Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
On Facebook today, Timothy Zahn reveals a few things about his next Star Wars novel: In addition to starring Han Solo and being set in the original trilogy era, “it will be an Ocean’s Eleven-type heist caper.” Sounds like fun! (via)
We should be getting a title “sometime next month,” Zahn says. Some of us are hoping it goes a little like this.
No books this week, but comic fans can look forward to a couple of things on Wednesday: Dark Times: Out of the Wilderness #4 and the trade collection of the Qui-Gon series Jedi: The Dark Side.
Our next two book releases are Joe Schreiber’s Red Harvest in paperback (next week) and Troy Denning’s Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse (March 13.)
@verojecsguard We are working on a Mara Jade t-shirt for Celebration!
— Her Universe (@HerUniverse) February 20, 2012
It looks likely! We first heard that it was in the pipeline back in 2010 (Ashley Eckstein admitted a little later she had spoke too soon.) I’m hoping it pans out for the con, and I even promise I won’t get too mad if there’s a catsuit.
UPDATE! When I tweeted this post, Ashley replied with a key detail: The artist!
@clubjade The amazing @catstaggs is working on our Mara Jade shirt :o) Send both of us your thoughts if you have any!
— Her Universe (@HerUniverse) February 20, 2012
Staggs has a 2010 commission of Mara on her Deviantart page.
In the meantime… The shirt Erin is wearing above is Mara Jade Nouveau from Mighty Fine, and it does appear to be an authorized product.
In other Her Universe news, Ashley has a new interview with Nerdist News.
The year of Maul, indeed. Dark Horse’s Randy Stradley announced two upcoming projects featuring Darth Maul yesterday. Up in August will be a digest, The Sith Hunters, from Henry Gilroy and Steven Melching. There’s also an four-issue mini-series from Tom Taylor that we’ll learn about in “the near future.” (Celebration, maybe?) Stradley also reveals that the Maul storyline will bridge S4 and S5 of The Clone Wars.
Authors. Drew Karpyshyn has retired from Bioware, where he worked on The Old Republic, to “focus more time and energy on my novels and other non-video game related projects.” Karpyshyn is currently working on the fourth Old Republic novel.
Curious… A new book appeared on the Random House site this week: Glittering Images: A Journey Through Art from Egypt to Star Wars by author and cultural critic Camille Paglia. It’s set for an October release.
Excerpt. This week’s mini-excerpt is from Jeff Grubb’s Scourge. It features Wookiees slapping droids around a bunch of other people I’ve never heard of.
Interviews. Graphic Novel Reporter talks to John Jackson Miller about Knights of the Old Republic: War. On that note, the last standalone Lost Tribe of the Sith story is now available for preorder. (Yes, it’s still free, it just won’t be out until March 5.)
Review. James has good stuff to say about Dawn of the Jedi #1.
No books this week, but Wednesday does bring a major release for comic fans: Dawn of the Jedi #1: John Ostrander and Jan Duursema’s follow-up to the Legacy series.
Ostrander and Duursema talked about the series with Hero Complex’s Jevon Phillips earlier in the month.
The next book release is the Red Harvest paperback on the 28th. Regardless of the teasing, there’s still almost a full month until Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse comes out on March 13.
It’s Valentine’s Day! Alas, we’re all pretty tied up here (not a euphemism, pervs) but feel free to check out our past sappy stuff, particularly James’ look at Star Wars Valentine’s Day cards and love in the Expanded Universe.
StarWars.com has a bunch of valentiney stuff as well.
Roqoo Depot dreamed up some Star Wars romance novels, a few of which gave me the giggles. Just remember, nerds: They’re not suggestions.
Over at EU Cantina, Nanci takes a look at some of the heart-breaking romances of the Expanded Universe. Includes snarking on Luke’s romantic track record, because that shit is never not funny.
Lane at Roqoo Depot isn’t having any of this romance crap: Instead, he’s looking at bromances in Star Wars. However, I’m pretty sure there’s slash out there about all those dudes. Sorry, Lane.
My Valentine nausea kicked up real hard on this one, but the art is nice, if you’re into the whole Captain Cardboard thing. Have at it, Jag/Jaina fans.
Head on over to Topless Robot to bask in their list of 8 villainous couples. No Star Wars, but I’m sure you’ll recognize a few.
The blogside. On Livejournal, Chameleon Irony takes a look at what implications the events of Darth Plagueis may have had on Padme throughout the films. (Contains Plagueis spoilers.) Meanwhile, at Rooqoo Depot, Lane considers fandom, Jaina Solo, and ‘strong female characters.’
Fate of the Jedi. The latest mini-excerpt from Apocalypse features Luke and a Sith.
Celebration VI. Two more authors have been confirmed to be attending: James Luceno and Jason Fry. Paul S. Kemp, not so much.
Art. Two more looks at the interior art of The Essential Gude to Warfare: An Imperial refueling and a fantastic Dave Seeley title page spread showing the Battle of Couscant from Revenge of the Sith. It’s better than the actual cover!
Reviews. Over at Big Shiny Robot, James considers Agent of the Empire #3, Crimson Empire III #4 and Knights of the Old Republic: War #2.
Toy Fair is going on this weekend, and according to multiple reports, Jedi Master Mara Jade Skywalker was voted the Fan Choice figure. (You might remember the contest from last fall.) Unfortunately for those of us hoping to finally get a Mara figure without that blasted catsuit…
#StarWars Fans’ Choice tidbit: Mara Jade Skywalker will use Adam Hughes artwork as a start. #hotness
— Imperial Holcron (@ImpHolocron) February 11, 2012
Yeah. That artwork. (Again?) Sigh. I’m not hearing anything about a a prototype yet, but as always, we’ll have an eye out for updates.
The other Star Wars talker of Toy Fair? A Jar Jar in Carbonite figure will be a SDCC 2012 exclusive. Teehee.
UPDATED! StarWars.com has posted photos of Hasbro’s Toy Fair offerings, and sure enough, there’s no sign of Mara. (Though there is some nice Clone Wars stuff, if that’s your thing.) Needless to say, we’ll be watching Hasbro’s presentations through summer con season with great interest.
Author R. A. Salvatore is doing a question and answer session on Reddit today. Most of the questions are about his other works, but there is one about about Vector Prime and its most controversial event, the death of Chewbacca. Salvatore’s response:
I was in a conference call with DelRey and Lucasfilm when the editors expressed that they loved the outline. (paraphrasing here) “This is exactly what we want, but didn’t anyone tell you? You have to kill Chewey.”
I won’t type the next two words that came out of my mouth. After a couple of days of arguments and, well, terror, they had convinced me that they were doing it for the right reasons, and well, George was down with it, and it’s his galaxy far, far away, so I did it.
The responses have been mixed, with some people loving the new direction, other people devastated. I think it might be the only thing I’ve ever regretted; I don’t think I’d go back and do that one again.
I’m not sure how long the chat will be going on, but there may be time to slip in other questions about Star Wars. Salvatore also wrote the novelization for Attack of the Clones.
This week is strong with the dark side: Not only are we seeing Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D arrive in theaters Friday, but that’s also the release date for Dan Wallace’s Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side, the latest fancy whatsit you can use to frighten impress your friends with your supreme geekery. (A book coming out on a Friday? Unusual, but it’s no ordinary book… Though I’m pretty sure you won’t be able to get it at midnight.)
Appropriately, there will be a mighty bounty of new Star Wars comics in stores Wednesday: Knights of the Old Republic: War #2, Agent of the Empire: Iron Eclipse #3 and Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost #4. There’s even a little something for the Omnibus fans, A Long Time Ago: Volume 5.