So my wife and I exchanged valentine's day gifts a few days early (because reasons), and she got me the Star Wars 7 Visual Dictionary as part of my gift. Do I know how to pick 'em or what! :)

Anyway, I was flipping through it last night and stumbled across a few details that I thought some of you may find interesting, given all the Star Wars discussions around here lately. Obviously, I'll be posting spoilers here, including some backstory details not overtly covered in Episode 7.

Kylo Ren

The book describes Ren as being filled with rage (which I'd say is obvious to anyone who watched the movie), and also makes a point of stating what a skilled swordsman he is. We know Ren is largely responsible for the destruction of Luke's new order of Jedi. This book implies that Ren took a very "hands on" approach to wiping out the other Jedi trainees, and that his skills with a lightsaber were unmatched by any of the other apprentices. So when we think back to the final fight in Episode 7 between Fin, Rey, and Kylo Ren, this info helps provide some context. a) Ren must have been seriously injured by Chewie's bowcaster. b) As Xenos pointed out, I believe Ren was toying with Fin until Fin managed to land a hit, at which point Ren stops messing around and completely destroys him. c) Rey is that damn good.

If we understand that Ren is a power to be reckoned with despite his youth and lack of experience compared to Darth Vader, it helps shape our understanding at how he must feel as he witnesses Rey suddenly display such immense bursts of power. As the emperor feared Anakin Skywalker's potential, I suspect Ren also fears Rey's potential. In the case of the emperor and Vader, things worked out perfectly for Palpatine. Vader was injured beyond true repair. His new body and appearance made him more imposing and terrifying than ever before, but he was no longer strong enough to pose a direct threat to Palpatine (or so the emperor believed). Yet even in his weakened state, Vader was powerful enough to destroy the remaining Jedi and serve his purpose as imperial thug/enforcer.

I wonder how things will play out between Ren and Rey? In a way, Episode 7 saw both Rey and Ren establishing their commitments to what they each believe in. I believe Episode 8 will be largely about both characters establishing their power. Rey will train and learn under Luke Skywalker, allowing her skills to flourish. And Ren... I think we'll see Ren really assert himself in an attempt to cement his dominance. I'm calling it right now: Ren will kill (or at least defeat) Luke Skywalker in Episode 8. There will be no questioning his badassery by the end of the film.

The Senate

The movie really didn't handle information about the new senate very well, so I was glad to see some clarification in the Visual Dictionary. To avoid any appearance of favoritism, the senate now travels from planet to planet. They'll set up "camp" at a planet and stay for several years, then choose a new home base and move again. The planets we see destroyed in Episode 7 are not in the Corusant system. Unfortunately the dictionary doesn't seem to explain why the Republic and the Resistance are two separate organizations. I would have loved some clarification there.

Unfortunately the dictionary doesn't seem to explain why the Republic and the Resistance are two separate organizations. I would have loved some clarification there.

My guess would be that, like a lot of conflicts in Star Wars, most of the fighting so far hasn't been near enough to the "core" planets for the Republic to care. Given the state the Republic's probably in, it wouldn't even need to be that far away. They're not exactly at the height of prosperity and reach.

Or to put it another way, the Resistance are the people actively fighting the First Order. Whereas the Republic is a governing structure. There's not necessarily any reason they have to be one and the same, until the First Order attacks the Republic directly, which is only the case after episode VII.

There is a sort of peace treaty between the Republic and the First Order. They even have a Neutral Zone, much like the Klingons and the Federation. As such, Republic troops are discouraged from entering such zone, lest it starts another war.

On top of that, the First Order has corrupted several senators to the point the troops are severely restricted in their scouting missions. Poe Dameron is sick of this bullshit and oversteps the limits imposed by his commander a bit and stumbles upon a First Order fleet. Upon reporting to his superiors, he is immediately grounded/chided (don't remember how strong the chiding was, to be honest), but a Resistance officer approaches him and he gets to volunteer for the cause.

Poe's first mission is stealing a senator's yacht to expose his First Order meetings and bribes, which almost goes south in a way that shows the First Order is a real, concrete menace. Still, the Senate stalls in investigation. Then Leia sends Poe to retrieve the chip in the movie.

So, basically, the Resistance is a rogue cell of the Republic's fleet, bent on exposing the corruption in the Senate and preparing for defense against the First Order when they eventually strike. Unfortunately for everyone, it still had way too little logistical and moral support within the Senate to be anywhere near as effective as it should by the time the First Order struck. Luckily, they had Finn and Han to sabotage the hell out of everything.

I just sort of imagined that the First Order is a bit like the Imperial Remnant from the old EU. They new Republic wasn't actively engaged in conflict with them at first. They had their own sector of the galaxy and both factions at least put on a public face of being indifferent towards each other.

I thought the First Order had a similar relationship. They're out there doing their own thing, and the new Republic is content to ignore them as long as they're not causing trouble. At least that's their "official" PR stance.

Secretly, the Republic is funding the Resistance under the table because they don't want the First Order around.

EDIT: Where did you get all that info you posted? I picked up The Force Awakens novelization the other day; I've heard it fills in some of the gaps pretty well.

Star Wars: Before the Awakening

Three short stories revolving one each of the trio (Finn, Rey, Poe). Also where I got how Rey is a badass pilot (she pretty much salvaged a computer with the TIE Fighter game in it and played the hell out of it) and how Finn is quite competent with the lightsaber (Stormtroopers all go through armed sparring bouts as part of their training).

Star Wars: Before the Awakening

Three short stories revolving one each of the trio (Finn, Rey, Poe). Also where I got how Rey is a badass pilot (she pretty much salvaged a computer with the TIE Fighter game in it and played the hell out of it) and how Finn is quite competent with the lightsaber (Stormtroopers all go through armed sparring bouts as part of their training).

Oh, cool! Is it worth reading on its own merits (and not just to find out new information)? I understood it to be for younger audiences (not that that would prevent me from reading or enjoying it), is that true?

All three stories are great for character development.

It's a bit on the short side for the price tag, though

I'll have to look into it. Looks like it's around 8 bucks on Amazon. I'll have see what it's priced at with my Barnes & Noble discount.

Have you read the Luke and Leia stories, by any chance?

Links?

The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure; set between Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back

Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo Adventure; set between Star Wars and Empire Stirkes Back

Moving Target: A Princes Leia Adventure, set between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi

I hadn't looked previously; I didn't know that there was a Han story (although I should have know better!), and I assumed they were all set post-RotJ. I was wrong there, so I'm not sure how much there will be relevant to The Force Awakens (although they are all titled Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, so maybe there is something in them).

The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure; set between Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back

Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo Adventure; set between Star Wars and Empire Stirkes Back

Moving Target: A Princes Leia Adventure, set between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi

I hadn't looked previously; I didn't know that there was a Han story (although I should have know better!), and I assumed they were all set post-RotJ. I was wrong there, so I'm not sure how much there will be relevant to The Force Awakens (although they are all titled Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, so maybe there is something in them).

The Marvel comics are in the new contuinity, btw. Although I'm sad Dark Horse no longer has the IP, most of the Marvel books have great art. I've picked up some of the issues and they're hit-or-miss with the story. In some they've revisited old EU locations which makes me happy, in others Luke is having duels with Darth Vader before their confrontation in Empire Strikes Back, which makes no sense to me.

But Stuart Immonen's arc was mind-blowing in the visual department. He captures all the vehicles and characters perfectly without looking like direct photo-references - all while mantiaining his fluid style.

A mini-series on the Force Awakens pilot is coming out soon, and that'll be their first jab into that era.