Resistance Reborn Part 2 of 4

[colls]

Welcome to our second of four check-in and discussion posts for our Book of the Month.

This month’s book is Resistance Reborn (Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker) by Rebecca Roanhorse
Part II Chapters 10-18

Resistance Reborn Part 2 of 4

1. Wedge and Nora seem to be mildly surprised that the First Order had a presence on their retirement planet. Where they naive to think the First Order hadn't made inroads there yet or was it just a case of wishful thinking?

2. Monti Calay's conversion to betraying the First Order isn't one of a personal loss. How many others like Calay don't feel the personal impact of the First Order so aren't motivated to work against them?

3. Once the volunteers gathered on Ryloth, tensions spilled over a bit over actions of the past. What did you think of Poe's speech?

4. Anything else?



FYI - There's no need to answer all (or any) of the questions above - they're just talking points to get us started. Informal chatter is more than welcome! In-person book clubs often veer off topic, it's okay if we do as well. :)
All I ask is that you try to avoid spoilers for things past Part II of the book.

Comments

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1. I don't think they were surprised that the life of quiet farmers wasn't the life they're meant to lead. I do think they thought they had more time to prepare. Then again, they did go to sleep with X-wings parked in their yard.

2. Monti Calay is pretty interesting. I find it interesting that his boss thinks he's the capable one and that Yama is essentially useless.
I think the message that the Resistance needs "common people" who might not be directly impacted by the actions of the First Order so far to step into the arena is an important one.

3. Poe is shaping up to be a decent leader in much of the material - the comics, this book, etc.

4. I'm looking forward to what they find on the scrapyard planet, but mostly I'm looking forward to Poe looking dashing for his undercover work on Corellia.

[brokenmnemonic]

I thought the records office was an interesting setup, as it gave us three contrasting characters working for the First Order, and shows us how the Order is able to recruit people - whether it's young people with no idea of what they're in for, or bullies, or children with limited options. The office seemed very different to the polished infrastructure the Empire once possessed, and I wonder if that's one of the things that's going to work against the First Order, initially - they haven't had the chance to vet and screen and train all the people they need to, if they want to have absolute and loyal control over their organization.

I was halfway hoping that when Finn, Rey, Poe and Rose were all on the same ship at the same time, someone might explain the concept of sharing to Finn ;)

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I liked the contrast between them - made it feel like our current world and how office jobs are. Also how office jobs can be rather benign until you find out what's really behind them.

I'm pretty sure there's fic where they're all "sharing", if that's what you mean. (OT4? - LOL)

I would like more Finn, but I guess it could distract from the story if there are too many POV.

[brokenmnemonic]

Empowering the Empire through efficient desk work! I like that the office plotline is highlighting how different people have different reactions to a situation like this. And how people can help the resistance even with actions that look very small....

That's broadly what I was thinking of ;)

Maybe we'll get a Finn comic or a Finn novel at some point?

[colls]

Yes! More Finn please.
They did so poorly by Finn, I hope we get something. I'd personally love a Finn live-action series, but can understand why the actor is done with SW. He's moving on to other projects.

[brokenmnemonic]

1. I think there may have been an element of wishful thinking going on for Wedge and Nora, although having caught up with the Poe Dameron comics, I'm wondering how much of the First Order presence there is sympathisers, rather than actual First Order personnel? Although it looks as if the First Order was in position to roll out across a pretty wide front after their superweapon destroyed the Republic capital, which would make sense.

2. I think in simple terms... a lot. Particularly given that there are a lot of people around who already lived through the Empire; I think it's the nature of most people to keep their heads down and just try to stay out of the way. I'm curious as to why Monti Calay went to work for the First Order to begin with...

3. I thought Poe's speech was a little uneven, but it also felt like something true to his character, after all the time he's had to dwell on his previous mistakes, and to think about who he wants to be, and who Leia needs him to be. I think he'll get better at the delivery in the future, but I thought it was a good speech for Poe in this time and in that place.

4. I'm finding this to be a really readable book - I'm struggling to stop when I've hit the end of each week's goal. I'm finally adjusting to how small the Resistance is now - do you think the Rebellion was ever this small? If they could get twenty veterans from Twilight Company into the same bar at the same time, they could double the size of the Resistance in one go. The idea of rebuilding when it's a huge risk to try and steal a handful of ex-Republic fighters from a scrapyard while the First Order has factory planets churning out ships is seriously intimidating.

[colls]

1. (and a bit of 2.) I wondered some of the same. The neighbor was a good example. After the destruction of the Hossian system and the memory of the Empire, perhaps it wasn't so easy to dismiss a small contingent of First Order when they showed up at your doorstep.

3. Yes, I thought it was very good characterization.

4. It does flow well, doesn't it? ;)
If they could get twenty veterans from Twilight Company into the same bar at the same time, they could double the size of the Resistance in one go.
I would read the heck out of that!