#Mac is not a fan

[depizan]

Everything in this book is very stupid. I thought I was joking when I said that it's like Steve Perry was trying to outdo Timothy Zahn, but I'm not sure I didn't nail it. With apologies to everything I'm about to mention except Shadows of the Empire, this is to the Heir to the Empire series what the Smuggler story in SWTOR is to the Agent story. Or at least it feels like that.

Everybody's plans are complete nonsense that no one would try and would never work, even in a universe that very much runs on its own flavor of narrativium. It's not just the "plan" to rescue Han, it's all the plans.

Xizor has a brilliant plan to get rid of a competitor by claiming that the competitor's shipyards are a rebel base. Yes, said competitor is also a crime lord, so it's not like the Empire could just check the business directory, but I feel like the Empire would still check it out in some fashion before attacking. Or already know it's not. Everyone in this book has magic spy networks, after all. (Except when they don't?)

Leia wants to contact Black Sun to take advantage of their spy network to find Han. Even though Black Sun is bad news. Even though Lando's contact is (implausibly) Greedo's uncle. (Though, I suppose they could avoid that problem by claiming to be trying to find Boba Fett.)

Leia hires Dash to secretly guard Luke because...flying prowess and body guarding are the same thing?

And half the time there are supposedly cameras owned by everyone all over Imperial Center/Coruscant and half the time people are able to secretly do things.

Everyone is plotting. Xizor wants to take out Vader. Vader wants to take out Xizor. Xizor wants to take out Luke to make Vader look bad. (another plot that doesn't really make sense) The Emperor is just chortling to himself because life is only really good when he's hiring people to kidnap himself, and since he can't do that any more, he has to settle for having all his underlings fight.

(Okay, the book doesn't actually include the Emperor's motivations, but I think my explanation is sound.)

It just feels like someone trying to write a Clever Spy Story when they aren't very clever and aren't exactly sure how spy stories work.

[sinizade]

Sketch of Anora and Loghain for a thingy I'm trying to do

[quesocheeso]

PIF and Nezha when they find out Mac is expecting: 💃🎉🎉🎉

PIF and Nezha when they realize it’s Wukong’s:

[captainzigo]

[swagginmun]

Chapter 2: Tactical Infiltration Page 9 Now don't be a spoiled sport~! Start || Previous || Next

[obsob]

once more around the sun!! :3

[okasanart]

In my world state Loghain just survives all the time. My Warden does the ultimate sacrifice and my Inquisitor asks Hawke to stay in the fade. So years ago I just had this idea of Loghain still surviving after Solas tears the veil down.

[synthsays]

Chamber of Reflection - Mac DeMarco

[cocopudu]

sugarmac were always meant to be 🍏🧁💘!!

[specialtysacrifice]

Mac hugs the gang

[cubbyhole-for-flea-bee]

give it up for Mr. I-don't-really-talk-about-my-feelings-maybe-I-should, everyone, any donations made to the theatre are going straight to a therapist fund!

[depizan]

Yeah, the rescue/escape from Xizor's "castle" (why in gods name are we calling things castles?) is pretty well done, if with moments that are cinematic in a not-good way. (Mostly Guri randomly wanting to fight Luke, though the droids flying the Falcon is a little overly silly.)

After that, it's back downhill. Partly because people have started teleporting again (I hate that) and partly because the protagonists have ridiculous amounts of plot armor so they can survive Xizor ridiculously having his own navy. Because of course he does.

And then, in the end, its Vader who saves them and destroys Xizor. Which feels more like a cheat than it should. (Though it's written such that Xizor could have escaped. Maybe that's what irritates me about it.)

And then, in the end, we're ready for the beginning of Return of the Jedi. Which would be fine if the book were better.

Moral of the story: when you write a book, the things in it should make sense. This book violates that repeatedly. We don't even ever get an explanation of why Boba Fett didn't go straight to Jabba's palace. People just...do stuff. So there can be a plot. And somehow almost all of the bits that tie into the movies undercut them somehow.

All in, a disappointing read. And one that didn't even answer what Dash Rendar would be like in the hands of another writer since he was barely in the book even when he was in the book.

In the hands of another writer, he's a complete nonentity?

Bah.

[ainnur]

Princess Iron Fan giving her brother in-law some advice when her brother tell her about Macaque ✨ (I'll draw this later heh)

Yeah I dont like the hc that Macaque and Princess Iron Fan being sworn sibling, sue me for that idc :P (Im not stopping anyone)

[bismuthfool]

Does hunter macque stream his adventures and hunts in the wild online ?

like my bro @qwelenty said, ✧he doesn't need the attention because he knows he's good at what he does✧ (being sexy in the woods)

(he's a hermit) (people don't even know he exists)

[captainzigo]

what are your thoughts on transfem big mac and transmasc fluttershy?

i personally subscribe to a belief in transfem fluttershy. partly because i’m transfem and she’s my favorite. however, i support all queer headcanons period. even contradictory ones

the episode where big mac goes to the sister thing with apple bloom made me extremely uncomfortable. i felt like it was a gross example of media tropes that sexualize and vilify trans women. invading women’s sports, a man is shown as foolish for pursuing him, it’s shown as being transparent and just a disguise, all this among other things. however, i have since changed my mind after seeing fan reactions. i’m happy with this headcanon, and i acknowledge that other women maybe found something in that episode that i didn’t see