First Steps Universe

Fanfiction
Title:	First Steps Universe
Author(s):	Samia Martz
Date(s):	1984-
Length:
Genre:	gen
Fandom:	Star Wars
External Links:
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First Steps Universe is a Star Wars 'verse by Samia Martz.

Other Prominent Early Star Wars Fan-Created Universes

• Brightstar Universe by Christine Jeffords
• Catalyst! Universe by Jeanine Hennig
• Collected Circle of Fire by Anne Elizabeth Zeek
• The Cori Beckett Series by Judi L. Hendricks and Paula Block
• The Executor Cycle by Barbara T and Sylvia Stevens
• Maeve Solo Universe by Chris Callahan and L.C. Wells
• New Order Series by Pat Stanley
• ThousandWorlds by Maggie Nowakowska and Dyane Kirkland
• First Steps Universe by Samia Martz

The First Steps Universe

• The Learner ("As for the real version of what happened on Ord Mantell and the story of which young Jedi has to help pull both Han and Chewie's collective fat out of the fire, see Samia Martz's "The Learner." And it's not the young Jedi you're thinking of, folks— though it is a story where everyone learns something. (Hopefully, the Wookiee thought.)" art by Betsy Peed -- The Wookiee Commode #1)
• The Beginner (art by Wanda Lybarger, The Wookiee Commode #2)
• First Steps (-- Far Realms #7)
• The Master and the Mender (art by Rebecca Carey -- The Wookiee Commode #3)
• The Lieutenant and the Generals (art by Rebecca Carey -- The Wookiee Commode #4)
• The Learner's Teachers ("A story of the young Jeni Petersen. Being a Jedi is never easy, especially when coming into your birthright so young can put your life in danger.") (art by Rebecca Carey -- The Wookiee Commode #5)
• Look What They've Done To My Son, Ma (art by Rebecca Carey -- The Wookiee Commode #6)
• Dies Irae ("A simple accident leads to a lesson in responsibility and forgiveness for both Han and Jeni.") (art by Wanda Lybarger -- The Wookiee Commode #7)
• Guess Who's Jedi Now? (no illos, StarQuest)

About

In 1985, the author of "The Learner" wrote:

I'm not sure whether I can actually say my stories are written for an alternate universe or not. I stick very close to the events that occur in the films, novelizations, and radio plays. I've just added some new characters—a young student Jedi named Jeni Petersen and her brother Sandor.

Their first meeting with Han Solo and how they join the Rebel Alliance is chronicled in the story 'First Steps' that Jeanine was nice enough to publish in this issue. The illustrated scene comes from my story 'The Learner' published last year in the zine Mary Urhausen and I edit. The Wookiee Commode. The Rebels are now stationed on the planet Masin, and Jeni is continuing her Jedi training with Luke Skywalker. Things would be going well—except that Han is off on a mission to Ord Mantell and neither Luke nor Jeni feel good about it. Rather than tell Han she is going along to try to keep him out of trouble, Jeni chooses what she considers the safer alternative—stowing away on the Falcon and telling Han she just came along for some 'fun and excitement'.

Rebecca's illo, showing Chewbacca's discovery of Jeni, shows that the alternative may not have been as safe as the girl thought. Chewie is in on Jeni's secret, but can that save the young Jedi from a bout with Han Solo's temper.

In 1987, Martz wrote:

Well, this issue I finally went an' did it. Something I thought I'd never do. I went an' wrote a SW story with none of the main characters in it. It wasn't until I'd finished "The Learner's Teachers" that I realized the only people in it were Jeni and her family. "Well, hell," I said, "didn't I swear I'd never—!" 'Course, folks, you realize that all of this Jeni business was only going to be something I did for a little while. Then I'd get back to my "real" writing. Now it's five years later, the "real" writing is in on the floor of my bedroom, and Jeni and her family have taken a life of their own. I guess it's just like Jeni says, "If it was easy, everybody'd do it."

Sample Art

• 

  from "The Learner" in "The Wookiee Commode" #1

• 

  art for "The Learner" in The Wookiee Commode #1, Betsy Peed

• 

  from "The Beginner" in "The Wookiee Commode" #2

• 

  art for "The Beginner" in "The Wookiee Commode" #2, Wanda Lybarger

• 

  art for "The Beginner" in "The Wookiee Commode" #2, Wanda Lybarger

• 

  in "The Wookiee Commode" #3, Rebecca Carey, for "The Master and the Mender"

• 

  in "The Wookiee Commode" #3, for "The Master and the Mender"

• 

  in "The Wookiee Commode" #3, Rebecca Carey, for "The Master and the Mender"

• 

  art for "First Steps" in Far Realms #7, Rebecca Carey

• 

  art for "First Steps" in Far Realms #7, Dani Lane

• 

  art for "First Steps" in Far Realms #7, Dani Lane

• 

  from the portfolio in Far Realms #7

• 

  in "The Wookiee Commode" #5, Rebecca Carey, for "The Learner's Teachers"

• 

  in "The Wookiee Commode" #5, Rebecca Carey, for "The Learner's Teachers"

• 

  in "The Wookiee Commode" #6, Rebecca Carey, "Look What They've Done To My Son, Ma"

• 

  in "The Wookiee Commode" #6, Rebecca Carey, "Look What They've Done To My Son, Ma"

• 

  in "The Wookiee Commode" #7, Wanda Lybarger for "Dies Irae"

Reactions and Reviews

The Learner

The longest piece is by Samia Martz, entitled "The Learner, or "Ord Mantell -- A Nice Place to Visit, But..." Unfortunately, this story is a difficult read because it offers yet another SW Mary-Sue type: a 15-year old girl Jedi, student of Luke's, whose parents were killed by the Empire, whose father was a Jedi, loved as a younger sister by Han, loved by Chewie, saves the day, etc., etc. Even her name — Jeni Petersen — bears the mark of the MS cliche. (Oh, Ben talks to her, too.) The story simply doesn't succeed. It is over-sentimental, gushy, repetitive, overdone in almost all respects. Everyone speaks in slangy dialogue ('somethin'," 'nothin'," "an") and the scenes with Han and Jeni are forced and unconvincing. With tighter editing, it could have succeeded at least as a good adventure story, but the overwhelming attempts to make the reader care and feel fall flat. Ultimately, you just don't feel like continuing.

I enjoyed THE WOOKIEE COMMODE a lot! Especially "The Learner". I could hear Han, Jeni, and Chewie talking. I believe that Samia Martz has both Han's and Chewie's personalities just right. I do hope she writes more, as she tantalized me with glimpses of past and future stories to be told.

"The Learner" by Samia Martz was good reading. Interesting to speculate about which learner the title referred to. Obviously, Jeni was to be a learner all of her life, as a Jedi; but Han also learned much on the Ord Mantell trip. [That's what I was getting at, Judi; glad it came through. S.M.] I particularly like story where Han has females as friends, and not necessarily as a love interest.

Now, "The Learner" is the real stand-out of the zine, being that rare phenomenon, the Han-and-miscellaneous-female (a Jedi, yet) novella which is not only bearable, and indeed readable, but quite possibly believable (at least while one is reading) and illustrative of Han's character both in and away from the canon SW events.

"The Learner" was very enjoyable. Jeni was a real person, easy to identify with, and I really appreciated her portrayal as courageous and quick-thinking. The conversation between Hallin and Han provided many insights into Solo's character, and the first signs of those changes which would be completed by the end of ROTJ. Han's finally being able to openly admit his feelings for his friends was beautiful, and still in character. Jeni's "Always knew you could say was somethin' like that ... if you gave yourself half a chance" was just right.

I did like "The Learner" best. It was the longest, and I love a good long story.

The Beginner

"The Beginner": I really enjoy Samia's stories. She handles the characters well, especially Han. He is so transparent. Just two minor complaints. First, Petersen is too much like an Earth name. [So are Ben and Owen and Luke, for my money. There's even a Han's TV Repair Shop in Irving, Texas. SM] Second, why does everyone drop their consonants?

Picky, picky, picky! But I really loved the zine. Nice art work by Betsy Peed, and that's a lovely illo of Han and Jeni on page 196.

Samia has written another exciting story about Jeni Petersen, and I enjoyed it. It was a good one. I have only one complaint: Where did her characters learn English? Except for Princess Leia, everyone talks like Tommy Lillard! I'm no perfectionist when it comes to grammar, but even in the movies they never spoke the English language so badly. [It's the way most people talk just listen sometime. I rarely pronounce a final "g" myself. SM]

This was a distraction in an otherwise very fine story.

There is a certain special, happy, everyday-life real feel to Samia's Jeni stories. They take the reader in and made them feel a part of the story. I like "The Beginner" very much because of this feel for the characters, a sort of warm caring affection for them all. Luke comes across as being a little too innocent/naive, and Han seems too much the big brother sometimes; but then Luke had a lot of growing up to do before he changed from the Luke of SW to that of TESB. It is possible Han protected and nurtured him in this period as Samia portrays it. I like the way Jeni stands up to Han, cursing as fluently as he can. The moment in which Han feels the touch of the Force in the library was warming and believable. Something like this could well have been the turning point in his commitment to the Rebel cause. All in all, another enjoyable read.

Can't wait to read how these three got together originally.

At last we come to "The Beginner", which actually ties with "Lord Vader's Son" as my favorite. 1 really enjoyed Han's reactions to the Jedi Mistress speaking to him! I love Jeni, but I'm beginning to wish, Samia, that you'd ease off the kid a bit! I mean, Lordy, the hell you keep putting that kid through! Pick on Leia, Luke, or Rieekan a while, okay? (1 didn't say Han, because emotionally you've wrung him pretty dry, too!)

Loved Lybarger's illos (then again, 1 always do!)

Another good story in the zine was "The Beginner, or The Last Time I Went to the Library," by Samia Martz. This was an interesting and exciting story. I liked her original character, Jeni. Han was a good friend to both Luke and Jeni. I enjoyed this story.

First Steps

What actually decided me to order was Samia Martz's Jeni Petersen Story, "First Steps," presented in Far Realms 7. [Yes, this is a bona fide plug, Hennig — so pay up!! MU] 1 was curious, 1 was intrigued, 1 was enthralled. And when 1 found out that two further Petersen stories were in issues 1 and 2 of the WC~well, what could 1 do but order them?

The Lieutenant and the Generals

For starters, there is "The Lieutenant and the Generals," by Samia Martz, featuring Jeni Petersen. I'm very partial to this character and I think she's written in a good, realistic manner. I only hope that all these stories will be collected at some point in time, even if it does take several volumes!

"The Lieutenant and the Generals," by Samia Martz; I love Jeni Petersen, please keep writing about her.

"The Lieutenant and the Generals," by Samia Martz—This was a nice story with a believable portrait of the young Jeni. I like the way Han comes across very much. Even Chewie is himself. I just have a prejudice against love interests for Luke, or I would have found this the best piece.

"The Lieutenant and the Generals" — this is the first of Samia's stories that I've ever read, and I thought it was really good. Funny, though, that I never imagined Luke's apprentice would be as young as Jeni is. I suppose that comes from the assumption that all Jedi start at the age that Luke did, which is a false assumption because Yoda originally claimed Luke was too old to be trained.

Rebecca Carey has the kind of grasp of anatomy and sense of gestures that heightens character relationships; I could point to all her art for "The Lieutenant and the Generals," especially page 43 and page 53.

I feel there are a few I should point out. Samia Martz's "The Lieutenant and the Generals" was very well written. I like the character of Jeni Petersen; she blends in well with the other characters. I hope Samia continues these stories.

I also enjoyed "The Lieuten ant and the Generals." Unrequited love can be bittersweet and heart rending, as it is here, but you showed Jeni was strong enough to tough it out, even though she and Han were deeply affected by it. Also, it's nice to see Chewie playing an integral part. I'm crazy about Rebecca Carey's picture of Han on page 53, too. All her illustrations in this story are appropriate, but Han looking so frustrated and just plain cute. Can you tell I'm a Han fan?

The Master and the Mender

Han Solo decides he has had enough of Jeni and Luke's stubbornness, and plays matchmaker in Samia Martz's "The Master and the Mender."

"The Master and the Mender"—It's about time Luke and Jeni got together. That it should take Han to make them see the light comes as no surprise to me. He isn't stupid, and he has himself as a perfect example of what being stubborn can do to you. Besides, sometimes a person can't see what's right under their nose, and needs someone else to point it out for them. This certainly seems to be the case with the two Jedi, who are too afraid of hurting each other to realize that they are only hurting themselves. "The Clone Wars"—Sandi, you and I have to have this little talk....

"The Master and the Mender" — Sweet story. And I like Han's directness; he's not the least bit subtle.

I thoroughly enjoy all the Jeni Petersen stories, and "The Master and the Mender" is no exception. Jeni's a spunky, self-sufficient person. Her relationship with Han is charming. The image of Han as matchmaker was credible and funny. I don't like to think it would really take Luke and Jeni that long to get together, though!

"The Master and the Mender"—Glad to see Jeni finally at a respectable age. I always had trouble with that 15-acting-like-18 before.

"The Master and the Mender," by Samia Martz; art by Rebecca Carey—I loved it. I have been follow ing Jeni Petersen's adventures and hoping all along that she and Luke would become romantically involved. Samia, I hope this isn't the last of their adventures (Jeni, Luke, Han and Leia). More, please.

I loved "The Master and the Mender," Samia. As a rule, I prefer stories centering around Han, Leia and Luke, and any supporting characters have to be damned good to get my attention. Jeni Peter sen is a very well-balanced and appealing character. Now I have to go back and read the other stories in this series to find out what I've missed. While I'm on this story, Rebecca Carey's illos were great. Like Wanda Lybarger, whose work I adore, Carey is truly an illustrator. Her line drawings capture the spirit of the story and the characters with luscious simplicity. Her knowledge of the way people move make her characters fluid and alive instead of stiffly wood en. All the same comments apply in double measure to Wanda's work, and add to that her ability to capture Han's facial expression with haunting accuracy from any angle. I'm no artist, but I do know when an illo truly brings life to the story it graces. Is there any way we could get a collection of sketches from these two talented ladies for a coloring book? I have a four-year-old Star Wars fanatic who would love it. (P.S. So would her mom.) I also appreciate you listing the previous stories in Samia's and Karen Ripley's series. It is very frustrating not knowing where to find the missing pieces in a collection of short stories. As a relatively new follower of these tales, it makes it much easier to track down companion pieces this way.

My favorites in this issue were: "The Master and the Mender"—thank you, Mary, for persuading Samia to write this. Finally, Luke got the girl! It is more than easy for me to accept Jeni, because she is a fully-developed character that I've gotten to know and love through several stories.

The Learner's Teachers

On a more serious note, Samia Martz continues her Jeni Petersen stories with "The Learner's Teachers"; Jeni is only seven when she displays her Force skills, and her parents must take drastic action for fear of the Emperor's spies.

You did a fine job on "The Learner's Teachers," Samia, even without our favorite people in it.

It's about time Samia covered how Jeni actually got into such a mess, and "The Learner's Teachers" filled in a lot of questions. Her family's worriment was obviously well-founded and, for me, knowing ahead of time what would eventually happen to her parents made the story even more moving.

"The Learner's Teachers," by Samia between Martz—The strong bond between father and daughter was very touching in this story of Jeni's girlhood. I also liked the protectiveness displayed by Sandor. Nice characterizations, and obviously a loving family caught in unhappy times. Well-told.

I must mention "The Learner's Teachers," by Samia Martz. I really enjoyed this story. The love between parents and children, Mira, Dorn, Jen and Sandor was put across to the reader so well! You could almost feel it.

"The Learner's Teachers"—Well, none of the main SW people are here, but in this case it really doesn't matter, even though I'm a person who doesn't like what I call the "Hi, Luke/Goodbye, Luke" type of story. You know, those writers who use the SW universe as an excuse for really other story lines. I can't say this fits into that category. Granted, if one has not read any of the other "Learner" stories, it might seem strange; but in context with the others, it is very satisfying.

Look What They've Done To My Son, Ma

"Look What They've Done To My Son, Ma""-—Anything by Ms. Martz is fun to read. I love the humor in her stories.

"Look What They've Done to My Son, Ma"—as always, this latest installment in Samia's series is extremely well crafted, with characterizations which are right on the mark. I do feel that Han over-reacts a bit to something as relatively minor as a broken arm (but perhaps we are intended to feel this way) . The situation was used well to show the over protective Han learning that he has to allow his son to be what he is by nature; that not doing so will hurt the child far more than the situations themselves would.

Samia Martz adds another chapter in her Jeni Petersen series, "Look What They've Done To My Son, Ma." Set at the New Jedi Academy, Luke and Jeni welcome a new recruit named Bran Solo; unfortunately, training the son of Han and Leia is fraught with all sorts of hazards.

Guess Who's Jedi Now

Samia Martz continues her Jeni Petersen series with a collateral story showing just how unhappy the Force can make Han Solo when his son demonstrates the talent, in "Guess Who's Jedi Now?"