The New Jedi Order series hit the halfway mark with November's Star by Star, which also saw some devastating developments in the New Republic's war with the Yuuzhan Vong. Fans picking up the next installment, Dark Journey, can't help but wonder -- where does the saga go from here? Star Wars Insider caught up with author Elaine Cunningham to discuss her novel, a standalone softcover that focuses on Han and Leia's daughter, Jaina Solo.
In Dark Journey, how did you handle transitioning the readers from the apocalyptic last chapter of Star by Star?
There's no break whatsoever. The story picks up as Jaina and the survivors flee aboard a stolen Yuuzhan Vong ship. And that, I think, is part of Jaina's problem. She had no time to catch her breath, to grieve or think or plan. When you don't know where you're headed, chances are you're not going to like where you end up.
And, physically at least, she ends up on Hapes -- a world introduced in The Courtship of Princess Leia and last seen in Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse. Why did you decide to return to Hapes?
Hapes is a matriarchy, recently ruled by Ta'a Chume, a powerful and evil queen. I liked the notion of a malevolent, manipulative force working in a young Jedi's life.
What do you think of Jaina as a character? How difficult was it to get under her skin
Jaina was depicted in the Young Jedi Knights series as impulsive, a natural leader, extremely talented but more interested in the practical side of life than the philosophical. When the Yuuzhan Vong came, she was eager to join the war effort. Her life was about meeting the challenge, doing what needed to be done. Then, all of a sudden, she seemed resentful toward Leia for taking the same path that she, Jaina, was embracing. I had a hard time getting my head around that.
There are certain parallels in my family history that made the process even more difficult. My father was about Jaina's age -- sixteen when World War II hit his native Poland. Like Jaina, he was raised in a military family with expectations of service and responsibility. Had war not intervened, he would have attended military academy. His parents and brother were captured and sent to Russian camps. Alone in a country torn between two invading armies, he escaped, lied about his age, and joined the British forces. I doubt he spent much time thinking about whether or not his parents were sufficiently "there for him" during his childhood. Jaina was on her own, a fighter pilot in a renowned squadron. Duty, responsibility: This was what she was raised and trained to do. I thought she'd be more likely to identify with Leia than criticize her. But there it was, and I had to figure it out in a way that made sense to me.
I found the key in Jaina's impulsive nature, and in her resemblance to her father, Han Solo. Like Han, Jaina reacted to tragedy by striking out at the people closest to her -- this was a reaction, and not an admirable one, but not necessarily a true reflection of her feelings. Also, when families are under stress, kids tend to take sides whether their parents prompt them to or not. Jaina would be likely to identify with Han, and this could make her hypercritical of her mother. Once I made this connection, Jaina really started to come alive for me.
Jaina is eighteen now, and while she's been busy in the past with saving the galaxy, she's certainly overdue for some romance in her life. How do you see her romantic situation as set forth in Dark Journey -- old flame Zekk, potential new flame Jag Fel, and a dark horse like Kyp Durron?
Earlier books have hinted that Jaina just doesn't feel that old spark for Zekk. He was a childhood friend, maybe even a first crush, but she has moved on. Jag Fel intrigues her. I see their interaction as very similar to that between a young Han and Leia -- only the roles are flipped. Jag is about honor and duty, and Jaina, at least to a by-the-books guy like Jag, falls closer to the "scruffy scoundrel" mark. In Greg Keyes' Rebirth, there was also a weird spark between Jaina and Kyp. The rogue Jedi Master asked her to be his apprentice. Was that a ploy to diffuse her suspicions and make her more likely to fall for his Sernpidal deception [a rogue military strike against an enemy civilian target], or was he serious? And if so, to what end? Was the pull Jaina felt toward Kyp the result of the "nudge" he gave her thinking, or something else? Fascinating questions, all. But at this point in her life, Jaina sees romance -- any romance -- as a distraction, and distractions make her impatient and even a little angry.
Tenel Ka, Zekk, Lowbacca, and other familiar faces from the Young Jedi Knights series play a supporting role in your book. Did you read those books to get a feel for the characters?
Absolutely. I read every one of the Young Jedi Knights books, and most of the other Star Wars novels as well. Not to mention stacks of gaming materials, comic books, and the old Star Wars Adventure Journal magazine. I approach any shared-world project as if it were historical fiction. The books, gaming supplements, comic books, and movies are the "history." If the details aren't right, if the tone doesn't ring true, the story won't work.
How many short stories have you written for Star Wars Gamer magazine?
Three. The first, "The Crystal," (Star Wars Gamer #5) was a bridge between Jaina as she was portrayed in the Young Jedi Knights series, and the hotshot pilot she becomes in Vector Prime. "Red Sky, Blue Flame" (Star Wars Gamer #7) dealt with an episode in Jag Fel's early life, and the difficulty of finding a place for himself in Chiss society. The third, "The Apprentice," (Star Wars Gamer #8) focuses on an event that occurs during Dark Journey.
Finally, what's your take on Episode II's title, Attack of the Clones?
I like it. It makes direct reference to the Clone Wars, something that's an important part of [Star Wars] lore. The title lets [everybody] know that a vital, missing piece of the story is about to fall into place. I can't wait!
Elaine Cunningham's next book, The Wizardwar, book three in the FORGOTTEN REALMS "Counselors & Kings" trilogy, will be published in March. Visit her website at www.elainecunningham.com.
This interview originally appeared in Star Wars Insider #58
