My Blogging Objective

I like reading books. They're amazing portals into worlds you wouldn't otherwise be able to experience. Unlike Television, which only offers the ability to watch people, a book literally absorbs you into it, immersing yourself into a story, and hopefully, engaging you more than any television show can.

Unfortunately, not everyone likes reading books, and if they do, they may not like the same books as you. This is a problem I run into a lot, because I enjoy some of the junkiest types of books: Star Wars Novels.

It's not all junk: A Prayer for Owen Meany, Alexandre Dumas, and short stories are always fun. But, when you look at my book shelves, they all fall into one genre. His Dark Materials, Lord of the Rings, Dune, Ender's Game, Harry Potter and Dark Tower. I am a science fiction fan, but there is something worse, I am a Star Wars Junky.

I've spent hundred of dollars on these books, I've read some of the worst books ever written, but I need them. Every new book that comes out, it's gut-wrenching to try and wait for the paperbacks to come out, and there's no way I'll miss a hardcover if it's part of one of their new multi-book series...

Anyways. There is a large Star Wars Community, but unfortunately, the book community is very small. Even those who have read a lot of the books, tend to stick to their niche: Younger readers stick with the Clone Wars era, older readers with the Bantam EU, and only the most Dedicated actually finished the New Jedi Order, and have read Legacy of the Force and Fate of the Jedi.

No one really advertises their obsession. When people ask my favorite books, I mention those sci-fi books from above, and miraculously, none of my Star Wars disease is mentioned. I'm not ashamed, I just don't think people would understand. Or, maybe they will understand, and they won't talk to me again.

So, here's where the blog comes in. This year, I'm going to reread every piece of Star Wars literature I own. All 60+ books, all my trade paperbacks(aka, big comic books), all my stand-alone comics. In all, it will take me nearly the entire year to read. And rather than suffer it on my own, I'm writing this blog, so I can at least pretend that some Star Wars fan is reading them out there.

First up: Heir to the Empire, by Timothy Zahn.

May the Force be with you!
-DK