NJO books

How does there being no malevolent part of the force go against the movies? Neither Obi-wan nor Yoda ever says that the Dark Side is something actually there in the Force itself. Luke just ASSUMED that. It makes more sense for the Dark Side to be within the person, as it makes Anakin actually culpable for his fall, as opposed to just a poor pathetic victim. The force has no light or dark side, it just IS.

i couldnt have put that better (hands vengeance god a beer) the force is the force, thats it. what you do with it is your choice. good or bad, sith or jedi, whatever.

yes...
ofcourse...that is considering matthew stover's view on the whole star wars philosophy. he has a particular view on it..also visible in shatterpoint. But that's his affair and it doesn't have to be close to lucas'
Afterall...i don't think gl meant for sw to be a philosophical movie 😉

Its clearly stated in ESB that "once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny." If the dark side is just within the person, then you would be flip-flopping back and forth depending on your mode at that time. If you disagree, then so be it, but saying there is no such thing as the darkside contradicts the SW movies.

so, once evil always evil.

Based on the SW movies, yes, once evil always evil. Sure, Anakin turned back but he was the first. If Yoda had been a Jedi for 800+ years I think he would know a little bit about the Force. If he says there is a darkside, its hard to argue.

How does that quote prove anything? Hitler was on a "dark path" and no malevolent energy force influenced HIM. Yoda is not saying that no one can ever come back, he's just saying that the darkside will always dominate your destiny. It's like saying "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." The temptation will always be there, but in no way does that quote ever state that the Dark Side is a malevolent force.

For another example, let's look at the first time the Dark Side is mentioned. "Vader was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force." Obi-wan says that. Does that necessarily mean that some evil energy reached out and grabbed him? No. It means very simply that the power the force could provide overwhelmed him, leading him to use it by selfish means. Yoda himself NEVER says that there is a Dark Side in the sense that Luke and you always assumed.

WHoa...you people haven't read the entire series yet????????????? What;s taking you? Get on it!
Yes, er by the way, the NJO is an excellent series...from start to finish....I thought a few near the beginning were annoying, but after that they got considerably better. Destiny's way is great...SBS was great...Dark Journey was ok, Unifying Force was wonderful....though weak at points. I think I liked Conquest so much I reread it...I know I did that with Rebel Dream. I asked the author about the title...he gave me a wishywashy answer....basically saying that both symbolic meanings were correct.

this is true, julie.

What'd you think of Rebel Dream???? I don't oft hear people talk of it like it was their fav...and I'm not even sure if it was mine, but I rememnber liking it a lot

it was pretty good.

I loved Rebel Dream/Stand. Really well written and also the best covers on a Star Wars novel yet.