#dave wolverton

Obi-Wan Kenobi was bandaging his burns in his room when he got the bad news. He was trying to imagine ways to impress Qui-Gon in the morning. He considered ways to improve his fighting skills – anything he might say or do to convince the Knight that he was worthy to become a Jedi‘s Padawan Learner. But then Docent Vant brought a data pad and showed him his orders.  Suddenly all his plans and dreams were shattered.   "Here now, it isn‘t that horrible. " Docent Vant said. She was a tall blue-skinned woman with an elegant headtail that twitched nervously.  Obi-Wan stared at the orders in shock. The data pad told him that he would ship out of the Temple in the morning. He needed to pack his bags.  He was to report to the world of Bandomeer -- some planet he‘d never even heard of , out on the Galactic Rim. There he would join the Agricultural Corps.   "But I don‘t understand, " he said numbly.  "I still have four weeks until my birthday. "   "I know, " Docent Vant said. "But your ship, the Monument, leaves tomorrow, with a thousand miners aboard. It can‘t wait just because you have a birthday. "  [...] The shock and despair made him feel sick. He raised his gaze to Docent Vant. "I could still be a Jedi Knight. [...] Tomorrow Qui-Gon Jinn will be looking for a Padawan. Master Yoda said that I should fight for him. "  Docent Vant shook her head. "That was before the Masters heard of the beating you gave initiate Bruck. Did you really think the healers would not tell what you had done?"  In dawning horror, Obi-Wan realized what had happened. Bruck had set the trap, and he had walked straight into it. He wanted to protest, to say that he was innocent. It had been a fair fight. And healers? Surely Bruck had not needed healers – except to back up whatever story he had told.  "This is not the first time you have let your anger get the best of you, " Docent Vant said. "But let us hope it is the last. " She nodded briskly. "Now, try not to look so sad. You will need to pack your bags and say good-bye to your friends tonight. The galaxy is a big place. They will want to see you before you go. "  She left, closing the door softly behind her. Obi-Wan was left alone [...]. There was nothing else to do but pack his bags. Obi-Wan felt too devastated and ashamed to say good-bye. [...] There was nothing he could say or do to clear his name.  Because the truth was that if Bruck had set the trap, he had walked into it willingly. Blindly and without thought, perhaps. But it was his own will that led him there. What kind of Jedi would he make if he could fall for the tricks of a bully like Bruck? 

Quotes from Dave Wolverton’s The Ghostling Children. I think these probably reveal more about why Anakin is the way he is than anything set after he arrives at the Temple. 

E.g. Anakin’s reaction to being subtly accused of stealing:

Sebulba laughed and shouted at the pitcrew that was lowering the vehicle, “Watch my Podracer carefully. Some young thief might steal something.” Sebulba shot Anakin a dirty look, then laughed again and walked away. Anakin fought back his anger. He’d never stolen anything in his life.

vs witnessing a death:

[Pala hit the close button on the door as the guard fired his blaster.] Anakin heard the pinging sound of the blaster bolt ricocheting through the room. Then there was a dull thud as the security guard plopped to the floor. “Oh no,” Anakin exclaimed in terror. “I hope he’s not dead!”

“Maybe we’d better hope that he is dead,” Pala corrected.

Moral outrage vs omg now we’re going to be punished. That’s just how life works for him - Shmi gives him this lovely talk about doing good and kind things. But he’s always very selective about who deserves them. It’s never a problem to him to kill a slaver or anybody he deems bad... so long as he won’t be punished for it. His fear is always getting found out, not any sense of remorse over what he’s done.

And, finally, because my inner child will never not find such lines hilarious. (Thought it was a kids’ book! *chortle chortle*)

T_T tears, I just heard (I am about a month behind the times) that Dave Wolverton died. Young, really. He was 64. 

I must have taken his second to last class. Possibly his last full one. 

Wolverton was probably better known as David Farland, author of the Runelords series. 

But his influence was probably more felt by his contributions to others. 

Wolverton had a very full career.

The big highlights that made me sign up for a class from him.

He was an editor and judge for Writers of the Future.

He taught creative writing at Brigham Young. One of his students, now teaches the same class he used to teach, You have probably heard of him as well:

While teaching that course he also taught another best seller whose first book he consulted heavily on:

But probably the biggest tie in happened when he was working as a consultant at Scholastic. Scholastic had had an unusually successful year and was looking to make a big release. He was asked to pick the book from the “nobody anyone has ever heard of” pile that they would do the barnstorm on. He chose this one:

I suspect no one has bothered to count the little influences he has had through the writing world. Which no doubt accumulate into a much greater influence. He liked to give his knowledge and expertise. He touched a lot of lives. 

[...] I sometimes wish that I could explain to a young writer why I’m passing on a story.  So I’m going to talk about it here.

Here are ten reasons why I reject stories quickly—usually within the first page:

1. The story is unintelligible. [...] 2. The story is unbelievable.  [...] 3. The author leaves no noun or verb unmodified. [...] 4. Nothing’s happening. 

[...]