Look what’s finally in my hands! Although the official release date is still a few days away, lots of people are reporting finding Star Wars and History in the bookstores or receiving it from an online retailer.
If you haven’t got your copy yet, now’s your time to score a copy of this awesome collection. I’m hosting a giveaway for a copy of Star Wars and History right here on this blog. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me who your favourite Star Wars character is and why. Contest is open worldwide. The deadline to enter is November 16, 2012, at noon EST (What time is that for me?).
jliedl.ca 
C-3PO. He’s so wonderfully hapless. :-)
Yes, C-3PO is just a shuffling near-miss of disaster!
Darth Reven is my favourite Star Wars character (assuming that you can go beyond the movies) because he was the first Sith Lord and Sith Lords rule! And he fought in the Mandalorean Wars.
If you must limit yourselves to the movies, Wicket W. Warrick is my favourite Star Wars movie character because he was the first Ewok introuduced in the movies. And Ewoks rule, too!
Either one’s fine! In the book, we limited ourselves to the films and The Clone Wars series because otherwise Lucasfilm felt we’d be getting in too deep (and I couldn’t disagree since the EU sprawls amazingly).
My nephew and I were having a conversation about favourite Star Wars characters just this morning (seriously!). Mine’s always been Han Solo… dashing rogue who underneath is very loyal and caring. How could you not love him?
Aw, Han was both daring and darling. Who else could make so many swoon with a simple “I know”?
Han Solo. Cemented my love of rogues forever.
Although he’s tied with Princess Leia because she’s just fantastic.
Oh, good picks! I loved using some of their back-and-forth bits in my chapters, let me tell you.
Congrats on the book – it looks great (as do you, incidentally).
Thanks! Can’t wait to see you again in person at a conference, Belle.
Palpatine is my favourite. I consider him one of the best political characters in a sci-fi series. He seems like an awful guy but the dynamics of his political ruthlessness makes for a very interesting character
You’ll love Tony Keen’s chapter, “I, Sidious”!
Obi-wan because he was originally played by one of the greatest actors of the 20 th c.! Classy!
I love both Alec Guinness and Ewan MacGregor for what they did with Obi-Wan but, you’re right that Guinness is clearly one of the greatest actors of our age.
Well, I have a huge crush on Wedge (and a bitty one on Wes Janson), but leaving that aside… hmm. I’ll be half out of the lines here and say that Luke and Mara’s relationship is my favorite. I’m not usually a big fan of reading romantic relationships, but theirs is just so sweet, and they’re so perfect for each other, that I could read them all day.
Wedge is an awesome character – even though his role is minor in the movies, the fact that he keeps showing up inspires hope. Plus, he really shines in the EU. And, oh, I’m a secret Mara fan. I loved Zahn’s books that brought her into the EU precisely because she made a great match for Luke on many levels.
That’s a hard one. Darth Vader in the first film (the first one made, that is). Awfully scary. Everyone my age talked low into a cup to get the echoey effect more than once. Obi Wan from the first film, also fantastic.
And congrats on your book! It looks GREAT!
Didn’t we all love to be scared by Vader? Oh, yes: I can remember way back in the day.
Thanks so much. I’m really excited. You should see inside the book – there are so many illustrations we acquired from historical archives and also from Lucasfilm. It’s decadent!
Honestly I like R2-D2. For a character whose dialogue was limited to electronic sounds, he sure got a lot of points across!
And, like Sam in the Lord of the Rings, he’s surprisingly important in getting things done!
I guess I’ll be the first to say Leia. Despite the cinnamon buns for a hair style, despite the metal bikini (which you know was incredibly uncomfortable) she kicked ass whilst taking names even as she was finding the love of her life. She’s such a great mix of getting stuff done while still being a woman (which I completely mean as a good thing) I can’t help but admire her.
I have all the admiration in the world for Carrie Fisher, too, dealing with the wardrobe and hairstyles, let me tell you! You’ve hit on so many elements that made Princess Leia a heroine for the ages in your post: I totally agree.
My favourite has always been C-3PO he was silly and always in trouble. R2D2 would always save him:)
How can you go wrong with droids? ;-)
I’d have to say Darth Nihilus simply because to me he is the coolest looking sith ever!!!!
If we’re getting into a contest of cool looks, I still wax nostalgic for Momaw Nadon from the Mos Eisley cantina scenes, but I can see where you’re coming from with Darth Nihilus: one of the best characters in KotOR!
Han Solo – because he’s Han Solo. ;-)
He is what he is: awesome!
Princess Leia, she can really handle herself. Growing up there weren’t a lot of strong female leads, but Princess Leia was a strong woman who led the rebellion.
Leia is one of the characters who helped to launch an era of strong female leads, isn’t she? Everyone talks about Ripley (and rightly so!) but let’s remember Leia knew her way around a blaster, too!
PRINCESS LEIA. Because she’s a politician, she can handle herself under extreme pressure, she can keep a secret under torture and manipulation, and because she’s basically able to negotiate with anyone.
I’m so glad to see all the Leia fans showing up here in the comments: I have to agree that she’s a kick-ass character who has her own real skill-set that’s pretty impressive (and not undercut).
A tough one…I loved Jacen until he went all Dark Side. I think I still love Tenel Ka. How many princesses would just forgive a friend for cutting off her arm during lightsaber practice?
Movieverse, though, I love both leading ladies. Padmé especially in TPM. Leia all the time. Ha.
Those are all good picks and, yes, Tenel Ka remains wonderful even if Jacen turned to the Dark Side. *sniff*
And they were still an intriguing couple after Jacen went to the Dark Side. Maybe ever more interesting.
hmm..it said it would post, but it doesn’t seem to have.
C3PO. He’s always trying to do his job, and people keep ignoring him. lol Poor guy.
WordPress is a bit slow at times. I made sure it showed up properly and you’re in!
I loved Luke, just because he was so clueless but hot! (Yes, I am shallow! :p )
Who wouldn’t like Luke?
Hmmm, now this depends…at what point in my life are we talking? When I was little I loved Princess Leia (yes, I had Leia Underoos – they were of her in her Hoth outfit, of all things). She was tough and smart and had cool hair, and it was lots of fun to yell, “Into the garbage chute fly boy!” When I got a little older, I crushed on Luke and his dreamy want-to-go-on-a-big-adventure blue eyes (take me with you Luke!). When I got even older, I had the hots for Han, the sexy scoundrel who just needs the love of a good woman to wipe the tarnish off his heart of gold. Now at my current age, I have to say I’m back to loving Leia best (but you won’t catch me in those Underoos now)…I have a feeling in my senior years, my favorite will be Artoo – who does and says whatever the hell he wants, which is the kind of old lady I plan to be.
That’s a fabulous progression of fandom moments. I love it!
Chewbacca will always be at or near the top of my list. When he finally died he did so honoring his life debt and it took an entire moon to kill him. :)
That was such a dramatic moment, wasn’t it? I know there’s talk about what of the EU is going to make it into the new films. Will we see Mara? Will Chewbacca live again?
There aren’t really any characters that I don’t like. I liked Luke a lot in the original movie and I always loved Han. However, since seeing the newer movies, I think Yoda has become one of my favourites. It was fun seeing him younger, and able to kick ass like I always knew he could!
It’s a tie between R2D2 (for the cuteness) and Leia (for the kickassness). Congrats on the wonderful book!