Betrayal audiobook for free

Ostensibly for attendees of an NYCC panel, this free download of the first LOTF audiobook actually works by simply registering on the site. Be warned, it does give you some extra software to download your selection for you. (I use iTunes and an iPod, and so far it’s painless enough, but this means there’s probably some sort of DRM involved.) If you’re into audiobooks, you might be happy to know that Audible carries plenty of Star Wars books (the LOTF books, at least, and several older selections missing from iTunes.)

Thanks to TJHighlandNewark2007 on the TFN boards (warning: link goes to the Exile spoiler thread) for pointing this out.

Star Wars novels on iTunes

Star Wars audiobooks are now available on iTunes. Prices start at $12.95 for most of the novels, with the unbridged prequel novelizations go for as much as $31.95. There doesn’t appear to be a central storefront, however, so you have to look them up by author. (Looking up ‘Star Wars’ only gets you prequel novelizations and a handful of Trek!)

Not all the novels are there – I looked up Zahn and there’s only the Thrawn trilogy, while Betrayal is the only LOTF book up – but the list is still quite impressive, with a good number of Bantam offerings (lots of X-Wing novels) and most of the NJO.

Coming soon: New web mag for EU fans

Fandom veterans are pool their resources to create Star Wars Outsider, a PDF fanzine devoted to the Expanded Universe. The first issue isn’t up yet, and while the ‘zine is unofficial it looks like it could help to fill a hole that the official publications have been lax in exploring lately.

In the interest of fair disclosure, I ought to note that I have been asked to contribute and will have a piece (design) in the first issue…