Catherynne M. ValenteNov 28, 2022
So…I AM enjoying Andor, but the hype around it is a little out of hand. It’s strange how many times I’ve read some version of: “It’s so great because it doesn’t feel like Star Wars!”
I do rather LIKE Star Wars.
And the problem with going adult gritty/realistic on this universe is I start to have to ask pesky worldbuilding questions I do not ask of more YA media, much like Hunger Games & how Panem makes no sense.
I’m happy for that galaxy to have discovered bricks, though. Bricks are nice.
Show threadCatherynne M. ValenteNov 28, 2022
Even w/ 500 chars, I need ROOM for my questions. Most of which probably have EU answers, I know Star Wars. I’ve written for it!
Why are there SO MANY humans? Even indigenous populations on faraway planets are human
Why do all these shitty planets look the same? Mos Eisley with a new color filter? Is there a prefab startup kit the empire provides? It’s like video game levels, same buildings, different sky.
There are Harry Potter levels of camping in modern SW. IT’S SPACE BUT WE ALL LIVE OUTSIDE
Show threadCatherynne M. ValenteNov 28, 2022

There’s a lot of talk about the empire stripping planets for resources etc…but like…why? An entire planet’s resources are almost unimaginably vast, let alone asteroids & uninhabitable planets. There never seem to be Roman-style building projects that need all that, they don’t build up colonies very well at all. Is it just money? If you can strip a planet for parts how meaningful is money actually?

And if you have all that money why do you need to force people to mine for you? Pay them better?

Show threadMaria

@catvalente
The Empire does happen to be building a space station the size of a small moon at the moment, a military-industrial complex needs resources.

We could ask the same question of any number of corporations on Earth today, why doesn't Amazon just pay its warehouse workers a living wage and let them use the bathroom at work?

Nov 28, 2022 at 3:44pmWeb
Show threadCatherynne M. ValenteNov 28, 2022

@almanzam yeah, but a single planet or handful of asteroids could provide plenty to build the Death Star. They seem to strip worlds a LOT.

And Amazon is still working with a society whose resources are limited. I’m saying that if you have the ability to strip everything valuable from a WORLD, you’re rapidly approaching post-scarcity. As an empire, Rome knew it cost less to let people do their own thing as long as they paid taxes.

Show threadMariaNov 28, 2022
@catvalente
Valid. But the empire isn't Rome, it's far more like nazi germany, fascists with little concern for state-building. You're completely right that their policies manage to be both evil and short sighted, but it only ends up lasting 20(?) years before it falls, because its megalomaniacal dictator decided to set up shop on his giant WMD before it was even finished.