#Labyrinth of Evil

[magnusbae]

As per usual, normal behaviour in: Labyrinth of Evil +Bonus Obi-Wan asks Anakin if he captured Gunray and Anakin tells him that the entire entourage had escaped:

#Obi-Wan being casually sexy and Anakin casually catching him into his arms and carrying him is peak Obikin :)))) #Obikin #star wars #anakin skywalker #obi wan kenobi #obi wan #anakin #Star Wars Novels #Star Wars Books #sw books #Star Wars Labyrinth of Evil #Labyrinth of Evil #buns.misc #buns.all

[comebackali]

The council, pointing at Anakin’s obvious anger issues and deeply problematic relationship with Palpatine: This doesn’t seem right to me.

Obi wan: How dare you?? You have the nerve, the AUDACITY…

#it is actually sad that obi wan is so busy defending anakin #that he’s blind to the fact that these are things he should actually be worried about #love has BLINDED him #also hit me again with obi wan comparing anakin to something holy and divine #the holy and the divine #star wars #pt #otp: more intimate than lovers #labyrinth of evil #sw novels #pt novels #obi wan kenobi #obikin

[crionic-dubs]

“I never claimed to be the Chosen One. That was Qui-Gon. Even the Council doesn’t believe it anymore, so why should you?” "Because I think you believe it,” Obi-Wan said calmly. “I think you know in your heart that you’re meant for something extraordinary.” “And you, Master. What does your heart tell you you’re meant for?” “Infinite sadness,” Obi-Wan said, even while smiling.

James Luceno, Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil

#star wars #labyrinth of evil #star wars labyrinth of evil #prequel trilogy #star wars prequels #star wars novels #obi wan kenobi #anakin skywalker #infinite sadness

[fromcold]

The context for this is Obi-Wan and Anakin are on their 10th drink in their 10th bar looking for information, and Obi-Wan admits to using pretty twink Padawan Anakin as bait in AotC

I am losing my mind!!!

#obikin #labyrinth of evil #obi-wan kenobi #anakin skywalker #star wars #star wars books #star wars prequels #star wars legends

[thequeerlibrarian]

I'm totally normal about Obi-Wan & Anakin in Labyrinth of Evil

"This one is going to kill me" Obi-Wan muttered. But he didn't care about his own fate, rather: What if Anakin gets killed?

"When are you finally learning to trust me?"

"I trust you. I just can't keep up with you."

"Stay close to me."

"Do I have a choice?"

"Of course, Master."

"Anakin" he says, amused, "lovely to see you." When Anakin reached him, his former Master collapsed into his arms.

#book quotes #booklr #books #star wars quotes #star wars books #star wars novels #sw books #sw novels #star wars #starwarsblr #anakin skywalker #obi wan kenobi #obikin #Labyrinth of evil #my post #bookblr

[astralmaenad]

reading the labyrinth of evil... what do you mean they have an established routine where Obi-Wan always plays the bait??

now I desperately need the adventures of Bait-Wan and Rescuekin please

#star wars #obikin #if you want it to be ;) #if anyone knows any more legends installments where this happens...? 👉🏻👈🏻 #OR i also accept fic recs #let's start a compilation #obi wan kenobi #anakin skywalker #star wars legends #labyrinth of evil

[redsandspirit]

Matthew Stover ruined Dooku

It is perhaps generally accepted that Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover is one of the best books ever written in the Star Wars universe, if not the best. It's not hard to see why, since in many ways the story is head and shoulders above the movie, and Anakin Skywalker is, in my opinion, better captured by the author than anywhere else in the Expanded Universe. Still, I can't say that I was completely satisfied with the novel. Count Dooku is one of my favorite EU characters and I was saddened by how he was portrayed by Stover.

Xenophobia

Matthew Stover's Darth Tyranus is a terrible xenophobe, who never fails to remind the reader of this even during conversations with his colleagues such as Grievous and Darth Sidious. He deeply believes that creating the Empire of Man is what he was born to do? Seriously? Dooku is so evil in this book that it seems as if he would have been able to carry out all of Palpatine's plans exactly to the smallest detail without the participation of Palpatine himself. I think Stover here erases the complexity of the character that Jude Watson and Sean Stewart were able to create, and that's something we'll come back to.

A government clean, pure, direct: none of the messy scramble for the favor of ignorant rabble and subhuman creatures that made up the Republic he so despised. The government he would serve would be Authority personified. Human authority. It was no accident that the primary powers of the Confederacy of Independent Systems were Neimoidian, Skakoan, Quarren and Aqualish, Muun and Gossam, Sy Myrthian and Koorivar and Geonosian. At war’s end the aliens would be crushed, stripped of all they possessed, and their systems and their wealth would be given into the hands of the only beings who could be trusted with them. Human beings. Dooku would serve an Empire of Man. And he would serve it as only he could. As he was born to. - Revenge of the Sith, 2

In the novels written before Revenge of the Sith, we saw many important episodes from Dooku's past, and there were no premises for xenophobia. As a child, he was constantly dealing with other sentient species in the Jedi Order, and his father figure was a literal gremlin. One of Dooku's childhood friends was Eero Iridian, who is also not human. Darth Tyranus shows some remorse due to the fact that he and Darth Sidious took advantage of the Troxans (a non-human species) to drain the Republic's resources. This definitely doesn't fit with the way in RotS Dooku gleefully imagines crushing non-humans under the new government.

“These are the envoys from Troxar,” his Master said. How could he know? Dooku didn’t ask. Darth Sidious knew. He always knew.“They are considering surrender,” Dooku said. “They claim they have a resistance planned, ready to rise in insurrection when the clone troops withdraw.” “No!” the flickering figure said sharply. “The war has already damaged the planet too much to make it worth saving. Its only value now is to chew up more troops and resources. Tell them they have to fight on. Promise them reinforcements—tell them you will be deploying a new fleet of advanced droids to retake the whole system within a month, if only they can hold on. Explain that such weapons will not be put in the hands of those who surrender.” “And when the month passes, and no reinforcements arrive?” “Help will come within another month at most. Promise them that, and make them believe it. I’ve shown you how.” “I understand,” Dooku said. How casually we betray our creatures. The hooded figure cocked its head. “Having an attack of conscience, my apprentice?” “No, Master.” He met the hooded figure’s hideous eye. “It was their own greed that brought them to you,” he said. “In their heart of hearts, they always knew what they were getting into.” - Yoda: Dark Rendezvous, 1

Technophobia

The next uncharacteristic trait that was added to the character is technophobia. Anakin Skywalker's prosthetic arm disgusts Dooku, and he almost spits bile while talking to Grievous. The aristocrat hates not only cyborgs, but also ordinary droids, calling them “repulsive” and hoping that they will be destroyed along with the General.

“Which is precisely,” Dooku said meditatively, “why it might be best if I were to kill him, instead.” “Are you so certain that you can?” “Please. Of what use is power unstructured by discipline? The boy is as much a danger to himself as he is to his enemies. And that mechanical arm—” Dooku’s lip curled with cultivated distaste. “Revolting.” “Then perhaps you should have spared his real arm.” “Hmp. A gentleman would have learned to fight one-handed.” Dooku flicked a dismissive wave. “He’s no longer even entirely human. With Grievous, the use of these bio-droid devices is almost forgivable; he was such a disgusting creature already that his mechanical parts are clearly an improvement. But a blend of droid and human? Appalling. The depths of bad taste. How are we to justify associating with him?” - Revenge of the Sith, 2

Dooku nodded judiciously to himself, frowning down at the translucent blue ghosts slinking toward Palpatine. “Sound the retreat for the entire strike force, General, and prepare the ship for jump. Once the Jedi are dead, I will join you on the bridge.”“As my lord commands. Grievous out.” “Indeed you are, you vile creature,” Dooku muttered to the dead comlink. “Out of luck, and out of time.” He cast the comlink aside and ignored its clatter across the deck. He had no further use for it. Let it be destroyed along with Grievous, those repulsive bodyguards of his, and the rest of the cruiser, once he was safely captured and away. - Revenge of the Sith, 3

Why doesn't this make sense? As with xenophobia, the previous books and comics do not contain any hints that Dooku has disdain or hatred towards people with prosthetics and cyborgs. Moreover, when Grievous proposed using Geonosian technology on the Jedi Padawans for experimental purposes, Dooku approved the idea. Not to mention, the Sith Lord enjoyed Grievous' training.

Grievous had been a delight to train, as well. - Labyrinth of Evil, 22

Love and friendship

Next, Stover gaslights the reader by talking about the friendship between Dooku and Lorian Nod. Because if we go back to Legacy of the Jedi, it turns out that Dooku wasn't such a bad friend. He cares about Lorian and tries to be careful with his words so as not to hurt his feelings. Then after Lorian betrayed Dooku by blaming him for stealing the holocron, did Dooku worry about his reputation? Sure, but what unsettled him was that he was betrayed by someone so close to him. Even after what happened, he considers Nod his friend and cannot decide to refuse his request.

He doesn’t remember quite when he discovered this; it may have been when he was a young Padawan, betrayed by another learner who had claimed to be his friend. Lorian Nod had said it to his face: “You don’t know what friendship is.” And he didn’t. He had been angry, certainly; furious that his reputation had been put at risk. And he had been angry at himself, for his error in judgment: trusting as an ally one who was in fact an enemy. The most astonishing part of the whole affair had been that even after turning on him before the Jedi, the other boy had expected him to participate in a lie, in the name of their “friendship.” - Revenge of the Sith, 3

His best friend had betrayed him. Throughout the years at the Temple, he could always depend on Lorian. They had shared jokes and secrets. They had competed and helped each other. They had quarreled and made up. The fact that this person could betray him shocked him so deeply he felt sick. Legacy of the Jedi, 3

Dooku didn't know what to say. He wasn't prepared to lie, but he couldn't say no to his friend. So he said nothing, and, after a long while, the two friends fell asleep. Legacy of the Jedi, 3

Was Dooku the perfect friend? Of course not, and his pride played a role in escalating the conflict, as did Lorian’s envy, but to reduce everything to the words that “Dooku was different and did not understand friendship” I think is a monstrous simplification. The loss of his friend played a big role in Dooku's life, and that's how the story ends.

Lorian had been wrong. Dooku's heart hadn't been empty. He had loved his friend. But he had changed. Lorian had betrayed him. He would never believe in friendship again. If his heart was now empty of love, so be it. The Jedi did not believe in attachments. He would fill his heart with nobility and passion and commitment. He would become a great Jedi Master. Legacy of the Jedi, 6

We further learn that Dooku cannot care about the feelings of other beings and does not even see those around him as entirely real. Now, I don't by any means think that characters with these traits are a bad thing, or that you can't do something interesting with them, but that's not Dooku. We've seen how important his relationships with some of the other characters are to him (there's a whole novel written about him and Yoda), and that he cares to some extent about the feelings of those around him. Moreover, Stover will not explore these new traits, because Dooku will die in the next chapter anyway.

He is entirely incapable of caring what any given creature might feel for him. He cares only what that creature might do for him. Or to him. Very possibly, he is what he is because other beings just aren’t very … interesting. Or even, in a sense, entirely real. For Dooku, other beings are mostly abstractions, simple schematic sketches who fall into two essential categories. - Revenge of the Sith, 3

Jedi Order

Stover's Dooku ideal Jedi Order would forcibly remove Force-sensitive children from their families. Perhaps it's just my opinion, but it seems strange in light of the fact that his rejection trauma, as described by Sean Stewart, is related to his parents and the Jedi Order.

And that Fist would become a power beyond any Jedi’s darkest dreams. The Jedi were not the only users of the Force in the galaxy; from Hapes to Haruun Kal, from Kiffu to Dathomir, powerful Force-capable humans and near-humans had long refused to surrender their children to lifelong bound servitude in the Jedi Order. They would not so refuse the Sith Army. They would not have the choice. - Revenge of the Sith, 2

Ultimately, I can make the case that the ending of Yoda: Dark Rendezvous may have served to develop Dooku and make him even more bitter, but that doesn't justify the radical personality transplant Matthew Stover performed. And now, I often see these lines used to say that Dooku was always pure evil, had no good intentions and was always pretending, and also see questions like "as a human supremacist, what did Dooku think of Yoda?" And how can we know? All of these things were added to the character at the last minute and didn't match anything we'd seen before. This is not my Dooku.

#star wars #star wars meta #revenge of the sith #labyrinth of evil #yoda dark rendezvous #legacy of the jedi #dooku #darth tyranus

[treescape]

Anakin: All right. But you owe me one, and not for saving your skin for the tenth time. Obi-Wan: Ninth time. That business on Cato Nemoidia doesn't count.

--Revenge of the Sith

Earlier, on Cato Nemoidia:

Squad Seven’s medspec hurried over to Obi-Wan and Anakin.

“Sirs, I recommend you keep your rebreathers close at hand. Odds are we won't have to penetrate any deeper into the nest, but there’s always a chance of encountering free-floating spores in other areas.”

Obi-Wan quirked his brows together. “Toxic, Sergeant?”

“No, sir. But the spores have been known to have an adverse effect on humans.”

--Labyrinth of Evil, Chapter 3, by James Luceno

So “That business on Cato Nemoidia” was sex pollen, and Anakin saved Obi-Wan’s life because they fucked for days, right? Right?

#obikin #revenge of the sith #labyrinth of evil #trees reads #shitpost

[jewishcissiekj]

actually I love Labyrinth of Evil this book fucks

#fucks positively #yael is reading star wars #labyrinth of evil #great prequel to rots #great tie-in to the cwmmp #great characterization #it's great

[milfmisspiggy]

reading this is the equivalent of being gut punched 4 times. anakin is constantly bringing questions and his combative feelings to obi-wan, which to obi-wan might feel like being attacked by anakin for things out of his control or things that have nothing to do with him (or things that actually are obi-wan's responsibility), but really it's an expression of anakin's need for obi-wan's validation and obi-wan's guidance, and it obviously hurts him deeply when he feels dismissed

and obi-wan has been anakin's master for 14 years now and he STILL feels like the second choice, like a replacement that is meant to fail his padawan somehow. even tho now anakin is a knight and a general, this old insecurity of obi-wan's has not gone away. qui-gon's shadow is looming over him as his shadow looms over anakin and no one can reach the place they are attempting to live up to

(this is because qui-gon is a flawed man and obi-wan is a flawed man and anakin is, surprise, a flawed man, so they are constantly leaning upwards towards a version of someone they love that is not accurate to who they truly are and impossible to emulate because of that. and even if their perceptions of each other were not themselves inherently flawed, obi-wan constantly comparing himself to a dead man and anakin constantly comparing himself to obi-wan means no one is being Themself and is instead caught in a cycle of pain and also nonsense.)

but then yoda just saunters over, rips open obi-wan's chest, and just moves on with the conversation. yes he wants to ease obi-wan's worries because he does care about him, but he is still yoda so he just casually has to acknowledge obi-wan's eternal burden and stifling sense of duty (and it is no accident he says so right after obi-wan is thinking about not being good for qui-gon's memory OR for anakin who he loves like he is his brother, because it is true that obi-wan thinks big picture and cares about the galaxy at large, but the specific feelings about qui-gon and anakin are heavy enough to weigh him down) and then they move on, back to the war and uncovering conspiracies, without obi-wan's response. because what would he say? there is no defense or denial. this is the same book with the infinite sadness line. obi-wan knows who he is and what he carries, and so does everyone else.

(labyrinth of evil by james luceno)

#star wars #anakin skywalker #obi wan kenobi #qui gon jinn #yoda #labyrinth of evil #james luceno #cj.txt

[ocd-kenobi]

According to my friend who is reading Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil at some point in it Obi-Wan “jokes” that Qui-Gon should have left Anakin at Watto’s and as one could imagine it didn’t go over well apparently. I personally haven’t gotten to that book yet, but holy hell Obi-Wan that is not a joke you should be making. Especially to Anakin have you met that dude? He was always going to take that SUPER personally. Plus it’s just fucked up to joke that maybe this kid should have been left enslaved. 

When they told me that it stopped me in my tracks. That’s just cold blooded man.

I don't usually incorporate things into my characterization until I've read them with my own eyes, but of course, Obi-Wan IS the same guy who left Anakin in lava with his limbs chopped off, so it's no surprise he can be a cold bitch sometimes! When I get to this part of the book, maybe it will be added to my list of things Obi-Wan obsesses over wishing he hadn't done haha.

#asks #i'm not going to cancel a fictional character lol #labyrinth of evil

[magnusbae]

Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno

#Them dancing around it like it's a contest. #Also Obi-Wan— very keen about being the only one who looks after Anakin‚ aren't you? #Obikin #star wars #anakin skywalker #obi wan kenobi #obi wan #anakin #Star Wars Novels #Star Wars Books #sw books #Star Wars Labyrinth of Evil #Labyrinth of Evil #buns.misc #buns.all

[foxontherum]

the other day listening to the labyrinth of evil and dooku and palpatine were plotting to turn anakin to the darkside and in my brain was just like ‘No anakin won’t turn to the darkside he’s not like that’ completely forgetting that yes anakin does turn to the darkside.

#i've read to much fanfiction #too many fix-its #Anakin Skywalker #labyrinth of evil #star wars books

[fromcold]

Wonky picture I'm sorry, but please. What blogs is Obi-Wan reading?? Why does he sound so jealous?? This book is KILLING ME

#star wars #labyrinth of evil #star wars prequels #obikin #obi wan kenobi #anakin skywalker #star wars books #star wars legends

[thequeerlibrarian]

Okay Obi-Wan?!

"Are you implying, shapeshifters find me attractive?"

"They way you're strutting around? What woman could resist you."

Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno

#book quotes #booklr #star wars books #star wars novels #sw books #sw novels #star wars #star wars quotes #starwarsblr #my post #anakin skywalker #obi wan kenobi #obikin #Labyrinth of evil

[jaybren]

Obi-Wan

Episode 5 just has me reliving the infinite line.

#James Luceno #Labyrinth of Evil #obi-wan #obi wan #kenobi #kenobi show #infinite sadness #obi-wan kenobi #ben kenobi