I read two Obi-Wan books in the run up to the Kenobi series premiere, and I keep waffling on whether I should write up a review on them or not, because I loved one and hated the other. Kenobi, by John Jackson Miller, which was one of the latest EU/Legends novels, and the new Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen, just released last month.

Kenobi is set when Obi-Wan first goes into hiding on Tatooine after giving baby Luke to Owen and Beru. It’s about 70% moisture farmer and Sand People drama, with the other 30% comprising Obi-Wan’s struggle to adjust to being in hiding- he tries to stay out of the moisture farmer drama but just can’t help getting involved to help people- and how extremely terrible he is at staying undercover. (Among other things, he meditates out loud and at one point gets overheard by a 15-year-old girl eavesdropping on him.) Also all the female characters have a crush on him- seems pretty legit. I loved this book a lot, even though a bunch of Tatooine OCs got more of the pagetime than Obi-Wan himself did. It was a really good story and the fact that it was smaller scale felt right for it. I love getting to see more about civilian life in Star Wars, and the ending to the whole civilian drama plotline had some surprisingly great thematic parallels with Vader. The Sand People getting more development was also great, even if it wasn’t completely unproblematic. This book also has Obi-Wan find out about Anakin’s murder rampage on the Sand People tribe in AotC, which was interesting, and the whole story is framed by a Sand People myth about the two suns that parallels Obi-Wan and Anakin’s story. Oh, and the book starts off with Obi-Wan landing on planet and almost immediately getting into a bar fight while holding baby Luke. A+.

In contrast, I hated Brotherhood by Mike Chen. It had all my least favorite Star Wars fandom takes, made canon. Even though existing canon actively shows that they’re not true!!! The Jedi don’t feel emotion, check, Mace hates Anakin, check, Qui-Gon was super perfect and him living and training Anakin would have been the solution to everything that went wrong, check. I’m so tired of these takes. There might be an element of Anakin being an unreliable narrator for some of those, but if so, it’s not well conveyed, to the point where I didn’t even consider it until I read a review of book. The writing comes off as mostly supporting what Anakin says. The other thing I couldn’t stand about this book is that it’s supposedly about how Obi-Wan and Anakin became brothers (it’s set at the beginning of the Clone Wars and starts with Anakin’s knighting) but it also establishes that for the past 10+ years of Anakin’s apprenticeship, they fought constantly. This book wants me to believe that after 10 years of fighting, they became as close as they were only during the war??? That apparently Obi-Wan literally raising Anakin from the age of 9 didn’t result in them bonding at all?? What????? And then the big reconciliation that is the start of Obi-Wan and Anakin’s relationship as brothers and as The Team....... is Obi-Wan realizing that Qui-Gon trusted Anakin, so he should too. It’s not anything to do with Anakin himself or Obi-Wan’s relationship with him, it’s just about Qui-Gon. I have no words.

The Sand People massacre is coincidentally also brought up in this book. Anakin actually tells Palpatine about it, hoping for validation of his feelings of anger, and of course Palpatine not only gives him that, but says he was right to do it and describes it as “justice”. Which is then followed up by Palpatine confirming that... no, the Jedi don’t feel emotions like normal people, and yes, Mace unfairly hates Anakin. Again, if this was supposed to be unreliable narration by Anakin, that’d be one thing, but the only thing the narrative actually calls Anakin out on is his prejudice against Neimoidians. As it stands, the narrative pretty much acts like Palpatine was right in this conversation, which is a big No-No for me. It’s either extremely poorly written Anakin-as-an-unreliable-narrator, or just canonizing Very Bad Takes. Also, the way this books acts like Jedi are bad and compassionless and Anakin is a super special snowflake for feeling emotions, unlike them? It misses the point very badly. The whole point is that Anakin was a great Jedi. That’s what makes his fall so tragic. Because Palpatine’s insane talent at manipulation and grooming aside, Anakin knew better, he knew right from from wrong, and he fell anyway. He made the wrong choice at a crucial time because of his fear, and that choice doomed him, his loved ones, and the galaxy.

Where Brotherhood shines, in my opinion, is in its supporting characters. There are 2 OCs who I really grew to love. The first is Mill Alibeth, a Zabrak Jedi Initiate (about 10 years old) who Anakin winds up bonding with, whose problem is that she can’t deal with how strongly she feels emotions through The Force- a problem that is a lot worse for her with the war breaking out. The second is Ruug Quarnom, a former Black Ops Neimoidian guard who becomes an ally of Obi-Wan’s as he investigates a mysterious bombing of a civilian sector on Cato Neimoidia. Obi-Wan’s plotline of solving the mystery behind the bombing is very interesting, and the only reason I actually kept reading the book. The development of the Neimoidian people was also great.

I also enjoyed a scene featuring the return of Dex early on in the story, and this book has a very cute Anidala date, even though it leans too heavily into the “Anakin is selfish” aspect of his personality in his choice of date spot for my taste. (Yes, he’s nascent Darth Vader, but that shouldn’t be coming out so strongly. There’s no point in his fall if he was never actually good.) This book also gets bonus points for recanonizing Obi-Wan’s Ben alias as having been a nickname Satine used for him (which was previously canonized in Kenobi and made me very happy), and for mentioning Anakin meeting Cal Kestis from Jedi: Fallen Order. Siri Tachi is also briefly mentioned! I’m not sure if this is her first appearance in Disney canon, but either way, she has a quick appearance in this book so she does exist in the new canon. Sister the trans clone from EK Johnston’s Queen’s Hope makes an appearance in this book too. Also, points for bringing in the furnace heart metaphor for Anakin from the RotS novelization, and tying it to a story Shmi used to tell Anakin.

This was mostly just incoherent rambling and I’m fully aware of that; if anyone wants an actual coherent book review for either book just let me know.

How to baby, with Good Dad Mace Windu and Questionable Dad Qui-Gon Jinn.

Yes I am reading Master and Apprentice by Claudia Gray. Yes I’m only at the beginning. Yes Qui-Gon is trying, but he just doesn’t know what he’s doing, poor dude.

A happier galaxy where the disaster lineage is somewhat less on fire constantly and senior padawan Obi-wan has developed a fixation on Mandalorians:

Sometimes Feemor regretted just how much he had given away when he had spent 5 expensive months bribing a traumatised Obi-wan to call him brother when he was 14. His dignity, for one, his access codes and shadow cloaking techniques, another. So he had a very dignified reaction when he was awoken to the shine of his younger brother's eyes in the dark at the foot of his bed. "I wou-stop screaming it's just me-I would like a Mandalorian. How do I procure one?"

"How the fuck should I know?"

Obi-wan scowled as if Feemor was being difficult, he wasn't, he wasn't quite awake enough for that yet. "You're a shadow, you're supposed to know things."

Ah, if being a shadow granted you the secrets of the universe instead of just a great many planetary governments, Feemor wouldn't spend so much time wondering what dark rituals Dooku had committed to result in Qui-gon Jinn. (He already knew what regular rituals Qui-gon had committed to result in Obi-wan)

"I know that I'm about to punt you out of my room right now."

"...My birthday is coming up, I believe I deserve compensation for all the traumas."

Obi-wan's eyes were very big now. Feemor sighed. He flopped back down into bed. He resisted the urge to pull his blankets back up and roll over. 'Oh sure when it's time to see mind healers everything's fine but now-'

"Shouldn't you be asking Master then?"

"Master would not approve of how I plan to use the Mandalorian."

He squinted at Obi-wan for a long moment. Obi-wan stared back. He did some quick mental maths and tried not to feel old. Eh. Fine. Feemor swung his legs out of bed. "You had me at 'Master wouldn't approve'."

"Do you think I could get one by walking into little Keldabe and asking very nicely?"

As it turns out, yes he could. A few too many in fact, apparently Jedi, their ancestral enemy, in the Mando district attracted attention, who knew? Feemor knew, Feemor would have known if only he had been properly awake when this semblence of a plan was proposed. He stalked through the cantina towards Obi-wan who was leaning slightly forwards against a pillar, ah...speaking, to a Mandalorian with painted orange armour while surrounded by a larger crowd of Mandos. At least they seem mostly amused. He ignored the youngers squawk as he yanked the back of his robes so that he moved away from the Mandalorian and spun him around.

"You cannot solve centuries of animosity by batting your eyelashes."

"I'm not batting my eyelashes " Obi-wan sniffed," I'm shaking my ass, there's decidedly more effort involved."

"I miss when I was an only child." Feemor sighed deeply. He used the force to scruff the neck of Obi-wan's robes and dangle him slightly in the air. He ignored the shouting from beside him and bowed politely to the staring Mandos. "My apologies for the disturbance, this will not happ-" He considered his brother who was now yelling out his personal comm code with a wink. " Please excuse us, this very probably will happen again, we shall workshop it. May the force be with you all."

I don't have a fully planned AU but it is Codywan!!! cause I love those bitches but have some more dialogue I came up with for this AU. I'm imagining them both as like 20-23, Obi's close to knighthood. He's still a padawan for this because I think him causing Qui-gon headaches is funny. Feemor fully thinks this complicated courtship dance Obi's created is funny, he likes studying his little brother like a bug, he just wasn't prepared for him to just waltz into little kelbade and start hitting on people, though he really should have been.

Hand wavy timeline with Jaster alive but the clones are still clones, Jango was kidnapped and held in stasis or something, Jaster claimed them as Mandos. This is really just about Obi's first and biggest diplomatic achivement being friendly Jedi-Mando relations purely cause he was in his thot era. This also somehow saves the galaxy from the sith.

I like to imagine that Cody's brothers recorded that little exchange between Fee and Obi on their helmets and uploaded it online where it went viral on MandoNet before going viral galaxywide because wait holy shit is that a Jedi saying that????. Qui-gon gets called in for a very weird meeting where the council's like ok so the entire holonet has seen your padawan being horny on main but also this is like the biggest jump in our diplomatic relationship with the Mandos in centuries so like can we keep this up somehow? This results in Obi-wan being holonet famous, first through vode recordings but then he starts a space tumblr and twitter account and he's famous now. Then his friends and other jedi start accounts because wait we're allowed to do that? and those become big as well and this is literally the best PR the jedi have had in hundreds of years. the holonet loves them. the sith are fuming.

Obi-wan, scoffing: What were they gonna do? Shoot me? Feemor: Yes. Obi-wan: I don't believe in blasters. Bly: ...like as a concept...? Obi-wan: No, spiritually.

Obi-wan: I'm sure there's a nice Mandalorian we can find for you Feemor: I'm not sure those 2 words belong together Obi-wan: No of course not, we can't find a nice one, then they'd be all alone, we need to find an absolute bastard of one so that you two match :)

Obi-wan: Oh so Master gets to take in pathetic life forms but I don't? This one's already domesticated! Wolffe: Debatable. Feemor: Cody's a person! Not a stray tooka! Obi-wan: Master takes in stray people all the time! That's how he got me!

Qui-gon: How do you explain this behaviour Padawan ? Obi-wan: The force pushed me towards the Mandalorians Master, it was quite insistent on me developing better relations with them given our difficult history. Feemor: Fascinating, please do elaborate, I'd love to hear the theological implications of a force-assigned kink.

holo of generals kenobi and skywalker reviewing plans for a joint operation in the outer rim

1/?

+ still detail:

You’re not serving him, are you? You’re hunting him

Week 25 - September 17th, 2023 'Dangerous (feat. Joywave) - Oliver Remix' - Big Data, Joywave, Oliver Spotify / YouTube

Sir.

Because this man’s soft exterior is a front. A smart one, because it encourages peace and a personality you can talk to. Soft and open, patient and kind.

But threaten those same qualities and he will not show up with any of them. 

Enjoy!

View a week early on my Patreon!

Day 1 | Padawan

I’m a little late but here is my contribution for Starwarstober 2022

mahStah I am so hungry.

Qui-Gon: I never thought I’d meet someone with more mental illnesses than me in the Order. I enjoy it. *giving Obi-Wan a hug*

Obi-Wan: *ducking under Jinn’s arms* You didn’t meet me like this, you created this. Sign your artwork, Master.

Qui-Gon: *deep sigh, turns to the counsel* Right, yeah, I guess he’s ready to be knighted. Or whatever.

Mace: You guess? Do you want him knighted or not?

Qui-Gon: I would prefer to never let him out of my sight till we’re both dead because that’s how I parent, but I need the spare room for Anakin. He could have been knighted years ago I just didn’t wanna interrupt a good thing. He’s my good boy I’m absolutely sure he could pass his trials.

Obi-Wan: I would sell you for a twi’lek fry.

Qui-Gon: *pulls him into his chest* He’s my BABY. I would also like to put in a request for the quartermaster to move us to an apartment with three bedrooms but they won’t get back to me on that so I guess I have to knight him now.

Poet & King

Goodbye 2022! Thank you for all the amazing Obi-Wan content!

No one ever tells Obi-Wan that he is his Master's padawan.

Of course, for most people who had known Qui-Gon Jinn, telling someone else they resembled the the man would in fact be a thinly veiled insult. But still, Obi-Wan feels the absence of comparisons almost as strongly as he feels the absence of his Master.

There is no one for Obi-Wan to push against now, no strong presence at his side, ready to grab him by scruff and pull him back from another reckless stunt. It's an odd feeling. He has been set loose against his wishes. There is no one to his left and Anakin at his heels, but Anakin had needed, still needs, a strong, gentle figure for his prickly but sensitive heart. For even their worst bickering could not hold a candle to the scathing remarks he and Qui-Gon had shot at each other and Obi-Wan knows he cannot push and needle Anakin in the same way.

When Qui-Gon had been alive they had been an amusing, mirrored pair, the maverick and his rule-following padawan. Opposites clashing against each other, yet working together to complete the most difficult missions. Few saw that Qui-Gon's impertinence had indeed rubbed off on his padawan, cultivated from that small, angry initiate, because the only way to rebel against the rule-breaker had been to parrot the Council fastidiously. No one would ever get to see that again. Obi-Wan is one half of a mirrored pair trying to complete a routine on his own. What once was an impish, teasing compliance is now a betrayal of all his Master's values.

"How could Qui-Gon raise such a model Jedi?" He hears them say, "It's admirable that Master Kenobi was appointed to the Council despite his Master's maverick ways."

Padawan Kenobi would have yelled and kicked and screamed. Master Kenobi is serene. It should feel like an achievement. It feels like a disappointment.

Sometimes, Obi-Wan looks at the shape of the man he has moulded himself into, and aches to be his Master's padawan.

Name of the Game by @esamastation

There's a new Dark Sider on the battlefield, one who has it out for Cody's General.

Very excited to make a copy of Name of the Game!! This was one of my first ever codywan fics that I read, and I fell in love with it from the start!

There's a chess motif and heavy emphasis on seduction through strategic warfare, so I leaned in hard there. The covers are double layered, with the top black layer + cutouts in colibri uran bookcloth, and the lower layer with the marbled paper. I used this diamond pattern to evoke a chess board without going full checkerboard on it. This diamond orientation was inspired by Jasmin of Cami Press' beautiful leather binding.

I got to use crepaldi endpapers for this book, and I think they turned out lovely!

Instead of sewing the endbands I made my own with the same marbled paper as the cover. And of course, gold speckled edges!

The chess motif continues in the typeset, and the paragraph breakers change depending on who is the focus and what their possible place is on the metaphorical board!

Thank you @esamastation for all of your wonderful stories!

Cody runs a careful thumb over Obi-Wan's core, pressing down just slightly so he can feel the panties, Manda save him, underneath the tights. Obi-Wan reacts like a live wire and a slow, predatory grin crosses over Cody's face when he realizes the spot he just touched and exactly what kind of anatomy lies beneath.

He can work with this. Cody flicks his gaze up to Obi-Wan, who's watching with slightly parted lips and flushed cheeks, his long fingers gripping the sheets. Cody sharpens his grin before he begins to mouth up the inside of Obi-Wan’s thigh, teasing the fabric in between his teeth.

“Cody,” Obi-Wan warns, twitching his hips.

“Hush,” Cody chides from his place on the inside of Obi-Wan’s knee.

Cody can practically feel Obi-Wan’s gaze burning into him as his hands drag up his legs and his fingers hook into the thin waistband of the tights. He gets a bright idea and hides his slight smirk against the rough material before he is leaning up, up, up and aligning his mouth with the waistband, toying the elastic between his teeth.

“Cody,” Obi-Wan warns again, breathier this time.

Cody only hums and looks up to make eye contact with Obi-Wan as he begins pulling the material down with his teeth. Obi-Wan is watching him with an intensity that only spurns Cody on further, his mouth already watering. He reaches the obstacle of Obi-Wan’s ass, who is quick to slightly raise his hips to allow for the netting to slide down to his thighs. 

-

incredible art done by @holly-bearie for my fic I'd probably still adore you with your hands around my neck

obi-wan should’ve been at the club!!!!!

STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005) OBI-WAN KENOBI - PART III (2022)