Category: books and comics

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Celebration VI: The rancor is coming!

Special guests The 501st is bringing a rancor to Orlando. Built out of foam by Pizzazz Scenic Contractors, Roxy the Rancor will be avaliable for folks to take pictures with. (Not, alas, wrestling.)

Panels. Still waiting on the schedule, but here’s something new and different: Historian Cole Horton and illustrators Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas will present From World War to Star Wars. The panel, held in the University Room (also new!) will “give fans a rare look into the in-universe parallels and real-world connections between the Second World War and the Star Wars Universe.” This is definitely more of the type of panel I was hoping to see, so it bodes well for the rest of the schedule, I think.

Merchandise. Jedi News’ Justin LaSalata shared the CVI Store’s merchandise order form. Of note for us: The 6″ Mara Jade statue will be available on Thursday for $85.

Also, be sure to vote in our latest sidebar poll!

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EUbits: To Crucible or not to Crucible?

Crucible The upcoming post-Fate of the Jedi is on everyone’s mind. Roqoo Depot’s Skuldren takes a look at Scoundrel’s Luck, the 1990 WEG gaming adventure that author Troy Denning hinted holds a clue to the book’s villain. Meanwhile, Nanci at Tosche Station – not exactly Denning’s chief cheerleader – implores burned fans to give Crucible a chance.

I myself remain rather ambivalent on the book, but I can pretty much guarantee I’ll read it. Or try to, anyway, which is more than I can say for the other SDCC announcements.

The blogside, pro edition. Over at the Star Wars Blog, Leland Chee explains the Holocron, while Jonathan Rinzler introduces himself and writes about interviewing George Lucas. And this morning, Pablo Hidalgo gives us a tour of the new Insider

Nonfiction. The new book by super-collectors Gus Lopez and Duncan Jenkins, Gus and Duncan’s Guide to Star Wars Prototypes, will be available in August.

Interviews. John Jackson Miller chats with the Wisconsin State Journal about Star Wars and his new book.

Chat. There’ll be a Twitter chat with Tom Taylor on Thursday.

Charity. EUCantina is selling t-shirts for their A Force for Childhood Literacy program.

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Out this week: Lost Tribe collection, new Insider

Of course this week brings a glut of Star Wars stuff. Of course. First up, on Tuesday, is Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories… All John Jackson Miller’s Fate of the Jedi tie-ins stories that you may have read for free over the course of the series, plus a new one and, I hear, some maps.

It’s also the time to start keeping an eye out for Star Wars Insider #135, which includes Karen Miller’s Myri Antilles story, a tie in to next month’s Mercy Kill.

On Wednesday, get your fill of mostly-silent fanboy-favorite grunters with Blood Ties: Boba Fett Is Dead #4 and Darth Maul: Death Sentence #1.

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EUbits: End of the road for Knight Errant, Blood Ties and Lost Tribe comics, but two more in the works

Comics Randy Stradley lists what’s up with Dark Horse’s Star Wars comics – Including the news that Knight Errant, Blood Ties and Lost Tribe of the Sith are all “ending after current arc.” There are at least two mystery comics to be revealed in addition to the Brian Wood Star Wars: One ongoing, one eight-issue mini series. (via)

Short stories. Tim Zahn has two Star Wars stories coming up later this year. The first, for the Insider, is about Bink and Tavia, two of the new characters in Scoundrels’. The second, a novelette also set pre-Scoundrels, will “be published as a small ebook” in December. Something Lost Tribeesque to promote the book, perhaps?

The blogside, pro edition. Keeper of the Holocron Leland Chee made his debut on the new Star Wars blog today. Meanwhile, new dude Tim Lebbon writes briefly on joining the Star Wars team.

Interviews. At Comic-Con, Matt Staggs chatted with Troy Denning while James talked to Tom Taylor about Blood Ties, Darth Maul: Death Sentence, the lack of Invasion, and more.

Endnotes. Jason Fry wraps up his series on The Essential Guide to Warfare with part 16 and the Legacy era.

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‘Aggressive negotiations’ in new Mercy Kill excerpt

It’s Thursday, and the means it’s time for the fifth mini-excerpt from Aaron Allston’s Mercy Kill.

The trooper caught up with Myri after three steps, seized her arm, and swung her around to slam her into the side of a building. She couldn’t see his features in the deep shadow, but his voice was suddenly full of anger. He jabbed a forefinger at her. “You do not insult the—”

She put one hand on the back of his and seized his index finger with her other hand. She bent his finger up, a sudden, all-out effort, and bones snapped.

He started to look at his stricken hand, started to make a pained noise, but she immediately drew her blaster, thumbed its side switch to make sure it was still set on stun, and fired into his stomach. The stun bolt briefly illuminated the alley and his shocked expression. Then he fell.

She looked down at him and holstered her weapon. “Sorry, Army. My heart belongs to Starfighter Command.” Then she stepped over him and returned to the street.

Mercy Kill will be out in August.

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Han, Luke and Leia: Passing the torch? Again?

Umpth time’s the charm? A Random House listing for Troy Denning’s Crucible, the post-FOTJ novel announced last week at San Diego Comic Con, contains this:

SETS UP NEW SERIES: With this book, Han, Luke, and Leia are passing the torch to the next generation of Star Wars heroes, and the stage will be set for the next major Star Wars series.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this, but the New Jedi Order didn’t manage it, Legacy of the Force rounded out Jacen Solo only to kill him off, and Ben Skywalker… Well, okay, Ben is in better shape than his cousins ever were as teenagers. But that’s a pretty low bar, and thus a slim hope to hang on. Ironically, just this morning I was talking about an opinion piece I’ve been mulling, tentatively titled “Hey Del Rey, it’s your last chance to make me care about Jaina.” More then…

On the other hand, I’m guessing this means we’ll be seeing either a Jaina or Ben standalone announced at Celebration…