The Edwards Edition

Review & Commentary from Derek Edwards

I am a hobbyist writer. This site is where most of my writing can be found. My work here can generally be categorized as either Review or Commentary. I don't write much about myself, personally, which, depending on your definition, might mean this isn't a blog. Think of this as a one-man magazine, focusing on the things I find interesting. I'm here to write about the world as I experience it.

"A Running Commentary" is the weekly newsletter from The Edwards Edition, featuring quick coverage of the latest media and culture, Bird of the Week, and links to the best things found around the rest of the web. New editions go out every Monday to email subscribers

Latest

Oct
23
Book Review | The Bounty Hunter Wars

Book Review | The Bounty Hunter Wars

Do not read these books. I cannot recommend them to even the most devoted Boba Fett fan, much less to anyone else. These books are miserable tedium to read. The story told is convoluted, amoral, and ultimately inconsequential. Feature little bounty hunting and less war. 3/10, 2/10, 3/10
14 min read
Oct
02
Television Review | The Acolyte

Television Review | The Acolyte

The Fauci of Star Wars TV. There's clearly been a lot of effort put towards making something great. But it isn't great, not least because it isn't really complete. I don't think the show deserves scorn so much as it deserves pity; I wish that it had achieved its potential. 5/10
18 min read
May
24
Television Review | Tales of the Empire

Television Review | Tales of the Empire

I think most viewers would be content with what they get from watching Tales of the Empire; moreso than in Tales of the Jedi, the stories told here match their running time, with neither too much being tackled nor too little being told. 7/10
15 min read
May
01
Book Review | The Black Fleet Crisis

Book Review | The Black Fleet Crisis

The Black Fleet Crisis is a hidden gem of '90s Star Wars. It delivers a thought-provoking narrative while staying true to Star Wars themes. Lando's scenes are some of the best writing of the character, though they should have been their own book. 8/10, 7/10, 8/10
20 min read
Mar
28
Book Review: The Callista Trilogy

Book Review: The Callista Trilogy

The Callista trilogy's reputation as among the worst Star Wars has to offer is grossly exaggerated, but it's not a masterpiece either. Planet of Twilight was the best entry by some margin. The story of Callista on-the-page is as tragic as her story behind-the-scenes. 6/10, 6/10. 8/10
17 min read
Feb
27
Book Review | The Book of Eels & Eels: An Exploration

Book Review | The Book of Eels & Eels: An Exploration

The Book of Eels was written (in Swedish) by first-time author Patrik Svensson, and translated into English by Agnes Broome.
6 min read
Feb
14
Book Review | The Darth Bane Trilogy

Book Review | The Darth Bane Trilogy

The Darth Bane Trilogy is an essential read for anyone curious about the history of the Sith. The first book is the weakest and the second is the strongest. Karpyshyn did admirably in writing three books worth of story focused on an unrepentant villain. 6/10, 8/10, 7/10
25 min read
Jan
26
On Rey

On Rey

Rey has really only been a proper character in one pretty bad film. But would any film featuring her necessarily be a bad film? Or is there something to Rey that just hasn't been delivered on yet?
5 min read
Dec
11
Television Review | Ahsoka, Season 1

Television Review | Ahsoka, Season 1

Well done, but felt truncated, ending just as things felt like they were getting going. Leaving viewers wanting more is great, but leaving them feeling like they got a complete story is also important. What's there, though, is great. 8/10
19 min read
Oct
17
Book Review | Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade

Book Review | Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade

This book is a well-written, well-conceived character study of a person falling to the Dark Side that manages to differentiate itself from the familiar story of the fall of Anakin Skywalker. It's the best villain-perspective book I've read besides Thrawn. The ending is weaker than the rest. 8/10
13 min read
Aug
02
Book Review | Yoda: Dark Rendezvous

Book Review | Yoda: Dark Rendezvous

Yoda: Dark Rendezvous is not the best Star Wars book I've read but it deserves better than to be lost in the pile of mid-2000s Prequel tie-ins. While the story isn't the most thrilling or meaningful, the character work really is excellent.
14 min read
Jun
09
Film Review | The Big Year

Film Review | The Big Year

The Big Year is a very sincere look at the world of competitive birding that lets its humor come from the actual funny things that happen to birders. It's a nice little movie that deserves more love than it's gotten. 8/10
10 min read
May
23
Television Review | The Mandalorian (Season 3)

Television Review | The Mandalorian (Season 3)

Season 3 is a marked technical and writing improvement over previous seasons. It isn't flawless, but the flaws aren't so persistent or egregious as to spoil the viewing experience. It feels like it could have been longer, and that the first episodes were transplanted into a different show.
11 min read
Feb
13
Book Review | Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith

Book Review | Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith

Author: Adam Christopher Publisher: Del-Rey Length:  465 pages EE Critic Score: 7/10 Shadow of the Sith, by Adam Christopher,
4 min read
Jan
30
I'm not a Midwesterner; No One Is

I'm not a Midwesterner; No One Is

The Midwest isn't a thing, not really. Moreover, the Midwesterner isn't a person. The term "Midwest" refers to land truly part of three different regions...
14 min read