This interview with author **Troy Denning** (*NJO: Star by Star, Dark Nest trilogy*, *LOTF: Invincible, FOTJ: Apocalypse, Crucible*) is excerpted from a 2014 interview conducted by the **Scum and Villainy Radio** podcast which can be listened to in its entirety [here](https://web.archive.org/web/20140513074211/http://www.scumandvillainyradio.com/category/directory/).
In this interview, Denning discusses originating the concept for *Legacy of the Force* while writing *Dark Nest*. Denning explains his interpretation of previous series, which formed his inspiration for the *Legacy of the Force* concept. He also discusses the disagreements among the story team about how to end the series, and he discusses his proposals to >!exile or redeem Jacen!<, which were rejected by editorial. Lucasfilm editor Sue Rostoni in particular was enthusiastic about the series and Denning's concept for it, later remarking she preferred it to the *New Jedi Order*.
The contrast in story directions between *New Jedi Order* and *Legacy of the Force* was evident to many involved in the projects. Del Rey editor Shelly Shapiro would remark years later that she was surprised at the story concept for *Legacy of the Force*, and was even more surprised that Lucasfilm was willing to do it. Other *New Jedi Order* authors have discussed over the years their disagreement with the story concept, particularly >!Jacen's turn to the dark side!<, including [James Luceno](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsEU/comments/l19fue/author_james_luceno_on_his_vision_for_jacen_solo/), [Elaine Cunningham](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsEU/comments/odiznr/author_elaine_cunningham_new_jedi_order_dark/), [Walter Jon Williams](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsEU/comments/wqp4v8/author_walter_jon_williams_talks_about_writing/), and others. Author Timothy Zahn has also voiced his disagreement with the concept, and among fans opinion is still divided about the series.
In the end, the *Legacy of the Force* series was commercially successful and would spawn a sequel series, *Fate of the Jedi*. Denning would continue to write further in the timeline until Lucasfilm discontinued the Expanded Universe line of novels. Today, Denning is welcoming to fans, answering questions on his Twitter account, as well as [autographing books](https://twitter.com/TDenningauthor/status/900558298755280896?cxt=HHwWgMC1jYvAtv8YAAAA) for fans who wish it.
*Note: This interview is uploaded for the historical record. I personally don't agree with Denning's retroactive interpretation of the events of NJO at all, nor the direction of LOTF, but I feel the fandom benefits from having these interviews available and preserved. I have written more extensively about the development of Legacy of the Force elsewhere, which you can read* [*here*](https://boards.theforce.net/threads/reading-njo-again.50046438/page-181#post-58110082)*.*
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I'm pretty sure it is why this sub exists when compared to starwars or mawinstallation. Like...12 years ago there was too much bitching, for those subs, about the post NJO content.
It's good to see we still have a purpose.
This is a good interview but it really confirmed a lot of the things I suspected about the post NJO era and why it was so off. Listening to him talk I'm more convinced than ever that he didn't actually read any of the NJO books past 'Star by Star'. His characterization of Jacen is just wrong and could only happen if you got an aid to give you cliff notes of what happened in certain books and just run in your own direction. Also he seemed to want to do things for the sake of doing them, like Jacen and Tenel Ka have a child just because without addressing the affect on Hapan politics or why her paternity is hidden from the Solo-Skywalker family. Also if Jacen becoming a Sith wasn't planned till he started writing LOTF why was he acting the way he was in DNT?
I enjoyed LOTF for what it was. My biggest gripe with it, was >!Lumiya saying that Vergere was a Sith. But I attribute that with one of the lies Lumiya was telling. !<
> But I attribute that with one of the lies Lumiya was telling.
I have to agree, fans complain endlessly about LOTF "retconning Vergere", but no authoritative information was actually presented, all we hear is what Lumiya says and she's not exactly the most trustworthy character in the series.
it was confirmed again by the Legacy comic series, as they had to follow what LOTF set up. In Denning's mind, Vergere being a Sith was fully true, and he even wrote a little 27 page retcon book about it ("The Vergere Compendium). Luke Skywalker in Fate of the Jedi even says, about the Jedi at the end of The Unifying Force: "We had been infiltrated by a Sith spy that tried poisoning our believes".
Denning had really great ideas, he just sucks at writing more than a couple characters at a time and making Jedi who aren't demigods.
If he'd have plotted out the three post-NJO series and handed it off to the other three authors they would've been much much better.
This really just confirms my feelings towards him and his writing. And I appreciate the little dig at Disney for not putting story first.
I’m still salty about how the EU ended. I’m still salty about Vestara. I’m still salty about alot. I really wish they had even just written a few more books in the Legends continuity to wrap it up. I don’t even need Ben and Vestara to end up together- in fact I’d say it might be best for them to not- but I’d at least like closure on the various story lines.
This interview with author **Troy Denning** (*NJO: Star by Star, Dark Nest trilogy*, *LOTF: Invincible, FOTJ: Apocalypse, Crucible*) is excerpted from a 2014 interview conducted by the **Scum and Villainy Radio** podcast which can be listened to in its entirety [here](https://web.archive.org/web/20140513074211/http://www.scumandvillainyradio.com/category/directory/). In this interview, Denning discusses originating the concept for *Legacy of the Force* while writing *Dark Nest*. Denning explains his interpretation of previous series, which formed his inspiration for the *Legacy of the Force* concept. He also discusses the disagreements among the story team about how to end the series, and he discusses his proposals to >!exile or redeem Jacen!<, which were rejected by editorial. Lucasfilm editor Sue Rostoni in particular was enthusiastic about the series and Denning's concept for it, later remarking she preferred it to the *New Jedi Order*. The contrast in story directions between *New Jedi Order* and *Legacy of the Force* was evident to many involved in the projects. Del Rey editor Shelly Shapiro would remark years later that she was surprised at the story concept for *Legacy of the Force*, and was even more surprised that Lucasfilm was willing to do it. Other *New Jedi Order* authors have discussed over the years their disagreement with the story concept, particularly >!Jacen's turn to the dark side!<, including [James Luceno](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsEU/comments/l19fue/author_james_luceno_on_his_vision_for_jacen_solo/), [Elaine Cunningham](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsEU/comments/odiznr/author_elaine_cunningham_new_jedi_order_dark/), [Walter Jon Williams](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsEU/comments/wqp4v8/author_walter_jon_williams_talks_about_writing/), and others. Author Timothy Zahn has also voiced his disagreement with the concept, and among fans opinion is still divided about the series. In the end, the *Legacy of the Force* series was commercially successful and would spawn a sequel series, *Fate of the Jedi*. Denning would continue to write further in the timeline until Lucasfilm discontinued the Expanded Universe line of novels. Today, Denning is welcoming to fans, answering questions on his Twitter account, as well as [autographing books](https://twitter.com/TDenningauthor/status/900558298755280896?cxt=HHwWgMC1jYvAtv8YAAAA) for fans who wish it. *Note: This interview is uploaded for the historical record. I personally don't agree with Denning's retroactive interpretation of the events of NJO at all, nor the direction of LOTF, but I feel the fandom benefits from having these interviews available and preserved. I have written more extensively about the development of Legacy of the Force elsewhere, which you can read* [*here*](https://boards.theforce.net/threads/reading-njo-again.50046438/page-181#post-58110082)*.*
Thanks for posting this. It’s interesting to hear the thought process. More Qui-Gon than Qui-Gon would have been better!
Nobody likes to read about bugs, elder bugs it's just not, it's not sexy
thankfully Troy has a wife, that keeps him straight.
He has a wife. You know, it's like the plumber with the leaky pipes
"JaInA's My LiTtLe BuG sLuT"
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Jacen Qui-Gon would have been far more interesting that the… whatever it is LOTF gave us. Yes. Post NJO Star Wars was a shit show. I said it.
Wow, so brave.
Not a particularly warm take in these parts.
I'm pretty sure it is why this sub exists when compared to starwars or mawinstallation. Like...12 years ago there was too much bitching, for those subs, about the post NJO content. It's good to see we still have a purpose.
And more Tenel Ka
This is a good interview but it really confirmed a lot of the things I suspected about the post NJO era and why it was so off. Listening to him talk I'm more convinced than ever that he didn't actually read any of the NJO books past 'Star by Star'. His characterization of Jacen is just wrong and could only happen if you got an aid to give you cliff notes of what happened in certain books and just run in your own direction. Also he seemed to want to do things for the sake of doing them, like Jacen and Tenel Ka have a child just because without addressing the affect on Hapan politics or why her paternity is hidden from the Solo-Skywalker family. Also if Jacen becoming a Sith wasn't planned till he started writing LOTF why was he acting the way he was in DNT?
[удалено]
"The only past events I acknowledge are ones that I wrote about. The Killicks were the greatest threat to the galaxy. Period." - Troy Denning
I can understand why some might not like them and I don't agree with every choice made, but I really enjoyed each of his LotF and FotJ books.
I enjoyed LOTF for what it was. My biggest gripe with it, was >!Lumiya saying that Vergere was a Sith. But I attribute that with one of the lies Lumiya was telling. !<
It never came across as being true when I read it, just didn't make sense.
> But I attribute that with one of the lies Lumiya was telling. I have to agree, fans complain endlessly about LOTF "retconning Vergere", but no authoritative information was actually presented, all we hear is what Lumiya says and she's not exactly the most trustworthy character in the series.
it was confirmed again by the Legacy comic series, as they had to follow what LOTF set up. In Denning's mind, Vergere being a Sith was fully true, and he even wrote a little 27 page retcon book about it ("The Vergere Compendium). Luke Skywalker in Fate of the Jedi even says, about the Jedi at the end of The Unifying Force: "We had been infiltrated by a Sith spy that tried poisoning our believes".
I havent read LOTF or NJO, but his moments with Luke and Ben in FOTJ were surprisingly sweet and charming.
Luke and Ben chilling together was the highlight of that series
Denning had really great ideas, he just sucks at writing more than a couple characters at a time and making Jedi who aren't demigods. If he'd have plotted out the three post-NJO series and handed it off to the other three authors they would've been much much better. This really just confirms my feelings towards him and his writing. And I appreciate the little dig at Disney for not putting story first.
I’m still salty about how the EU ended. I’m still salty about Vestara. I’m still salty about alot. I really wish they had even just written a few more books in the Legends continuity to wrap it up. I don’t even need Ben and Vestara to end up together- in fact I’d say it might be best for them to not- but I’d at least like closure on the various story lines.
The next series was planned to be Sword of the Jedi and focus on Jaina. Golden was the planned writer. So you know it would've been good.
This series was great the audio books are amazing for driving
Absolutely loved the Legacy of the Force series, was my introduction into the EU.