For Star Wars week at Paper Droids, we’ve got an Expanded Universe superfan in to write about her favourite ladies who’ve become, sadly, non-canonical. Please enjoy this guest post by Kelly Sorbie.
A long time ago in a cinema not so far away, ten-year-old me sat down to see Star Wars for the very first time. From the moment that Star Destroyer passed over my tiny head – for what seemed like forever – I was hooked on the adventures of Han, Luke and Leia.
I lived and breathed the world of Star Wars and I wanted more. It wasn’t long before I got my wish, when I was given some Star Wars books for my 11th birthday. I was introduced to a whole new intricate world of interconnected novels that told the story of what happened after the Rebels stopped partying with the Ewoks on Endor and how they worked to rebuild the galaxy and their lives. I realized I didn’t have to leave these characters behind as the credits rolled, as with each new book there were more adventures and epic battles.
The Expanded Universe novels created a world where the characters I loved could grow and change, build lives, start families and realize their potential in new and interesting ways. Leia and Han got married and had children – Jacen, Jaina and Anakin Solo. Luke Skywalker grew into a confident Jedi Master, ushering in a new generation of Jedi Knights.
But most important to me, the Expanded Universe created incredible female characters that I could relate and aspire to. I adore Princess Leia’s sass with all my fangirl heart, but as has been recently pointed out in a fan video, other women rarely factored into the films’ scope; the EU authors worked to right the gender imbalance in the Force.
So I’d like to explore some of my favourite original female characters from the vast galaxy of Star Wars EU novels:
Mara Jade Skywalker – The Emperor’s Hand.
Mara Jade is hands down my favourite Star Wars EU character. A stone-cold badass whose snark and resourcefulness match her skills with a lightsaber – Mara was introduced in Timothy Zahn’s “Thrawn Trilogy” in 1991. Taken from her parents at birth by Emperor Palpatine and trained in the Force as an assassin and spy, she was charged with killing Luke Skywalker. When the Emperor died, she became a smuggler, hiding her identity until she crossed paths with Luke again years later.
Mara’s moral complexity – moving from being a servant of the Empire to reluctant anti-heroine, hero of the New Republic, Jedi Knight and finally wife of Luke Skywalker and mother of his son Ben – is what made her so compelling. She had experienced bitterness and cruelty, but ultimately the good inside her survived. She was more morally grey than most Star Wars characters since she had seen both sides of the conflict.
Luke and Mara was the first fictional relationship I saw that subverted gender norms. While Mara was abrasive, distant and sarcastic, Luke was gentle, calm and patient – serene in a way most men (fictional or otherwise) aren’t allowed to be. Luke was my first crush, so it was refreshing to see him finally get the girl and raise a son.
I love Mara’s determination and grit and I own a purple lightsaber because of her sheer awesomeness.
Jaina Solo – Sword of the Jedi.
Jaina Solo is Han and Leia’s daughter. Force-sensitive Jaina is an ace X-Wing pilot, whose preternatural flying ability earns her a place on Rogue Squadron at sixteen. Losing her twin brother to the dark side, she trains to become the ‘Sword of the Jedi,’ learning Mandalorian fighting techniques from Boba Fett, she prepares to face a heart-wrenching battle that will define the Skywalker family legacy. When The Force Awakens was announced, many fans hoped Daisy Ridley would be playing Jaina or a Solo daughter because the character was so immensely popular.
Tenel Ka Djo – Queen of Hapes
Tenel Ka was a character that originated in the ‘Young Jedi Knights’ YA book series. A red-gold haired warrior girl who struggled with her dual heritage – as a future heir to both the throne of Hapes and her mother’s clan of Dathomir witches – she often found herself at odds with who she wanted to be and the expectations placed on her by her family. I loved Tenel Ka for her strength. When she lost her forearm in a lightsaber accident, she never let her disability stop her from becoming all she could be. It was wonderful to see a young disabled woman as a Jedi and the books really explored her emotions as she adapted to her new situation with courage and compassion. Plus, she uses a Rancor tooth as her lightsaber hilt. How cool is that?
A Disturbance in the Force
Many Star Wars fans remember the heartbreak when Disney announced they would not be including the Expanded Universe in their new films, thus rendering over twenty years of storytelling obsolete.
In the beginning, I was angry and heartbroken. I’d invested so much of my childhood imagination in these worlds and grown deeply attached to the characters. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. But what I’ve learned after working through my fangirl grief is that Star Wars belongs to everyone. I can’t stop these new movies from existing any more than I can stop the world from turning and my trepidation was stopping me from embracing the excitement of the new world Abrams and co were creating.
The world of Star Wars has always been about family, friendship and triumphing over impossible odds – the ties that bind us and hold us together.
When I sit down in the cinema to see The Force Awakens this week, I will be rooting for Daisy Ridley’s Rey and John Boyega’s Finn alongside everyone else. The new films won’t stop me from dusting off my old books from the shelf and enjoying those adventures again. If anything, it opens up two incredible fictional universes full of amazing women which I hope people will take the chance to get to know.
The Women of the Force are calling to us on page and on screen. Just let them in.
Kelly is an intergalactic space princess masquerading as an earth fangirl and freelance journalist. She loves Buffy, Star Wars, Orphan Black and Ichabod Crane’s magnificent beard. She lives with her Doctor on England’s south coast where she drinks copious amounts of tea surrounded by her favourite books.
The post The Women Of The Star Wars Expanded Universe (Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Embrace The Force Awakens) appeared first on Paper Droids.