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DF & Star Wars

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kbrizzle:
Having rewatched the Star Wars prequels (including the Clone Wars), I was struck by the similarities between the Dresden Files & Lucas’ saga. I’m not going to mention the obvious textual references (lots in every book) but stick to plot themes.

Is it just me or is the White Council extremely reminiscent of the Jedi Order in the Star Wars prequels? Here are some I caught:

* Like the WC, the Jedi Order had grown arrogant & self-indulgent in their centuries of being top dog - being relatively unchallenged by the Sith until they were up-ended by a PHANTOM MENACE who used a lot of cats paws.
* Anakin was being subtly manipulated by the Phantom Menace (Palpatine) for most of his formative years, just like Harry has been
* There is a ‘Chosen One’ who is prophesied to bring balance to the Force - the child (Anakin) is highly distrusted by the Jedi Council at large & only allowed to train under the aegis of Qui Gon & Obi Wan. Similar to 16 year old Harry & how he was viewed by the Senior Council
* Both the Sith & Jedi use the Force. Using the dark side of the Force often enough would taint a Jedi’s aura & turn them into a Sith - similar to wizards & warlocks who use magic & especially black magic
* The Phantom Menace (Palpatine) severely weakens the Jedi through a years long war of attrition against Dooku’s confederation - the Clone Wars. Kind of like how the WC has been severely weakened by the Ramp war, which also seems to have been manipulated by a phantom menace.
* Most Jedi Knights have a single Padawan at a time, sort of like how most wizards have apprentices
* The Jedi Order’s heavyweight champion was Mace Windu who used a lightsaber style called Vapaad - a style so filled with aggression that he was the ONLY Jedi not to have succumbed to the dark side who used it. Similar to Ebenezer & his Blackstaff.

Bad Alias:
I'm not sure if I agree with number 1 as applied to the White Council. The Merlin and Luccio seem quite aware that they do their best, but that their best is far from perfect. The White Council compromises heavily. The arrogant usually don't. Being members of the Accords instead of killing all monsters is an admission that they aren't in charge.

I'm not saying they aren't arrogant. I'm saying they're not so arrogant as to think they're top dog. They're old enough to remember when things were so very much worse. (And would most boomers, not that the mortals were likely to notice). They don't seem think it won't happen again.

morriswalters:
Do you think this is because Jim is obviously a fan boy?  Not to mention that Star Wars itself uses a lot of borrowed ideas.

Yuillegan:
Excellent parallels, although BA makes a good point about the White Council being a bit more compromising. However, I think the gist is the same.

It would be Jim's style to have been hitting us in the face with a cluebat with all those Star Wars comments and no one realise how close he was.

However, I always think about something my old man used to say about coincidences. He said that you can always find similarities between things, but often the differences were greater. It was only when the differences did not outweigh the similarities that it becomes significant. He was being general of course, but that's the point.

As Morris says, Star Wars borrowed a lot of stuff itself so Jim could also be borrowing from the same sources.

But if we continue down this road let's think of some more parallels, but from the original trilogy.

1. If Dresden is Luke, then who is Vader. Justin? Eb?
2. The Emperor (we even have an Empress in the Fomor) is a ruling threat.
3. A super weapon is in the wings - Demonreach?
4. Thomas is Han?
5. Elaine is probably Leia.
6. Ben Kenobi is Eb.
7. Yoda is Vadderung, perhaps?
8. After striking well at the enemy, the enemy hits back = Changes versus Peace Talks perhaps?

I like your parallel to prequel trilogy better though. Wouldn't be surprised (if Jim is borrowing) if the books are a combination of the two.

kbrizzle:
Here are a couple of more parallels that were pointed out to me:

* Anakin & Harry end up losing the women they love after knocking them up
* Luke & Leia share a kiss, Harry & Elaine are technically adopted siblings (& did a lot more than kiss)
* Anakin slaughters a room full of young kids, Harry burns to death a bunch of young adults at Bianca’s.
@Bad Alias
The White Council is pretty arrogant imho - they are even called out about this by several characters including Shiro. The WC’s arrogance can be seen by their handling of the Ramp war, especially in the early days - it isn’t until TC/ Changes that we really see the entire Senior Council (except Christos) actually prepared to do what it takes.

@morriswalters
Oh absolutely - I don’t mind at all that JB borrowed some of these ideas because he’s really made them his own. It’s just fun to spot where he might’ve gotten some of his inspiration.

@Yuillegan
Thanks! I don’t think we can draw parallels like that between characters though - I think the parallels are more thematic in nature. Ebenezer has bits of Qui Gon, Obi Wan, Mace Windu etc for example, he doesn’t have a 1:1 with any of them individually though.

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