Expounded Universe

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/05/expounded-universe-209-i-oceanbound.mp3 Chapter 36 opens with our new favorite phrase: “Several months later.”  The languid pace of this rescue is wild, right?  Anyway, all three chapters this week concern Corran’s attempts to impress a bunch of pirates.  He hasn’t advanced on the case of his wife yet.  The book has about 12 chapters left. Learn mo...

[/audio]https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/expounded-universe-208-aye-pirate.mp3 Okay, here we go!  We’re done with the Jedi temple, we’re done with Grandpa’s house, time to finally rescue Mirax, all we gotta do is… join up with a pirate crew for at least a month WHAT IS THIS HOW DID THIS HAPPEN. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/expounded-universe-207-i-not-a-jedi.mp3 Obviously Corran is feeling a little down on himself for spending two and a half months at the Jedi academy instead of just looking for his wife, so the most natural course of action is to go crash at his grandpa’s house for an impromptu family reunion and night on the town!  Okay, fine other stuff is happeni...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/04/expounded-universe-206-i-died-offscreen.mp3 Ooh lots of ground to cover this week, as get this, Corran Horn is leaving Yavin 4!  With about half of the book left, will we finally start the book?  Also we get to deal with Exar Kun, and meet Booster Terrik! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/expounded-universe-205-i-gonna-get-you-sucka.mp3 The cavalcade of guest stars visiting Fantasy Planet continues, as we are now getting a chance to meet Han (again, remember!?) and Leia, along with the Solo twins, make brief appearances to deal with the Luke being in a coma situation.  Also, we finally meet Exar Kun!  Gotta admit, it is sorta funny...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/expounded-universe-204-i-try-to-say-goodby-and-i-choke.mp3 I can’t help but wonder just exactly how much of this book is Jedi school.  It became increasingly weird to deal with a book about a missing wife, clearly in some form of mortal danger, where the answer was “Take a few college classes and then go look for her.”  Anyway here I am, looking at...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/expounded-universe-203-i-blueleaf-myself.mp3 I looked at how the book was and realized this first person gimmick was going to wear out its welcome sooner rather than later, even if the book makes it work a little.  I just don’t have that tendency to self-narrate, and also there aren’t any sexy people in my editing space for me to describe at length...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/03/expounded-universe-202-i-sometric-exercise.mp3 Over and over I’m exposed to characters I’ve heard of, stories I faintly remember, but at each turn I’m confronted with the nagging fact that someone has been inserted into each scene.  It’s Corran Horn, obviously, and as each story from Luke’s temple unfolds, he’s usually nearby, being slightly superi...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/expounded-universe-201-i-camp-counselor.mp3 After a little too much time noodling around on Coruscant, I found myself excited to finally get to the Jedi Factory.  Am I finally going to get connected to the few new recruits we met all the way back in Jedi Search?  Before that, I reminded myself, it’s time to watch Corran Horn just fail again and aga...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/expounded-universe-200-i-jedi-search.mp3 Intrigued, I perused further into the book.  “Nonsense!” I exclaimed!  It’s already chapter 7!  How is he still doodling around on Coruscant receiving praise from all his famous friends?  Surely he must eventually go do something, I reasoned, pressing ever onward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit mega...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/expounded-universe-199-i-wife-guy.mp3 I looked to the opening lines of the novel and couldn’t believe my eyes.  A Star Wars novel written in first person?  Reviewing my long years of reading other EU novels, I came to the inevitable conclusion that at least for myself, this was a first.  Could I tolerate living directly between the lobes of this Co...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/expounded-universe-198-street-of-shadows-wrap-up.mp3 Time to take the long view of this game, also answer some questions AND announce the next book.  And let me tell you right here and now, it’s a doozy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/expounded-universe-197-aurra-sings-final-clowning.mp3 The final four chapters!  How does it all end, what with the murder being solved already?   Well obviously by wrapping up the loose ends and setting up the next book.  Messing with the team makeup, setting minor hints, all that good stuff.  Is it good?  Well, here’s an hour on that. Learn more a...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/expounded-universe-196-the-butler-did-it.mp3 Well, this generally acceptable (and again, selected entirely off the title) book just succeeded in making us madder than every one of these Star Wars books since The Consent Gun Kidnapping of Princess Leia, and I bet you’re eager to find out why.  Oh also we find out who killed Ves Volette.  You’ll neve...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2022/01/expounded-universe-195-a-conspicuously-convenient-cathar.mp3 Laranth vs. Aurra Sing!  In hindsight this is sorta depressingly predictable.  Anyway they have a noir-grade showdown in the midst of a very weird festival, then Jax heads off to Dejah’s to once again be sexually frustrated by a 2003-era clubwear shimmer dress. Learn more about your ad ch...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/expounded-universe-194-aw-come-on-hes-just-a-little-guy.mp3 Whoa, two chapters in a row that are a continuous story?  Don’t think we’ve seen that yet!  Anyhoo, the gang is still in “sit around bickering” mode, until Den kickstarts things by getting arrested.  Then it’s time to visit a bunch of fun aliens and… sorta just pretend to be detectives at...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/12/expounded-universe-193-a-cragmoloid-never-forgets.mp3 We’re about 2/3rds of the way through the book, and for the first time ever any path that anyone is on seems like it might actually cross one of the other ones at some point (just not in this episode).  So what is going on?  Well, Jax and gang need a few bucks, and Typho information gathers from...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/expounded-universe-192-two-side-stories.mp3 Den Dhur spends a little time wandering a big space market full of Wookiee Luau and disreputable merchandise, which he hates (Dhur hates everything), Typho adds bureaucrat to his already impressive roster of things that apparently were included with bodyguard training, and Sing finally racks up a win ever...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/expounded-universe-191-vindalian-wife-explainer.mp3 Doing things in the wrong chapter order?  Why not?  It’s pandemonium gone wild as Aurra Sing continues to brag and lose, and Jax shows his… questionable side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/11/expounded-universe-190-the-typho-singalong.mp3 Back in action, just in time for the classic noir event of nursing a crappy drink in a low gin joint.  Den and Laranth finally meet the Cephalon, and everyone’s around to talk lightsabers.  Meanwhile, Typho can’t stop making it weird, Aurra Sing keeps overpromising. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/expounded-universe-189-volette-are-you-okay-are-you-okay-volette.mp3 Oh no, where once there was only intrigue, now there is… MURDER!  Who killed Ves Volette?  Who else is working an angle?  Rhaninn?  Laranth?  Certainly not our dear and trustworthy Den, who wanders the streets each night muttering about how he hates it!  Also Aurra Sing is still h...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/expounded-universe-188-yo-dejah-pump-this-party.mp3 A whole chapter devoted to our secondary antagonist, the legendary Aurra Sing, known for… standing on that one rock in Phantom Menace.  Also I think she’s probably in the cartoons.  But she’s sure dangerous apparently!  Meanwhile, paths begin to converge on Coruscant and Den has a lot of thoughts...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/expounded-universe-187-walkin-in-memnis.mp3 And the plot… begins.  Both chapters today deal with the psychic fallout of a massive event of destruction and death, so obviously the episode is all jokes.  Very much in setup phase right now, surely these disparate elements will come together soon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/10/expounded-universe-186-take-the-i-5-to-coruscant.mp3 Whoa, what the heck did we miss?  A lightsaber fight with Xizor and Vader?  Oh well!  We’re diving headlong into the middle of a trilogy set in the aftermath of Order 66, as our detective Jedi hero Jax Pavan and his ragtag gang of gray jedi and hangers on end one adventure and start a new one! (b...

https://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/expounded-universe-185-wrap-it-up-boys.mp3 Time for the final episode!  What did we think about the episode?  How many questions do you have for us?  What comes next?  All this and more revealed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices