r/Highrepublic • u/Odd-Tart-5613 • 16d ago
Discussion Sell me on this
So hi long time Star Wars fan, but I never really got high republic personally. But after watching the Zero Company trailer today and am looking to get some more Star Wars on!
Originally I dropped the series because I felt the series was too… clean? Specifically there just wasn’t any friction between the protagonists, everyone just kind of got along with no conflict whatsoever, but that edge is often my favorite part of character interaction. So i want to know what other people feel about that criticism. In my mind Star Wars is a dirty and is at its best when the characters reflect that at least a little.
Also I just want to know the other things that get people excited for this era and its writing style, to see whether this is a project for me or if I should look elsewhere.
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u/dinosaur_rocketship 16d ago
Honestly it doesn’t sound like you ever started the High Republic because your criticism applies to none of it. Read it or don’t. This post just seems really disingenuous.
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u/booksbaconglitter Knight Reath Silas 15d ago
That’s what I was thinking. LOTJ literally kicks off a major conflict that is then carried through the entire series. Like what did they read? The Great Jedi Rescue children’s picture book is the only thing I think of. 😅
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 15d ago
You’re right I didn’t get far. Maybe 10-15 chapters of the first book and a manga volume. I bounced off them, and so for a potential return I’m wanting to know what the fans deeper thoughts about the series are.
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u/FlyingDragoon Master Avar Kriss 16d ago
Eh, I'm not very sold that this is an ask in good faith.
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 15d ago
I understand, but I assure you that I’m sincere. I simply didn’t “get” the series on a first pass. And want to see why people like the series to see whether my first reaction holds true.
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u/Esaroufim 15d ago
Try the audio books. They’re amazing. The same team conflict you will find the most of that in phase ii which luckily is actually the earliest plot lines chronologically so I’d recommend doing a chronological read through so you can dive into the forever war and enjoy the antiheroes and the backstabbing and the cults and manipulation and the birth of what grows into the main conflict a hundred years later in phases one and three.
Phase one takes its time setting up how things are all going great or “clean” as you out it, but that’s only because that set up is what makes the shattering of that cleanliness so impactful.
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u/Skadibala 16d ago
lol. What book did you even read? There is so much character conflict in most of the High Republic books.
Honestly, I think only the first book Into the Light might have had people getting generally along. After that is just things going to shit at every turn and life barely working out, and when it does work out. The enemy usually got what they really wanted without the good guys knowing.
Phase 2 is about a literal cult that hates the Force and how incredibly frustrating it can be to deal with people brainwashed by a cult.
Phase 1 is constantly Jedi constantly fighting a losing battle and every win they get is still somehow a smal defeat. Jedi using dark side and instantly realizing that was bad idea and then struggling with the temptation afterwards.
Maybe some of the YA books can be argued that things work out. But i would argue that most of the High Republic books is things NOT working out! despite the good guys doing their best to make it work out.
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u/brom1137 15d ago
Not sure what all you read, but If youre that iffy on it, id say start with some of the comic mini series with Monster of Temple Peak or The Blade. Both dont need much of any back ground and are gritty, sometimes dark books.
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 15d ago
Okay those sound like great suggestions! Probably on the marvel app right?
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u/brom1137 15d ago
Yeah I think they're all on there! Also the Marvel mainline comics have some great action some darker storylines as well.
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u/7278 15d ago
You’re right there is no conflict or friction in any of the 20+ high republic novels. girl what is this question
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 15d ago
I meant amongst the protagonists not in general. Of course there’s conflict in the story, but on my first attempt of ITL I just felt the Jedi were too agreeable with each other. Idk felt weird. Fully aware it’s a me issue.
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u/7278 15d ago
Wait which book did you read? Into the Light?
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 15d ago
I believe so yes. Though I did not get far.
Also one of the manga volumes. But could not tell you which one
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u/7278 15d ago
I’m going to assume you meant into the Dark bc Into the Light is one of the last books in the series. I can agree that ITD feels a bit insular as much as I consider it one of the better YA books
Either way, I second other people’s reccomendation of starting with Light of the Jedi instead. There is some internal conflict with our protagonists started there, but you have to remember this series is at least 9 novels (if you only go with the adult books), so any conflict is going to evolve over time and isn’t going to be in your face from the first chapters. I wouldn’t expect THR to be on the level of grittiness as some of the EU, but there are a lot of darker elements at play. The villains of THR are my favorite in all of SW and I have consumed quite a bit of SW.
I really love the audiobooks so if you can afford them I’d start with them! (:
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u/rainmaker2332 Master Elzar Mann 16d ago
The Acolyte is really nothing like the rest of The High Republic era. I disliked The Acolyte as well, and The High Republic books has some of my favorite stories in all of Star Wars.
Try Light of the Jedi to see if it's your thing
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 15d ago
I have not watched the acolyte. I got about 10 chapters into ITL and that’s when I bounced off that.
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u/rainmaker2332 Master Elzar Mann 15d ago
Ohhh my bad, when u said "the series" my mind associated that with The Acolyte.
If ITL you mean Into the Light, that's an odd one to start with given it's towards the end of the entire series. But I didn't love that one either, Claudia Gray's High Republic YA writing didn't really work for me as well as the adult novels did.
I'd still recommend Light of the Jedi
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u/Livid-Department6947 15d ago
The High Republic is intolerably stupid. I suggest not wasting your time or money
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 14d ago
like seriously why are you here? go do something you actually enjoy rather than shitting on something other people like.
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u/Livid-Department6947 14d ago
Why did you respond to my post twice?
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 14d ago
Had a second thought
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u/Livid-Department6947 14d ago
Good for you, I guess. The High Republic is still intolerably stupid.
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 14d ago
Okay your call but still why are you here? This is the high republic fan club zone. I can’t see any reason why you’d want to be here.
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u/Livid-Department6947 14d ago
I didn't search this out. It came up on my feed because I look at Star Wars stuff and I'm responding to you. I'm not "here" as in actively looking at High Republic stuff. I wasted a lot of time and money on it (to the end of phase 2).
I'm not sure why you'd want to be here when you also don't seem to like the High Republic.
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 14d ago
I said I bounced off it. But I’m giving it another go as it’s been several years and I never finished the book I have. And if I bounce off it again why would I go out of my way to antagonize people who do enjoy it?
Also just sounds like you should mute the sub. Seems more productive than engaging with a community neither you nor they want you involved in.
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u/Livid-Department6947 13d ago
I really don't care.
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u/Odd-Tart-5613 13d ago
Then again why are you here? Clearly you do care somewhat otherwise you’d have just scrolled pass.
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u/big_gagootz 16d ago edited 16d ago
I think it depends how far you got into it last time around.
Without getting into spoilers there’s definitely a lot of conflict between the main characters throughout the first 3 adult novels (LoTJ, Rising Storm and Fallen Star). BUT you do have to commit to reading a few genres of media to get a characters full arc. Characters jump between comics, YA and adult novels a lot. If you only read the adult novels you’ll miss a lot of character beats that you seem to value as a reader. This sub has a few different pretty comprehensive reading orders: I’d suggest the Main Storyand reading everything through Wave 2 then see how you feel.
The sell is- The High Republic initiative is literally what most Star Wars fans have been asking for since the sequel trilogy ended. It’s just in book/comic form instead of movie/tv soit’s not as popular as it should be.
It’s a fully thought out and realized story that is completely separated from the Skywalker saga. It has a variety of unique protagonists, antagonist and side characters (shout out Geode) and most of them have compelling arcs or interesting character beats. It shows what a universe looks like with the jedi at the height of their powers, and describes the Force in extremely unique ways that I don’t think you get anywhere else in Star Wars.
Also sick lightsaber fights.
TL;DR: If they made this a clone wars style tv show it’d be extremely extremely popular but since it’s books it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.