New look for The Clone Wars with Gambit: Stealth

Gambit: Stealh cover teaseGranted, the cover for Karen Miller’s Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth isn’t going to blow anyone’s socks off, but it’s a vast improvement over the previous Clone Wars book covers. (Interesting that the title, design and artwork all seem to be downplaying the cartoon connection.) Lest I forget, this also gives us our first official blurb for the book:

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are on a secret mission to one of the many worlds caught in the middle of the struggle between the Republic and the Separatists. A pastoral planet, Lanteeb wants only to be left alone to survive — but it is the source of what could be one of the most devastatingly destructive weapons ever. If this potential weapon were to fall into the hands of the Separatists, uncounted worlds would fall. But should the Republic succeed in destroying it first, one world that needs it to survive will be annihilated. A frightening dilemma that Obi-Wan and Anakin will have to untangle, if they can get in and out of the occupied planet alive…

Amazon blurb for Fate of the Jedi: Backlash

SWBooks.co.uk spotted a brand new (and somewhat awkward) blurb for Allston’s Fate of the Jedi: Backlash at amazon.co.uk.

Three major storylines run through the “Fate of the Jedi” series. One is the odyssey of Jedi Grand-Master-in-Exile Luke Skywalker and his son Ben, as they travel from one world of non-Jedi Force-users to the next in search of clues as to what might have turned Jacen Solo to embrace the evil ways of the Sith Lords. The second is the attempts of Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala to break the power of the Jedi Order, while young Jedi Knights on a variety of worlds are inexplicably going insane. And the third is the tale of a previously unknown lost tribe of Sith as they rejoin the known galaxy determined to kill Luke Skywalker, destroy all the Jedi, and reinstate the Sith as supreme rulers. In “Backlash”, Luke and Ben will visit the deadly world of Dathomir, home to the Night Sisters, otherwise known as the Dathomiri Witches, as an ancient evil, released from its prison, stretches its hungry tendrils ever farther through the galaxy.

Dathomir? I am so glad Denning isn’t writing this one.

On Jossing, canon, and The Clone Wars

Can’t say I’m particularly broken up about the departure of Karen Traviss from Star Wars, as I wasn’t planning to read any of her forthcoming novels anyway. However, I’ve been following the threads on the fan boards and in-between the mourning/celebration some interesting points have been raised: How far is The Clone Wars going in railroading over existing canon, if it’s driven away an author who infamously loved to retcon? Continue reading “On Jossing, canon, and The Clone Wars

Karen Traviss quits Star Wars

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.

Denning clarifies remarks on resurrecting Anakin Solo

Still dead.At the Fate of the Jedi panel, Troy Denning talked about a plot point that the Legacy of the Force authors were kicking around, and naturally, fandom took it and ran with it.

At StarWars.com yesterday, Denning addressed the squee and concerns:

Yeah — what I said was that we considered a way to use flowwalking to bring back Anakin. I also said that just because we consider an idea doesn’t mean it should be done.

When we began to explore what bringing Anakin back might mean for the rest of the EU, we decided the worms in the can were just too big to let loose. So, we decided to weld that can closed by making explicit the limits on flowwalking we had already been using informally since Dark Nest.

The idea of bringing Anakin back didn’t even make it past the “what if” stage — it was just one of a thousand things we considered that never saw ink (even in an outline).

So basically, kids, don’t get too excited: It was just an idea. (And I, for one, am happy it never got any further than that.)

Synopsis day: The Clone Wars and Darth Bane

NJOE spotted a very detailed synopsis of Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil at Random House, while Star Wars Books spotted one for The Clone Wars: Gambit – Stealth on Amazon UK:

This is the first installment of a two-book. It presents Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker adventure, set against the backdrop of the “Clone Wars!”. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are on a secret mission to one of the many worlds caught in the middle of the struggle between the Republic and the Separatists. A pastoral planet, Lanteeb wants only to be left alone to survive – but it is the source of what could be one of the most devastatingly destructive weapons ever. If this potential weapon were to fall into the hands of the Separatists, uncounted worlds would fall. But should the Republic succeed in destroying it first, one world that needs it to survive will be annihilated. A frightening dilemma that Obi-Wan and Anakin will have to untangle, if they can get in and out of the occupied planet alive.

EUbits: FOTJ audio, TOR’s Threat of Peace, Dark Horse one-shots & previews, Holostar

Fate of the Jedi: Hard up for something even after the panel video? Well, you can listen to an audiobook sample of Abyss at Random House now. Seems to be the same section we got a peek at in Omen. (Thanks to Zee Zee.)

The Old Republic. I’m pretty sure I missed blogging that the second part of the TOR webcomic is well underway. (The gaming is always the first to go.)

Dark Horse. Randy Stradley reveals the one-shots on the boards. (via) And also lost in the shuffle, several previews: The Clone Wars #8, Knights of the Old Republic #44, Legacy #39 and Dark Times #14.

Holostar. Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff talks the title of her book… But no reveal of who the holostar is yet.

SDCC ’09 video: Fate of the Jedi panel

Huh.

EUC has uploaded video from the panel and it’s stayed up this far. This is only the first ten minutes; keep an eye here for more.

Topics in this first bit includes the tone of the series and the relationship between Luke and Ben.