Just one on Wednesday: The Clone Wars #1, first of a new series that ties-in to the TV series.
Looking into the future, we do have some new previews: Legacy #28/Vector part 9 and Knights of the Old Republic #34.
Changes afoot in The Clone Wars book series
StarWars.com confirms the titles of the second and third Clone Wars books as Wild Space and No Prisoners. They also bring us the news that Karen Traviss won’t be handling the fifth book due to deadline issues; Karen Miller will finish up the series instead.
Poll: Did Star Wars novels get you started on genre?
A point that’s often made when arguing the merits of media tie-in novels is that they bring additional readers to the science fiction/fantasy genre. My own experience runs completely counter to this: Star Wars didn’t get me into SF/F; SF/F got me into Star Wars. Granted, I grew up in a family of readers, and Heir to the Empire was not the first genre novel I borrowed from my parent’s bookshelves before I was old enough to drive. So, I admit, I get a little miffed at the notion that reading these things makes us knuckle-draggers. (What’s wrong with an intelligent reader enjoying a little melodramatic space trash, huh? Wait, don’t answer that.) So, for the sake of science random internet polling: Continue reading “Poll: Did Star Wars novels get you started on genre?”
Expanded Universe newsbits: Rebel Force, TFU, Gilroy interviewed, KOTOR #33 previewed
- Rebel Force:
Barnes & Noble is now listing the author for the upcoming Scholastic series as Robin Wasserman (and ‘Scholastic, Inc. Staff.’) At least this time it’s someone who actually exists! Of course, let’s add the usual disclaimer that this all may be a B&N/automated system burp and it’s clearly not official yet, etc. etc.Or not: B&N is now listing Alex Wheeler. - Faint praise: The New York Times seems a little miffed at The Force Unleashed topping their bestseller list. Though to be honest I can get a little ‘damn you kids, get off my lawn! about game-based things, too, so I can’t entirely blame them. (For those without NYT passwords, Sean Williams has a scan of the actual printed page.)
- Review: And since we’re on the topic of The Force Unleashed, SF Signal has reviewed the graphic novel adaption.
- Comics: Newsarama talks to The Clone Wars comic writer Henry Gilroy (via,) while DarkHorse.com previews Knights of the Old Republic #33.
No Crimson Empire III in the works, says Stradley
Sorry to get your hopes up, folks, but it seems that Mike Richardson’s announcement was premature. Dark Horse’s Star Wars editor (and Crimson Empire co-writer) Randy Stradley lays it all out on their boards. Basically? Yes, it has been discussed, but:
…I don’t have the time to write it in the foreseeable future. And, frankly, after all these years, I have virtually no interest in continuing/finishing the story. On top of everything else, the approach I had wanted another writer to take has turned out to be impossible within established continuity.
So, despite Mike’s untimely mention of the project, it doesn’t actually exist, no work is being done on it, and it is not on Dark Horse’s Star Wars publishing schedule.
Sorry, comic fans. Better luck next time.
Cunningham returns to the EU with Blood Oath?
Christian spotted something interesting on Del Rey’s online catalog – a new Star Wars title from Elaine Cunningham, Blood Oath. The book is listed as a paperback with an April 2009 release.
We haven’t seen Cunningham in the franchise since 2002’s Jaina-centric Dark Journey, and Paul at TFN is hoping for something post-NJO. But I’m hesitant to pin anything – even speculation – on this as of yet.
Mind meld, tie-ins, and a lot of Star Wars people
I had no idea when SF Signal asked me to participate in their latest Mind Meld on tie-ins that they’d get so many actual writers who had written Star Wars (Sean Williams, William C. Dietz, Kevin J. Anderson, Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Walter Jon Williams.) Plus many other names familiar to genre readers and the blogosphere. And me. It’s a little unsettling. Really cool, but unsettling.
Third Clone Wars novel title revealed?
Eddie spotted an Amazon.com listing for an audiobook of The Clone Wars: No Prisoners by Karen Traviss. It also gives a release date of May 19… But it is Amazon, so nothing is certain! (via)
It’s official: The Force Unleashed a bestseller
Publisher’s Weekly has Sean William’s game novelization at #1 this week. It’s #15 on USA Today; The New York Times list hasn’t been updated yet.
UPDATE: #1 on the New York Times list!
Good news for Crimson Empire, Tales fans
In a video interview with CBR, Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson says that he and Randy Stradley “have started talking about revisiting the last chapter of Crimson Empire.” Comic fans have been waiting nearly a decade for that one. He also mentions retooling the second mini/graphic novel, Council of Blood, for “fixing all the stuff that got left out” due to possible prequel conflicts. There’s already a thread on the Dark Horse boards – perhaps Stradley will shed a bit more light on this soon? (Keep an eye on the Star Wars zone!)
Could that be the big project for 2009 that Sue hinted at a few weeks ago? Seems likely: It’s sure to get the fanboys all hot and bothered.
UPDATE: Not so, according to Stradley.
But! There’s also Star Wars Adventures, a new all-ages digest series teased in the letter column of the latest Rebellion. We don’t know much, but Jeremy Barlow is writing a story for it about Han and Chewbacca, and it’s slated to debut sometime next year. As someone who was rarely interested in the Dark Horse line until Star Wars Tales came around, I’ll be sure to nab Adventures.