,H[ ,/> ,W>S ,%\LD ,HAVE ,5D$ 
,REFLECTIONS ON ,TA/E1 ,! ,EXP&$ ,UNIV]SE @& ,RADICAL ,POLITICS 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,WILLIAM ,GILLIS 

,TEXT 3 

,I'M FEEL+ PR(\NDLY UND] ! WEA!R SO IT'S AS GOOD A TIME AS ANY TO 9DULGE 9 ?AT MO/ V5]ABLE ( RADICAL PA/IMES1 RANT+ AB\T ,/> ,W>S4 

,I DISCOV]$ ,/> ,W>S ! SAME WAY ANY POOR EI<T-YE>-OLD DID 9 ! E>LY #iS1 ?R\< ! COMICS SECTION AT MY LOCAL LIBR>Y4 ,D>K ,EMPIRE & ,TALES ( ! ,J$I W]E RI*LY WAT]COLOR$ & /UNN+ 9 !IR SCOPE4 ,& EV5TUALLY ,I GOT BOR$ 5\< TO FOLL[ UP ON !IR S\RCE FILMS4 ,IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG = ME TO REALIZE ?AT ,/> ,W>S WAS AN ACCEPTABLE GEEKDOM 9 ! O!RWISE H>% PROJECTS4 ,/> ,W>S WAS GANG/A4 ,& ! ROOT ( ?IS ,I SUSPECT LIES 9 ITS DRAMATICALLY DIFF]5T *>ACT] FROM ,/> ,TREK1 ,LORD ( ! ,R+S OR ! MYRIAD SUP]H]OES & *A9-MAIL WE>+ DRAGON-SLAY]S CRANK$ \T MON?LY4 ,/> ,W>S FEELS FAMILI>4 

,HAV+ TURN$ TO ! COMICS SECTION ONLY AFT] EXHAU/+ ! RE/ ( ! /ACKS1 ,I WAS KN[L$GEABLE 5\< TO RECOGNIZE ! TE*NOLOGICAL TRAPP+S AS LAU<ABLE1 BUT GRACI\S 5\< TO APPRECIATE ! SLY SELF-EFFAC+ %RUG 9 0A LONG TIME AGO1 9 A GALAXY F>1 F> AWAY40 ,! REALISM ( ,/> ,W>S IS ITS RESONANCE ) \R COMMON EXP]I5CE ( 'H[ REALITY WORKS4' ,REALITY IS COMPLICAT$1 GRITTY1 LIV$-91 ) MORE COMPON5TS ?AN Y\ CAN EV] EXP]I5CE OR UND]/&4 ,OBI-,WAN & ,LUKE DON'T KN[ ! NAMES ( ALL ! ALI5 SPECIES DICK+ AB\T 9 ,WUH]'S CANT9A & IT W\LDN'T OCCUR TO !M TO TRY4 ,! GALAXY IS A BIG PLACE4 ,& ! ,EMPIRE'S SUCCESS 9 ?IS CONTEXT IS AWE-9SPIR+ & DESPAIR-9DUC+ EV5 :ILE BE+ OBVI\SLY 9COMPLETE4 ,/> ,W>S IS :AT ! WORLD LOOKS LIKE TO KIDS DEAL+ DOPE ON /REET CORN]S4 ,SCRAP+ BY 9 ! *AOTIC BRUTAL P]IPH]Y1 PR\D ( ! V>I\S IMPRESSIONS ( HOME & COMMUNITY F\ND !RE1 US+ FANTA/IC TOOLS )\T ! SLI<TE/ UND]/&+ ( H[ !Y WORK1 9 AWE ( ! /ATE :ILE WAK+ UP EV]Y MORN+ SIMM]+ 9 HATE = IT4 ,/> ,W>S CREATES AN 5VIRONM5T 9 :I* ! COLORS >E BRI<T] BUT EV]Y?+ ELSE IS ! SAME4 ,& !N IT WRAPS US UP 9 ! FANTASY ( MEAN+FUL RESI/ANCE4 

,MA9TA9+ ?IS ESS5TIAL 0TONE0 ( ,/> ,W>S HAS BE5 PROBABLY ! MO/ UPRO>I\S ISSUE 9 ! LA/ ?REE DECADES ( POPCULTURE4 ,EV]YONE KN[S ! PREQUELS DROPP$ ! BALL1 AL?\< ! LI/ ( WIDELY ID5TIFI$ MIS/EPS IS A BIT %ALL[ 9 DESCRIPTION 7MORE ON ?AT LAT]74 ,BUT ,/> ,W>S HAS BE5 GRAPPL+ ) ?IS BURD5 FROM ! V]Y BEG9N+4 ,SOME POOR SOD AT ,M>VEL ,COMICS IS TOLD 0WE'VE GOT A LIC5SE0 & ALL ( A SUDD5 HE'S =C$ TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AB\T :AT W\LD BE/ SIGNIFY ! 0/> W>SNESS0 ( A /ORY AS OPPOS$ TO A ,BUCK ,ROG]S /ORY4 ,IT'S NOT 5\< TO DRAW SOME FAMILI> \TFITS OR EV5 CAPTURE ! *>ACT]S' VOICES1 :AT FANS >E ADDICT$ TO IS ! FEEL ( ! WORLD4 ,& IT'S AN 9>GUABLE FACT ?AT ALMO/ EV]YONE HAS BE5 FAIL+ TO NAIL ?AT 9 ONE WAY OR ANO!R EV] S9CE4 

,I'M NOT GO+ TO SUGGE/ ?AT MY EXT5SIVE F&OM 7:I* COLLAPS$ BE=E HI< S*OOL7 OR PRESUM$ M$IA /UDIES PR[ESS GRANTS ME P]FECT DEP? 9 ANALYSIS4 ,EV]Y WRIT] & >TI/ ?AT'S WORK$ ON ,/> ,W>S HAS BR\<T !IR [N SUBJECTIVE L5S & ,I'M NOT IMMUNE4 ,BUT ,I DO HAVE ONE V]Y SIMPLE PO9T ?AT ,I ?9K %\LD UN>GUABLY FRAME ! ISSUE3 

,! MO/ POT5T & SUCCESSFUL COMPON5T ( ,/> ,W>S WAS ! TA/E ( REALITY ?AT SUFFUS$ ITS FANTA/ICAL NATURE4 

,LUCAS BELIEV$ HIS W9N+ =MULA WAS ! G5RE MIX+ POT1 SOME?+ HE /RUGGL$ TO /IR UP 9 ! PREQUELS & ,LUCASFILM HAS SLI<TLY MORE SUCCESSFULLY ADOPT$ AS !IR GUID+ LI<T 9 ! ,T-,CANNON4 ,BUT ?IS IS WRONG4 ,OBJECTIVELY & EMPIRICALLY WRONG4 

,& N[1 9 RECOGNIZ+ ?AT1 ,I'D LIKE TO TALK AB\T :AT CAN & C\LD HAVE BE5 DONE TO SAVE ! TA/E WE ALL LONG = & YET HAVE ALL BUT GIV5 UP ON REEEXP]I5C+4 

,LET'S />T ) ,RETURN ( ! ,J$I4 ,I'VE HELD ONTO AN IDEALIZATION ( ,ROT,J = F> TOO LONG1 MO/LY ?R\< ! WAY MY E>LI] EXP]I5CE ) ,D>K ,EMPIRE & ,IAN ,MC,DI>MID'S />KLY R$EEM+ P]=MANCE 9 MO/ ( ! PREQUELS SET ! ,EMP]OR FRONT & C5T] 9 MY HEAD4 ,BUT ! TOO COOL = S*OOL BROS ?AT KVET*$ OBNOXI\SLY AB\T ! ,EWOKS NOT BE+ UB] BADASS ME*-DRIV+ ,WOOKIES ACTUALLY HAD A PO9T4 ,LUCAS HAD A REALLY GOOD IDEA ) ! ,EWOKS -- A T9Y B& ( DISMISSABLY CUTE PRIMITIVES 5DS UP BE+ CRITICAL 9 ! ,EMPIRE'S D[NFALL -- BUT HE FOCUS$ TOO MU* ON !M & TOO LITTLE ON ! UNAVOIDABLY EYE- & M9D-CAT*+ REBEL FLEET4 ,! ,EWOKS GO FROM BE+ A REALI/ICALLY UNEXPECT$ C\NT]PO9T TO AN (F-TONE *IRPY ,F]N ,GULLY FAIRY TALE4 

,9 ! PROCESS WE'RE D5I$ A *ANCE TO SOAK UP ! R&OM REALNESS ( ! ASSEMBL$ REBEL FLEET 7EI!R BE=E BATTLE OR DUR+74 ,! SUDD5 DIV]SITY WE GLIMPSE F9ALLY HAS ! OPPORTUNITY TO SELL ! NOTION ( ! ,REBELLION4 ,WE WANT TO SEE A :OLE V>IETY ( ALI5S1 CAPITAL %IPS & ONE-(F FI<T]S4 ,EV5 AN EI<T-YE>-OLD CAN'T SWALL[ ! IDEA ( ! NE> MONOLI?IC RESI/ANCE >MY ALMO/ AS CLEAN-CUT AS ! ,IMP]IALS4 

,Y\ SEE ?IS IS :]E ,/> ,W>S 9EVITABLY LOSES ME1 & :]E ,I ?9K IT ALSO BEG9S TO LOSE EV]YONE ELSE :E!R OR NOT !Y FULLY RECOGNIZE IT4 ,SIMPLY PUT ! ACTUAL RANKS ( ! ,REBELLION >E PORTRAY$ AS NE>LY AS :ITE 7HUMAN7 & CLEAN-CUT AS ! ,EMPIRE4 ,HAN1 ,LUKE1 ,LEIA & ,*EWIE 9 SO F> AS !Y >5'T >E AN EXCEPTION AGA9/ ?AT BACKDROP4 ,& 9 BE+ ALL[$ TO BE ?AT EXCEPTION !Y'RE IMPLICITLY AN ELITE4 ,RTO,J DOES SOME NICE ?+S TO CONSCI\SLY TRY & RECTIFY ALL ?IS3 9TRODUC+ ! ,MON ,CALAM>I1 ,L&O'S ,SULLU/AN COPILOT1 /ICK+ A ,DRESSELLIAN 9TO ! MISSION BRIEF+1 MAK+ ! ,5DOR /RIKE TEAM EXTRAS SCRUFFY HIPPIES ) BE>DS1 LONG HAIR & V>Y+ BAGGY CLO!S4 ,BUT IT DOESN'T GO ANY:]E F> 5\<4 ,& ! MOM5T ! CONT9UITY ( NOVELS & COMICS PICK$ UP AFT] ! SECOND ,DEA? ,/> GETS VAPORIZ$ ?AT SAME UNIMAG9ATIVE1 UNDETAIL$1 MONOLI?IC 9T]PRETATION ( ! ,REBELLION 7& ! W>7 />T$ SPIRAL+ \T ( CONTROL4 ,! ,REBELLION IMM$IATELY BECAME ,! ,NEW ,REPUBLIC & ALL ( A SUDD5 ! :OLE DAMN /RUGGLE WASN'T AB\T OV]?R[+ TOTALIT>IANISM & BREAK9' ! LAW AS ONE PLEASES BUT RA!R RE/OR+ ! RI<TFUL REGIME4 ,! ,EMPIRE HALF-COLLAPSES & ,! ,NEW ,REPUBLIC /EPS 9 TO TAKE OV]4 ,A V]Y CONV5TIONAL W> IS F\<T = FIVE OR SIX YE>S & !N !RE'S A S+LE GALACTIC CONGRESS & A S+LE GALACTIC MILIT>Y & EV]Y?+ IS ESS5TIALLY ! SAME AS UND] ! ,EMPIRE EXCEPT %IT GETS VOT$ ON4 ,EV]Y?+ FROM !RE ON \T IS BASICALLY A ,/> ,TREK /ORY M9US ! SCI5TI/S4 

7,IT'S A PRETTY OBVI\S REALITY ?AT ! ,/> ,W>S TONE CANNOT ALL[ = ! EXI/5CE ( SCI5TI/S4 ,MO/ WRIT]S1 NO MATT] H[ /UPID1 HAVE CAU<T ON TO ! P>ADIGM DISSONANCE IT W\LD CREATE & /EPP$ ASIDE4 ,9DE$ ! BE/ EXPLICITLY BANI%$ SCI5CE \T TO ! FR+ES ( ,/> ,W>S HI/ORY4 ,ONE ( MY FAVORITE SUMMATIONS WAS ! ?R[ AWAY FACTOID ?AT NO ONE KN[S H[ HYP]DRIVE WORKS & NO ONE C>ES4 ,SADLY 9 BO? \R WORLD & !IRS ! M9DSET ( SCI5CE IS ALI5 & UNREALI/IC TO ! AV]AGE P]SON4 ,/> ,W>S HAS T9K]]S & 5G9E]S BUT ! HORIZON ( ITS ASPIRATIONS IS ! HORIZON ( ! CAPITALI/ & WORK+ MAN4 ,?IS IS :Y MIDICLORIANS W]E SO REPULSIVE TO ! FANS4 ,& :Y BUILD+ A RIDICUL\SLY SCAL$ UP BLA/] TO %OOT REBELLI\S PLANETS WAS MORE SWALL[ABLE ?AN DISCOV]+ E"7MC@5#b & C>PET BOMB+ !M ) NUKES47 

,/> ,W>S TOOK A TURN = ! SUCK A LONG TIME AGO & ?OSE MI/AKES HAVE BE5 CONT9U\SLY COMP\ND$ BY EV]YONE WRIT+ 9 ITS WORLD S9CE4 ,! /REAM ( :AT REVAMPS WRIT]S >E CAU<T 9 %[CASES ! GR[+ DESP]ATION TO GET BACK TO ! ROOTS4 ,! OBVI\S PIECE ( ADVICE3 ,/OP ,WRIT+ ,AB\T ,HAN1 ,LUKE & ,LEIA6 ,KEEP *>ACT]S OBSCURE RA!R ?AN DYNA/IC & FOCUS ON SEP>ATE CONCURR5T SAGAS AB\T LITTLE PEOPLE6 ,IS A WA/E ( BREA? -- WE'RE TALK+ AB\T SPACE-FANTASY G5RE TRA% AFT] ALL4 

,BUT IT'S WOR? ASK+ ! QUE/ION1 HYPO!TICALLY :AT DEVELOPM5TS AFT] ,5DOR W\LD /ILL RETA9 ! RI* ,/> ,W>S FEEL8 

,TO ANSW] ?AT ,I ?9K IT'S NECESS>Y TO GET A TAD POLITICAL4 

,FIR/ ,I'D LIKE TO PO9T \T A NUMB] ( POSITIVE ?+S AB\T ! PREQUELS ?AT W]E 5TIRELY NEW YET FELT SOLIDLY ,/> ,W>S3 ,%ITTY BATTLE DROIDS PRODUC$ 5 MASS BY RI* PEOPLE TO CREATE !IR [N PRIVATE >MIES8 ,FUCK+ GOOD IDEA4 ,PALPAT9E'S SL[ MA*EVELLIAN RISE TO P[]4 ,! ,REPUBLIC DET]IORAT+ TO %[+ ITS 9H]5T UNVIABILITY4 ,! ,J$I BE+ SC>$ & REFLEXIVELY CONS]VATIVE4 ,A LOCAL DISPUTE ) A ,W,T,O_/,I,M,F /&-94 ,SECESSION4 ,%9Y ?+S ) A H9T ( DECAY444 ,GRANT$1 ,LUCAS SCREW$ UP & MADE ?+S RIDICUL\SLY DYNA/ICAL1 RAMM$ ! CAM]A DIRECTLY AT BIG ISSUE /UFF 7BATTLES1 DEBATES1 ETC7 RA!R ?AN DANC+ >\ND ! P]IPH]Y1 & ?\<T ?+S LIKE SLAP/ICK1 #eS KIT*1 & *EESY ROMANCE W]E ! P]FECT ADDITIONS TO HIS =MULA4 ,OH & NEUT]+ ,IA9 ,MC,DI>MID'S M5ACE ) A SILLY LATEX-&-=CE-LI<TN+ DEBACLE & HELL1 %ITTY DIALOGUE MIX$ ) %ITTY1 %ITTY ACT+4 ,BUT MA9LY HE FUCK$ UP AT SOME?+ ?AT WAS A GOOD IDEA & ONE ?AT HE ACTUALLY MEANT TO ACCOMPLI%3 ,MORAL QUAGMIRE4 ,EV]Y ONCE 9 A :ILE ! PREQUELS /OP FE>FULLY C&Y COAT+ EV]Y?+ & />T TO EMBRACE ! !ME ?AT %IT IS FUCK$ UP & FOLKS CAN'T BE SURE ANY?+ !Y DO MEANS A DAMN4 ,! 9ESCAPABLE PO9T ( ANY HYPO!TICAL ,/> ,W>S PREQUELS WAS ALWAYS GO+ TO BE H[ RIDICUL\S ! NOTION ( A MONOLI?IC PURELY GOOD TEAM IS4 ,:5 ,ALEC ,GU9NESS' ,OBI-,WAN SPEAKS ( ! ,OLD ,REPUBLIC HE DOES SO ) SOME OBVI\S NO/ALGIA1 BUT IT'S ALSO CLE>LY TEMP]$ ) DEPRESSION1 NOT AT ! IMP$IM5TS TO ITS RE/ORATION1 BUT AT ! REALIZATION ?AT IT WAS AN UNWORKABLE DELUSION4 

,SO H]E'S MY PROCLAMATION3 ,! ,REBEL ,ALLIANCE IS NOT SOME ORD]LY CONSPIRACY BY POLITICAL P[]S TO RE/ORE ! ,REPUBLIC1 RA!R IT HAS TO BE AN ALLIANCE ( REBELS EM]G+ 9 DIFF]5T PLACES & DIFF]5T CONTEXTS = VA/LY DIFF]5T REASONS4 ,OH !RE'S REBELLION EV]Y:]E1 PROLES %\T+ 0FIVE-OH0 & TAK+ \T /ORMTROOP]S 9 BACK ALLEY %OOT \TS1 T]RORI/ CELLS BL[+ UP UPP] CLASS HUMAN CIVVIES ON ,]IDU1 BUS9ESSM5 HIR+ PIRATES TO ATTACK ,IMP]IALS GETT+ TO CLOSE TO !IR ILLEGAL BACTA OP]ATION4 ,!RE'S SLAVE REBELLIONS ON ,KA%YYYK & SECRET WORK] C\NCILS 9 ! ,KUAT %IPY>DS & SPECIESI/ UND]GR\ND >MIES & LIB]AL DUMBFUCKS ON ,ALD]AAN & IDEOLOGUES ( ,EV]Y ,CONCEIVABLE ,/RIPE4 ,ROV+ CLU/]S ( BUDDY FI<T] PILOTS MAK+ ATTACKS :]E !Y CAN1 WORK+ (F ( ONE OR TWO (FICIAL CONTACTS ) O!R RESI/ANCE GR\PS4 ,%IT IS COMPLICAT$4 ,SO ! ,YAV9 #d RESI/ANCE WAS L>GELY HUMANS BANKROLL$ BY RI* CORE WORLD DISSID5TS 7,ALD]AAN1 ,*&RILLA4447 & !Y MAY HAVE BE5 A LOGI/ICAL C5T] BE/ TI$ TO ! O!R GR\PS4 ,BUT !Y'RE DW>F$ BY ALL DIFF]5T K9DS ( ACTIONS & UPRIS+S4 ,SL[LY GR[+ MORE TI$ TOGE!R & MAK+ SOME S]I\S GA9S BUT SUFF]+ />K] ATTRITION AS !Y DO4 

,I'M P>TIAL TO ! NOTION ?AT ,PALPAT9E1 BE+ ,SI? & A G5IUS1 WAS IRREPLACEABLE4 ,IF KEEP+ A ,GALACTIC ,EMPIRE TI$ TOGE!R WAS REMOTELY FEASIBLE )\T MASSIVE PSIONIC MAGIC ! ,REPUBLIC W\LD HAVE BECOME AN ,EMPIRE LONG AGO4 ,& ,I'M P>TIAL TO ! NOTION ?AT ! ,IMP]IAL ,NAVY WAS CRIPPL$ AT ,5DOR4 ,SO EV5 :ILE MANY1 MANY PEOPLE & CLASSES W]E 9DEBT$ & DEP5D5T ON ! ,EMPIRE !IR HOLD WAS %ATT]$ 9 MU* ( ! GALAXY IMM$IATELY FOLL[+ ,5DOR1 9CLUD+ ,CORUSCANT 7?AT'S :AT Y\ GET :5 Y\ BUILD Y\R RIDICUL\S CITY PLANET ON TOP ( MILES ( LUMP5PROLES74 ,! ,IMP]IAL P[] /RUCTURES ?AT MANAGE TO P]SI/ 7ECONOMIC1 POLITICAL & MILIT>Y7 5D UP SPLITT+ 9 A V>IETY ( WAYS4 ,9 MANY CASES ! REGIONAL GOV]NORS ASSUME SOV]EIGN CONTROL OV] !IR T]RITORIES4 ,! ,IMP]IAL ,NAVY AS A :OLE PROBABLY HOLDS TOGE!R QUITE WELL1 LUMP+ UP 9 ONE OR AT MO/ TWO BROAD REGIONS4 ,MAYBE !RE'S SOME EPIC CIVIL W>1 MAYBE NOT4 ,H[EV] Y\ CUT IT 0,EMPIRE0 IS A SELF-EVID5TLY \TDAT$ WORD4 ,A REGIONAL BODY 7PROBABLY OV] A *UNK ( ! CORE7 FAC$ ) FRAY+ EFFECTS ALL >\ND NE$S AN IDEOLOGICAL N>RATIVE TO EV5 MAKE S5SE4 ,NOTIONS ( PURITY1 ELITISM & ORD] HAVE TO BE H>P$ ON MU*1 MU* H>D] 7CAUS+ OP5LY RECOGNIZABLE 9EFFICI5CIES 9 SOME RESPECTS74 ,EV]Y:]E ELSE ,IMP]IAL /RUCTURES P]SI/ BY MEANS ( SUP]FICIAL %IFTS MAT*$ ) APPEALS TO ,OLD ,REPUBLIC 0GREAT CIVILIZATION0 N>RATIVES4 

,= ! VA/ MAJORITY ( ! GALAXY ! COLLAPSE ( ! ,EMPIRE MEANS A SUDD5 RETURN TO LOCAL GOV]NANCE4 ,CORRUPT ADM9I/RATORS1 REPUBLICAN GOV]NM5TS1 TRADITIONAL RUL]S1 GANG/]S1 W>LORDS1 CORPORATE OP]ATIONS444 ,) A TON ( UN-RUL$ M>KETPLACES AS WELL AS IDEALIC FR+E COMMUNITIES AS WELL4 

,IT'S UTT]LY PREPO/]\S TO ASS]T ! ,REBEL ,ALLIANCE W\LD HOLD TOGE!R 9 !SE CONDITIONS4 ,UNTIL ,5DOR !RE HAD NEV] BE5 ANY?+ CLOSE TO A S+LE COH]5T 0REBEL FLEET04 ,ACKB> IS SICK ( ALL Y\R TRAPS4 7,ALSO Y\R NON-TRAPS4 ,! ONLY DEC5T G5D]S HAVE T5TACLES47 ,HE'S GO+ HOME TO ,MON ,CALAM>I4 ,OBVI\SLY4 ,BECAUSE ?AT'S HIS MOTIVATION4 ,OR IF HE HAS AN IDEOLOGICAL ONE = ! %APE ( ! GALAXY AS A :OLE 7COMMUNI/61 AN>*I/61 LIB]T>IAN61 FI%-PHILOSOPHY67 !N F9E1 HE HAS ?AT1 BUT !RE'S JU/ NO WAY 9 HELL IT'S GO+ TO BE UNI=MLY %>$ BY ALL ! DIFF]5T COMPON5TS ( ! REBELLION4 ,! VA/ MAJORITY >E JU/ DO+ IT = !IR HOMEWORLD1 OR !IR FAMILIES OR REV5GE OR G5]AL 9SURRECTION>Y SPIRIT4 ,SURE SOME RI* PLANETS ?AT HAVE FALL5 FROM ! ,EMPIRE'S GRACE LONG 9 AN AB/RACT WAY = ! PRIVILEGES !Y HAD UND] ! ,REPUBLIC -- BUT !Y JU/ BROKE ! BACK ( ! ONLY MILIT>Y =CE ANY:]E NE> CAPABLE ( BR++ EV]YONE ELSE 9 L9E4 

,NOBODY GIVES TWO %ITS :AT SOME HUMAN 9 A BIG ROBE SAYS ON ! REMA9S ( A LOOT$ ,CORUSCANT4 7,& OH YEAH1 !RE'S A MASSIVE AM\NT ( LOOT+_/PIRACY 9 ! IMM$IATE AFT]MA? ( ,5DOR AS ! LUCKIE/ DISPOSSESS$ />T DIVVY+ %IT UP & 5TROPIC EGALIT>IAN =CES RU% BACK 9TO ! M>KET47 ,COOP]ATION8 ,DON'T %IT ME4 ,EV]YONE REMEMB]S :AT EV]YONE ELSE GOT UP TO UND] ! ,EMPIRE4 ,& !Y ALL RE/RUCTUR$ DIFF]5TLY4 ,EV]YONE 9 P[] FE>S EV]Y O!R NEW PLANET>Y P[] = EI!R BE+ AN IOTA TOO RADICAL OR AN IOTA TOO CONS]VATIVE4 ,BETWE5 SU* P>TIES SETT+ UP EV5 ! LOOSE/ ( GALACTIC F$]ATIONS MAKES NO S5SE4 ,!RE ISN'T AN OV]>*+ 5EMY TO BE F\<T AGA9/1 IT'S NOT EV5 CLE> :O /ILL IS 0,IMP]IAL0 & :O ISN'T1 BUT !RE >E UNC\NTABLE ?REATS SPR++ UP ALL OV] ! PLACE AS WELL AS RUBBLE & WORKCAMP FILES TO BE SORT$ ?R\< BACK HOME4 ,! ,ALLIANCE WAS A SUCCESS1 N[ IT'S OV]4 

,?AT SAID UND\BT$LY SOME GR\PS =G$ 9 ! REBELLION W\LD CONT9UE KICK+4 ,:E!R ?R\< %>$ IDEOLOGY OR SIMPLY HAV+ NO HOME TO RETURN TO4 ,SOME FOLKS LIKE ,W$GE & ,HOBBIE W\LD CLU/] 9 DIFF]5T WAYS1 DECIDE ON T>GETS_/PRIORITIES & KEEP FI<T+4 ,BUT !RE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SIMPLE BIG PICTURE4 ,!RE >E NO MAPS ( ! GALAXY HALF 9 R$ & HALF 9 BLUE1 GRADUALLY C$+ TO BLUE4 

,& ,LEIA IS MO/ DEF9ITELY NOT ELECT$ ,*ANCELLOR ( ,EV]Y?+ FROM M$IA POPUL>ITY & H]O WOR%IP4 7,/> ,W>S DOESN'T HAVE A GALACTIC PRESS OR 9T]NET 9 ANY RELEVANT WAY1 IT'S NOT A S$ATE 9=MATION-AGE SETT+4 ,KIDS FIX !IR FA!R'S L&SPE$] & DEAL DEA?/ICKS \T BY ! SLAVE P5S4 ,REMEMB]1 IT'S ! SORT ( WORLD :]E 0,I JU/ RECEIV$ WORD ?AT ! ,EMP]OR HAS DISSOLV$ ! S5ATE0 MAKES S5SE4 ,:]E ,LEIA HAS TO P]SONALLY DRAG A LITTLE BIT ( DATA FROM ONE /> SY/EM TO ANO!R ) A :OLE FUCK+ />%IP4 ,FOLKS >5'T *ECK+ LIVE FE$S ON SPACE-TWITT]47 

,?AT SAID1 ,/> ,W>S IS AN OPTIMI/IC BIT ( FANTASY & ,I HAVE SOME OPTIMI/IC PA?S ! GALAXY C\LD TAKE )\T *UCK+ ALL S5SE ( GRITTY REALITY4 

,FIR/1 ,LUKE ACTUALLY TRA9S ,LEIA4 ,!Y GA!R1 9SPIRE & COLLABORATE ) O!R =CE S5SITIVES4 ,& !N SE>* = SURVIV+ ,J$I KN[L$GE1 VANQUI% LOCAL EVILS & =GE !IR [N WAY4 ,NOT AT ! C5T] ( ?+S1 BUT AT ! P]IPH]Y4 ,! ,J$I REMA9 A FA9T1 PASS+ LEG5D = A LONG TIME4 ,!Y DO NOT *UCK ,/> ,DE/ROY]S >\ND ) !IR M9DS4 ,NOR >E !RE CREATURES ?AT BLOCK !IR ACCESS TO ! 5]GY FIELD ( LIFE ITSELF4 ,!Y DO NOT SET UP %OP ON ,YAV9 ,I,V JU/ BECAUSE WE'VE SE5 IT BE=E & ANY?+ ?AT'S BE5 SE5 HAS TO HAVE ITS BACK/ORY EXPLA9$ 7MISS+ ! :OLE PO9T674 ,!Y >E W&]]S4 ,HEAL+ & FREE+4 ,& NO LONG] *A9$ TO ! FLAG ( A C5TRALIZ$ GOV]NM5T OR REACTION>Y TRADITION !Y SL[LY />T TO MAKE PROGRESS 9 AGGREGATE4 ,!RE IS NO ,J$I C\NCIL OR EV5 AN ORD]4 ,NO ONE ,J$I EV] 5C\NT]S OR EV5 LE>NS (1 MU* LESS COMMUNICATES )1 MORE ?AN A T9Y FRACTION ( !IR K94 ,BUT DICTATORS1 OLIG>*S1 GANG/]S & POLITICIANS DISSOLVE 9 !IR WAKE & MORE UTOPIAN1 COLLECTIVI/ SOCIETIES EM]GE4 7,ALSO1 9CID5TALLY1 ,B5'S IMPRESSION 9 ! =CE NEV] GOES AWAY4 ,?AT'S NOT SOME?+ UNIQUE1 IT'S JU/ :AT HAPP5S TO EV]Y DAMN ,J$I :O M$ITATES ON :AT LIFE WANTS RA!R ?AN :AT !Y WANT4 ,VAD] WAS SURPRIS$ BY ?IS BECAUSE HE HADN'T F9I%$ DEVELOP+ AS A ,J$I47 

,SECOND1 TRADE BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO REGULATE4 ,SMUGGL]S & O!R AGORI/S PROLIF]ATE WILDLY UNTIL !IR V>I\S MUTUAL-AID NETWORKS BECOME ! MO/ /ABLE GALAXY-SPANN+ SOCIAL 9/ITUTIONS4 ,TAXATION IS IMPOSSIBLE = ! SAME ,IA9 ,BANKS SPACE-IS-#c,D REASONS -- AT LEA/ )\T ! SORT ( MASSIVE CAPITAL 9VE/M5T ?AT DISAPPE>$ ) ! ,EMPIRE4 ,5TITIES LIKE ! ,TRADE ,F$]ATION CAN ONLY EM]GE 9 ! CONTEXT ( A L>G] /ATE4 ,A/]OID BASES & HIJACK$ CAPITAL %IPS GO FROM OBSCURE RELAY PO9TS TO MAJOR CONDUITS ( CULTURE & CIVILIZATION4 ,A PROLIF]ATION ( SMALL NON-LOCALIZ$ PIRATES IS C]TA91 BUT ?IS ISN'T IMPETUS = ! CREATION ( L>GE SCALE GOV]NANCE BECAUSE !RE'S NO?+ A GOV]NM5T C\LD DO ANY BETT] ?AN MUTUAL AID _/ 9SURANCE NETWORKS4 ,ALL ?IS ]ODES ! HELL \T ( REGIONAL GOV]NM5TS & CORE WORLDS ) UNSU/A9ABLE CULTURES SUFF] BADLY4 7,POOR ,CORUSCANT WAS ALWAYS GO+ TO 5D UP ANO!R ,N> ,%ADDA47 

,! LONG T]M FUTURE ( ! ,/> ,W>S GALAXY IS 9 SPACE1 EV5 MORE SO ?AN BE=E4 ,A POPULACE SPLIT MORE FAIRLY BETWE5 S$5T>Y PLANET-SIZ$ GOV]NM5TS _/ COLLECTIVES & FL[+ CIRCUITS ( ! *E]FULLY NOMADIC FREE-:EEL+ TRAD]S CRISS-CROSS+ ! />S4 ,! PEACE ?AT IS U%]$ 9 H>DLY COMPLETE1 BUT IT'S BETT] REGULAT$ & MORE EGALIT>IAN ?AN ! ,REPUBLIC EV] WAS4 

,WRIT]S HAVE ALWAYS ASSUM$ ! ,REPUBLIC >OSE FROM COLONIZ]S ATTEMPT+ TO KEEP 9 CONTACT & ASS]T CONTROL DUR+ AN ]A 9 :I* SPACE TRAVEL WAS LESS WELL KN[N4 ,A TIME :]E ! RELATIVELY FEW %IPS ?AT EXI/$ W]E F9ANC$ BY 9/ITUTIONS4 ,9 :I* ! GALAXY WAS A LOT EMPTI] = TRAVEL]S ) POSSIBLE DANG]S >\ND EV]Y CORN]4 ,OV] ITS EXI/5CE ?OSE 9ITIAL CONDITIONS HAVE SL[LY *ANG$4 ,I LIKE ?IS 9T]PRETATION BECAUSE IT GIVES MEAN+ & SUB/ANCE TO ! MASSIVE SOCIAL %IFT ,PALPAT9E WR\<T4 ,! ,EMPIRE WAS AN 9TELLIG5T IF DESP]ATE ATTEMPT TO ADAPT ! ,REPUBLIC'S \TDAT$ ME*ANISMS & DRIVE TO DEAL ) ! N[ TEEM+ & HI<LY CONNECT$ GALAXY4 

,BASICALLY A TOTALIT>IAN ,EMPIRE MAKES S5SE1 A ROTT+ & UNSU/A9ABLE ,REPUBLIC MAKES S5SE1 A TEEM+LY COMPLEX AN>*IC & 9CREAS+LY MORE NOMADIC PO/-COLLAPSE CULTURE ALSO MAKES S5SE4 ,BUT A MORE OR LESS DEC5T GALACTIC-SIZ$ DEMOCRACY 9/ANTLY =M$ & ACCEPT$ \T ( ! GOODNESS ( ALL ! ,REBELS' HE>TS8 ,TOTALLY UNBELIEVABLE4 ,& BASICALLY A /UBBORN ,LIB]AL LACK ( IMAG9ATION4 

,9 %ORT ! ONLY BELIEVABLE FUTURE IS ONE 9 :I* ! DEA?-/ICK DEAL+ TE5S W94 ,! WORLD DOESN'T GO BACK TO BUREAUCRATS1 COMMITTEES1 CORPORATE LAWS1 & /ODGY RELIGI\S 9/ITUTIONS4 ,OR IF IT />TS TO ! =CES LEAD+ ?AT PU% >E F\<T JU/ AS FURI\SLY AS ! ,EMPIRE WAS4 ,! ONLY NEW WORLD COM+ IS ONE ( ! ,HAN ,SOLOS & ,L&O ,CALRISSIANS4 ,! GRUBBY WORK+ CLASS1 ! PETTY CRIM9ALS & 5TREPR5EURS4 ,FREQU5TLY SKET*Y1 BUT BASICALLY DEC5T4 

,! MAJOR UPSETS :5 !Y EXI/ >E NOT FROM ! DEVELOPM5T ( NEW SCI5TIFIC BREAK?R\<S 7PAH67 BUT FROM DISCOV]Y ( NEW FUNCTIONS 9 ! ANCI5T TE* EV]YBODY IS ALREADY WALK+ ON4 ,OR ! DISCOV]Y ( ANCI5T UNKN[ABLY /ORI$ LOCALES LIKE ,KORRIBAN4 7,9DIANA ,JONES TAPP$ ! SAME ,LUCAS G5IUS = MAK+ Y\ FEEL LIKE !RE WAS TOO MU* RI* CONTEXT TO EV] PICK AP>T47 ,!RE >E NO ,SI? BECAUSE ! ,SI? ) !IR V]Y SPECIFIC HI/ORICAL GREVIANCE 7*RI/ IT'D BE NICE IF ! PIL+ UP ,K,O,T,O,R ]A /UFF MANAG$ SOME TANGIBLE MOTIVATIONS BESIDE ! OV]-H>P$ & C>TOONI% 0HATE MAKES Y\ P[]FUL0 %IT7 DI$ ) ,PALPAT9E4 ,RA!R !RE >E ,J$I :O FUCK UP1 ,J$I :O DISAGREE ON BAD DAYS1 & PSY*OPA?S :O W]E LUCKY 5\< TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT MOV+ ! NICKLE >\ND ) !IR M9DS :5 !Y W]E EI<T4 ,%IT CAN GET DRAMATIC1 /AKES CAN GET RELATIVELY BIG SCALE1 BUT NOT SO BIG -- ! EMPIRE'S DEAD & ) IT ! ONLY TIME 9 ?\S&S ( YE>S !RE WAS EV5 ! ECONOMIC CAPACITY = ?+S LIKE ,DEA? ,/>S MU* LESS ! SOCIAL CONTEXT TO APPLY IT MEAN+FULLY4 ,ON ! :OLE ! ,GALAXY />TS LIV+ A BIT MORE NOMADIC & AN>*IC LIKE ,! ,CULTURE EXCEPT )\T ANY CONSCI\S OR NOTICEABLE MORAL 5LI<T5M5T4 ,FACTIONS JOCKEY BACK & =?4 ,LOCAL P[]S TRY TO ACT IMP]IALI/ICALLY4 ,IDEOLOGIES CLA% & %IFT4 ,! ,J$I GO ON4 ,QUIETLY4 ,LESS P]CEPTIBLY4 

,?AT'S H[ ,/> ,W>S 5DS 9 MY HEAD4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bba 3 ,H[ ,/> ,W>S ,%\LD ,HAVE ,5D$ -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,H[ ,/> ,W>S ,%\LD ,HAVE ,5D$ -- ,UPDAT$4 

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