Club Jade

So. It’s over. There will be no more Imperial Commando or Republic Commando books. (Or short stories.) The author has left the building, and no one else seems particularly interested in filling her shoes. (We get more Allston instead.) They join a long line of canceled projects.

But if you’re really, truly interested in how the series would finish (or continue,) Traviss wrote a bit about it a year or so back.

Yes, it’s an older item. I know I’ve seen it around, but I don’t seem to have actually blogged it, and we get an ungodly amount of Googlers looking for info about the series. I can’t help you any more than that, kids. (And, quite frankly, I’ve run out of ways to say no.) Sorry.

Folks just aren’t ready to let the Karen Traviss/Imperial Commando/Clone Wars brouhaha go, and io9 remains committed to stirring the hornet’s nest, getting hold of the woman herself. This go-round Traviss puts more weight on “contractual differences,” saying that canon and The Clone Wars was secondary to “pay and working practices.”

However, she does confirm their theory that the cancellation of the Fett book was due to the live action series. I remain skeptical (we are missing so many pieces) but it’ll all come out in due time.

Really, io9? Really? Is there so little actual news in the entire world of science fiction and fantasy today that you had to dig up some news from December and try to spin it to be about the live-action series? Really? Here’s a hint: It isn’t.

On the other hand, thanks for the laugh. I needed that.

It’s getting to be that time again… StarWars.com posted their own mammoth Best of 2009 this morning. Below is my personal list. Since it is personal, it’s clearly missing some things. (As always, I don’t speak for all of Club Jade. I just post a lot.) So let’s get to it: (more…)

Pictures! We’re not exactly big gamers ’round these parts, but the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game is noteworthy for providing us with new Expanded Universe art, and The Nightsister’s Revenge expansion is no exception.

Comics: StarWars.com has Dark Horse’s spring 2010 solicitations. Don’t get too excited, though: There are only two things on there. But they are both Legacy. Could the rest of spring be under wraps? In the more immediate future, previews for Legacy #43 and Knights of the Old Republic #48.

The blogside. Drew Karpyshyn explains (Spoilers!) the end of Dynasty of Evil, while Dan Wallace talks about some of his work on George Lucas’ Blockbusting.

Pining for the fjords. A summary for Karen Traviss’ second Imperial Commando novel -Remember? The one that’s pretty much cancelled? – has appeared on Amazon.co.uk. You live the dream, Amazon. (via)

UPDATE: Look, Googlers: There will be no more Imperial or Republic Commando books. Aaron Allston is writing a Wraith Squadron book that took RC #2′s publishing slot. It’s over.

The departure of Karen Traviss might not mean a dead end for the Imperial Commando series after all. Sue Rostoni posted on StarWars.com today:

Imperial Commando — we’re seriously considering continuing the series with a new author. Details to come as they happen….

I feel for the author who would takes on that project – Traviss’ issues with The Clone Wars aside, they’re going to take a lot of scrutiny from her rather rabid fanbase – but plenty are clamoring for it. Stay tuned…

Looks like 501st will be the last Star Wars book from Karen Traviss after all: Apparently there have been some rumors about this flying around (news to me, but then, I haven’t been looking) and she has confirmed that the second Imperial Commando book is a no-go. The particulars and details – from Traviss’ perspective, anyway – are at the link. (via)

The book was tentatively scheduled for a November 2010 release, and appeared on Sue Rostoni’s schedule post in August, posted only days after Traviss announced she was leaving the franchise.

UPDATE: And Sue Rostoni says:

Karen’s blog was the first time I had heard that she was not going to write the second Imperial Commando book.

I don’t know if we will hire another author to finish the series. It’s rather up in the air at the moment.

Wow… UPDATE 2: Sue goes on to say, “This is really not an issue because Random House hires the Star Wars authors, not LFL,” so not quite as shocking as it first seemed. Still odd.

UPDATE 3: Traviss has a followup blog entry.

Look for Karen Traviss’ Imperial Commando: 501st in bookstores today, while Wednesday brings Legacy #41.

The second Imperial Commando novel will be the last Star Wars for Karen Traviss, she writes on her blog, due to “changes in continuity.” (via)

Imperial Commando I & II are due out in October 2009 and July 2010, respectively. Presumably this means that her standalone Boba Fett novel and military Essential Guide, both tentatively scheduled for 2011, are now no-gos. Somehow I’ll manage not to cry into the giant margarita I plan to have tonight.

Fanboys is coming out on DVD tomorrow, and if you’re in Los Angeles you can head over to a release party then… Or one in San Diego tonight.

On the book front Tuesday is a big day for Traviss fans, as The Clone Wars: No Prisoners and the Order 66 paperback will both be in stores. And the comic fans can look forward to Knights of the Old Republic #41 on Wednesday.