This chat transcript has been edited from the original channel log to remove people entering and leaving, and breaks in Aaron's answers.
*** Allston (~allston@cloaked.austin.rr.com) has joined #literature
<JoshC> Evening Aaron!
<Kelly> On behalf of Kelly's Corran Horn Page, SWFanfic.com, and the Official alt.fan.wedge Homepage, I would like to welcome everyone to our chat with New York Times Bestselling Author Aaron Allston.
<Allston> Good evening to you, too.
<Sabrina> Hi Aaron! :)
<Kelly> Aaron Allston has written many books for the Star Wars universe, including four books for the X-wing series and the two most current books in the New Jedi Order series, Rebel Dream and Rebel Stand, which comprise the Enemy Lines duology. He has also written many other books and game supplements, most notably Doc Sidhe, Sidhe Devil, and the upcoming Champions book for the Hero System game
<Kelly> Right now, I'm sure most of you have discovered that you can't talk. The room has been set to +m, which means that only the moderators may speak. If you have a question you would like to ask Aaron, you will need to private message one of the moderators (JoshC, ProphetKristy, Sabrina, or myself) with your question.
<Kelly> To send a private message, just click on the name of the moderator whom you wish to message. Or, if that doesn't work, you can type /msg name, substituting the name of the moderator for name (but without the @).
<Kelly> Very important thing to remember, though: do not, I repeat, do NOT private message Aaron. He will just ignore you.
<Kelly> Later on, Aaron still willing, the chat will go unmoderated, in which case you will be able to talk again.
<Kelly> We will do our best to get your questions asked.
<Allston> I am proficient at ignoring people. Just ask my roommates. My editors. Anyone.
<ProphetKristy> heh
<Kelly> Aaron, first we would like to thank you for making time in your busy schedule to come and chat with us.
<ProphetKristy> The cats?
* Kelly grins.
<Allston> Thanks for having me.
<JoshC> Your adoring Celebration II fans... ;)
<Allston> No, nobody can ignore the cats.
<Kelly> and fans in general...
<Kelly> adorable cats they are, too
<Kelly> i was looking at that page the other day
<ProphetKristy> So...send us your questions!
<Kelly> Aaron, while we're waiting for questions, maybe you could give us an update on what your current projects are?
<Allston> Well, I recently finished the Champions RPG supplement for Hero Games. I'm in a brief break between projects, but next week I jump back into the MONGOOSE AMONG COBRAS novel and hope to have it finished by late summer. (Of course, here in central Texas, late summer can mean anything from August to January...)
<JoshC> Ain't that the truth. :)
<Kelly> ooh, i was wondering about that book.
<ProphetKristy> (I've been dared to ask what shirt you're wearing, Aaron...??)
<ProphetKristy> (evil grin)
* JoshC snickers
<Sabrina> im thinking something very evil right now
<Allston> Kristy: Today my shirt is a green pineapple-motif Hawaiian shirt.
<Allston> I wore my alt.fan.wedge shirt from Celebration II yesterday. <g>
<ProphetKristy> Okay, Josh, you owe me ten bucks.
<JoshC> Yes'm...
<ProphetKristy> yay!
* JoshC hangs head.
<Kelly> anyone who has sent me questions needs to resend. i lost them all
<Allston> Today is also a day of celebration for me, as my amazon.com order with the two new Mystery Science Theater 3000 DVDs arrived.
<JoshC> Oooh!
<ProphetKristy> Oooh, which ones! (hooray!)
<Kelly> which ones?
<Allston> Hellcats and The Crawling Hand. Two early-season episodes.
<ProphetKristy> :-D
<Sabrina> Ok the first question of the night: ChicagoCubs asks if Lucasfilm ever required you to make any changes to your books, and what they were.
<Sabrina> woohoo! Celebrate!
<Allston> ChicagoCubs: Yes, Lucas Licensing has asked me to make changes from time to time. They vary from the quite minor to the substantial. One of the minor ones was to tone down the Kell/Tyria getting-together scene from the Wraith trilogy; I'd originally written it a bit more, um, exuberant. <g> The major ones I shouldn't describe, except to say that they resulted from some of my plots or characters getting rather too close to plots and characters from Attack of the Clones (without my knowing it).
<Kelly> interesting
<Sabrina> oooh...
<JoshC> Freac wants to know: How did you pick and choose with Wraiths to stick in EL? Was it painful to leave some out?
<Allston> Freac: It definitely was painful, but it was useful to me. One of the reasons I did that was to remind myself that I wasn't writing a continuation of the Wraith novels, that I was writing in the NJO. So I couldn't allow myself to indulge in things like that. As for how to decide: Well, I tried to figure out what the decades-later Wraiths would be doing, and how likely they would be to have remained with the unit. The ones you saw were pretty much all the Wraiths who were still with the unit all these years later.
<Kelly> I have a question that kind of follows from ChicagoCubs's question...
<Kelly> Diana wants to know if you are in control of your own plot points, or is Lucasfilm in charge of them? How much do you determine, and how much do they?
<Allston> Diana: With the NJO, what I had was a little slice of the overall NJO story arc to fill in. In the case of the ENEMY LINES novels, that "little slice" consisted of just a couple of paragraphs. I was supposed to demonstrate how the New Republic responded to the fall of Coruscant, and there were a couple of other plot points to accomplish. As things progressed, some of those plotlines were removed and others substituted by Del Rey and/or Lucas Licensing. But I had considerable freedom in what I was going to do. For instance, the defense of Borleias was my idea, my execution. With the X-Wing novels, I had even more latitude, and with STARFIGHTERS OF ADUMAR, I pretty much had complete control; Lucas and Bantam only asked for a couple of changes to my original outline
<ProphetKristy> BTW, folks, we're full-open-spoiler on the last two NJO novels.
<ProphetKristy> Just as a warning. ;-)
<ProphetKristy> Shelonei would like to know what prompted you to introduce Janson the way he did in Rebel Stand (with Jaina etc)?
<Allston> Howdy, Shel! Um, with any plot element like that, I try to have it accomplish two or three different things. Janson's arrival in RS was an indicator of what was going on with the armed forces in the rest of the galaxy, how some of them were now beginning to offer support and resources to Wedge's command. As for the specific interaction between Janson and Jaina, well, when he arrived, he had to meet *somebody.* It seemed appropriate, since Jaina had finished out Rebel Dream, to have her start out the Borleias section in Rebel Stand, so I simply had to figure out a likely way for Janson and Jaina to interact for the first time.
<ProphetKristy> (Oh, yeah, and Attack of the Clones spoilers--if you haven't seen it yet, what are you doing here??)
* JoshC snickers.
<ProphetKristy> That scene was *hysterical*!
<Kelly> yes
<Allston> <g>
<Sabrina> jedimasterED asks: What role, if any, will the newly-relaeased Force "wellsrping" have in the remaining books?
<Sabrina> yes, yes it was <G>
<Allston> jedimasterED: I really can't say. That question edges into the "confidentiality agreement" portion of my contract, as will a lot of the questions and speculations involving future books. I have to be pretty scrupulous about that.
* ProphetKristy hangs head, not having quite understood the Force wellspring thingy.
<ProphetKristy> We don't want his head to blow up eeek!
<Sabrina> ah, yes, lets not bug the implant
<JoshC> <from ChronoJN> You've probably already answered this numerous times, but do you prefer to write with PC, Mac, or old fashion pen and paper?
<ProphetKristy> (Or direct neural implant?)
<Allston> ChronoJN: Actually, not many people ask me that. I've preferred computers since I got my first one back in '84. When it's just a matter of writing, I do equally well with PC, Mac, Psion, or Palm-compatible, but when it comes to all my other computer functions (graphics, online activities, etc.), I mostly concentrate on PCs. I'm currently working with a Dell Dimension 2100 I got just a couple of months ago.
<JoshC> Yay!
<JoshC> Ooops, sorry. :)
<Kelly> <Thrawn> can you ask if it was his idea to bring back irek ismaren or was that given to him by Del Ray
* JoshC enjoys the shameless plug.
<Kelly> He's getting a Dell!
<Allston> Thrawn: The notion of Lord Nyax was mine, but early in the process of outlining/writing RS, *who* he was going to be was still up in the air. I did solicit recommendations, and Irek Ismaren was one of the ones Del Rey mentioned. He was pretty much a perfect fit, which is why I chose him.
<ProphetKristy> Tahiri (and the rest of us) would of course like to know if any more GFFA work is in your future?
<Allston> Tahiri et al: At the moment, I don't have anything under contract for the GFFA. But I'm talking to some people about some projects; doors are still open. It just won't be in the short term.
<ProphetKristy> (comics! everyone eamil Mike Richardson!)
<Allston> I'd love to do comics. But I do have to prove first that I can write in that format.
<Sabrina> I'm sure you can :)
<Sabrina> I, and a good deal of others would like to know more about the Force wellspring. I kind of imagine it as being something similar to ley lines, but I'm not really sure, any input?
<Allston> By the way, if my typing suddenly goes barmy, it's because I now have cats trying to clamber into my lap and onto my keyboard. So be warned.
<ProphetKristy> (hi kitties!)
<Kelly> cats. such fun. 8)
<Allston> As for the Force wellspring... I tend to think that energies tend to be unevenly distributed rather than evenly, which would lead to some such occurrences, and really bizarre and high-power events could lead to such a thing, but I shouldn't theorize about its origins in this forum, for the same reason as earlier.
<JoshC> BTW, everyone, please don't change your nick during the chat. It gets distracting very quickly. :)
<JoshC> Scifantasy would like to know when, relative to the rest of the NJO in terms of release, he had to start, and as a result how he had to reshape it...
<Allston> Of course, you can change your nick if you're shaving in a very sloppy fashion, but we don't want to hear about it.
* ProphetKristy cues the chorus of groans
<Allston> Hmm. That requires some thinking. The first novel I received from Del Rey in manuscript form rather than printed-novel form might have been the first draft of STAR BY STAR, or perhaps the one just before it. Which means that not a lot got changed between their first-manuscript time and the time I had to complete mine -- mostly some minor details of STAR BY STAR. I heard at Celebration II's panels that there were some more comprehensive changes to the timeline later, but I didn't have to cope with them.
<Kelly> <Iella> Tell him greetings from New Zealand. I would like to know if he has a technique for doing dialogue. Does he get into role when he's writing it, as it always sounds so realistic.
<Kelly> <Iella> I'm also interested to know if he has read all the NJO books and if he has any favourite characters.
<Kelly> sorry, i think the second question was just answered
<Allston> Iella: My technique is chiefly to create a character in as much detail as I can envision for him/her, and then "put on" the character, like a mask or a hat, to perform his/her dialogue. I take off that mask and put on another character's to do the response. And so forth, back and forth. It's actually quite difficult to do to begin with, but becomes easier over time. (Over years.) As for the NJOs, I've read all of them through TRAITOR. My favorite characters (other than those that are mine or pseudo-mine) are probably Tahiri, Han and Leia, Tenel Ka, the Barabels, and a few others.
<ProphetKristy> Freac wonders: Was Jag drunk during the picnic scene in Rebel Stand? He sure acted like it, dribbling stuff on insects and all..
<Allston> Freac: No, he wasn't drunk. He was just behaving in a somewhat looser fashion among friends -- well, one friend and one partner whom he knew should be a friend.
<Sabrina> ChronoJN ponders deeply: What is your typical writing day like? What's your 'routine'?
<Allston> ChronoJN: It's somewhat variable. When I'm at my most productive, I wake up around 9 am, stagger through the connecting bathroom to my office, fire up the word processor, and get to work immediately. In my first hour or so, I review and edit the previous few days' worth of work; that holds me until I'm fully awake. Then I start writing. I'll write for a few hours -- around three -- and then get some breakfast. (I never wake up hungry, so my first meal is usually in the break between work periods.) Then I go back to writing for another three or four hours. Now, at this point, I'll have worked for seven or eight hours, and while that might not sound like much, it's pretty tasking to the brain. On a typical day, I'll be through for the day at the end of that second session. When I have no pressing deadlines, I might just do one work session. When I'm closing in on a deadline, I might do three.
<Sabrina> Wow!
<JoshC> jedistoryteller wants to know if you plan on doing any non-Star Wars novels, like the Doc Sidhe books?
<Allston> jedistoryteller: The next novel I'm working on, MONGOOSE AMONG COBRAS, is non-Star Wars but is outer space action-adventure like the X-Wings -- it just takes place in one of my own universes. I hope to do more Doc Sidhe novels, and I have outlines, partial or complete, for at least a dozen other novels, and none of them are in licensed universes. So, yes, I have plans for doing a *lot* of non-SW writing.
<ProphetKristy> oooooh!! yay!
<Kelly> <WEBjenn> Did the scene between 3PO & Lando's wardroid have any deep meaning along the lines of showing that the Vong are mistaken about how sentient droids can be?
<Kelly> She is also wondering if Zindra Daine is Cubber's daughter
<Allston> WEBjenn: It wasn't specifically to show that the *Vong* are mistaken about droid sapience, but to demonstrate that droid sapience was indeed a possibility -- though my theory is that it requires personal experience and emotional development, rather than being something available "out of the box." In fact, there was a downloadable desktop graphic from sw.com a few months back about some types of droids that suggested something similar. And, yes, Zindar is Cubber's daughter.
<Allston> Er, Zindar, not Zindar.
<Allston> Dammit, did it again. Zindra. Zindra. Zindra.
<JoshC> Uh...yeah...
<JoshC> :)
<ProphetKristy> okay, cats, be nice!
* ProphetKristy is NOT laughing
<ProphetKristy> Tahiri and I would both like to know if the part in RS concerning Luke and Face ever meeting will be re-asserted into future publications? (I can't *believe* it got cut! argh!)
<ProphetKristy> (if anyone's not sure what we're talking about, hit Aaron's website, www.AaronAllston.com, and check out his FAQ.)
<Kelly> (plug(
<Sabrina> The direct link to the FAQ entry in question is: http://www.aaronallston.com/faqswars.html#rebstand
<ProphetKristy> okay, Sabrina wins the Prepared Award for tonight ;-)
<Allston> Tahiri: I don't know if it will appear elsewhere. And there's no telling how it got cut. It might have been a computer glitch at my end or at Del Rey's. In any case, the readers can always find out what was on my mind at my SW FAQ page.
<Sabrina> ChronoJN and I would both like to know what is the wierdest thing a fan has ever said to you? Have you ever had any odd encounters at Conventions?
* JoshC snickers
<Allston> ChronoJN: Weirdest. That's a tall order. I've been asked to sign books written by Mike Stackpole, R.A. Salvatore, and Kevin Anderson by fans who thought I was them. I've signed arms and one breast. I've been asked to review a 600-page Star Wars novel written by someone who hated Star Wars. I've had some odd requests.
<JoshC> <From narundijedi> Can you ask him how much about the future NJO he knows, on a scale from 1 to 10?
<Allston> Narundijedi: On a scale from 1 to 10, I'd say about a 3, down from a 5. I've read the series bible that was current up to the point of my novels, but, as line editor Shelly Shapiro pointed out at Celebration II, the series is -- no pun intended -- organic.
<ProphetKristy> Aaron doesn't *intend* a pun? I don't believe it.
<Allston> In other words, there have been changes to it since the last time I reviewed it, so I expect I'll be as surprised as everyone else by some of the things that take place in novels after TRAITOR.
<Allston> Well, that wasn't *my* pun.
<Kelly> <Iella> I've noticed a lot of authors have an area of interest like anthroplogy or history in which they might do alot of recreational reading. Do you have such interests?
<Allston> Iella: Certainly. Archaeology, anthropology, and history certainly apply; my strongest area of interest there is the Bronze Age Mediterranean. I love mythology, especially Greek. I have a certain amount of interest in the modern world in the decade before WWII, a result of a childhood misspent reading hero-pulp novels. Those are just some of my areas of interest.
<ProphetKristy> Dremmy asks: Do you take in input from fans such as from the Book Forum at the SW official site?
<Allston> Dremmy: No, I'm afraid not. While there are obviously some very imaginative and talented fans out there, cruising the boards to harvest ideas is a bad idea from an ethical point of view. Plus, I've never felt I was short of ideas; that's always been one of my strengths as a writer. I *do* pay attention to the kinds of questions people e-mail me with, so that I can answer the recurrent ones in FAQs, and, in the long run, so I can track any trends I seem to be experiencing. If I'm consistently writing in such a way that questions go unanswered in my books, I try to adjust my writing style to compensate.
<Sabrina> <from ChronoJN>What kind of preparation do you do to write a novel? Do you completely feel-out your characters with backgrounds and everything, or do you develop more of them as you go?
<Allston> ChronoJN: Some of each. If I'm not already familiar with a character or setting and I don't have time to do a sort of total-immersion level of research before starting to write, I'll read enough to get a sense of the character/setting and then continue researching as I write. I also have a lot of friends who are fans and who can act as continuity experts for me until I'm up to speed on the subject matter. With most characters, though, I tend to have a very good feel for their personalities before I start writing, else I won't really be able to write them.
<JoshC> Aaron, I have a question of my own for you. Did you read many of the Star Wars novels on your own before getting involved with the X-wing series?
<Allston> Prior to being offered the X-Wings, I'd only ever read the STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE novelization by Alan Dean Foster. In fact, if memory serves, I actually read it before seeing the movie for the first time. But immediately after getting the assignment, I bought and read a *tremendous* number of the. <g>
<Allston> Er, them, not the.
<Kelly> <diana> is face loran in the new "essential guide" anything as aaron pictured him??
<Allston> Diana: The picture is of the younger Face, obviously. And, though he's not identical to the way I'd visualized him, he is characteristic of the description I'd written for him -- it's certainly an appropriate picture. (It's as though I had one actor in mind for the role, and some casting director found an equally suitable actor who didn't resemble the first one.)
<ProphetKristy> <neimoidian85> Why didn't you mention Lt. Kettch at all? There should have been a Kettch Squadron or something...
<ProphetKristy> (lol)
<Sabrina> bwahaha!
* JoshC snickers
* Kelly grins.
<Kelly> Kettch!
<Allston> neimoidian85: Pretty much the same reason as not having all the Wraiths back. This wasn't a Wraith Squadron miniseries. Also, I just don't see that running joke still being funny to the Wraiths after so many years. Humor isn't humor when it's been run into the ground.
<Sabrina> Many have asked: Of all the qualified Generals in the New Republic, why did you choose Wedge to lead the occupation (and defense) of Borleias?
<ProphetKristy> Hey, *I* still rotfl.
<Sabrina> as do I!
<ProphetKristy> Hey, who *else* would you pick!
<Allston> Why Wedge... It's actually because he had, compared to so many of the others, only recently returned to active service. In the command structure, he was probably regarded as being somewhat rusty (as well as occasionally a loose cannon), so he was tasked with holding the muster point for stragglers leaving Coruscant while the more active, more "trustworthy" leaders took their forces out into direct military conflict. In short, in this instance, Wedge was the last kid chosen to be on the team, which coincidentally left him in the position to be Borleias' defender.
<ProphetKristy> Plus, he's already shown himself good at mutiny. :o)
<Allston> Yep, a proficient mutineer.
<JoshC> from PB: "Why was Kell feeling the effects of the Force wave that came out from under the Jedi Temple? He isn't Force-sensitive that we know of but he still felt the same way Danni was feeling.
<ProphetKristy> (That's one of my all-time favorite SW moments, the SC mutiny.)
<Allston> PB: The Force wave was an inconsistent thing, not a pure blast of Force energy directed by a trained Jedi. In other words, in some places it manifested itself in such a way that ordinary people could feel it, and in other places it didn't. I like a certain amount of inconsistency when esoteric powers are in use -- it's unsettling, and REBEL STAND was supposed to be unsettling in places, to sometimes have the atmosphere of a horror story.
<Kelly> This question is from me. Do you write to background noise (music, TV), or do you prefer quiet? And what kind of music do you listen to when not writing?
<Allston> When writing, I prefer quiet. I can't write while music with vocals is playing, or while the TV is on -- I'm attuned to words and become distracted. I can sometimes write while playing instrumentals -- in fact, I had some Gershwin on for about two and a half hours today while writing. As for what I listen to recreationally... I don't like *types* of music, I like specific musicians. My tastes range from Fiona Apple to Jethro Tull to the Spice Girls to Carlos Santana to George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers to B.B. King to Abba to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. How's *that* for inconsistency?
<ProphetKristy> <Freac> What is your opinion of the Yuuzhan Vong? Are they better or worse villains than the Empire, etc.?
<JoshC> Spice Girls? 8-)
<Allston> Sorry, Josh. Yes, the Spice Girls. <g>
<Kelly> variety is great
<Allston> Freac: I don't think that it's a question of better or worse; it's a question of how well the writer identifies with them. I didn't, particularly, which is why the ones I had the best time writing (Czulkang Lah, Charat Kraal, and Nen Yim) were all, to a certain extent, heretics and outsiders. Nor do I have an easy time with the rank-and-file Imperials, while Admiral Rogriss and Warlord Zsinj were somewhat eccentric. <more>
<Allston> With a series like the NJO, it's really a matter of suiting the writer to the characters. Fortunately, there are so many characters out there that most writers can orient in on the ones he has the best feel for. G/A
<Sabrina> <from ChronoJN> Have you ever written a chapter, or several chapters, and realized you didn't like a single word and scrapped all of it, only to start over?
<Sabrina> and just as a side question, what were you listening to before you created Lt Kettch?
<Allston> ChronoJN: Oh, yes. Usually, it's not because the writing itself is bad, but because I've gone astray on my plot and have recognized that I need to correct things before the story can really progress. But I've torn up (well, deleted) two or three chapters at a whack before.
<ProphetKristy> (does that hurt terribly? I can't do it, myself. Yet.)
<Allston> Sabrina: I think that Kettch was on a music-free day.
<Sabrina> ah
<Sabrina> *phew*
<JoshC> Which makes it all the more frightening. All he had was the voices in his head. :)
<Allston> Kristy: It's exasperating and discouraging, but it doesn't *hurt.* Sometimes it does depress me to the point that I close up shop for the day and return to work the next morning.
* Kelly giggles.
<JoshC> Shelonei wonders, "Aaron, do you think Wedge has gotten sick of Borleas?"
<Allston> Shel: I expect he has. Its strategic importance keeps bringing him back, but it's really become a symbol of evil and death to him. I expect he hopes that Krey'fey or bel Iblis will have to take it back next time. <g>
<Kelly> I've had a few people wondering your opinion of Kyp Durron. He's been portrayed in two ways: once a murderer always a murderer, and guy trying to make amends. What do you think on this?
<Allston> Kelly: That's a tricky one. I think the question is, *should* he be portrayed as once-a-murderer-always-a-murderer or is redemption possible for him? Well, if it's possible for Darth Vader, one has to suppose that it's possible for Kyp Durron. What I had to do was read all the instances of Kyp I could find, and then piece together from them the kind of Kyp Durron I could write about. The Kyp you see in the Enemy Lines books is honestly trying to do good, but he still retains a fair amount of unconscious arrogance which gets in his way. The balance on this Kyp Durron is definitely in the "good" column, but he remains complicated and in many ways unresolved.
<ProphetKristy> <Dremmy> Would you consider a post-NJO storyline series such as the Wraiths?
<Allston> Dremmy: Absolutely.
<Sabrina> From me: Aaron, any further news on you joining us in Toronto for Worldcon next year?
<ProphetKristy> Please????
<Sabrina> Please Please Please!
<Allston> Sabrina: No news. It depends on money and time. I'd give the likelihood as about 50-50 now, but there's an equally vocal group that wants me to come out to San Diego Comic Con next year, and I doubt I'll be able to afford both. <g> So keep your fingers crossed for me. Maybe I can win a lottery.
<JoshC> My own wannabe-writer question: when you do have to delete large sections of a story, do you completely delete them or do you keep a copy of them in hopes you can find another use for them? And if you keep them, how often do you end up being able to work some or all of that material in later?
<Allston> Josh: I do keep it, in a file I call OUTTAKES. (For instance, the one for Rebel Dream is OUTTAKES.RD.WPD.) Sometimes I'm able to find ideas in them that will work well elsewhere, sometimes little snippets of characterization, but usually I can't use whole sections elsewhere.
<Kelly> <Iella> Myn Donos was one of my favourite Wraiths. What do you think happened in his life after he joined Rogue Squadron?
<Allston> Iella: This is only speculation, but I'd say that he continued with the Rogues for a year or two, meantime making his way back to Corellia to visit Kirney Slade. Eventually, when things smoothed out between Corellia and the NR, he probably left the New Republic military to return to Corellia for good. I see him in a position such as a head or trainer in CorSec special units, for example. And, yes, I see him being with Kirney. But we won't know f
<Allston> Er, that was supposed to be Slane, not Slade. If I recall correctly.
<ProphetKristy> So we've waited long enough to ask: so just what did you think of Attack of the Clones?
<Allston> I enjoyed myself. And that's about as detailed a review as you're likely to get out of me. <g>
<Sabrina> Okay, we have one last question for the night from ChronoJN: Aaron, what is it you like most about these online chats, and what keeps you coming back to them?
<Allston> ChronoJN: Good question. I like being able to answer questions directly rather than end up being drowned under speculation. <g> And I like having a sense of what the readers are interested in, what they're thinking about, what they like and don't like. There's a tricky thing about writing -- without an audience, it's just increasingly-incomprensible gibberish on a stack of paper. So a writer has to balance between keeping his or her work comprehensible to an audience, and pandering to that audience (which is death to any sort of artistic effort). If you don't know the interests of the audience, you can't do it. So this is, in part, in that spirit. G/A
<Kelly> Ok, folks, we will be unmodding in a minute or so. We would like to thank Aaron one more time for taking the time to chat with us.
<Allston> You're very welcome.
<ChronoJN> Aaron: Have you tried Vanilla Coke yet? And if so LOVE IT/HATE IT?
<JoshC> What was someone saying about him asking good questions? *G*
<Allston> ChronoJN: I'm a type II diabetic, so until they make a Vanilla Diet Coke, I won't know. <g>
<Kelly> The transcript should be posted in a day or so at http://www.idcnet.com/~ivanova/horn.htm and http://www.swfanfic.com
<ChronoJN> ah. Like my Mom.
<ProphetKristy> And be sure to visit Aaron's site!
<ProphetKristy> www.AaronAllston.com!
<lissy> yes!
<Kelly> thanks, kristy
<Kelly> ok, ready for the masses, aaron?
<Sabrina> Thank you for the Chat Aaron, it was amazing as usual!
<Allston> Ready, Kelly. Ready to repel boarders, or something.
<Allston> You're welcome, Sabrina.
<JoshC> Good analogy. :)
* ProphetKristy puts on her waders
* Kelly grins.
<scifantasy> *grin* I don't like being called a mass. Though I guess I am...
<Sabrina> Just a reminder to our audience during demod, behave yourself or you will no longer be in this room
<Freac> Mr. Allston, Jaina and Jag or Jaina and Kyp? (and thanks a bundle for chatting with us)
<JoshC> BTW, anyone wanna see a psychotic picture of Aaron? (Poor R2)...
<ProphetKristy> Thanks bunches Aaron!
<JoshC> http://www.swfanfic.com/DCP03845.JPG
<diana> insulin dependent?
<scifantasy> No, Type II is non-insulin...
<lissy> HAPPY BIRTHDAY BANSHEE!!
<scifantasy> IRC.
<Allston> Freac: I tend to think that Jaina and Kyp is kind of unhealthy at this point. He might be able to steer her away from the dark side, but I'm not sure he can steer her toward her destiny. So it's Jaina and Jag, at least for now.
<scifantasy> IIRC.
<Shelonei> *chuckle* that's a great one JoshC
<Sabrina> you may now chat if you wish, but show respect to your fellow chatters
<ProphetKristy> Folks, you can talk now, but try not to swamp us!
<diana> scifantasy, wrong!@
<Allston> diana: No, diet and exercise.
<diana> lucky you... keep at it.
<Kelly> Aaron, I just have to say I love the parallels in RS. Luke willing to stand against Nyax in Jedi fashion and Wedge willing to stand against "impossible" odds in true Corellian fashion. Gives whole new meaning to the name Rebel Stand.
<ProphetKristy> Jaina and Jag! Imagine their children! :o)
<diana> eeuw!
<scifantasy> PK: The bets pilots of the next generation.
<Shelonei> Aaron: Alison Sky will be happy to hear that *G*
<Allston> Kelly: Thanks. Glad you liked that.
<scifantasy> s/bets/best
<Freac> (i can see the boards at tFn lighting up right now)
<Sabrina> Aaron: my dad is Type II as well
<ChronoJN> Aaron: Have you been able to see AOTC in a digital theater yet? I know Dallas is kind of a drive, but it's awesome.
<lissy> my dad as well
<Kelly> one of my two fave things in the book
<Allston> Freac: Do remember that I said "for now." I haven't necessarily defined the future for them.
<Allston> Chrono: Not yet. I haven't had time to see any movies for months, until recently.
<lissy> aaron... thanks for mentioning wes in the book :)
<Freac> an enigma...goody...the more to debate with =)
<Kelly> that and what happens after Wedge makes his comment about "How would I know if the Force was with me?" Finds an X-wing, survives, is rescued, etc. I laughed
<Allston> lissy: Heh. I wished I'd had more time with him, but, again, the book wasn't about him.
<ProphetKristy> Oh, that scene had me on the edge of my seat. "He doesn't dare, does he??"
<Sabrina> Kelly: ooh..that part was my fav bit of the book!
<lissy> i know. and i respect that
<scifantasy> Ah, this be good. Computer is on the way, Amazon order is on the way...
<WEBjenn> So can you "speculate" on where Hobbie is & what he's doing? Please?
<lissy> yes!!
<Shelonei> yes, please?
<ChronoJN> BTW Aaron, I thought the Threepio YVH-01 was one of the most intriguing scenes I've seen in any Star Wars novel, let alone the NJO. Great job with the spark thing. <g>
<Allston> Kristy: I was really amazed when someone posted online that I'd killed Wedge. I got some interesting e-mail from people who hadn't finished the book.
<lissy> here come the hobbie girls!
<Kelly> hee hee
<Freac> Hobbie is behind enemy lines picking up yuuzhan vong women, unless you're willing to contradict that?
<Shelonei> *chuckle*
<ChicagoCubs> Since the ending for the NJO was changed, can you tell us what the original ending was?
<Kelly> give hobbie SOME taste!
<ProphetKristy> Someone posted that? I'll kill 'em! ;-)
<swboy> the whole Force Energy Well thing is really wierd to me... It seems like Major thing that would have effetcs on the Movies.... i think you even said something in the book about thats why they built the temple there....
<lissy> hey!
<WEBjenn> oh, ick, worse than a bothan...
<Allston> WEBjenn: I suspect Hobbie is on his homeworld, helping with world defense. But I don't know for sure.
<lissy> here here
<lissy> cool
<Shelonei> *nodnod*
<Allston> ChicagoCubs: Nope. <g>
<Freac> i'm a hobbie fan (girl) too
<lissy> i can live with that: read: alive
<swboy> Was it your Idea or Lucasfilms?
<WEBjenn> okay. on his homeworld WITH anyone?
<WEBjenn> speculate some more.
<lissy> jenn!
<Allston> swboy: It could have been built so far in the past that the prequel-era Jedi Council has no idea of its presence.
<WEBjenn> what???
<scifantasy> You people...
* lissy falls off her chair laughing
<neimoidian85> hullo
<Allston> swboy: Can't say.
<Kelly> So, Aaron, I remember once that you mentioned finding it hard to combine comedy and drama. After writing the Wraith books, do you find this a lot easier?
<swboy> hmmmm. good point
<Allston> jenn: Heh. No, not at this time.
<lissy> scifi: we're true to our polits!
<swboy> i know i know... :)
<WEBjenn> well, piffle.
<scifantasy> lissy: I won't argue _that_ one.
<lissy> :)
<Allston> Kelly: Hmm. I would say it's hard work, but not hard to do. But I find the use of the word "comedy" interesting. I don't write comedy -- I do write humor. Perhaps that comment was in part making a distinction between the two.
<neimoidian85> Do you say Allston awl-ston, or owl-ston?
<Shelonei> Aaron: at CII I told you that prossibly next time I get to see you I'll have a kid. I just wanted to tell ya I'm gonna have a baby! *G*
<Allston> Kelly: And, yes, it's getting easier. <g>
<Kelly> yeah, humor
* Shelonei hushes up now
* lissy faints dead away
<Allston> neimoidian85: awl-stun, accent on the first syllable. It's a corruption of the ancient Saxon name Athelstan.
<lissy> congrats shel!
<Kelly> the whole place doesn't have to shut up\
<ProphetKristy> You do wonderfully with the humor, Aaron.
<lissy> yes
<neimoidian85> All this time I've been saying it wrong!
<Allston> Shel: Congratulations! A next-generation SW fan.
<JoshC> Ask her what she's gonna name the poor thing. :)
<diana> the more we can bully, the better
<Freac> A Skycrawler!
<Allston> Thanks, Kristy.
<Kelly> ok...i have to ask. very selfish question here. Where is Mirax during Rebel Stand?
<Kelly> I don't recall seeing her
<scifantasy> Aaron, you wrote gamign material--what advantages doe s a half-elf half-hobbit get? *grin*
<JoshC> ROFL Sci!!!
<Sabrina> btw Aaron: I'm putting in a good word for you at the Torcon committee meetings. I don't know if they can help out at all withthe travelling and accomodations (not really my place to say, im afraid), but at least I'll put in a good word.
<ProphetKristy> rotfl sci
<ChicagoCubs> Which is the hardest character to write?
<Allston> Kelly: I don't know where Mirax is, but I figure she's probably doing smuggling and insertion work for the New Republic. If she were in trouble, Corran would be, um, cranky.
<Shelonei> *Ichuckle* silly Sci
<Kelly> true
<Kelly> very true
<ProphetKristy> to say the least!
<lissy> cranky?
<ProphetKristy> I'd hate to see Mirax cranky.
<Shelonei> thanks
<lissy> jedi get cranky? <G>
<Allston> sci: half-elf, half-hobbit? Sounds like you're trying to open Can of Worms v3.0.
<Kelly> cranky=bouncing off the walls, freaking out, out of control? 8)
<scifantasy> Allston: Not worms. Children. *points at Shel*
<Kelly> makes me think of Babylon 5...
<Shelonei> Aaron, actually.... he's acting cause I consider myself an Elf, and my hubby's a Hobbit.
<scifantasy> Cans of children--Mmm, mmm, good!
<Allston> Kelly: Cranky = igniting lightsaber and carving initials in a variety of writing styles...
<JoshC> Sci, I'd define Shel reproducing as opening a can of worms. Wouldn't you? :)
<ProphetKristy> lol
<Doc> *snickers*
<scifantasy> True enough.
* Shelonei thwaps sci and josh
<Kelly> you watch Babylon 5, Aaron?
<Allston> Shel: Aha. Well, the child will be tall and elegant, with hairy feet and a predisposition to throwing rocks.
<lissy> LOL
<ProphetKristy> rotfl
<ReaperFett> lol :)
<Shelonei> I'll have to remember that. *chuckle*
<JoshC> LOL!
<JoshC> So true, so true.
<Annallisa> oh boy Shel!
<Freac> or a girl
<Shelonei> you hear that everybody! remember ot ask me in two years *chuckle*
<Doc> lucky Shel...
<ProphetKristy> If he's as good looking as the other elves I know, I want to meet him :o)
<Iella> Really appreciate the chat, Aaron. Do visit New Zealand some time won't you - we're a bit out of the main circuit here? Although, of course, we are the home of the Hobbits ...
<JoshC> Actually, Anni, I for one am praying it's not a boy. :)
<scifantasy> I'm praying it is, actually.
<Shelonei> :P
<JoshC> Cause of what the crazy Elf wants to name it...
<scifantasy> What's that again?
<Sabrina> Iella: yes, and I want to do the LOTR crawl some day over there
<Shelonei> hey, the hobbit picked the name, and he's SW impaired
<Allston> Iella: I'd love to visit New Zealand. All I need is an unlimited budget to visit everywhere I'd like to visit and have houses at half those places... Sigh.
<Shelonei> besides, who knows, it could be twins, then we'd really be in trouble!
<ProphetKristy> Sabs: I'll go with you.
<scifantasy> *grin* You ain't kidding.
<Sabrina> PK: group discount!
<lissy> amen
<ChronoJN> Aaron: Ever read The Truth Machine by James L. Halperin?
<Annallisa> maybe someine should have posted a sign about not drinking the water in here...
<Allston> Chrono: Haven't read it.
<ChronoJN> ah. very good book. Highly recommended.
<Sabrina> all we need is a group....
<Kelly> Aaron, have you ever seen Babylon 5?
<scifantasy> Aaron: On the subject of "have you read," ever hear of Robert Asprin?
<diana> does the group need t be sane sabs?
<swboy> Do you wish Geoorge Lucas had more to do with the EU? (i for one dont have an oppenion on this)
<Shelonei> Sabs: a group for what?
<Sabrina> diana: No
<ChronoJN> oh geez, what have I done? <g>
<Allston> Kelly: I've seen a few episodes.
<diana> sabs, i'm in then.
<Sabrina> Shel: group discounts for a NZ trip from North America!
<Kelly> one of those "I had to know" questions...
<Shelonei> YAY! I'm SO very in.
* scifantasy grins at Kelly.
<Allston> scifantasy: Sure. I've been on panels at conventions with him many times, starting in 1985.
<scifantasy> *grin* Ah. See, it was the puns...
<Iella> I've got to go back to work. Been a real pleasure. Bye everyone and thanks Aaron.
<Allston> swboy: I actually don't have an opinion on it. But if he had more to do with it, it would have to be vastly scaled back so he could keep up with it, so that's a balance you'd have to consider.
<scifantasy> Anyone who comes up with a mint-eating poker player by the name of the Sen-Sen Ante Kid...
<lissy> bye iella
<diana> don't fail everyone iella!
<ProphetKristy> cya iella!
<Allston> Adios, Iella.
<swboy> opinion***
<Iella> I'll try to be generous Diana!!!
<Shelonei> bai Iella!
<Kelly> bye, iella
<Sabrina> Aaron: if you do end up at SDCC next year, I'm SO there! Even if i have to spend half the weekend in Toronto and half in San Diego (which is a really amazing city)
<ChronoJN> Aaron: What do fans do that really make you angry?
<Allston> Sabrina: I don't think they're the same weekend (though I'm not sure) -- just that they'd eat up the same discretionary travel funds.
<Annallisa> ask him to sign a breast for them? <g>
<swboy> hit him with a toy lightsaber?
<JoshC> Yeah, tell us about this breast incident, Aaron.
<ChronoJN> next time you sign a breast, Aaron, you should get a picture and post it to your site. <g>
<JoshC> Was at least an attractive one? :)
<Annallisa> I did read that right didn't I?
<neimoidian85> Breast signing....I bet that would make him REAL mad
<Shelonei> I was just gonna ask that, WEssy
<scifantasy> Keep us abreast of the situation.
<Doc> no!!!!
<lissy> argh!
<JoshC> And having been there last year, it HAD to have been at Dragon*Con, right??
<Allston> Chrono: About the only thing that irritates me is when they hear a rumor about something I've done, assume it's the truth, and send me angry e-mail or confront me at cons... when in fact the rumor was false. A lot of fans treat as gospel whatever they see on the boards. Fortunately, a lot *more* don't.
<JoshC> LOL Chrono!
<ChronoJN> ah.
<Allston> Josh: I'm not going to go into detail on that story. <g>
<scifantasy> Damn.
<Kelly> interesting conversation....
<neimoidian85> So, Mr. Allston, how does it feel to be writing Episode 3?
<JoshC> Crap!
<lissy> LOL
<Allston> Josh: Nope, it wasn't at Dragon*Con.
<ChronoJN> Maybe in your "secret FAQ" list. <g>
<ChronoJN> ROFL.
<Sabrina> Aaron: well SDCC has not released their 2003 dates yet, but they are usually at the beginning of August, wheras Worldcon is at the end, still, if you go to SDCC I will do my best to afford both (which probably means many extra shifts at "the bookstore")
<Allston> neimoidian: I could only speculate... <g>
<Kelly> Aaron killed WEdge!!!!!! (not)
<Freac> you should write episode 3...maybe do something about the dialogue?
<Shelonei> NOOOOOOO
<Freac> >_< episode 2 dialogue...eep
<JoshC> Ooooh, Freac, good idea...
<scifantasy> GLINAW.
<swboy> no e2 bashing...
<JoshC> Cause as we all know... George Lucas Is Not A Writer.
<scifantasy> Beat you to it.
<ChronoJN> Sabrina: sell more Allston books and maybe you'll get a kickback. <g>
* ProphetKristy nods sagely. Yet another example of why GL Is Not A Writer.
<JoshC> Oops, did I say that out loud?
<Freac> no you didn't
<JoshC> You abbreviated. :p
<Allston> Freac: I'd try, but believe me, there would be a lot of writers in line ahead of me at Skywalker Ranch of that opportunity arose.
<Freac> you you typed it
<ProphetKristy> oops, made an alias
<ProphetKristy> ;-)
<scifantasy> So I did.
<Kelly> maybe he can write the ep 3 novel
<Annallisa> Hey Shel, you could arrange to meet him in about five months and he cuold sign your tummy
<JoshC> LOL!
<Sabrina> Chrono: hehe Were sold out of all his books right now, except for one copy of Starfighters of Adumar...and everything is about 6 weeks backordered
<ProphetKristy> lol
<JoshC> I like this one. :)
<code_404> umm btw .. <Crusader> ask him if Irek's return was his idea or Del Ray's
<ProphetKristy> Alli: did he sign yours? :-)
<code_404> heh
<swboy> Are you excited about Indy 4???
<scifantasy> That was asked...
<Allston> code_404: I answered that one...
<JoshC> Is it hot in Austin this week?
<Kelly> i was in the grocery store tonight and saw Rebel Dream for sale. Cool it's making it into places outside of bookstores
<Allston> swboy: I'm looking forward to it, yes.
<JoshC> <random question alert>
<Shelonei> Annallisa: if he signs my tummy it'd wear off though *chuckle*
<code_404> aah sorry must have missed it :/
<Allston> Josh: Not too hot. It's about 95 degrees tonight. Last night it was cool enough that we spent an hour at the McNeil bridge and watched the bats come out, and it was comfortable.
<JoshC> Have him tattoo it?
<Annallisa> nope, but I can't travel anymore now that I am in the 3rd t-mester, so I missed out
<JoshC> Cool!
<ProphetKristy> 95 degrees? ::wilt::
<Kelly> 95, cool? glad i live in WI
<JoshC> I miss Austin sometimes. :(
<Thrawn> Aaron: I know you said you didn't know that much about the NJO after Traitor, and you probably can't say anyway, BUT do you know if Anakin Solo comes back from the dead?
<ChronoJN> hehe. Could get an Aaron Allston signature tattoo
<scifantasy> The third...You're pregnant as well?
<Thrawn> sorry but i had to ask : )
<Banshee> dallas is already in triple digits
<Sabrina> 95 cold...hehe you should see Toronto...
<Allston> Kristy: It's nothing like two years ago, when it began hitting 100 degrees in early May. This is a comparatively cool summer by central Texas standards.
<scifantasy> "This is an ex-Anakin!"
<Shelonei> no tattoos, Josh - I get scolded for mendhi!
<lissy> heh....65 here in washington
<JoshC> Banshee, you're in the Dallas area? I'm from Arlington.
<Sabrina> its about 60-something here right now
<Allston> Thrawn: I know what the answer was a few months ago. But I can't say.
<ChronoJN> Aaron: Tell me about it. It's been nice this year. I live near Tyler, TX but I lived in Houston awhile back.
<Banshee> yep
<scifantasy> I should be off to bed now. Working=getting up Too Damn Early. Farewell, all.
<Banshee> grew up in houston, yuck!!
<ChronoJN> hehe. nice being neighbors. <g>
* JoshC has a phone call to make shortly...
<Annallisa> Yes, I am almost ready to pop out this little SW fan, I told you to mention the water <g>
<Shelonei> oh...?
* Kelly grins.
<Allston> Chrono: Houston? So you swam to work... <g> Actually, I'm an old Denton boy, so I know all about Dallas summers, Josh, Banshee.
<Thrawn> well that will at least keep some hope for us anakin fans : ) and aaron, i do have to say, you are one funny guy
<Allston> Thanks, Thrawn.
<JoshC> Eww...and you couldn't live in the GOOD part of DFW? ;)
<ChronoJN> Aaron: Yeah, I was there for the floods. No property damage, but couldn't get to work for two days.
<ProphetKristy> that's a bad thing, chrono?
<ProphetKristy> ;-)
<neimoidian85> Anyone from around Ohio here?
<ChronoJN> hehe. Yeah, it was a bad thing.
<Shelonei> uhm.... I've been to ohio.
<ChronoJN> that flood was horrible. Shut down the whole city.
<Allston> Josh: We're talking about 20 and 30 years ago, when Denton wasn't a Dallas bedroom community, but a sleepy little university town. And I've lived in Dallas, too, briefly.
<ChronoJN> Aaron: how do you like Austin now?
<Sabrina> Chrono, I didnt reallize you lived in Dallas
<JoshC> True. I remember Denton almost that far back from some family that lived up there. I thought it was a whole state away from home back then.
<swboy> Aaron: Did yuo ever play Jedi Knight 2? Do yuo play video games?
<Annallisa> Hey Aaron, you could come here for a visit, it's 110 in Phoenix all week <EG>
<ChronoJN> I don't, I live about 100 miles east of Dallas.
<ChronoJN> moved about two months ago from Houston.
<Allston> Chrono: There's still plenty to like. I live in Round Rock, away from most of the congestion, and have quick access to all of Austin's amenities and facilities, so it's a great balance.
* ProphetKristy feels *very* sorry for the pregnant redhead
<neimoidian85> see ya guys later
<Kelly> or you can cool off in WI
<neimoidian85> ciao
<JoshC> The Arboretum!
<ChronoJN> so do you go to the Express games?
<JoshC> My favorite part of Austin. :)
* Shelonei does too
<Allston> swboy: I don't play video games much, no. Never played Jedi Knight 2.
<Banshee> i know where round rock is!!
<Banshee> love the area
* Sabrina has never been to Texas....another place on her "To Visit" list
<ChronoJN> Aaron: look out, you're gonna have people driving around looking for your house now. <g>
<Allston> Annallisa: I went to Phoenix last year for a summer con. Interesting, searing heat. <g>
<Kelly> i have relatives in TX. That's it
<Shelonei> I flew over Texas a few days ago... does that count?
<ChicagoCubs> Do you read classic sci-fi like Clarke, Asimov, ect. How do they effect your writing?
<Allston> Chrono: Not a baseball fan, I'm afraid. I've been to Austin Ice Bats and Texas Terminators games, but the Terminators, alas, folded.
<ChronoJN> Shelonei: close enough.
<ChronoJN> ah.
<JoshC> Shel: It would if you had ACTUALLY SEEN YOUR FRIENDS IN NASHVILLE WHILE YOU WERE HERE!
<JoshC> :p
<EwokBrad> yay! boo to baseball!
<Banshee> YEAH HOCKEY
<Shelonei> I WANTED TO!!!!
<JoshC> Shut up, Brad. :)
* ProphetKristy thwaps Brad
<Sabrina> hockey? where?
<ChronoJN> Sabrina: Actually, the moment I move out of Houston, here comes Tim Zahn at the first convention I remember in Houston.
<EwokBrad> heheh
<Banshee> ice bats
<Annallisa> When they say... "but it's a dry heat..." I tell them so is sticking your head in an oven, but I would recommend it
* lissy thwaps brad
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<Allston> Cubs: I've read a lot of the classic SF novels. They chiefly affect my writing by making me want to write better.
<ChronoJN> Sorry Josh. You from Austin?
<Sabrina> hehe
<Shelonei> Josh: it just... *sigh* I only had fifteen minutes ( and that's only cause the plane got in early, so there :P I couldn't have gotten off at all if it was on time or late)
<Sabrina> LOL
<JoshC> Arlington, but I work for Dell so I lived in Austin fro a couple of years.
<ChronoJN> ah.
<ChronoJN> I used to work for Gateway. Key word USED
<ChronoJN> hehe.
<EwokBrad> Josh is the Dell guy from the commercials.
<ChronoJN> I'd buy Dell over gateway now.
<lissy> moo
* Kelly laughs.
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<Shelonei> DUDE! you're gettin a Dell!!!
<Freac> Mr. Allston, what's your favorite book of all time?
* lissy pats her trusty dell on the head
<JoshC> Dude!! I'm gonna run that guy over with my truck!!!
<Shelonei> sorry, that guy makes me think of Bill from Bill and Ted's excellent adventure.
<ChronoJN> Is it just me, or is that Steven guy getting a git old now?
<swboy> ever see the tech tv parody of that comercial?
<Kelly> i LIKE that guy!
<ChronoJN> yeah.
<EwokBrad> he got a little old the second commercial, Chrono
<Allston> Freac: I don't know that I have a favorite. My tastes change over the years, and things I loved when I was a teen I remember fondly, but can't bear to read, today.
<Peps> Aaron which movie do you like the best, Star Wars or LOTR ?
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<JoshC> I know no one who works for Dell who likes him, except in Sales.
<Shelonei> I keep waiting for him to go "WILD STALLIONS!"
<EwokBrad> no Shel, it's WYLD! Git it rite!!
<Sabrina> Peps: aw...how can you choose!
<Allston> Peps: Empire Strikes Back. <g> I'd say Star Wars, because it appeals to my love of the hero-pulps and Republic serials.
<Sabrina> its like apples and oranges!
<Freac> esb is the best!!!
<Shelonei> sorry... :P I'm a bit on the tired side
<code_404> i have a friend who named his two cats bill and ted ....wyld kyttyns
<code_404> its very strange
<EwokBrad> ROTJ is the best! :D
<code_404> hehe
<Kelly> Aaron, have you ever given any thought to writing fiction to post on your web page?
<Sabrina> LOL
<Shelonei> YAY ESB!
<Sabrina> woohoo ESB :)
<Shelonei> *chuckle*
<Allston> Kelly: I've thought about it, but haven't concluded that it would serve any purpose yet.
<ReaperFett> Oops, 4AM :). Before I go, thanks for that chat, it's been fun to read :)
<Annallisa> how can you say that Brad??? RotJ had EWOKS... <shudder>
<EwokBrad> Ewoks rock
<Allston> Take care, Reaper.
<JoshC> Exactly!
<JoshC> Ewoks rock!!
<ChronoJN> Aaron: Are you for or against eBooks and eLiteraure in general?
<Kelly> of course, there IS the download of Doc Sidhe
* EwokBrad points to his name, duh
<WEBjenn> It would serve to give us more to read.
<Shelonei> Ewoks... yummmmm
<Freac> i think doc sidhe is online
<EwokBrad> I was the target audience for the Ewoks, so I like them a lot :)
<Sabrina> i should dig out the link for the Baen Free library
<Freac> if i remember correctly
<ChronoJN> yep. Downloaded, just haven't read it yet.
<ProphetKristy> Well, that is literally true....Ewoks *do* "rock"
<Kelly> speaking of which, i know how to pronounce sidhe, but not Daoine
<Shelonei> hehe.
<Kelly> the link is on aaron's page
<Shelonei> They log too.
* Kelly points to topic for link to said page.
<Allston> Chrono: I'm not opposed to them, but I don't think they're right for me just yet.
<ProphetKristy> Kelly: I should knoe Daoine, but....I don't.
<Peps> Aaron, Then why exactly ESB, why not the new ones(i think that they are all equally great...)
<Annallisa> Aaron doesn' want to starve to death, I'm sure
<Allston> Kelly: Depends on the brand of Celtic child language you speak. Two correct pronunciations appear to be "thee-na" and "doo-uh-nuh."
<Sabrina> Aaron: would you mind if I posted the link to the Baen Free Library in channel?
<ChronoJN> It's interesting to see different authors takes on the subject. Some are totally for it, some are totally against it. I am completely for it, but only as a source of more immediate availability. Then again, I'm also a technology freak, and love anything new. <g>
<EwokBrad> oops :)
<Kelly> would never have guessed...
<code_404> big furry paws have problems with x buttons ...
<Banshee> rofl
<Allston> Peps: ESB is the one of the five movies that has the most proficient character development, the greatest emotional depth. It just speaks to me more than any of the others.
<Allston> Sabrina: No, go ahead.
<EwokBrad> actually, I closed another program, and PIRCH went with it for some reason :(
* Shelonei applauds
<WEBjenn> Plus Janson is in ESB
<Peps> maybe right
<lissy> WES!
<lissy> and hobbie!
<Shelonei> and HOBBie!!!!!
<Shelonei> HEHE
<ChicagoCubs> Aaron: What TV shows do you watch?
* ChronoJN absolutely loves Trillian.
<PB> Good night, everybody and thanks!
* Shelonei high fives lissy
<Sabrina> ok for anyone who has not read Doc Sidhe yet, it's avaialbe at the Baen Free Library http://www.baen.com/library/
<Kelly> i feel deprived. Corran's not in SW movies. 8(
<Sabrina> so go read it <G>
<Annallisa> night peebs
<Kelly> then go buy Sidhe Devil
<Allston> ChicagoCubs: Junkyard Wars. Sometimes Buffy: tVS. And my tremendous collection of MST3K tapes and DVDs.
<Sabrina> what Kelly said :)
<Banshee> kelly: neither is Tych
<EwokBrad> ooh, MST3K... :D
<Freac> buffy...=)
<Kelly> well, you can point to his awing
<lissy> yeah! junkyard wars
<Kelly> i love MST
<WEBjenn> excuse me, I have to go toss a cudgel...
<JoshC> Woohoo Buffy!!
<Shelonei> Aaron'd get along with the Hobbit - he loves MST3K too.....
<Kelly> need more eps...
<Annallisa> he watches Buffy??!!
<Allston> I used to watch Law & Order, think very well of it, but I don't have much time for TV.
<Shelonei> gasp!
<ChronoJN> Aaron: If you could fly any ship in the SW universe, which would it be?
<JoshC> Now you're my hero all over again!
<Shelonei> ROFL
<lissy> speaking of which is on in a few
* Shelonei feels bad, she's only seen buffy... uhm... twice?
<Allston> Chrono: The gravy train -- you know, the source of all Star Wars money. <g>
<Peps> Well, I think im off to bed the time is 5:09 am here, Cya all
<ChronoJN> ROFL.
<ProphetKristy> lol
<lissy> don't shel- never for this girl
<Allston> Adios, Peps.
<Shelonei> g'nite peps!
<ChronoJN> yeah, you guys don't get nearly enough of that.
<Freac> Mr. Allston, one thing I love about your Wraith Squadron novels is that they're about imperfect people who don't necessarily want to be heroes. Is there any reason why you started out with misfits and pariahs of society?
<Sabrina> Shel: s'ok, ive seen NOTHING of buffy past the original movie
<Kelly> thanks for coming, peps
<Shelonei> Lissy: oops, sorry
<Shelonei> thanks sabs
<ChronoJN> although, about a hundred free SW books has to count for SOMETHING. <g>
<Kelly> nice to see a book on misfits. many want to write about more popular, well-known people, or write the misfits as not really being misfits
<Sabrina> even though they play it almost every other hour here
<Allston> Freac: Hard to say. I've always been something of a misfit myself, and so can identify with them better than the clean-cut, upright, student council types. I also like the broader perspective one gets from growing up in a society's outskirts and think it makes for more interesting characters.
<lissy> amen
<Kelly> bye bye, preppy
<Freac> the ability to build heroes from the ground up?
<Banshee> good point
<Annallisa> Buffy= cute, blonde, kicks butt what more could a guy asl for, eh?
<code_404> a moonbase?
<Allston> Freac: Well, I don't think of the characters as heroes. I like to say that Mike's characters do what they do because they're heroes and mine are heroes because they do what they do.
<Shelonei> well put
<Freac> =)
<ProphetKristy> oooh, cool take.
<Cris> very nicely put
<Sabrina> ooh!
<Kelly> kind of like a parallel between sport stars being considered heroes while the real heroes are normally not recognized (firefighters and such)?
<Banshee> true
<ChronoJN> I can just see Aaron's little black book, filled with phone numbers and emails of other authors. <g>
<Doc> and how long did it take you to come upi with *that*? ;)
<Allston> Chrono: Little black book? That's analogue. I prefer digital. Little black PDA.
<ProphetKristy> rotfl
<Doc> and more importantly which sort do you think wedge is?
<ChronoJN> ah. What kind, Aaron? I use an iPaq.
<Shelonei> *snigger*]
<Sabrina> LOL
<Banshee> yeah iPac's
<Allston> Chrono: Clie T615C.
<ChronoJN> ah. very nice.
* Sabrina still can't figure out Palm Scrawl...
<Shelonei> oh, that's a great question Doc... *waits curiously*
<Sabrina> but then most ppl cant figure out my handwriting, so i guess fair is fiar
<Sabrina> er..fair
<ChronoJN> ROFL.
<Kelly> or your typing...8)
<Sabrina> that too
<Shelonei> Sabs: best way to write "secret" notes....
<Allston> Doc: Well, in Mike's books, he's one way, and in my books, he's the other way. <g> The analysis of a thing is not the same as the thing itself, so Wedge is neither what Mike thinks he is nor what I think he is. We both just have the opportunity to approximate him sometimes.
<Kelly> but both of you hit wedge dead on, imo
<Shelonei> Wedge is TAWG.... he's unfathomable *G*
<Allston> Thanks, Kelly.
<Sabrina> ill drink to that Kelly :)
<lissy> i agree
<Shelonei> yeah, I
<Shelonei> l agree with kelly!
<EwokBrad> Jornada rules!
<Banshee> TAWG!!!
* EwokBrad is slow with his PDA comment :)
* ProphetKristy elevates Shel to Acolyte
<ChronoJN> Aaron: I loved the way you took out Czulkang Lah. (can never spell that)
<Kelly> one of my fave scenes with wedge of all time is in Iron Fist, after Castin dies. Telling Face the intellectual thing, and then throwing stuff off his desk when Face leaves.
<Shelonei> ooOOoo, I feel special now *glows*
<ChronoJN> Brad, I used to have a Jornada, but they're discontinuing them in favor of the ipaq
<Allston> Chrono: Well, I thought he deserved a big finish.
<JoshC> Yuck. My cat needs a drool cup.
<ChronoJN> it really worked well.
<ProphetKristy> Ohyeah Kelly! Though even better was the mutiny. :o)
<ChicagoCubs> Aaron: Who is the hardest character to write?
<ProphetKristy> Aww, poor Rogue!
<Kelly> which mutiny?
<Shelonei> tie a napkin around Roguies neck.
<ProphetKristy> Solo Command, Kel
<EwokBrad> are they really? That's very stupid. The Ipaq looks like a toy, and doesn't have ANY advantages over the Jornada anymore
<Kelly> he's been involved in a couple
<Kelly> my mind went blank, kristy
<Allston> Kelly: Yeah, I liked that scene as well. Wedge has something of a savior complex, and that means he can't be his real self with very many people. Iella, Tycho, Wes, Hobbie... that's about it.
<ChronoJN> Aaron: I just looked up your model. That's a really nice Clie. That's the one I was considering switching. to.
<ChronoJN> but they're selling better, Brad. That's the main reason, probably.
<Kelly> and Wes showed up at the perfect time right after that. As you said, one of the few he can be himself around.
<ChronoJN> man, weird talking to someone named Brad. That's my name. <g>
<Shelonei> yep
<EwokBrad> Well, if they merge the design of the Jornada into the Ipaq line, I won't mind
<Allston> ChicagoCubs: For me, the hardest character may be Corran. That's one reason why you see so little of him in my books. I don't have a feel for him, and consequently can't do him proper service.
<ChronoJN> you never know, it's the NEW HP
<Annallisa> but does the clie double as a cell phone? gotta have the cell phone
* ChronoJN drips sarcasm in his voice.
<ChronoJN> errr. fingers.
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<ChronoJN> Gotta get a Treo for that.
<ChronoJN> Aaron: Got a cell phone? If so, which service provider?
<WEBjenn> I loved the scene where Face brought Iella & the kids to Borleias. With the way NJO is going I was afraid they hadn't made it off Coruscant.
<Annallisa> think I can get a treo as a babyshower gift?
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<Allston> Chrono: I'm very pleased with the Clie T-series, but until there's a folding keyboard available for it, I won't be completely satisfied.
<Kelly> i respect that, Aaron. If you don't feel you can do something justice, don't overkill it. 8)
<JoshC> And what's the phone number? ;)
<ChronoJN> well, you could get the new $600 one that has a keyboard built in. <g>
<EwokBrad> the Clie is based on Palm?
<Allston> Chrono: No cell phone. Not fond of leashes of any sort. I don't usually even answer my house phone. Caller ID and answering machines are my friends.
<ChronoJN> ROFL.
<Annallisa> nice try Josh...
* Shelonei thwaps JoshC with a fluffy ol towel
* ProphetKristy seconds Aaron's thought about cell phones!!!
<JoshC> Damn, Aaron, you're just like me. :)
* Sabrina does not like phones either...
<Allston> Chrono: The built-in keyboard is a thumboard; I need something touch-typable.
<Kelly> i own a cell phone under duress. and only in use for emergencies.
<Kelly> only my parents have the number.
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<ChronoJN> I know the feeling.
<Doc> someone else without a mobile - wow
<EwokBrad> I prefer the Pocket PC devices, I've got the Star Wars trilogy in video that I can watch on my Jornada
<JoshC> You're husband doesn't know it??
<Sabrina> mainly because i am forever answering them all day
* Shelonei doesn't have a mobile phone either!
<ProphetKristy> Aaron, did you ever consider actually using a superweapon in Rebel Stand? You actually had me going for a while on the pipefighters!
<lissy> why you think i get online? ties up phone lines nicely :)
<Kelly> i know the feeling, lissy
<Allston> Kristy: Never, never, never. It was planned as a hoax from the very first word on the first draft of the outline.
<Doc> lusankya - spikey ain't a superweapon?!
<Shelonei> *chuckle*
<EwokBrad> I knew that was EXACTLY what the Pipefighter thing was from Rebel Dream, a hoax using a second firing platform :D
<ProphetKristy> ahh, good. I was certain you wouldn't go for that out ;-)
<Sabrina> but a Sneaky hoax...I like sneaky hoaxes <G>
<Annallisa> you might want to get a pager for the ball and chain later on, Shel... but mine won't carry one
<ProphetKristy> It was very sneaky!!
<ChronoJN> Aaron: XP or 98?
<JoshC> With a new 2200??
<JoshC> XP!
<JoshC> :)
<EwokBrad> gotta go XP or 2000
<ChronoJN> hehe.
<ProphetKristy> Me!
<Allston> Good for you, Brad. <g> I knew some people would see through it, but I'm glad to have fooled others.
<Freac> I was reading about the pipefighters and going "he wouldn't...he wouldn't.."
<EwokBrad> 95/98/Me is just a big pile o' crap :)
* ProphetKristy 's very gullible ;-)
<Shelonei> Annallisa: I'm planning on it... now I just have to convince HIM
<Allston> Chrono: XP on the desktop, 98 on the laptops.
<Kelly> i really had no clue what the plan was with the pipefighters. was willing just to wait and see
<ChronoJN> ah.
<Shelonei> if for no other reason than we hafve only one car, and he's got it.
<ProphetKristy> But he uses WordPerfect! that's awesome!!!
<Annallisa> MEN! staple the pager to his forehead
<EwokBrad> actually, After Rebel Dream, I thought it would be that way, but as Rebel Stand progressed, I began to be convinced that the Pipefighter deal was for real
* JoshC slaps ProphetKristy around a bit with a large trout
<Shelonei> LOL.
<Shelonei> Anna: it's more that we're not sure if we've got the money for such a contraption.
<Allston> I'm very fond of WordPerfect. It's just suited to the way I write and organize.
<ProphetKristy> Brad: me, too.
<ChronoJN> Aaron: I liked the way you took out Shesh, too. I thought it was pretty fitting for her ending.
<EwokBrad> Right up until the fake lambent shards were seen :)
<ProphetKristy> Having grown up with WordPerfect, and having my mom go to all their meetings and thus know how to do *everything* with WP, I love it.
<Kelly> "No one can take out Viqi Shesh. No one except Viqi Shesh. You don't believe me? Just watch. WHEEEEE!"
<Kelly> i can't help it. i found it funny.
<Allston> Thanks, Chrono. I know that some people are unhappy that she killed herself rather than wait to be cut down by Mara or someone, and others think she somehow survived, but I thought that would be the best death for her.
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<ProphetKristy> And good riddance!!
<Freac> I think she was trying to evoke sympathy with the suicide
<Freac> (didn't work)
<Kelly> not on my end, freac. 8)
<ChronoJN> well, some people think Anakin Skywalker is coming back. I'm sorry, but I don't buy it.
<lissy> AAAAAAAAAAAAAH! i gotta finish the booooook!
<Freac> ah, Viqi Shesh
<EwokBrad> I thought it was a good way for her to die, too. It's another example of her arrogance. The only one that can get rid of her is herself.
<Allston> No, she was showing contempt. One of her favorite hobbies.
<ChronoJN> Not until it happens, if it does.
<EwokBrad> Anakin Solo, Chrono?
<Shelonei> heh
<ChronoJN> oops. Yeah, sorry.
<Kelly> Skywalker?
<EwokBrad> heheh
<ChronoJN> AOTC on the brain. <g>
<ProphetKristy> chrono: that would be lame!
<swboy> so shesreally dead?
<Kelly> yes, brad
<Shelonei> you think?
<Annallisa> He's dead, Jim
<Shelonei> heh.
<Banshee> rofl
<EwokBrad> If they did bring Anakin back, it would have to be a REALLY REALLY good explanation
<swboy> they shouldn't
<ChronoJN> Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not an anesthesiologist. <g>
<ChronoJN> I have NO idea how to spell that.
<Shelonei> the only way they could possibly get away with it, is if he was a part of the Blue Aura Club.... otherwise pfft!
<ProphetKristy> that was good, Chrono
<ProphetKristy> (says the biology geek)
<ChronoJN> LOL. Thanks Kristy.
<Freac> maybe Anakin Solo will be reincarnated into a pineapple
<Banshee> considering they burned the body
<ChronoJN> did I spell that right?
<Kelly> they did
<ProphetKristy> A pineapple. rotfl!
<Kelly> i think there's another a in there, chrono
<EwokBrad> ya, I wouldn't mind seeing Anakin as a blue specter
<ChronoJN> ah.
<Shelonei> *chuckle*
<EwokBrad> maybe at the end of NJO, as a bit of closure
<Kelly> anesthaesiologist. not positive, though
<Annallisa> If only for the sake of poor Tahiri
<Freac> do you like to eat pineapples, Mr. Allston?
<Shelonei> the death was too, powerful... if they negate it by bringing him back, that's pointless.
<Kelly> anakin solo should stay dead, imo
<Shelonei> Sleep doctor *G*
<EwokBrad> Freac, EVERYONE likes pineapples!! :)
<ChronoJN> I thought Anakin's death was well done.
<Sabrina> Brad:yeah: he could stand next to his Grandad and tell Luke: "You know, it must skip a generation or something"
<Thrawn> i asked the anakin question before ... he answered it pretty nicely
<Shelonei> yummm
<ProphetKristy> Kelly: British spelling ;-)
<Kelly> and i'm not even british. 8)
<ChronoJN> Aaron: favorite meal?
<ChicagoCubs> If they brought back Anakin Solo, they could bring back anybody. Heck, even the emperor.
<Allston> Freac: I get along just fine with pineapples. So long as they stay in their place, which is on plates, in fruit cocktails, etc.
<ChronoJN> Cubs: they've done that. Several times.
<Freac> last meal? *proffers a tray of weapons*
<Doc> don't think we have 'em over here kelly
<Kelly> i still refuse to acknowledge the Emperor was ever brought back.
<Allston> Chrono: Favorite meal: King's Ranch Casserole.
<EwokBrad> Aaron: Favorite Beatle?
<Kelly> should not have been done
<ChicagoCubs> Yoko Ono
<Kelly> negates Anakin Skywalker's sacrifice
<Allston> Brad: No favorite Beatle. Though I feel a special pang for John Lennon, who was murdered on my 20th birthday.
<Sabrina> Aaron: King's Ranch Casserole? what is in it?
<ProphetKristy> eeep
<EwokBrad> :o
<Shelonei> true kelly
<Freac> meef
<Shelonei> *hugs aaron*
<EwokBrad> Aaron: Favorite marsupial?
<Annallisa> who comes up with these questions <eg>
* EwokBrad is subtly mocking Chrono, incase it's too subtle ;)
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<Allston> Sabrina: It's a mixtue of chicken breast meat, tortilla chips, salsa-based sauce, and cheese. Extremely unhealthy. <g>
<ChronoJN> hey, doesn't hurt to be curious.
<Shelonei> YUMMY
<Annallisa> next he'll be asking boxers or briefs
<Shelonei> great, now I'm craving it *sigh* good thing the grocer's opena ll night *G*
<Kelly> NOOO!@
<Allston> Shel: You can probably find a recipe online. But I understand (since I don't cook) that it's a lot of preparation work. I only get it on my birthday.
<Shelonei> awww *hugs*
<Annallisa> HEY! we call that chicken enchilada casserole here
<ProphetKristy> Well, we could ask if *wedge* is boxers or briefs. ;-)
<JoshC> I can make that!
<ChronoJN> ROFL.
<JoshC> Tracy likes that stuff. :)
<ChicagoCubs> Aaron: Are there any spoilers that you can give us, no matter how small or insignificant?
<Sabrina> unhealthy! I love it!
<Freac> Wedge's a fighter pilot...those orange uniforms..
<Shelonei> yeah, but I tend to make expansive stuff on whims anyhow... I would have everything I need if I were home, but I'm housesitting.
<Sabrina> gotta try making that one of these days!
<Shelonei> I like orange!@
<Freac> me too
<JoshC> Shel: Ask your former roommate about the stuff. :)
<Allston> ChicagoCubs: Only one. At Celebration II, at one of the panels I was on, we were asked if the Wraiths would be appearing in future books. I didn't know, but James Luceno said that yes, they were.
<Shelonei> Josh: IU'll try to rmemeber.
<Sabrina> Aaron: Kind of sounds like what I do with leftover sloppy joe meat tho
<Kelly> yay!
<Shelonei> Josh: maybe when I come to Nashvegas and can actually STAy, you can cook *G*
<Freac> well...spoiler:S Luke dies, leia dies, everyone dies, cuz it was all long time ago in this galaxy far far away
<JoshC> Me? I don't cook. Never cook.
<EwokBrad> whoo hoo! Go Wraiths!
<Shelonei> YEAH!
<Freac> but not yet
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<JoshC> :)
<ProphetKristy> Ooh!
<Freac> WRAITHS!!! yes!
<Shelonei> LOL
<Sabrina> only with green onions added...bwahahaha!
<Shelonei> everyone dies... yep.
<ProphetKristy> I missed that panel :-(
<Shelonei> death taxes and badguys.
<Sabrina> Shel: sounds like Shakespeare
* EwokBrad missed that Celebration :(
<Banshee> taxes=4 letter word
<Shelonei> heh.
<Allston> Kristy: Yeah, too much to do at Celebration II to see everything you wanted to... that applied to me as well.
<lissy> that's b/c you're an accountant banshee
<ProphetKristy> I almost missed the one I actually was at, seeing as how the rent a cops were grumpy.
<Shelonei> PK, at least we gotta see Aaron!
<Shelonei> *grins*
<Shelonei> brb.
<ProphetKristy> Aaron: definitely, because we really wanted to kidnap and feed you (and pick your brain)!
<ProphetKristy> There's always Celebration III :o)
<EwokBrad> whoa, did anyone see that footage of the C-130 tanker plane with it's wings snapping off?
<ChronoJN> Aaron: do you get treated to dinner frequently by fans, or do you shy away from them at Cons?
<Sabrina> im going to Celebration III! (if i can afford it)
<Kelly> i think i did
<Annallisa> Yep...
<EwokBrad> scary
<Allston> Kristy: I was sleep-deprived, on deadline with a writing project, and somewhat incoherent from days before Celebration to a day or two after AotC premiered, so there wouldn't have been much to pick out of my brain.
<EwokBrad> Alli, are those the kind of planes they load the Lil' Lisa Slurry in?
<Sabrina> Brad: yeah...they play it on the news alot here...creepy
<Annallisa> I saw it... it was chilling
<Banshee> Brad: yes, taking flight lessons. teacher kept showing it in ground school
<ProphetKristy> Yes, you are, Sabs! You're not wriggling out of another one!
<Sabrina> PK: can i sleep on the floor of your hotel room then?
<Annallisa> yes my husband makes the slurry that turns the planes all red
<ProphetKristy> Aaron: eh, well. glad to know you're back to normal. And *very* glad to meet you at CII
<Allston> Chrono: I sometimes go to dinner with fans I've known for some time, particularly with groups I've interacted with over months or years. If it's fans I don't personally know, I usually decline politely.
<EwokBrad> is the slurry made out of liquified aquatic life?
<EwokBrad> Kristy and me went to dinner with Mike :D
<JoshC> So is AFW in the former category? :)
<Allston> Kristy: Well, "normal" is a relative measurement. <g>
<ProphetKristy> true, Aaron ;-)
<ChronoJN> Aaron: another little thing I've noticed. There seems to be a sudden abundance in the appearance of "chronos" in the NJO. Any idea how that happened? <g>
<Annallisa> no, dear, it is made of fertilizer so someday the ewoks will get their trees back
<Allston> Josh: Certainly. As Dragon*Con proved a couple of years back.
<JoshC> Couple of years? that was less than a year ago. :p
<JoshC> You HAVE been busy this year.
<JoshC> :)
<Kelly> yes, chrono, and he named Kell after me. 8)
<ChronoJN> Aaron: You probably know Kris Boldis on a personal level? He's a pretty good guy.
<Allston> Chrono: My guess is that there are more military-style activities taking place, which require precise time coordination. When Luke is on his own exploring a new planet, he doesn't need to look at his watch every twenty minutes.
<ChronoJN> ROFL. Just asking.
<Kelly> considering i didn't even read SW when those books first came out.
<Allston> Josh: You're right. My time sense has been screwed up for a while. (I was *really* sleep-deprived at last Dragon*Con -- I got less than eight hours of sleep across the entire con.)
<Shelonei> Dragon * Con...
<Shelonei> DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!
<ProphetKristy> Aaron, how do you decide who to put in the Dramatic Personae for the books? It seems like the NJO versions are leaving many seemingly important characters out.
<Allston> Chrono: I only know him through e-mail.
<Shelonei> (sorry, but if I didn't call you daddy even once tonite, I'd kick myself foreverness)
<EwokBrad> really, Kelly? :O I thought you've been reading SW books since the early 90s?
<Kelly> no. read HTTE when it first came out, but then didn't read anything else until TPM came out
<EwokBrad> :O
<EwokBrad> Kelly is a sinner!
<Kelly> i'm a bad girl
<Allston> Kristy: Well, in the case of my books, "mistakes were made." With RD, for instance, I assembled the Dramatis Personae once Chapter 1 was written, then failed to update it when the book was completed, which is the only reason Han and Leia were left out.
* EwokBrad shuns Kelly
<ProphetKristy> Brad, I haven't read them *all*, either.
* EwokBrad shuns Kristy too
<Kelly> i think i didn't read anything else because Chewie's not one of my faves, and i thought they spent too much time on Kashyyyk in that book.
<Allston> Shel: <g>
* EwokBrad shuns Chrono, just for fun
* ProphetKristy thwaps Brad with a gooberfish <><
<Kelly> upon rereading it, i don't think the time spent on Kashyyyk is THAT much, considering
* JoshC slaps EwokBrad around a bit with a large trout
<Annallisa> I know... I should read HTTE to the baby in utero
<Kelly> and i still haven't read EVERYTHING ever released. don't intend to
<ProphetKristy> Yes you should Alli!
<ChronoJN> nah, read it Starfighters of Adumar.
<Kelly> watch the trilogy so the baby can hear it
<ChronoJN> It'll have a good sense of humor.
<Annallisa> I used to read the good parts to my little brother before bed
<Banshee> well, got an early class so time for me to say night
<Allston> Adios, Banshee.
<Kelly> night, banshee
<Shelonei> I finally got to read Adumar to the Hobbit... he liked it *chuckle*
<Banshee> Aaron: thank you very much for stopping bye, look forard to trying to get to austin in august
<Allston> Shel: Ah, good.
<ProphetKristy> Who wouldn't like Adumar? ;-)
<lissy> by banshee
* lissy drops letters all over the floor
<Allston> Banshee: Best of luck.
<Freac> i wouldn't like to live on adumar
<Shelonei> It was really funny, cause even before I read the book to him, he was doing things in it.... very disconcerting *chuckle*
<Doc> eh?
<Kelly> so you said you're going to GenCon on your page, Aaron?
<Doc> like wwhaa?
<Allston> Kelly: That's right. My plans are somewhat unstructured right now, but I'll be there.
* Kelly grins.
<Shelonei> Doc: well, he's got this flashlight that's light blue, and a little short thing... I have a princess leia standup that no matter where you are it looks like she's shooting you...... he gets really tired and one night he was "shooting" her with this little flashlight.
<ChronoJN> Aaron: I remember when the X-Wing books first came out, I was really disappointed when I saw a different author haflway through the series, but after reading Wraith Squadron, I was hooked on your work.
<Kelly> so will i
<Doc> rotf!
<lissy> so will you what kelly? <G>
<Allston> Chrono: I'm always glad to hear that. <g> And I definitely was worried about whether I'd appeal to Mike's fans.
<Kelly> i will be at GenCon, lissy
<Shelonei> (of course this is the man who thinks he's got west nile virus whenever he gets mesquito bit... *shakes head*)
<Doc> i hope you call him 'bugbite'!
<Cris> Aaron, I'm with Chrono; it was Wraith Squadron that really hooked me into the X-Wing series. So, many compliments :)
<Allston> Mesquitos! The blood-sucking trees of West Texas!
<Shelonei> well, after I read the story, I did... *chuckel*
<ChronoJN> you created your own fans from that seres. It was a great job. I have a lot of respect for authors who can finish novels at all, let alone take over a series for someone so successfully.
<Shelonei> (but only when he brigns it up)
* Kelly shudders at the mention of the "m" word.
<Freac> I tortured one of my friends into reading Wraith squadron, and he finally did and really enjoyed it
<Sabrina> Personally I was hooked into the Xwing series with the first books and comics...Aaron's books just hooked me even more
<Annallisa> Aaron I was confined to bed when the second wraith book came out and I would never have made it without your book and I, Jedi to keep me occupied
* Shelonei looks at timepiece and grins "Alisky should be back fromwork in about half an hour, if we're lucky!"
<ChronoJN> ROFL.
<Freac> (actually in the middle of torturing another friend into the same thing)
<ChronoJN> Aaron: Your books saved my life!!! <g>
<Shelonei> aww! *hugs annallisa*
<Allston> I'm glad they helped, Annallisa.
<Kelly> i've read the series to my dad. he enjoyed it
<Allston> How's that, Chrono? "Well, we were in 'Nam, and I was hit and went down, and one of your books crawled through a rice paddy to me..."
<Annallisa> I'm not just say that either, I need some laughs cause it was after I lost my first baby and I was seriously depressed
<Freac> this dark man froze me in carbonite and then this other really handsome guy ambled along and read me Allston's books, and the carbonite melted...your books saved my life, too!
<Shelonei> BOL!
* Kelly rotfl at Aaron.
<ChronoJN> LOL. Yeah, exactly.
<Sabrina> I was trapped in an Xwing cockpit one day and through your books was able to fly myself through a battle to safety!
<Shelonei> *hugs Annallisa*
<ChronoJN> hehe.
<Shelonei> nowTHAT has to be a quote somjewhere., Sagbs
<Shelonei> er *frowns at keybard*
* ProphetKristy points to Alli's tummy and grins
<Kelly> "Everything I Needed To Know I Learned From Wraith Squadron..."
<Doc> Aaron; they may not have saved my life but they *did* get me into all sorts of trouble in lectures
<lissy> hey- i'm with alli- got me thru a bad marraige. escape is sometimes the only way
<Doc> your books that is..
<Sabrina> heheh..this is starting to sound like those "Worst Case Scenario Survival Guide" books
<JoshC> They got me through a very bad breakup.
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<Allston> Doc: Ah, good. I'm always cheered to hear they got people stared at in lecture halls. Or caused people to fall out of chairs or off bus seat.
<ProphetKristy> I just plain loved them, so there. ;-P
<Allston> Er, seats.
<JoshC> And your new ones are getting me through a very GOOD time in a new relationship, so hey... :)
<Shelonei> They got me through serious homesickness *nodnod8
<EwokBrad> well, the SW books have gotten me through 21 years of having no social life :(
<lissy> lol brad
<WEBjenn> Well, my daughter wanted to use the "Antilles 4-step instant speech" guidelines for her graduation yesterday...
<Kelly> i was very fortunate i was alone when i started reading SoA...
<Doc> stared at? Aaron, i was thrown out!
<Freac> They made me crack up in class once and the teacher got bad
<Sabrina> Aaron: I missed my subway stop while reading Rebel Stand because I was so engrossed in it, does that count?
<Shelonei> that's a great idea WEBjenn
<Allston> Sabrina: That does. Anything from inconvenience to physical pain counts.
<Shelonei> LOL, Doc
<Sabrina> Jenn: LOL :)
<Doc> hey, that Antilles 4-step instant speech really works!
<lissy> yes it does
<Freac> it's magical
<ChronoJN> Aaron: You need to get them to let you write a HC SW novel, so it'll be worth the $26
<Kelly> Does this say something about me? It was my second day of class today, and I've already doodled Wedge in my note margin.
<ProphetKristy> physical pain, emotional pain...
<Allston> Cool. I never playtested it, actually. It just seemed logical. <g>
<WEBjenn> I wished they'd used it. The speeches were looooooooooooooong
<lissy> used it at a united way function
<Sabrina> Chrono *cough* $42 *cough*
<Kelly> drew him, that is
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<Shelonei> hehe, cool Kelly
<ChronoJN> yeah, $42 in Canada. Even worse.
<lissy> ouch!
* ProphetKristy soothes Sabrina's ruffled economy.
<Freac> you could start a video series about the 4 step instant speech, mr, allston!
<Shelonei> back when I was in college I used to doodle chewie and ewoks.....
<lissy> oh!
<Kelly> my first SW doodle...8)
<Sabrina> then again I do get that wonderful Staff Discount <G>
* ChronoJN loves Wal-Mart. I picked up both RD and RS two days early each time.
<lissy> aaron... do you have a say in the audio books?
<Shelonei> yay kelly!
<Kelly> i was quite proud. then again, i have never been into SW when in school before.
<Allston> Lissy: The only thing I do with the audiobooks is, once per book, we have a long phone call where I pronounce strange words for the audiobook line director.
<Kelly> I'd love to read the audiobooks for them...
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<Shelonei> neat. When I was in school, the SE came out... even got one of the teachers to dress up for the occasion.
<lissy> oh. i was dissapointed in the way SoA was audio-ized....
<JoshC> Shel, you had much weirder Star Wars things than that. Some people I'm very close to have post traumatic stress disorder cause of you and your SW stuff in college. :
<JoshC> :)
<EwokBrad> I wish they'd do more full-cast audio books :D
<Sabrina> Chrono: just last year it was $40 also....and its not even just the exchange rate anymore...they are cutting the print runs to canada, so the unit costs go up
<lissy> i felt like alot of the subltle humor was gone
<lissy> unabridged!
<ChronoJN> Aaron: Do you constantly get people coming up to you mis-pronouncing names and the way you write them?
<Sabrina> Brad: yes! with a soundtrack by John Williams!
<Kelly> of course, unabridged
<Shelonei> *thwap* Josh... I wasn't THAT bad..... mostly
<Sabrina> an ORIGINAL soundtrack
<Freac> with a theme for Lt. Kettch
<Annallisa> not audio books.... radio dramas
<Freac> television shows
<Allston> Chrono: Well, it happens, though usually I find some way to pronounce the same words in the conversation, and they usually adopt that pronuncation. Of course, the most common misspelling online is "Rouge Squadron," the makeup avengers.
<Kelly> ok...let's start our casting for radio dramas. they can pick from us
<Freac> 3 picture movie deal...
<Sabrina> LOL
<ChronoJN> LOL.
* Kelly cringes.
<JoshC> Shel: Tracy still has nightmares about your Princess Leia standup! :P
<WEBjenn> Rouge: Ain't that the truth
<Shelonei> heh, yeah, there's gotta be a fic somewhere where they make fun of that...
<Shelonei> Well, she's got that in common with Clark!
<Sabrina> Shel: if not, ill write it..eventually
<WEBjenn> Tons of "rouge"-fic
<Shelonei> it wasn't that bad... *sniffle8
<Doc> *ouch*! plot bunny strikes...
<ChronoJN> Well, I remember always saying Corran as "Core - Ran" and then to here Mike say "Core-Ren" threw me all off.
<Shelonei> *THWUMP!*
<ProphetKristy> "Hey Wedge, that eyeliner makes you look like a whore" (from RASSM, long ago)
<Shelonei> I got it right, yay!
<EwokBrad> Cor-Ren??
<Sabrina> I always pronounced it Cor-rin myself Chrono
<WEBjenn> PK: Yeah! I remember that!
<Doc> i got it wrong. darn.
<ChronoJN> that's the way Mike pronounced it.
<Kelly> I'm still trying to figure out how to pronounce some names. from everyone's books
<EwokBrad> dats crazy, should be pronounced Cor-ran :)
<Kelly> you're right, sabs
<WEBjenn> I saw a recent one with Gavin, & wanted to say that RASSM quote.
<Shelonei> insane obsession with language helps on that sometimes, Kelly.
<ChronoJN> LOL. Aaron: maybe you can help settle it, how do you pronounce Corran?
<Freac> i'm still not sure how to pronounce Han
<Sabrina> but then I also pronounce Tycho Ty-Ko
<ChronoJN> HON
<EwokBrad> Hawn
<Sabrina> HAHN
<ChronoJN> not hand solo. <g>
<ProphetKristy> Sabs: that's how Mike says it.
<Allston> Chrono: I pronounce it KOR-un.
<Kelly> It is Tyko, sabs
<Freac> but some people say HAN(d)
<Shelonei> liek Harrison Ford says it *G* not like Lando says it *frown*
<ChronoJN> so same way Mike does.
<Kelly> like Tycho Brahe, the astronomer
<EwokBrad> Han himself pronounces it as Hawn
<Shelonei> is it sel-ku ?
<Sabrina> and for me his last name is Chel-ku
<Freac> oh
<Doc> no, the astronomer is tee - ko
<Freac> Sell-Chew
<Kelly> i pronounce it like hans, minus the s
<EwokBrad> Kor-un isn't the same as Kor-en :P
<Allston> Shel: It's SEL-ku, I think.
<ProphetKristy> That's always bothered me about SW: they should have at *least* ironed out pronounciation consistancies for people who should know.
<Kelly> oh. sorry, doc
<ChronoJN> Sell - chew. That's how I pronounce it.
<Doc> and mike says celchu selku
<EwokBrad> Kor-un, I can understand :)
<ProphetKristy> Shel: yup
<Shelonei> cool, thanks! that's one that I've wondered.
<EwokBrad> yikes, I've been pronounces that as Cel-Chew too
<Freac> there's a pronounciation guide in the essential guide to characters, isn't there?
<Kelly> I've pronounced it both ways
<lissy> that's why i like hobbie. hob- ee
<ChronoJN> LOL.
<Doc> kelly, don't apologise!
<Shelonei> *giggle
<Sabrina> Freak: yeah but alot of characters from the old edition are not in the new one
<Kelly> Celchu is SELLchu in the Guide
<Freac> it could be Ho (like hopeless) Bee
<Allston> Kristy: Now, think about it. Zahn, who invented the name, says kor-US-kunt. George Lucas says KOR-us-sawnt. Who's right? <g>
<Shelonei> I don't have an EG
<Kelly> iirc
<ChronoJN> actually, Hobbie is "Hobb - egh"
<ChronoJN> hehehehe.
<lissy> argh!
<Freac> the good thing about fictional characters is they cannot correct you if they pronounce their names wrong
<Kelly> what about iella. I've heard it both ways
<Sabrina> gahh! i mean Freac, sorry...silly fingers
<EwokBrad> Well, since George is overloard, Kor-us-sawnt has to be right :)
<Shelonei> I say it corusCant with a hard c
<WEBjenn> No, but they can correct you if you SPELL their names wrong.
<ProphetKristy> Aaron: yeah, but Lando should know how Han's name is pronounced.
<Kelly> i guess i'm just picky because i have one of those last names no one can pronounce
<Kelly> or spell if they hear it, for that matter
<Shelonei> (that's how denis pronounced it *G*)
<JoshC> Maybe Han said it wrong. Did you ever think of that?
<EwokBrad> I used to pronounce it Kor-us-kant, but I've switched over :)
<Sabrina> the EGC is saying Sel-choo by the way
<Doc> but there are often regional accent variations in pronunciation
<ProphetKristy> Kelly: yours is easy! ;-)
<EwokBrad> Han had his own name wrong?
<Freac> sure
<Shelonei> Han doesn't know how to pronounce his own name?
<Freac> he was inebriated
<EwokBrad> heheh
<Allston> Kelly: Mike is obviously the final arbiter on Iella, but I've always pronounced it ee-EL-la. Three syllables, though the first two kind of run onto one another.
<Sabrina> LOL
<JoshC> If he's a stupid a nerfherder as you, sure. :p
<Shelonei> oh, and if anyone wonders... it's "Shell-oh-neigh" not "Shell-oh-knee" *G*
<Sabrina> he just wanted to do the typical Corellian thing and drive everyone nuts!
<EwokBrad> I think Iella is Eye-ella
<ProphetKristy> IIRC, that's how Mike said it at Radcon. Because I had just re-trained myself to say it eye-ell-a, and had to change back.
<Shelonei> (since we're being all pronounciationistic)
<lissy> why you think i say "shel"
<EwokBrad> though I pronounce it as ee-ella too
<Freac> Mr. Allston, your first name is Aaron and not Ah-Ah-ron, right?
<Kelly> that's how i'm saying it, brad, but i've heard it ee-Ell-a on the audiobooks
<JoshC> LOL
<Doc> or worse, Air - en
<Shelonei> *chuckle* good point, lissy
<lissy> :)
<Kelly> where's Cracken?
* Kelly grins.
<Shelonei> hehe
<Allston> Freac: Heh. A lot of people say EY-rawn for some reason. (Didn't they ever watch the Ten Commandments?)
<ProphetKristy> odd.
<Kelly> i have a cousin named Aaron. Pretty easy for me
<Freac> good movie...me gusta
<Shelonei> I used to pronounce it "eye-rehn" then someone said it was like "aaron"... I kindof flip back and forth.
<Kelly> not to mention a coworker named Aaron
<ChicagoCubs> Aaron: How closely do you work with the other various SW authors? What kind of advice have they given you?
<Shelonei> (airen)
<Allston> Cubs: I haven't asked for or been given much advice. I mean, we don't give one another writing hints -- once you're contracted to write one of the books, you'd better already know how to write. <g> Mostly, we seek one another's advice on proper presentation of characters they've presented or plot points they've introduced.
<WEBjenn> I have to call it a night: long day at graduation yesterday, & I have to work tomorrow.
<WEBjenn> Thank you for answering my questions, Aaron.
<ProphetKristy> Bye Jenn!
<Allston> I've had extensive e-mail correspondence with Elaine Cunningham, Troy Denning, and, of course, Mike.
<Kelly> nice to see you, jenn
<Allston> 'Night, Jenn.
<lissy> nighters jenn
<WEBjenn> Thanks for hosting the chat, all.
<ChronoJN> Yeah, I've got to get going, too. I have to work tomorrow.
<Sabrina> night Jenn!
<Allston> Adios, Chrono.
<EwokBrad> Mike sends me threatening e-mails, it's pretty weird
<WEBjenn> good night, all
<Sabrina> later Chrono!
<Shelonei> sleep sweet!
<Doc> byee
<ChronoJN> It was a pleasure speaking with you, Aaron, as always.
<Allston> Likewise, Chrono.
<Annallisa> Now what did you do to Mike to make him do that Brad?????
<Kelly> what do you say to him, brad? 8)
<EwokBrad> nothing! I swear!!
<lissy> suuuuuure
<Annallisa> rrriiiiight
<Shelonei> LOL
<Kelly> you send him blank emails?
<Shelonei> seriously, what the heck, Brad?
<EwokBrad> I think he just really disliked me when me and Kristy took him to lunch :)
<Kelly> ok, then what did you DO to him?!
<ProphetKristy> I think he's just pulling your chain
* ProphetKristy thwaps Brad with a gooberfish <><
<Shelonei> (and he SMILES about it... LOL)
<EwokBrad> I was very quiet back then, maybe he thought I was rude
<JoshC> He doesn't really send you threatening e-mails you freak...
<Shelonei> but you will if he keeps it up, is that it, Josh?
<JoshC> Maybe he KNEW that you ARE rude. :)
<EwokBrad> well SOMEBODY does, Josh, and I just assumed it was him :)
<Allston> Well, it's time for me to go, too. Cats are getting somewhat distressed at the lack of food in their plate.
<Kelly> it was me, brad
* Kelly grins.
<Freac> okay
<EwokBrad> Kelly! How could you! :(
<ProphetKristy> Aww, poor kitties!
<JoshC> Yeah, everytime I get an e-mail I'm not sure where it's from I assume it's from Mike.
<Kelly> Thank you once again for coming, Aaron. Glad you could make it
<ProphetKristy> Thanks for a great chat, Aaron!
<lissy> aaaaaah... feed the brats- i mean cats
<Freac> mr. allston, if i haven't said so already, i had a blast tonight
<lissy> thanks aaron!!
<JoshC> Or Aaron, since I was part of a group that took him to lunch once. :)
<Kelly> It's been fun.
<Shelonei> aw. sleep sweet and have a good nite Aaron!
<Freac> and thank you thank you thank you
<EwokBrad> and how exactly to you plan on removing my heart without cutting me open, Kelly?
<Sabrina> Have a good night Aaron, and thanks again for coming! :)
<Freac> for interacting with us rabid star wars fans
<Allston> 'Night, all. Thanks for the warm reception.\
<Shelonei> Love you daddy!
<JoshC> Thanks so much for coming, Arron!
<Doc> you will always be a slave to your cats, Aaron. Thanks a lot!
*** Allston (~allston@cloaked.austin.rr.com) Quit (Quit: Leaving)
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