The Canon Thread

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-10 08:31pm

Absolute (Movie) Canon:
Star Wars: Special Edition Original Trilogy
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Second-Tier Canon:

Higher Canon:
Lucasfilm Limited Continuity Fixes

Lower Canon:
Original and Prequel Trilogy Novelisations
Radio Drama Depictions of the Films
Official Screenplays
Comic Depictions of the Films
Incredible Cross Sections Series

Official/"Quasi-Canon" (the Star Wars Expanded Universe):

[Note: There is no particular order from on high regarding the next catagories, but I find it useful to start with the primary sources, and then work to secondary ones, always keeping in mind science, logic, and the intent of the higher sources, as well as known errors in the sources being used]

Primary Sources:
Del Rey and Bantam Star Wars Novels
Marvel and Dark Horse Star Wars Comics
Lucasarts Star Wars Games
TV Spin-Offs

Secondary Sources:
The (New) Essential Guide to... Series (including the Essential Chronology)
Exposition in West End Games and Wizards of the Coast Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game Sourcebooks
Other Source Materials

Tertiary Sources (a.k.a. "The Shit List"):
The Glove of Darth Vader Young Adult Novel Series
Stats and Game Data from WEG/WOTC Sourcebooks

Apocrypha:
Game Mechanics
Star Wars Tales Comics (versions of stories not retold/cited in other, canonical sources)
Infinities Series
Hoth Stuff

et cetera

Comments, critiques, questions?

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-10 08:41pm

Comments on the Canon Heirarchy can be found in these threads:

Quote Clashing?

A thread on the differences between literary and inspired (Biblical) canon; seperating the meanings of the Sansweet and Cerasi quotes from the Rostini quote

Sticky: Canon and Official Quotes

Revisiting the Cinescape Quote

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-10 09:23pm

The Glove of Darth Vader series doesn't really fit into continuity. Is it completely overridden by higher up EU stuff, or is there still a grain of truth to it?

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-10 09:25pm

The quotes demand it is part of continuity until declared from on high to be apocryphal.

Unfortunately, it has not been, and Anderson even cited GoDV in the Essential Chronology.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-10 09:31pm

So Han and Leia got married, forgot about it, and got married again?

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-10 09:35pm

Durran Korr wrote:So Han and Leia got married, forgot about it, and got married again?

Well people still consider the WEG ship stats and such worth looking at despite the evidence that they're total bullshit. Aside from the existance of ships they cite, they should probably be ignored. But if the RPG is considered a source, I suppose that the events of GoDV may have happened, just not in the precise manner described in the novels.

I'd consider what is repeated in the Chronology to be the safest bet for starters.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-07-10 10:03pm

The Galaxy of Fear series is apocryphal (I'm not sure if that's what you're referring to with The Glove of Darth Vader).

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-07-10 10:09pm

Master of Ossus wrote:The Galaxy of Fear series is apocryphal (I'm not sure if that's what you're referring to with The Glove of Darth Vader).

No, The Glove of Darth Vader is this really, really awful children's book series that came out in the early 90s. It features a gathering of Grand Moffs called (I swear I'm not making this up) a Mofference.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-10 10:13pm

Master of Ossus wrote:The Galaxy of Fear series is apocryphal (I'm not sure if that's what you're referring to with The Glove of Darth Vader).

GoF got made apocryphal? Where?

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-07-10 10:16pm

IP:

I'm afraid I have several questions:

1. Do you consider the spin-off TV series (ie. The Holiday Special, The Ewok Adventure) to be part of continuity? If so, where do they fit in?

2. Right now I have a book known as The Wookie Storybook on my shelf. I bought it at a garage sale that Kate and I went to about a year and a half ago. It is a picture book Illustrated by Patricia Wynne, and was published by Random House in 1979. Among other things, it has GOD AWFUL scaling (ie. The Millenium Falcon has an internal hangar bay, capable of holding a small craft and launching it from orbit), and makes numerous other claims that have been disproven by SW EU material and even (in some cases) canonical work. Where, if anywhere, does this book fit in to continuity?

3. I also happen to have on my shelf a set of graphic novels based on the Jedi Knight series of videogames. They were written and illustrated by William C. Dietz and Dave Dorman, and published by Berkeley Boulevard (a subsidiary of Darkhorse Comics and Penguin and Putnam) in 1998. Do these fit in with the official "quasi-canon," even though they contradict the video games Dark Forces and Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II?

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-10 10:20pm

Master of Ossus wrote:1. Do you consider the spin-off TV series (ie. The Holiday Special, The Ewok Adventure) to be part of continuity? If so, where do they fit in?

Despite the level of ignoring they've gotten, I imagine the fact that they are objective visual creations puts them in high official, probably with or just beneath the Visual Dictionary.

Master of Ossus wrote:2. Right now I have a book known as The Wookie Storybook on my shelf. I bought it at a garage sale that Kate and I went to about a year and a half ago. It is a picture book Illustrated by Patricia Wynne, and was published by Random House in 1979. Among other things, it has GOD AWFUL scaling (ie. The Millenium Falcon has an internal hangar bay, capable of holding a small craft and launching it from orbit), and makes numerous other claims that have been disproven by SW EU material and even (in some cases) canonical work. Where, if anywhere, does this book fit in to continuity?

*points to the Shit List*

Think of it as the not-yet-apocryphal waste basket of EU.

Master of Ossus wrote:3. I also happen to have on my shelf a set of graphic novels based on the Jedi Knight series of videogames. They were written and illustrated by William C. Dietz and Dave Dorman, and published by Berkeley Boulevard (a subsidiary of Darkhorse Comics and Penguin and Putnam) in 1998. Do these fit in with the official "quasi-canon," even though they contradict the video games Dark Forces and Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II?

Right with the Bantam and Del Rey novels and the comics.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-07-10 10:42pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:
Master of Ossus wrote:The Galaxy of Fear series is apocryphal (I'm not sure if that's what you're referring to with The Glove of Darth Vader).
GoF got made apocryphal? Where?

I thought it was, but I can't find it anymore. I guess that means I have to buy it. God damn young adults.

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2003-07-11 02:57am

Inside the Worlds and VDs are of the same level as ICS. The side box in I68 labels them all as nonfiction.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2003-07-12 12:55am

Ender wrote:Inside the Worlds and VDs are of the same level as ICS. The side box in I68 labels them all as nonfiction.

Did they recieve LFL's imprimateur as canon.

It seemed to me the thing that made the ICS special was that they went to Skywalker Ranch and got the details first hand, and were even relied upon as sources for the newer movies.

What's this about nonfiction? What's it say? *runs off to check I68*

Alan Bolte · Post by **Alan Bolte** » 2003-07-12 01:38am

Are the ewok movies part of the EU? And does ET even count as apocrypha?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-07-12 01:41am

Alan Bolte wrote:Are the ewok movies part of the EU? And does ET even count as apocrypha?

1. Yes.

2. What's ET?

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2003-07-12 01:45am

I would consider the VD and the Worlds books same as the ICS. Especially the VD because it's using the actuall props from the movies.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-07-12 01:52am

Cal Wright wrote:I would consider the VD and the Worlds books same as the ICS. Especially the VD because it's using the actuall props from the movies.

It does make up some props- always has. Not that it matters to me, I consider it in the same class.

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-07-12 06:09am

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:2. What's ET?

ET is an extraterrestrial. Maybe Alan was asking since his species is represented in the Republic Senate.

Alan Bolte · Post by **Alan Bolte** » 2003-07-12 09:37am

Robert Treder wrote:
Spanky The Dolphin wrote:2. What's ET?
ET is an extraterrestrial. Maybe Alan was asking since his species is represented in the Republic Senate.

Right. Just joking with that one.
For those of you who still don't get it, it's a Steven Spielberg film.