Writer Kiersten White discusses Star Wars: Padawan

The Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi series isn’t the only Obi-Wan story we’re getting in 2022. In fact, there are multiple stories focused on him this year — including Kiersten White’s Padawan, which tells the story of young Obi-Wan on a daring adventure and journey of self-discovery without his master.

StarWars.com describes the novel as follows:

"“Kiersten White’s upcoming Star Wars: Padawan follows the legendary hero when he was still very much a student, insecure about who he is and the Jedi he might become.”"

In the book, Obi-Wan is preparing to embark on a mission with his master, Qui-Gon Jinn. But when the latter Jedi doesn’t show, Obi-Wan decides to continue on the mission alone.

“I wanted to make sure Padawan felt like it had always been part of Obi-Wan’s story, but that it made sense we had never heard about this particular adventure,” White told StarWars.com. “I looked at who Obi-Wan became, then traced him backwards through the prequels and Claudia Gray’s excellent Master and Apprentice, to arrive at someone who still had a tremendous amount of growing to do, but with the foundation of who he would become.”

White also compared Anakin and Obi-Wan’s younger years, pointing out that while Ani was always desperate for authority and power, Obi-Wan rebelled for very different reasons.

“Obi-Wan and Anakin have youthful rebellion in common,” she explained, “but while Anakin’s was rooted in trauma, anger, and entitlement (I say with love about one of my other favorite characters), Obi-Wan’s is rooted in anxiety.”

The author also took a moment to clarify that this is not an Obi-Wan/Satine love story.

She said: “[B]efore anyone else asks, Satine isn’t in this novel. Actually, she’s the reason why there are no romantic subplots in Padawan. Obi-Wan commits absolutely in everything he does — including first love. I couldn’t dilute that!”

Star Wars: Padawan releases July 26, 2022 wherever books are sold.