“Raising Jedi children, he decided, was like raising Ralltiir tigers–cute as they were when young and much as they might love you, they still grew long, deadly claws. Han would never forget the afternoon Anakin had an hour long, Force-assisted tantrum. Every object in the playroom was shoved or thrown against the wall, leaving the youngster alone in the middle of a bare floor, kicking his heels and pounding his fists. One mercy was that all the three children were basically good-hearted. Another was that playing with the Force seemed to make them sleep longer and more deeply. Unfortunately, Anakin and Jacen both had their mother’s stubbornness–neither could be readily compelled to do anything they didn’t want to. And Jaina and Jacen both had a streak of irrepressible mischief, which Leia blamed on Han – both could be regularly counted on to do something you didn’t want them to.”
—
Before the Storm, Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy #1
This is an excellent example of the sort of passage I love in Black Fleet Crisis. I dearly love House Husband/Number One Dad Han Solo in the old 90s EU. In my head, Han loves being a Dad, and he throws himself into being the Dad that he didn’t have himself growing up, and this sort of passage really illustrates this idea. One of the things I’ve enjoyed in this book thus far is Han’s treatment as a capable, if imperfect Father. His worries about his children feel very canon (including the aforementioned worries about Jacen’s lack of physicality), and his concern equally so. He and Leia share perspectives regularly, and it’s a delight to read. This is the sort of thing I literally can never have enough of.
I’m also amused at Han blaming the stubbornness on Leia, as if he has none (although Leia might out-stubborn him, it’s true).
