From:  ()
Subject: Re: Jedi powers
Followup-To: rec.arts.sf.starwars
Organization: Calvin College
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 17:00:46 GMT

In article <1el3poINNfak@gap.caltech.edu>, keith@cco.caltech.edu (Keith
Allan Schneider) wrote:
> 
> >You can't find something if you aren't looking for it.  If Vader was
> >looking for Ben or Yoda, then perhaps he might have been able to detect
> >them via the Force.  In ANH though, Vader was right above Ben and didn't 
> >detect him.  Why?  Because he wasn't looking for Ben.  If both he and the 
> >emporer thought that they had wiped out the Jedi, then why should they 
> >look for Ben or Yoda.
> 
> They must have looked for Ben.  Why else would Moff Tarkin know about him?
> Was Ben the Jedi that escaped their grasp?  Ben says that he is the only
> Jedi left.  Also, surely Vader must've known about Yoda.  I think Yoda
> would be some sort of legend among Jedi...
> 
> >I'm also not so certain that he could detect them over long distances 
> >with the Force.  If Vader or the Emporer could do such things, then 
> >no matter where Luke went, they could find him.  What about the 
> >scene early in ESB one might ask.  Vader recognized by looking at the
> >screen that here is a supposedly barren planet with a powerful generator.
> >How many uncharted outposts are rich enough to have such a generator?  Out
> >of those uncharted outposts, how many are on barren planets?  I mean, if you
> >are going to have such a generator you'd want a return on the money spent 
> >for it . . . say by mining minerals or gas or something.  Vader recognized 
> >this whereas the general didn't.  No Force used at all, just *brains*.  The
> >Emporer, as Nathan writes, felt Luke's presence by using his ability to 
> >forsee the future somewhat.  Notice that he didn't feel Luke on Endor while
> >Vader did.  Vader is of course expecting Luke and thus is feeling ( with the
> >Force ) every ship that comes by. 
> 
> I agree.  I don't think that Vader knew that Luke was their.  He just gathered
> and used the information wisely.
> 
> >In short, I don't buy :
> 
> >1) Zahn's thesis of Yoda's power being canceled out by the dark cave and 
> >   thus Ben had to hide near some dark cave, tree, Jabba, Luke, ad nausem.
> 
> >2) Detection by the Force over long distances.
> 
> Hear, hear.
> 
> >Ben exhibited only one detection of something over long distances once.
> >He felt the destruction of Alderaan.  Easily explained in that let's
> >say 5 billion people ( if Alderaan can be compared to Earth ) died as well
> >as all the plants and animals.  Anything that huge would be felt like
> >an earthquake.
> 
> And he detected it while in hyperspace... pretty impressive.  But it was
> a massive disturbance.  Jedi surely use the Force, but they don't cause 
> such a great change as this...
> 
> >Aside: Did Yoda feel it also?  What about any of the Jedi that escaped
> >       Vader's grasp ( as in the Dark Horse comics )?  Did Vader get 
> >       a headache like Ben did?  What about the emporer?  Could this 
> >       destruction be compared to an earthquake in the Force :  Those
> >       closest to it felt it most while those farther away felt it less?
> 
> Well, the inverse square law might apply.  I am sure that Yoda felt it
> as well, however.  He has been watching the progress of Luke for quite
> some time.  Also, I am sure he would pay attention to Ben as well.
> How does Yoda watch them so?  Well, however he does it, I doubt he can
> tell exactly where his watchees are.
> 
> It is also interesting that the alliance knew right where Ben was, but that
> the Empire couldn't find him...
	Of course Leia knew where Ben was.  Her adopted Father tols her where to
find him. Both Bail Organa and Obi-wan served together in the Clone Wars
and Obi-wan told Bail where to find him.


 
> keith