It’s a lonely week, with just one Star Wars comic coming to stores on Wednesday: Dark Times #16.
New blurb for The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance
Random House (as spotted by Eddie) has posted a new summary for Sean William’s The Old Republic tie-in. Even omitting the intro filler, it’s a lengthy one, so strap in:
Tassaa Bareesh, a matriarch in the Hutt crime cartel, is holding an auction that’s drawing attention from across the galaxy. Representatives of both the Republic and the Sith Empire are present, along with a Jedi Padawan sent to investigate, a disenfranchised trooper drummed out of the Republic’s elite Blackstar Squad, and a mysterious Mandalorian with a private agenda. But the Republic’s envoy is not what he seems, the Empire’s delegate is a ruthless Sith apprentice, the Jedi Padawan is determined to do the right thing and terrified that he can’t, the trooper hopes to redeem her reputation, and the Mandalorian is somehow managing to keep one step ahead of everyone.
None of these guests—invited or uninvited—have any intention of participating in the auction. Instead they plan to steal the prize, which is locked inside an impregnable vault: two burned chunks of an exploded star cruiser, one of which may hold the key to the wealth of an entire world.
But the truth about the treasure is dangerous and deadly. And in the end, Sith and Jedi, Republic and Empire, must do something they’ve never done before, something that all the agents of good and evil could never make them do: join together to stop a powerful threat that could destroy the galaxy.
The current release date for the novel is July 20
Out this week: Purge, maybe Head to Head
Officially, there’s only one release this week – Purge: The Hidden Blade on Wednesday – but there have been reports that Pablo Hidalgo’s Head to Head has been shipping from Amazon and may be in stores. Scholastic has always played fast and lose with release dates, so it’s worth keeping an eye out.
Lucy Autrey Wilson retiring from Lucasfilm
Lucy Autrey Wilson began her Lucasfilm run as George Lucas’ assistant, typing up the script for Star Wars, making her Lucasfilm Employee #1. Many of us first encountered her name as head of the publishing program, which she established. In recent years she has been instrumental in the nonfiction end at George Lucas Books.
Basically? We – as in Club Jade – wouldn’t be here if not for Wilson. We wish her the happiness and luck in retirement!
Star Wars talk at Wondercon’s Dark Horse panel
Randy Stradley and company are in San Francisco for Wondercon, and naturally Star Wars came up. Randy talked extensively about the next Invasion arc, and had this to say about Legacy:
Stradley noted that the recent issues of “Star Wars: Legacy” have brought readers to the “tipping point” where Cade Skywalker puts aside his life as a bounty hunter to fight the Sith. “In the next few months, you’re going to see how that comes together, and really how his involvement spurs so much that happens in the galaxy. I don’t even want to get into all the stuff that’s going on. But we’ve got a big surprise coming, and if you thought the end of the current issue was a big surprise, then you really haven’t seen anything yet.”
Hrm. I have yet to pick up the new issue, but the series is in dire need of a serious game-changer for Cade. Bring it on!
Back to basics with Lucasbook’s new youth project
I finally had a chance to catch up with my usual source the other day. S/he has proved a bit skittish on the classified information since last year blew up so spectacularly. (Rumor has it that someone close to George is a recovering Anita Blake addict, unknown to LucasBooks, and when the word of Jaded Conquest trickled up The Maker himself squashed the book.)
Luckily for all of us, this next project is a great deal more G-rated. Continue reading “Back to basics with Lucasbook’s new youth project”
EUbits: Visions, crafts, blogs and more
Visions. The cat is officially out of the bag on the upcoming art book, and the previews keep on coming. I’m rather taken with the classical styles of the Daniel E. Greene and Will Wilson pieces.
First look. Bonnie Burton’s craft book!
The blogside:Ben Kuchera of Ars Technica draws a parallel between Grand Admiral Thrawn, Exar Kun, and the Sith of The Old Republic; Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff on making up planets.
Interviews: NJOE talks to Invasion’s Tom Taylor.
Lists. Topless Robot’s Adam Pawlus counts down his list of the ten best stories in the Expanded Universe. The vast majority of these are at best unnoteworthy to this EU fan, and I certainly can’t condone anyone who puts a Boba Fett comic above the Thrawn trology. (Zahn may not be perfect… But Boba Fett? How uncivilized.)
Namesake corner. Sideshow says Mara Jade will make “an appearance in one of our lines by 2011.”
Out this week: Legacy
We are in the gaping valley of book releases, with naught to come this week save a single comic: Legacy #46.
Blurbs times two: Vortex and Visions
Ewan of SWBooks.co.uk spotted the blurb for Denning’s Fate of the Jedi: Vortex in the Random House Fall catalog. It’s somewhat spoilery, so highlight to read:
In Book Six of the bestselling nine-book Star Wars Fate of the Jedi series, the suspense crescendoes as the Skywalkers and their treacherous Sith allies race against time to discover the origins of the mysterious Force-entity known as Abeloth. When they begin to uncover secrets better kept hidden from mortal minds, no one is surprised to see the uneasy partnership erupt into violence. But they are surprised at where the investigation leads: to the home of the reclusive Fallanassi, who may hold in their hands the future of the Jedi Order itself.
Also appearing in the catalog are The Force Unleashed II (Pencil in November 2010 for the game and October 5 for the book;) and a first look at the cover art for Bonnie Burton’s craft book. (Two words: Lightsaber scissors.)
We’re also finally getting the skinny on Visions, with thanks to Eddie. Blurbs have appeared on both the regular and deluxe editions on Amazon. Here’s what the regular has to say:
Star Wars Visions collects a wealth of art – hand-picked by George Lucas – produced by a variety of artists, illustrators, designers and cartoonists, working across all genres and styles to celebrate their favourite characters, themes, worlds and moments from the Star Wars Universe. The full list of contributors is to be released incrimentally over the 6 months leading up to publication, with sneak previews, on starwars.com.
The deluxe blurb gives a list of artists, and the information that it will come with 50 additional “paintings and illustrations,” which is just mean. But such is life.
And while we’re on the subject, President Obama bought a copy of Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy in Iowa City today as a gift for the son of press secretary Robert Gibbs. Hat-tip to reader Greg for the photo link!