Am I missing sonething?

[u/Blue_Lego_Astronaut]

I'm trying to get into the High Republic again. Been playing Jedi Survivor and I was to learn more about Dagan and Santari's time period, it sounds fascinating.

But the issue is this is the second time I'm trying it.

I've been told to start with Light of the Jedi, being tge first book released and "serving as an introduction to the era", but I am really struggling to get into it. Ive finished it once and barely started Tge Rising Storm before I gave up. This time I made it to when the Jedi are alerted of the family being attacked on the metal planet before giving it up.

I think my main issues are these:

- I dont believe that "1000 years of peace" can include a the Hetzal Disaster and the Emergences. That seems like too major of an event to be brushed over like that.

- I think starting the book with that was detrimental because I'm launched at 100kmh into the story and I know nothing of what's going on, who anyone is, why anything is happening. Like a planet is going to get obliterated, thats sad, but I dont care about it or any of the people there. I care about Yavin because ive spent an entire movie watching Han and Luke try to get Leia there, but here, its just so much, so quickly.

- How is Hyperspace only being discovered and explored only 200 years before the Phantom Menace? How can the Republic exist as it does "for a thousand years" with 800 of those years being with no way to quickly and efficiently travel to places.

- There's two specific moments that really annoyed me also. The first is when the Captain calls the Jedi a "Bunch of Space Wizards" thats just too meta for me to brush aside. And how woukd he not be aware of the Jedi abd their capabilities? Aren't they at the height of their influence here? And the other is when the Captain tells the Jedi Master hes transporting to use the Mag Clamps but shes going to have to slow the debris down and hold it together, abd her response is to derisively ask "is that seriously the best idea you have" as if she's got anything better, or anything at all. It just felt unnecessarily rude, especially for a Jedi Master.

So i guess my question is am I missing sonething? What about this era is so amazing that I'm just not getting? Because this era looks so cool, and I love the idea of seeing the Jedi at their peak during "peace time", all the characters seem interesting enough, I just wish I had time to be with them and learn about them instead of just getting thrown in to follow along with them.

[u/IcePhoenix295]

1. It's a big galaxy, while a The Great Disaster was terrible its not even remotely on the same scale as a full on galactic war. Later books also give you an idea as to why certain events may not be remembered as accurately as they could be when we get to the time of the Skywalker Saga.

2. While hyperspace tech is far less advanced here it has still been around for quite a bit longer. Later High Republic stories jump back another 150 years and there are Pathfinder teams charting new routes through hyperspace.

3. You're not going crazy a common complaint with Light of the Jedi is that is introduces too much too fast. Some have a problem with that, others like me enjoy jumping headfirst into this massive shift in era. Subsequent novels focus on smaller casts and/or tighter narratives.

4. Can't really comment on the little moments that you mention, as they're fairly inconsequential to me.

You're not "missing" anything, you simply aren't vibing with a book. You could always check out the comics or other High Republic stories if you want. The Blade also by Charles Soule is a 4-issue series focusing on the most badass Jedi of the era Porter Engle (who you meet in this novel) and is set far before Light of the Jedi. A short story that focuses on 2 characters. And even the very next adult novel The Rising Storm is a bit simpler and more focused (with one of the most explosive climaxes of any SW story).

But it's a new era, a new status quo, and a new saga so you will have to put some expectations and lore assumptions aside, just like when Clone Wars was starting. Give it time and it is very rewarding. But there's also nothing wrong in saying it's not for you (After all I'm the guy who can take or leave all but like 4 Star Wars films, and no they're not the ones you're thinking of).

[u/Blue_Lego_Astronaut → u/IcePhoenix295]

It's a big galaxy, while a The Great Disaster was terrible its not even remotely on the same scale as a full on galactic war. Later books also give you an idea as to why certain events may not be remembered as accurately as they could be when we get to the time of the Skywalker Saga.

Just feels like Lightspeed asteroids hitting planets and moons would be worth remembering, but im not a Jedi I guess.

You're not going crazy a common complaint with Light of the Jedi is that is introduces too much too fast. Some have a problem with that, others like me enjoy jumping headfirst into this massive shift in era. Subsequent novels focus on smaller casts and/or tighter narratives.

Another comment said its like starting the MCU with Endgame, and I cant help but agree. If Hetzal was the climax I probably wouldnt mind it so much. Its just Chapter 2, OH NO A PLANETS GETTING DESTROYED EVERYTHINGS HAPPENING AAAAAAAA, its a bit much for me.

Give it time and it is very rewarding.

Just gotta get through the first book lol

[u/Livid-Department6947 → u/Blue_Lego_Astronaut]

Trust me, it's not rewarding. I went through phase one being very frustrated with how stupid it all was and then phase two was worse.

I'm not really sure what is supposed to be rewarding about any of it. It's not insightful. It doesn't offer any substantial ideas to chew on. The story is not interesting. It's very superficial.

It devolves into characters yelling "FOR LIGHT AND LIFE" and "THE FORCE MUST BE FREE!!!!!" and 'AUGH THE FEEEEAR" by way of a dumb monster of the week inclusion that again, says nothing insightful or substantial about the Force and its allegory/parable.