A Star Wars Reboot
Recently, I saw a poll on a pop culture Threads account asking if the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy should be retconned. I was surprised to find that just 36% said YES, and the remaining 64% said NO. It was only a small poll, but an interesting sampling size of the idiots in the world. If you’ve read me for any length of time, or been unfortunate enough to engage me in a conversation about this topic, you’ll know I think the Sequels are a thundering shitfest comprising poor characterisations, derivative storytelling (even in Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, which is narrative wankery that fools you into thinking it’s meaningful, but…
The Star Wars Conundrum
As a writer, I live by a simple rule when it comes to revision: if two of my alpha readers cite the same issue, then I must (absolutely non-negotiable) address that issue – even if I vehemently disagree with what those readers are saying. Where two people have seen a problem, others will also. When I’ve worked as an editor, I’ve seen writers steadfastly defend their narrative. Working on an anthology about eight years ago, I had one author refuse to address a plot point that four editors had cited. I told him we were a representation of his readers. He refused to be moved. The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy…