Star Wars Bookworms Book Club discussion

What do you think about the novel introducing a love interest for Luke?

Better choice than his last crush.

I think this is what humanizes him. Without a love interest there isn't much to Luke other than a warrior.

It's also interesting to see how differently Luke and Anakin handle their love. Although Luke's love interest is more prevalent in some of the other EU books.

People tend to forget that he is like 17 in this book and there is a severe lack of girls where he comes from. I think that's a reason he latches on to the first girl he comes across.

23 years old, but good point.

I like that she is resistant to him due to her beliefs. It makes for a more interesting character.

yes that is a cool aspect, i like gariel shes a good character.

Anyone else think it's kind of creepy how much Luke still thinks about Leia?

i dont like to think about that..

but luke was never Attracted to leia just cared about her alot

I would dispute that. Going to look for a passage to back me up...

I'd certainly say Luke was attracted to Leia. His first reaction to her in ANH was to call her beautiful, and he put a great deal of effort into rescuing her, at the time a total stranger, from the Death Star. And in this novel, Luke even describes his "desperate love for Leia" as having set so much in motion.

Yeah, here's the passage...

This wasn't the time or place to let personal urges distract him.
Yet the first Death Star wasn't the time or place for romance either, and his desperate love for Leia had set so much in motion. If only Gaeriel Captison needed to be rescued...

ya ew. splinter of the minds eye has some strange things i dont like to think about also. but that was before anyone knew their were siblings. i think ive read george has said luke did "like" leia before he knew, gross.

I was going to comment at the quoted passage as well, specifically the end part: "If only Gaeriel Captison needed to be rescued..." I'm in no way taking any sort of gender stance but did it strike anyone else that Luke apparently desires helpless women that need a (Jedi) knight in shining armor to rescue them?

I think was attracted to playing the hero. Most of his other loves were people he had to rescue... Accept for the one he need up who was his equal.

I think his "crush" on Gaeriel is a bit telling. Reddish-blonde hair & green/blue eyes...

This is probably the first woman we see who represents a part of Luke's" type" of companion. I.E. his future with Mara. Don't get me wrong, she only has sparks of personality traits similar to Mara...but she's not Mara.

Luke seems like the kind of guy who would "fall in love" with any pretty girl that shows him attention, especially at this stage of his life. By the time he meets Mara he has matured some.

There is a little too much romance in this book for my personal taste. Between Luke and Gaeriel AND Han and Leia.

ya the romance with luke bugs me the most, it always seemed awkward

If I'm not mistaken, Luke was 23 at the time this book took place. Given his upbringing, I don't think it's particularly surprising that he would be a bit socially awkward around women. Thankfully, he outgrew that eventually as he matured (just as happens to most of hte rest of us!).

yes he is 23 and someone made a point i liked about how hes never really met alot of girls living in the middle of nowhere. like a farmboy out in the country comin to the big cityand seein tons of girls with the buttcracks and clevage hanging out, luke the farmboy leaves the country(moisture farm) and goes to the big city(galaxy) so ya leia and gariel are going to get his attention. i still hold to my belief luke was NOT attracted to leia sexually he cared about her alot and didnt understand why. they say they both always knew so..

Regarding Luke and Leia, Luke does seem rather smug when Leia kisses him in front of Han. It's a pretty funny scene. But it does seem to indicate that even at the beginning of Empire Strikes Back Luke was still jockeying with Han for Leia's affections.

ya.. ugh