Rumor mill: Stover continuing Imperial Commando?

Take this one with a GIANT grain of salt: According to this Kickstarter, Matthew Stover is “replacing Karen Traviss as the author of the 501st novels for Star Wars.”

I’m assuming this means the Imperial Commando series, which has remained unfinished since Traviss bowed out of the franchise in 2009 after the release of 501st. LFL and Del Rey folks have talked about handing over the series to another author before, but the last attempt, with Aaron Allston, ended up turning into Mercy Kill instead. However, at Celebration VI, Del Rey’s Shelly Shapiro did say “Big maybe with positive thoughts. Can’t say anything yet but I think you’ll be happy.”

Keep in mind that this is far, far from a confirmed source… And, quite honestly, I’m hoping it’s false. Stover is far better than picking up Traviss’ scraps, no matter how beloved the series may be in some circles. (Hattip to Andrew Liptak.)

Want to know how Traviss would have wrapped up Imperial/Republic Commando? Here you go.

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.

EUbits: The Jedi Path falls to Earth in September; Your Imperial Commando is dead, son.

First look. The Jedi Path comes in a vault. What? Yeah. Or: “Passed down from Master to Padawan, the pages of this venerable text have been annotated by those who have held it, studied it, and lived its secrets.” Since we’re living in the real world, I like Dan Wallace’s explanation: ” It’s supposed to look like an in-universe artifact that fell through a rabbit hole from the galaxy far, far away.” It is an interesting concept, but mostly I just fear what the Jedi Church will make of it.

Hey hey hey, goodbye. Yes, it’s official: There will be no Imperial Commando 2. (It was probably a lose-lose sans Traviss anyway.)

Namesake corner. Sideshow is teasing about a Mara Jade figure again. They like the Adam Hughes painting! (Sigh.) At least she’s not doing laundry?

Comics! Preview the October solicitations, including Knight Errant #1. Which just so happens to be on the cover of August’s Previews.

Interview. Paul Kemp (Crosscurrent) on Fictional Frontiers

Second Imperial Commando book on the chopping block – again

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 book was looking likely to survive Karen Traviss’ departure by getting a new author, but now Sue says that they’re “seriously considering abandoning” the second (and final) book in the series:

The time between the two books is going to be years and we’re not sure enough people will still be interested in it to warrant the writing. We have something else in mind, though, something that I know many of you have been wanting for years. So hopefully you’ll be happy with the change. As soon as I can, I’ll give you more details.

Something that many have “been wanting for years?” What’s your guess?

Updates from Sue: Another Reaves/Bohnoff book, Imperial Commando sequel looks like a go

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.

Sue Rostoni has let lose several bits of news on the StarWars.com message boards today:

  • Michael Reaves and Maya Bohnoff will do a fourth Coruscant Nights book with the tentative title of Jedi Dawn. It’s set for November 2012 and is in addition to the 2011 holostar novel.
  • A hardcover has been assigned for March 2012, but the author can’t be revealed yet.
  • Imperial Commando #2 has been scheduled for February 2012. An author has been selected – but the contract hasn’t been signed yet so we’ll have to wait for that reveal. It will likely be the last novel in the series (thus technically making it a duology,… Details, details.)
  • She’s “hoping” that a paperback anthology of John Jackson Miller’s Lost Tribe of the Sith stories will be released in paperback sometime in 2010.

She’s also posted an updated release schedule: I’ll be updating ours later today. Thanks to Eddie for the heads-up!

Newsflash: Traviss still not coming back to Star Wars

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.

EUbits: Art, comics, blogs and a very dead parrot

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)

Rostoni: Imperial Commando may continue with new author

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…