Journey to The Last Jedi: Star Wars Made Easy by Christian Blauvelt

Journey to The Last Jedi: Star Wars Made Easy by Christian Blauvelt

     While meant to be for those who have never seen Star Wars, this reference book held tidbits that only a loyal Star Wars fan could really "get" as well as new information or ways of looking at things that I was unaware of. I started reading this book last night and blew through all 197 pages in no time. With a length of this magnitude, I find it hard to believe someone who has never watched the saga would sit down and commit for the long haul. I think one reason it read so quickly for me is that I was invested in what it had to say as a long-time Star Wars fan. I couldn't wait to see what else was going to be referenced or explained from a different perspective. Needless to say, I absolutely adore this book, but just don't know if I'd recommend it to someone who has never seen the movies. Now I would definitely recommend it as a first reference book for someone who has seen all the movies once, or maybe even just the original trilogy, to get a better taste of our favorite galaxy far, far away. In that scenario, it would work quite well.
     The book opens up with a lengthy intro section on all things Star Wars and then the rest of the book is separated by movie, covering I-VII, Rogue One, spatterings of VIII, and even a spread each on "Clone Wars" and "Rebels". Each movie section begins with an extensive timeline break down, followed by a shorter in-depth blurb timeline, and then various detail sections that are movie specific. Each movie section ends with a "Battle of X Made Simple" spread that goes into the main battle from that particular entry into the saga, showing ships and fighters from each side.
     My favorite part about this book is that it dealt with the prequels and originals as if they were on equal footing, giving them both the same amount of emphasis and import and not spending a ridiculously extra amount of time on VII. It was for sure a well-balanced view into the Star Wars universe. For example, while not mentioning midi-chlorians outright in the intro section on the Force, it does say that a blood test can determine a sentient's strength in using the Force, a clear nod to Episode I when Qui-Gonn tested Anakin's blood.
     In the beginning section, running down all the most important planets, species, and people, the following were some of my favorite - nods only notable to an already loyal Star Wars fan:

• "Geonosis - Arid world of rocky outcroppings and insects who are great at construction." They did build the Death Star!
• "Jawa - Desert traders; least sinister hood-wearers in Star Wars" haha
• "Ewoks - Look like teddy bears, fight like Trojans" lmao
• "Gungans - Floppy-eared warriors; targets of senseless animosity" Yes!!
• "Obi-Wan Kenobi - Jedi war hero, father figure, bar brawler" Ha!
• "Boba Fett - Bounty hunter with an outsize rep" Woah...do you really wanna go there? lol

     As part of the Skywalker family tree, for Anakin's father, it says "The Force itself caused Shmi to become pregnant" and then off to the side, "Immaculate Conception - Mystical!" I can imagine jazz hands accompanying this statement.
     We get a definitive yes to Palpatine being Darth Plagueis's apprentice - "from a young age"...which leads me to believe the assumption Plagueis created Anakin, per the Opera House conversation in Episode III, is also an accepted truth. Yay!!
     We also get clear recognition that Grand Moff Tarkin is actually above Vader in Episode IV. "Grand Moff Tarkin is the commander of the Death Star and one of the very few people in the Empire who happens to rank higher than Vader. On the Death Star, Tarkin is the ultimate authority." This has been hinted at throughout canon, and I've made the assumption for a long time, but here it is laid out plainly.
     Luke's vision of Darth Vader in the Cave of Evil in Episode V gets some serious philosophical treatment - still trying to wrap my head around all of it.
     And this book does not hold punches. It goes into several Star Wars fan controversies, providing both sides of the argument with quite well thought out explanations:

• Parsecs are a unit that measures distance, not time. "So, Han's boast is about his ship's ability to withstand shorter, more dangerous routes through hyperspace, rather than its speed."
• Who shot first, Greedo or Han? This spread goes into the details of how the different versions of the movie make different aspects of this argument plausible or not.
• Hate Ewoks or love them? I've always loved them. I even have an Ewok cosplay outfit.
• "The Great Jar Jar Binks Divide" Love that they included this, poor guy gets such a bad rap.

     A few random tidbits of new information I was somehow unaware of:

• At the start of the Clone Wars, there were about 10,000 Jedi Knights and Masters.
• When David Prowse filmed the father reveal scene in Episode V, he was told to speak the line, "No, Obi-Wan killed your father!" James Earl Jones later recorded "No, I am your father" after filming. Luke's parentage was one closely held secret.
• The crucial point when Luke truly became a Jedi Knight was when he threw down his lightsaber and renounced the Dark Side in Episode VI. Apparently, up until this point, Luke had used "Force chokes and threats of destruction," making him very susceptible to the Dark Side...did I miss something??
• Jabba's full name is Jabba Desilijic Tiure.
• Kaleesh (General Grievous's species) are reptilian bat-faced humanoids. And Grievous used to be a warlord with many enemies.
• The Knights of Ren are loyal to Supreme Leader Snoke. Not sure if this was made clear in the movies or in reference materials. They're not really delved into much of anywhere.

     A number of really great points were made involving situations from all over the saga: 

• I've always wondered why Obi-Wan in Episode IV acts like he's never met C-3PO and R2-D2 when he's spent years by their side, but this book makes a very good point - "It's far from the biggest secret he's hiding." Touché!
• Why is everyone so quick to believe Palpatine's side of events against the Jedi? "He's a popular and lawfully elected leader, while the Jedi are a secretive sect. When Palpatine says the Jedi tried to kill him and he has the scars to prove it, no one has any reason to doubt the Jedi's treachery."
• Rey feels so much power and has such a strong vision from Anakin's lightsaber because "there could hardly be a more Force-filled object" in the galaxy. Point 1 for Ani! And no points for Rey...unless of course she does turn out to have a family connection.

     One part I found confusing was the discussion of Count Dooku's true level of involvement in Sidious's underhanded plan to become Emperor. This books says that even Dooku didn't know of Sidious's true intentions, including bringing about war...even though it says just a paragraph before that Tyrannus is the only one who knows of Sidious's duplicitousness. I beg to differ with Tyrannus not knowing Sidious's ultimate plan...except for the part about killing him of course. I'm pretty sure Tyrannus was well aware of Sidious being the puppet-master behind both sides of the Clone Wars conflict.

     And finally on to The Last Jedi!! We get several pages providing more details than I've seen from any other published canon media out there. I was quite impressed.

• Rose is a technician who is "tough, smart, and loyal, but she has a tragic past that she prefers to keep hidden."
• The Caretakers and the Porgs of Ahch-To are again highlighted.
• Luke lives in a stone-built hut on Ahch-To.
• The Resistance will probably be spending at least some of the movie evacuating and then trying to find a new base of operations.
• The Resistance Fleet's proton bombers are mentioned and pictured.
• We learn about fathiers which are "graceful and majestic creatures...prized across the galaxy for their ability to run extremely fast. The Canto Bight casinos exploit them for competitive (and highly popular) races." These are described as space horses but look more like the hounds of Zuul from Ghostbusters.
• The walkers with the dragging feet from the trailer get a name!! Gorilla Walkers (awesome name!) or AT-M6s - All-Terrain Megacaliber 6. Apparently these metal monsters are not only the biggest walkers to date, but can "pack a punch" with their armored knuckles.

     I highly recommend this book to any Star Wars fan who just wants to have a little bit of fun with inside jokes and some great commentary. But for the person who has never seen Star Wars before, check out this book's suggestions of movie watching order, watch all 8 films (I have my own suggestion: Rogue One, IV, V, VI, I, II, III, VII), and then read this book to get better insight into the amazingness that you just exposed yourself to!