It seems unnecessary and forced.

You know, I can kind of see that - it's almost like the "Hey! We're doing an all female Ghostbusters movie!", where it was mandated by the studios.

Here, I would have not done a press release going "Look! We're progressive!" - I would have released the book with no fan-fare at all, not made a big deal of it in the text and just let it happen. Make it less of an event and more. . . normal and casual, I guess.

Never mind - I should RTFA first:

It should be noted that Del Rey is not using Delian Mors as a marketing ploy for Lords of the Sith. When Young read an advance review copy, Mors jumped out at him and he reached out to Del Rey and Kemp to see if he could write an article about it.

Guess they did just release it without fanfare. Good on them!

They don't really have to advertise it themselves they can just happen to have a Blog do it for them.

Check Bing/Google and it is in the top results of both. Not right at the Top, but close enough that it would have eyeballs on it it seconds.

I yearn for the day when it doesn't matter. I don't dislike that they are gay, straight, black, white, xeno or human. Give me an interesting character and I am happy.

I get why it has attention in the media, but like the author, it is all just natural states of being. Why make a fuss in any direction. End of the day, yours, mine, or fictional characters' sexuality has no effect on my life.

So I only hope it is an enjoyable read.

Yes it would nice if LGBT characters like this were common place rather than the exception. Until then I applaud calling it out.

I must be the only fan of Godzilla Versus Disco Lando , I thought LBGTs had been in Star Wars for nearly 20 years.

It seems unnecessary [snip]

What does this even mean???

Good for them. Bout time.

It seems unnecessary [snip]

What does this even mean???

It generally implies the speaker thinks a character having a less common sexual orientation must have some reason to be given that orientation, otherwise just leave it at the default setting. When the speaker sees no reason why it is necessary to have a different orientation they see it as "unnecessary". The speaker thinks there has to be some purpose behind it to do it. But to most other people it no more needs a reason than describing a character as blonde or res-headed. People are different and it adds verisimilitude to have differences in the fiction. As well as just "why not?"

Anyway, not having read the novel there may well be some reason for it. The author could have had two characters that they thought some romantic connection would enhance the story, they were both women and so... Or just as likely it's the no particular reason but it's good to have variety.

Yeah, but imho having to come up with a reason why to "have" such a character seems completely counter to diversity and being inclusive.

There's no especial reason why the Empire needs to have any particular prejudice, especially an orientation one

Except that most of their concept was based on the Nazis but i guess it is easy to forget that with the empire being all lovable and all that.

Not sure where you got the loveable part but having the Empire be influenced by the Nazis doesn't mean that they have to reproduce all elements of Nazism. I like the Empire to be this epic, frightening force - impersonal, efficient and ruthless. Homophobia and sexism doesn't say 'Powerful' to me, it says 'low-intelligence'. I don't want them riddled with stupid prejudices that eliminate half their best officers, I want them cool, competent and deadly.

It also just feels a bit Kick the Puppy Evil to me, or Chaotic Stupid, to name the tropes. "Mwah-ha-ha! Not only did we blow up Alderan and overturn democracy in favour of a fascist state, but we're ***-bashers too!" I don't know - I fond the Empire scarier if it doesn't have all this real world baggage to be honest. Homophobia doesn't make them scary, it makes them something you look down on and think of as losers. No?

Yeah, but imho having to come up with a reason why to "have" such a character seems completely counter to diversity and being inclusive

It is. That's the problem. But some people are in a mindset where they think there has to be a reason to do something "different" when the real point is that it isn't. Not to life, anyway.

If Lucas never had to apologize like this: «Look, I'm sorry for all those offended by the forced inclusion of heterosexual relationships in the franchise. I should also have understood by then that having the plot of the prequels partially based on a secret heterosexual relationship between a male Jedi and a female Senator was pandering to the heterosexual crowd out there. I'm sorry for all that», then the authors of the new Lords of the Sith shouldn't.

A cheap romance or a good one, a likable protagonist or a Mar(t)y S(t)u(e), a good narrative of a cheap copy-paste: those are good criterias. Equality will be attained when the absurd idea that Lucas should apologize for Han and Leia on the basis of sexual orientation will be considered as absurd as the idea that someone should apologize about Delian Mors.

Also, I know as a UK'er I might have a slightly different viewpoint on this than tne Americans, but is it really necessary to censor the word G A Y. It's always seemed slightly wrong to me and in the circumstances is doubly ironic. I dislike it because it makes it look like I'm using some obscenity by saying ***, when in fact I don't think I'm being obscene at all and it's a lot of people's way of life that is being blacked out with asterisks, there.

Also, I know as a UK'er I might have a slightly different viewpoint on this than tne Americans, but is it really necessary to censor the word G A Y. It's always seemed slightly wrong to me and in the circumstances is doubly ironic. I dislike it because it makes it look like I'm using some obscenity by saying ***, when in fact I don't think I'm being obscene at all and it's a lot of people's way of life that is being blacked out with asterisks, there.

And, it completely **** up The Flintstones theme song.

Tl:Dr version of my opinion:

OH MY GOD WHO CARES?

and now for my actual option: while it's nice to see this becoming a thing now at the same time I don't want to glamorize some fictional characters fictional sexuality. Yes we don't see women in the Empire attain positions like governorships and Moffs, but she could be a distant relative of the Kuats for all we know and nepotism is certainly alive and well. In my head the Empire is ok with interspecies relationships as long as whichever of them isn't human doesn't mind being on bottom.

As for ancient Greece (and to an extent Viking age Scandinavia) they didn't mind homosexual relations between men as long as you were the one wearing the pants so to speak.

It seems unnecessary and forced.

Would you also see it as forced if the book mentioned said female Moff having a male lover/partner?

I'm guessing not. I'm also really glad that Star Wars as a franchise doesn't care about what you consider "necessary." This is the same complaint as when comic book heroes are recast as a different race or gender or a character who is not straight is introduced; this complaint has about as much relevance and merit to me as those do.

Was really surprised the Skywalker line survived. Was even more surprised that Anakin and Luke weren't gay.

Also, I know as a UK'er I might have a slightly different viewpoint on this than tne Americans, but is it really necessary to censor the word G A Y. It's always seemed slightly wrong to me and in the circumstances is doubly ironic. I dislike it because it makes it look like I'm using some obscenity by saying ***, when in fact I don't think I'm being obscene at all and it's a lot of people's way of life that is being blacked out with asterisks, there.

Thank the forum software and the way it’s configured to have word blacklists.

It’s FFGs site, so they presumably could change that configuration.

While I agree that it's unfortunate that the word gay is stripped out by the board censor, it's also just as unfortunate that some small minded mouth breathers choose to use gay as an insult, forcing FFG's hand (well, the hand of the designer of the forum's software) to be so heavy handed.

Me, I'd love it if we were able to be the adults that we all seem to be (adult being a state of mind, not a numerical value of how many times you've orbited the sun) and that they pull the filter all together. Sadly FFG, being a business and all, must take the safe path.

While I agree that it's unfortunate that the word gay is stripped out by the board censor, it's also just as unfortunate that some small minded mouth breathers choose to use gay as an insult, forcing FFG's hand (well, the hand of the designer of the forum's software) to be so heavy handed.

Okay, so how did you manage to slip past the auto-censor?

Me, I'd love it if we were able to be the adults that we all seem to be (adult being a state of mind, not a numerical value of how many times you've orbited the sun) and that they pull the filter all together. Sadly FFG, being a business and all, must take the safe path.

Sadly, I can’t argue with that.

Amazing what people get their nickers in a knot over in this world. Who cares if they include a LGBT character, if it makes somebody happy seems ok to me. I don't expect the world to cater to me and every single thing I believe, not sure how some people don't get that. Might as well pen out some mean gay people too.

While I agree that it's unfortunate that the word *** is stripped out by the board censor...

Edit: Okay, so they censor the word *** but you can still be g ay if you're a smart arse.

Clever, Desslock, very clever.

My question is.

Is the book any good?

My question is.

Is the book any good?

Maybe I'm a terrible person, but that's the question I'm more concerned with. I'm happy to hear we have a canonical LGBT character now, and I agree it's long overdue, but it won't amount to much if the book sucks.

Actualy, as far as I am concerned, that is the perfect stance in this matter.

I'll be honest. I doubt I'll read it. I have no interest in reading about Darth Vader and Sidious. The only kne I have any interest in so far is A New Dawn as it regards Rebels. Comics I will wait for graphic compilations if at all.