Sneak Peek At 'Ronin,' A 'Star Wars: Visions' Novel

HYPE!

By Culture SlatePublished 3 years ago • 5 min read

At Anime Expo in July, Lucasfilm revealed more information about the latest project in development, Star Wars: Visions. The creators of this anthology of short anime films have been given full creative freedom on how their own unique interpretation of the galaxy far, far away. One of these shorts titled “The Duel” promises to present a blend of Japanese mythology and the futuristic elements of Star Wars. In addition to the short film, fans will get a chance to dig deep into the backstory of this lone samurai. StarWars.com has given us a sneak peak at the tie-in work Star Wars: Ronin: A Visions Novel.

“The Duel” is being helmed by Kamikaze Douga, the anime studio responsible for Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. The concept art of a samurai holding scarlet lightsaber and a droid resembling R2-D2 in a straw hat already promises a unique fusion unlike anything we have ever seen before. It speaks to the inspiration that George Lucas drew from Kurosawa’s samurai period films. The influence has come back full circle in this work. As James Waugh executive producer of Star Wars: Visions points out, “The Duel” is but one tale of this Ronin, a wandering samurai. Ronin plans to cover his many adventures as he travels the galaxy:

“Out of all the shorts, The Duel felt most rife for an ongoing story in a novel. Another one of Ronin’s adventures. One of the things I always loved about the short was that it was clear there was a larger history at play. That this wasn’t the first adventure this warrior had been through and it certainly won’t be their last. What are those stories?”

StarWars.com also gives us a little more details on “The Duel.” The first episode of Star Wars: Visions follows the story of a former unnamed Sith, known only as Ronin. This is an interesting premise as much of Star Wars media mostly focuses on “the good guys.” There are overwhelmingly more tales about the Jedi than about the Sith. Will this Ronin continue to channel the rage and anger of the Dark Side, or will he avoid those powers, choosing to only use the Light Side of the Force? Perhaps he will use the Dark Side for good, giving us another unique look at the rarely seen concept of Gray Jedi who walks the fine line between the Dark Side and the Light Side.

Ronin’s writer Emma Mieko Candon hopes to expand on this character shrouded in mysteries.

“I had to ask how this man rejected (or was rejected by) his social role [as a samurai], and why he continues to cleave to it. Why does he still carry that tell-tale red blade? And why does he hunt his own?”

In addition, Ronin will be a reflection of the author’s story as well.

“A Star Wars movie made me ‘get’ representation, and I’ve tried to honor that feeling in this book for my own sake and for other people. Besides being Japanese, I’m also a chronically ill, queer cyborg, and all of that showed up in some regard.”

Check this preview of the official synopsis for Ronin, which will definitely convince readers to pick up the novel.

“The Jedi are the most loyal servants of the Empire.
Two decades ago, Jedi clans clashed in service to feuding lords. Sickened by this endless cycle, a sect of Jedi rebelled, seeking to control their own destiny and claim power in service of no master. They called themselves Sith.
The Sith rebellion failed, succumbing to infighting and betrayal, and the once rival lords unified to create an Empire…but even an Empire at peace is not free from violence.
Far on the edge of the Outer Rim, one former Sith wanders, accompanied only by a faithful droid and the ghost of a less civilized age. He carries a lightsaber, but claims lineage to no Jedi clan, and pledges allegiance to no lord. Little is known about him, including his name, for he never speaks of his past, nor his regrets. His history is as guarded as the red blade of destruction he carries sheathed at his side.
As the galaxy’s perpetual cycle of violence continues to interrupt his self-imposed exile, and he is forced to duel an enigmatic bandit claiming the title of Sith, it becomes clear that no amount of wandering will ever let him outpace the specters of his former life.”

This novel appears to be a character study on the lone samurai as he struggles between his former ideals and his current beliefs. Perhaps we will see influences from Japanese manga of the same genre like Rurouni Kenshin (where the protagonist chooses to become a pacifist as he leaves his former life as an assassin behind) or Blade of the Immortal (where a lone samurai must travel the land to kill 1,000 evil men in order to break his curse).