’s too much of a departure from the canon Mace Windu. That’s fine that they have those opinions on my work. I understand why they would think Windy is a “Canon Sue”, a variation of Mary Sue as it’s called, although I have stated my reasons for the changes and have decided to stick to it.

The criticism has also helped me in a lot of respects by making me a better writer, particularly criticism from Atarumaster88. I also enjoy the dialogue it creates because it allows me to discuss the story, which is something I very much enjoy doing. That’s why I’m also greatly enjoying this interview, and would welcome more of them in the future. I love the discussion!

As for the release of Episode II, that’s hard to predict because we first have the Trials of War series, which focuses on the Clone Wars between Episode I and Episode II. I’ve stated this in passing before, but the Invasion of Utapau depicted in Episode I is also the first battle of the Clone Wars, which begins at the end of The Chosen One. Edward Oliver is doing the majority of the novels in the series, although I’m working on two of them, which are titled Angels With Silver Wings and Stranger in a Strange Land. The novel focuses a lot on the main characters such as Annikin Skywalker, Padmé Naberrie, Crispin Hadaack and Dormé Parricida, as well as others such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windy and Yoda. Ussej Padric Bac will also make an appearance or two as the Shaman of the Whills, and there’s a sub-story involving a secret Jedi organization called the Order of Veritas that are protecting some pretty big secrets about the past. I won’t say anything more than that, but maybe I will in future interviews.

Once that series is over we’ll be moving into Episode II. I’m going to take a moment here to officially announce the title for that novel. Yes, CUSWFN is getting this exclusive. The full title of the novel will be Star Wars: Episode II - Dawn of an Empire. This novel is really going to be the beginning of the end for the Old Republic and the first bits of tyranny will be placed to set the stage for the Galactic Empire, which will officially come to power in Star Wars: Episode III, which I will not (haha) tell you the title of yet. Annikin, who as you can see in The Chosen One really doesn’t like the idea of being the Chosen One, is going to be pushed to a breaking point, not knowing what to choose (aka, what he wants, or what fate wants for him). The ending of the novel, I assure you, will come as a total surprise.

Hopefully this more than answers your questions and provides you with a lot of material. I want to thank CUSWFN for this interview, which as I said I really enjoyed doing, and I definitely encourage more. If you have anymore questions based on what I’ve said, don’t hesitate to ask.