'OBI-WAN KENOBI': ALDERAAN BECOMES REALITY!

One of the joys of the Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series of 2022 was seeing more of the young Princess Leia Organa's life (as delightfully played by Vivian Lyra Blair) on her adopted home world of Alderaan (beyond the small enticing visuals we saw at the end of Episode III) and its society, sequences well captured in these two great behind the scenes images from the opening episodes.

The ILM Stagecraft technique proves impressive.

AFICIONADO REVIEW: 'LEIA: PRINCESS OF ALDERAAN'

NOTE: This review contains mild spoilers...

A worthy tribute to Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia and the saga's landmark anniversary, Claudia Gray returns to the STAR WARS book franchise, bringing her commendable characterisation skills to bear once more in capturing the essence of Carrie Fisher's portrayal of the classic heroine, this time in a pre- A New Hope time: Leia's younger, to-be-defined years as a Princess and Rebel cell leader, as Leia: Princess of Alderaan becomes another must-have book for any Classic STAR WARS fan's collection, out now in the UK from EGMONT.

Aged sixteen, the story begins for Leia on a warm and positive note within the beautiful and peaceful surroundings of her home of Alderaan, as the beloved young Princess takes the traditional time of age vows in readiness to accept her ultimate positioning as the next benevolent and inspiring Queen of her people. The author brings affectionate depth to the character's genesis, effectively weaving the elements together for a memorable and well realized portrait of a young Leia, keeping her early years in continuity with the princess and rebel leader she will become by the time of A New Hope.

Worrying times on Alderaan for Leia and Bail Organa. Art by Chris Trevas.

And in Princess of Alderaan, Leia Organa is certainly young. Very young. She's impressionable, bold, daring, spiky and imaginative-her heart full of passionate neediness to make her parents happy, and genetically hardwired to help and aide her people and the many imperiled across the galaxy by the longstanding dominions of the Galactic Empire. The gusty and instinctive side of Leia we all enjoy may shine through on the outside, but on the inside, however, she still has many of the doubts, insecurities, and worries that any normal sixteen year old would have. even with her privileged royal status. Fallibilities that show on her whilst on the brink of entering womanhood, though with the supportive comfort of having the most dedicated, loyal and loving adopted parents that she could ever wish for In Queen Breha and Viceroy Bail Organa.

Helping her father in his diplomatic work, going back and forth across the galaxy and particularly cultivating her skills from political offices on Coruscant, Leia soon enters the start of her Apprentice Legislature career within the Galactic Senate, whilst finally let off the leash in being able to start doing work on her own that will surely benefit the poorer and less fortunate member worlds within the Empire, many of whom have already had their fates decided for the worst in the prior aftermath of The Clone Wars. Her first solo mission, under the watch and protection of loyal Captain Antilles aboard the Tantive IV cruiser, takes us to the planet Wobani, where her ingenuity and quick-thinking to save and relocate some of its withering populace, working within the tight restrictions prior imposed by the Emperor, quickly establishes her reputation, to be loathed by the irritated Imperials unable to act against her whilst Alderaan wields some political influence inside the Imperial Senate. With this starting point it won't be long before the Princess becomes legendary and exemplified for her "mercy missions". With such maneuverings, even her colleagues and soon friends in the legislature will start feeling a little exhausted by her noble and compassionate efforts.

Undercover in her duty to the Rebellion.

At the same time that Leia is fully seeing the effects of Palpatine's rule and the heavy bullying of his legions of commanders and troopers, the first hints of the Rebel Alliance's attacks on the Empire are now beginning to pique her curiosity, and just as she is starting to feel anxious and unsettled about her parents, that they seem more distant and preoccupied with outer duties of which she knows nothing about. A mysterious situation that soon changes with that early work on Wobani, and Leia's personal investigative discoveries about why her parents have seemingly ignored her. Once revealed, she cannot resist the urge, the calling in her heart, to aid them wherever she can, despite their paternal worries and early protestations. But with the burden pressures and emotional isolation of her family secrets, and not being able to tell anyone else, the risks to life-the death of innocents and the potential discovery of her parents involvement- all too great, how long can she keep a bold front and not feel the need to confide in someone herself?

Amilyn Holdo, as she'll be seen by the time of  The Last Jedi.

As this new calling and its many pressures build, her physical and psychological training for the legislature continues as a welcome and guiding distraction, not just set on Alderaan but other key worlds whose diverse environments are a key to personal growth and inner development, amidst a group of trainees that include a quirky tomboy figure  soon be one of the major Resistance players alongside Leia introduced during The Last Jedi: Amilyn Holdo, very much a quirky spiritualist- of colourful hair and standout manners as one the senate's rising stars, soon winning the friendship of Leia, as she too works within the rules to challenge tyranny and oppression, and whose love of  astrology soon proves beneficial. Most importantly, the Princess will find love, too, specifically with a fellow Alderaanian who is just as passionate and fired up about fairness, justice and peace as she is: Kier Domardi. A young romantic liaison that will surely end in tragedy- as they all seemingly do in fairy tales- though from its consequences will come a stronger resolve in the Princess's heart and mind in wanting to defeat the Empire

Queen Breha of Alderaan gets a fine showcasing in the book.

There's no doubt that Gray's capturing of Leia is impressive but so is the author's development of Alderaan, one of the original mystery worlds of the 1977 film, notably its epicentre Royal House and lineage past and present, all of which is a joy to read, especially continuing on from what was established at the end of EPISODE III and seen with The Clone Wars episode, Assassin.We all know how brave Bail Organa is working under the lines of evil, but this book is noteworthy in bringing to life Queen Breha and her parental relationship with Leia -we realise just how important she will be to the cause and how firm her beliefs are in the rebel fight,

There's some nice cameos from the likes of Rebel heroes-to-be like Mon Mothma, two certain droids, a mention here and there of Saw Gerrera and his trouble-causing partisans, and early spars with the cruel Governor Tarkin, already suspicious of the Organa family's associations. Planet visitations old and new are an integral part of the story, plus another vital link to The Last Jedi with the new/old world of salt and red core that is Crait. Even the Naboo system gets a welcome look-in decades after the prequels- in her visit there, surely the closest that Leia will ever get to seeing her original secret heritage at that point (but never knowing it), she'll meet its current beleaguered queen, as well as an intriguing cameo from a former patriot hero linked to EPISODE I - all of which is nicely handled.

With an intriguing first sign of her powers in the Force subtly revealed, the story ends with a race against time by Leia to aid her father, resulting in the end of her innocence. Even darker days lie ahead for her and the rebellion, but their light will emerge...

AFICIONADO RATING: Not so much a book with a central story, rather a story of character development and growth, about a girl evolving into womanhood and iconic hero-dom within the STAR WARS universe. 4 out of 5

Get the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Leia-Princess-Alderaan/dp/1405288906/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512663799&sr=8-1&keywords=princess+of+alderaan

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE JOYS OF FAMILY...

Despite dark and dangerous years ahead with the birth of the Empire, Bail Organa and his wife make the most of their time with the latest addition to their family in adopted baby Leia, during a beautiful moment from the closing scenes montage of EPISODE III, amidst the picturesque surroundings of peaceful Alderaan.

Alderaan and the Organa's last emotional and defiant days as the Death Star looms, during the later events of A New Hope, are effectively and hauntingly revealed in Madeleine Roux's Eclipse, one of forty short stories memorably created to celebrate EPISODE IV's glorious fortieth anniversary: From a Certain Point of View, out now in hardback from CENTURY.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Certain-Point-View/dp/1846056837/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1510402306&sr=1-1&keywords=from+a+certain+point+of+view

'STAR WARS' AT 40: GOODBYE, ALDERAAN...

He has the information he needs from Princess Leia about the Rebel base location, but it is not enough for Governor Tarkin, who wants to send the galaxy, and any further building resistance to the Empire, a message about the power of the fully operational Death Star. Destroying the influential and peaceful world of Alderaan, Leia's home planet, will surely be that ultimate message...

The original and spectacular 1977 destruction of Alderaan.

HAPPY UK MOTHER'S DAY!

Early conceptual art for EPISODE III showing a critical point in STAR WARS history bridging the Prequel and Sequel universes together: a reserved and noble-featured Breha Organa nurturing her adopted baby Leia on Alderaan.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all UK readers!

REBEL GENESIS: SPIRITS OF FREEDOM...

Art by Chris Trevas.

As a lead-in to STAR WARS REBELS, AFICIONADO presents a series of images featuring characters, events and history linked to the ultimate creation of the Rebel Alliance against the Empire.

She'd grown up within a tranquil world of beauty and peace on the snow capped Alderaan, but young Leia Organa, adopted daughter of Bail and Breha Organa, was not isolated from the oppression and tyranny waged outside her parents system by the Galactic Empire, often feeling sad and guilty about the poor, isolated and vulnerable people and worlds being exploited throughout the inner and outer rims by ambitious, corruptible evil minds. With a passionate and dutiful heart, firmly working alongside the distinguished and respected father she cherished so deeply, Leia would help the needy wherever possible, soon becoming a critical member of the fledgling secret underground movement that was the Rebel Alliance, using her mostly unrestricted status as a VIP rising star diplomat to travel the universe and secure weapons, technology and manpower as the Rebels began setting up their first critical base of operations, firstly on the wilderness plains world of Dantooine, then transferring to the equally remote and lucsious alien jungle world of Yavin IV.

Not afraid to muck in and help her colleagues, trained as a lethal markswoman and a pilot, powerful enough to resist the potential threat of Imperial capture and interrogation always hanging over her, Leia was one capable youngster who knew how to take care of herself. Her greatest chance to aid the Rebel cause would come with the news that spies had captured the plans to a new, all-powerful Imperial superweapon secretly under construction. Plans, in our heroes most desperate hour, that had to be retrieved under the most dangerous conditions and sent back to her father as soon as possible, accompanied with the equally urgent retrieval to action and resistance from a legendary Jedi Knight, now hidden far away on the backwater desert world of Tatooine...

AFICIONADO REVIEW: 'RAZOR'S EDGE' NOVEL

STAR WARS: EMPIRE AND REBELLION

BOOK ONE: RAZOR'S EDGE

By Martha Wells

Published in UK hardback by CENTURY PUBLISHING


Reviewed by Scott Weller


Having ultimately found the long-running post ROTJ era FATE OF THE JEDI series only partially successful in its storytelling aims, the news from LUCAS BOOKS that they were going back to the youthful incarnations of our Classic Trilogy heroes for a new series of books set within the incident packed time lines of EPISODEs IV and V personally proved a welcome sign, as did the revelation that they would also be penned by experienced yet also bright new stars to the publishing dominion- a further decision that certainly restored my faith in the next phase of our heroes literary development. In the coming months, the soon umbrella titled EMPIRE and REBELLION piqued my interest further, especially the announcement that each book in this new trilogy would separately focus on one of the core iconic triad, likely cementing the kind of developing uprising against the Empire soon to be explored in Disney's REBELS animated TV series. The sterling choice of Leia to launch the book series - her story of princess to rebel leader, whose mission to retrieve the Death Star plans ended in such tragedy: witnessing her planet and peoples destruction and the after effects it wrings to her psyche- surely proving a continued rich area for characterisation mining. Martha Wells debut in the Lucas playground certainly captures the spunky and authoritative pre EMPIRE heroine with Razor's Edge, as well as her sparky, sometimes snippy relationship with soon lover Han Solo. The idea of the toughened up Princess also being caught up in the affairs of desperate Alderaanian refuges, who have had to become space pirates in order to survive a changing universe, certainly proves intriguing, bringing with it the necessary moral and ethical dilemmas for Leia to navigate and resolve, alongside her resurfaced guilt association at being a part of the rebellion that ultimately led to their worlds destruction...

Unfortunately, despite a solid beginning, and a fine writing style perfect for STAR WARS books, the overall story, also involving a cruel female pirate flightmaster and some relatively small-scale Imperial pursuit, failed to fully engage me, having a tangible air of same old, same old about it. Lots of new female characters, perhaps more here than the entire output of the Classic Trilogy movies, are welcome but mostly prove forgettable, failing to hold a candle to Lucas's core icons- a continuing problem for LUCAS BOOKS and its authorship chain. The plotline of an emotion besieged Leia caught in tumultuous and dangerous situations with Alderaan survivors was also ultimately done better, and in shorter page length, within one of the early books of the SCHOLASTIC junior adult REBEL FORCE adventures of a few years back.

Here's hoping that the next two soon arriving tales within the EMPIRE and REBELLION series improve on this moderately enjoyable starter (greater imaginative ambitions please!), and that Miss Wells potential as a STAR WARS writer is given a chance to shine brighter with a more original tale in the not too distant future...

AFICIONADO RATING: 6 out of 10

Get hold of RAZOR'S EDGE here: Razor's Edge (Star Wars (Random House Hardcover)): Amazon.co.uk: Martha Wells: Books

CLASSIC BLOG 2007: ADRIAN DUNBAR - THE FORGOTTEN BAIL ORGANA

AFICIONADO contributor Ian Trussler with actor Adrian Dunbar.

By Ian Trussler

Before Attack of the Clones and Jimmy Smits, there was another Bail Organa, played by respected Irish actor Adrian Dunbar.

Dunbar was one of the very first people announced as a cast member for Star Wars: Episode One in very early 1997.  With the film shooting primarily in the UK it was no surprise to see this stalwart of British TV, film and theatre listed in the early press releases.

In August 2007 I was lucky enough to meet and talk with Adrian while he was appearing on stage at London’s Comedy Theatre.

He kindly took time to share his memories of his brief period as Bail Organa, and the subsequent disappointment that followed.

Adrian told me he did not audition for the part but had received a telephone call from George Lucas asking him if he wanted the role. George had seen some of his work, most notably the critically acclaimed and commercially successful (at least in Europe) Hear My Song and offered him the part of Bail based on having liked what he had seen. Lucas explained that the role was very small for this first movie but would be an expanded part in subsequent films. Adrianaccepted Bail primarily on the promise of a larger part in the future episodes.

Lucas had clearly considered other actors for the role, too, as Ray Winstone (a friend and co-star of Dunbar’s) has spoken in the past of a very unsuccessful meeting he had with Lucas for the very same part.

According to the Production Diary/Shooting Schedule for The Phantom Menace, Adrian filmed his scene on Day 3 of Principal Photography on Monday June 30th 2007, on Stage B at LEAVESDEN Studios.

The scene was listed as: Galactic Senate - Alderaan Box - Bail Organa seconds the motion.

Adrian told me that when he accepted and later filmed his part it was known as Bail Organa and it was changed later in production to Bail Antillies, presumably after Lucas had decided to cut the scene.

Adrian said that when filming he performed with only one other actor, that being Ian McDiarmid and he didn't get to work with any other cast.

When I showed him a picture of him in costume as Bail Organa he commented on how rare pictures of him as the character are and that he very much liked the costume, recalling it to be very ornate, an almost naval like white outfit with elaborate gold braiding detail.

The picture in question, a head and shoulders shot, is to my knowledge the only picture ever published of Dunbar in the role, coming from the Episode One annual and in the small US pocketbookWho’s Who guide, which presumably went to press and were approved by LUCASFILM before the role was cut.

Adrian said he found out his part had been cut from the movie when George Lucas personally phoned him and apologized. Lucas explained to him that he felt he was making a mistake to introduce Bail this early and that he shouldn't appear until the Clone Wars started. At the time Adrian was upset about being cut from the movie and then losing the role in the subsequent films but is philosophical about it now. He commented that this was the only time he had been totally cut out of a movie, it had never happened before and had not happened since (up to time of our conversation).

Although Dunbar is undoubtedly a talented actor I personally feel he didn't quite fit the role as I had imagined it. The tall and dark Jimmy Smits seems a better match for what my mind told me the adopted father of Princess Leia would look like.

That said I would dearly love to one day see the footage of Dunbar as Bail Organa/Antillies from Episode One to finally make that judgment. However since Jimmy Smits went on to establish the part, it seems highly unlikely LUCASFILM will ever release the footage.

Adrian was a very pleasant and friendly guy and I very much enjoyed chatting with him.

Ian Trussler

Above image: Adrian and I have a picture taken outside The Comedy Theatre, Panton Street, London-August 11^th 2007. Insert pic: the only shot currently released by LUCASFILM of Adrian Dunbar in character for EPISODE ONE. With thanks to Chris Baker for the image composition.

DELETED SCENE: A SPEAKER FOR ALDERAAN!...

The original Bail Organa, as played in EPISODE I by Adrian Dunbar.

Bail Organa of Alderaan, later to become Bail Antilles, adds his name in support to an investigation into the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo, in his short but sadly excised scene/s from EPISODE I, recently unearthed on the THE COMPLETE SAGA Blu-ray from last year.

Bail Organa and his aides watch the drama unfold in the senate chamber.

Dunbar makes his entrance. Note the Princess Leia lookalike to the left.

For the full story on Adrian Dunbar's involvement on the film, as the original adopted father of Princess Leia, check out out Ian Trussler's blog feature here: THE FORGOTTEN BAIL

For more on Bail Antilles, check out the great James Luceno novel set prior to EPISODE I: CLOAK OF DECEPTION. Visit our archive on the tale here:
http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/f/CLOAK_OF_DECEPTION_ARCHIVE_2010.pdf

CLASSIC ART: PRISON WORLD!

Early TIE fighters approach the Imperial Prison facility on Alderaan in this great art by Ralph McQuarrie for the original storyline for THE STAR WARS in 1975.

I have always loved these Ralph McQuarrie images because they wonderfully show us a part of the original STAR WARS movie that was almost realised but sadly never to be: the first concept/scripted prison location for Princess Leia on the gaseous and cloudy Imperial planet of Alderaan, which was later scrapped from the original screenplay by George Lucas when budget negotiations got difficult with 20th CENTURY FOX in 1975. It was a move that also disappointed Production Designer John Barry, one of the few then major and enthusiastic British supporters of the film's production, right from the start.

Ultimately, Alderaan became the name of Leia's destroyed home planet, whilst her prison was transferred to the more story and set beneficial, but no less effective, Death Star battle station. Never one to turn down or a good idea or piece of conceptual art, George Lucas would make sure that the Cloud City would ultimately make a successful film appearance on the planet Bespin, a few years later, in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

The original Colin Cantwell conceived Millennium Falcon captured by the Imperials on Alderaan.

"STAR WARS" AT 35: DEPARTURE TO DESTINY...

Thirty five years ago in 1977, the young and brave Rebel Alliance leader Princess Leia Organa (played by Carrie Fisher) undertook a bold and dangerous mission to become custodian of stolen plans for a top secret Empire project: the Death Star. Upon successfully achieving the first stage of her mission and beginning its second aspect (to retrieve the pariah Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi, from hiding, so as to aid the Rebel cause against evil), she would unfortunately be tracked to the isolated desert world of Tatooine by her enemies: the sinister agents and Imperial Stormtroopers led by the evil Lord Darth Vader. The story of STAR WARS, created by George Lucas, had spectacularly begun and a legend was soon born, capturing the hearts, minds and imaginations of audiences young and old. Artist Chris Trevas's beautifully rendered image for STAR WARS GALAXIES showing Leia saying goodbye (sadly for the last time) to both her adopted father Bail Organa (as had been played in the Prequels by Jimmy Smits) and her adopted homeworld of Alderaan, watched by Captain Antilles, is a wonderful and touching interpretation of important events leading into that classic first film.

This year, as the saga hits a new respected landmark, keep a regular eye out on the AFICIONADO blog as we celebrate the classic original STAR WARS in all its majestic and inspiring glory...

CLASSIC IMAGE: QUEEN OF ALDERAAN!

Here's a nice posed shot of the lovely actress Rebecca Jackson Mendoza as Breha Organa, the wife of Bail, Queen of the peaceful and important world of Alderaan, and loving, caring adopted mother to the baby Princess-to-be, Leia. Sadly, Breha Organa had very little screen-time in the finale of REVENGE OF THE SITH, but lets hope she gets a chance to one day appear in THE CLONE WARS animated series, or even, here's wishing, the eventual live-action TV series set between EPISODEs III and IV.

CLASSIC IMAGE: POWERLESS TO HELP!

Investigating the raging fires and laser volleys emanating from the chaos of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, Alderaanian Senator Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) is prevented from finding out the truth behind whats happening by a force of 501st Clone Troopers, in this dramatic scene from EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH...

CLASSIC CONCEPTION: THE BEAUTY OF ALDERAAN

Here's some great conceptual art for EPISODE III of Bail Organa's home planet of Alderaan, an iconic world with strong ideals of peace and admired by many of the peoples living within the once noble Republic. Until its destruction by the first dreaded Death Star battle station, the snow capped mountain planet had been a beacon of hope for the Rebel Alliance and its galaxy wide supporters during the fight against the tyranny of the now established First Galactic Empire.

Recently shown in THE CLONE WARS episode Assassin, we hope to see more of House Organa and its civilisation in later seasons...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARRIE FISHER!

Still the greatest as the Stormtrooper blasting, Rebel leading, Scoundrel loving, Wookiee hugging, medal giving, bun wearing, Bikini stunning babe of the Original STAR WARS saga.

With thanks to Chris Baker for the image.