Club Jade

Someone got stabbed with a pen in Hall H this evening; There’s a report from San Diego’s NBC affiliate and Comic Book Resources and Entertainment Weekly are on the case. (Harrison Ford is not a suspect.) The rumors have been flying over Twitter, including allegations that seat-squatting (a common practice) was a factor.

• In the wake of our first glimpse at the cover, StarWars.com has a clearer look and the blurb for John Jackson Miller’s Knight Errant paperback.

• The prequels are safe from Family Guy; Indiana Jones, not so much. Their Return of the Jedi spoof is named… wait for it… “It’s a Trap!” Oh Family Guy, your creativity is boundless.
• Even putting The Clone Wars aside, there were a few EU figures in Hasbro’s presentation – more than I was expecting, anyway. The Comic Packs continue (as Entertainment Earth exclusives) with Legacy’s Deliah Blue/Darth Nihl. Knights of the Old Republic’s Jarael/Rohlan Dyre (image 50,) Jaster Mereel/Montross from Jango Fett: Open Seasons and Rogue Squadron’s Baron Fel/Ysanne Isard (51.) I suppose the Jodo Kast on 35 counts, too.
• Hungry for The Old Republic news? Here’s Pablo’s report from the MMO’s panel.
• Oh, hey, Avengers.

StarWars.com has our first look at the seventh Fate of the Jedi book, Aaron Allston’s Conviction. I guess Tahiri looks like Number 6 now.

On the boards, Sue Rostoni reports that the book has been moved back (from April 19) to a May 24th release.

An audio excerpt of Christie Golden’s Allies – the fifth book of the series, out on the 25th – is up at Random House.

In related news, Sue Rostoni has revealed on the boards that Kenth Hamner, not Saba Sebatyne as previously announced, will get the back cover spot on the sixth book, Denning’s Vortex. (It’s due out in December.) A model has been hired, so presumably he won’t be a dead ringer for William Shatner this time around.

Visions. So I haven’t been unimpressed with the peeks we’ve had of this ‘mystery’ book so far, but I wasn’t really blown away until Raymond Swanland’s ‘Shadows of Tatooine’ appeared today. It may not be ‘The Death of General Wolfe’ pastiche I so greatly desire, but: WANT.

Fate of the Jedi. Why hello there! Get your first look at Lando on the back cover of Allies.

Comics: io9 has the preview for Legacy #46.

Inspired by remarks by @bantamspectra and @brownjawa on Twitter, I’ve been thinking about Star Wars book covers. What works? What doesn’t? Clearly this is subjective, but here’s my take. (more…)

The official site brings us our first look at the cover for Troy Denning’s Vortex, the sixth Fate of the Jedi novel.

The front cover was revealed a while back, but now StarWars.com has the back and flap copy. The book is currently set for a July 20 release.

NJOE was the first to spot the cover art for Karen Miller’s last (for now?) Clone Wars novel. Check it out at in full Random House or below the cut. (more…)

StarWars.com has revealed the back cover of Fate of the Jedi: Backlash, featuring an extremely flattering image of the sixtysomething Admiral Daala. Sue says: “She’s now sporting an artificial eye — her left one. She has been taking excellent care of herself over the years.” Or, this is just a cover, can we please stop overthinking it?

Oh, and there’s a blurb:

Repercussions from the dark side’s fatal seduction of Jacen Solo and the mysterious plague of madness afflicting young Jedi continue to wreak havoc galaxy-wide. Having narrowly escaped the deranged Force worshippers known as the Mind Walkers, and a deadly Sith hit squad, Luke and Ben Skywalker are in pursuit of the now Masterless Sith apprentice Vestara Khai. It is a chase that leads to the forbidding planet Dathomir, where an enclave of powerful dark-side Force-wielders will give Vestara the edge she needs to escape — and where the Skywalkers will be forced into combat for their quarry and their lives.

Meanwhile, Han and Leia Solo are on their own desperate mission, shuttling madness-stricken Jedi from Coruscant to safe haven in the Transitory Mists — and beyond the grasp of Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala. But the bold maneuver only intensifies Daala’s fury, and she is determined to shatter Jedi Order resistance once and for all.

Yet, no greater threat exists than that which still waits in the depths of the distant Maw Cluster: A being of pure, ravenous dark-side energy named Abeloth calls out across the stars to Jedi and Sith alike. For some, it may be the ultimate source of answers crucial to their survival. For others, it could be the ultimate weapon of conquest. But for all, it is a game-changing — and life-altering — encounter of untold magnitude, and a tactical gambit with unimaginable consequences.

Backlash is the fourth Fate of the Jedi novel and the second by Aaron Allston. It’s due out in March.

In other news, StarWars.com treats us to the Fate of the Jedi: Allies cover. It also lacks females, if one ignores Christie Golden’s byline. We can, however, be fairly sure the book involves some. (And Sue Rostoni has already revealed that the ‘mystery man’ here is Vestara’s father.)