Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
Kevin Hearne tweeted today that he “just clicked SEND on my Star Wars novel. Let the editing begin!” The Luke Skywalker-centric book is the third and presumably final book in the loose Empire and Rebellion series. The previous books, Martha Wells’ Razor’s Edge and James S. A. Corey’s Honor Among Thieves, are already out.
We don’t have an officially announced release date, but an Edelweiss listing spotted last month had it coming out on January 18.
Head to the comic shop this week to pick up The Star Wars #7, Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #5 and the second Brian Wood Star Wars trade collection, From the Ruins of Alderaan.
In stores now, because I am a ding-a-ling and haven’t done a releases post in a couple weeks, is Star Wars #16 and the paperback of Tim Lebbon’s Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void, a novel based on the Dawn of the Jedi comics. I liked it, even going in with no background on the era, and gave it a B+ when it came out in hardcover last year.
We still don’t have too much in the way of upcoming releases, but there is J.W. Rinzler’s Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy (May 13) and William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher, plus the paperback of Troy Denning’s Crucible (both July 1.)
I’ve been a Star Wars fan since I was barely 13, and became an Expanded Universe fan only days later. My entire experience of falling in love with Star Wars was prompted and is because of the Expanded Universe; I ‘first’ saw the movies on VHS over Christmas break in 1991. And we wouldn’t have even had those copies in the house if not for the release of Heir to the Empire in the spring of that year.
I owe my entire fandom to Heir to the Empire and the Thrawn trilogy. The Expanded Universe, which was pretty much all there was back in those days, formed the nucleus of my fandom. They hooked me, and they hooked me well enough that I sit here, 22 years later, running a fairly popular blog devoted to the franchise, with those same worn copies of Heir, Dark Force Rising and The Last Command not four feet away.
I love the Expanded Universe. It’s a weird kind of love that you get with this sort of fandom; I kept with it through some of the absolute worst fiction I have ever read, and many books that could I barely bring myself to call mediocre and, yes, even those rare gems that make it all worth it.
But I’m also okay with letting it go.
Becker & Mayer, producers of the awesome books-with-cool-electronic-cases such as The Jedi Path and Book of Sith, have a few new offerings for later in 2014, showcased in their catalog. The Imperial Handbook: A Commander’s Guide will have a deluxe edition, written by Dan Wallace, with illustrations by Chris Trevas & Chris Reiff.
Like the previous guidebooks, it will include a mechanized case with lights and sound, and the book will have annonations from various characters, including a introduction note by Luke Skywalker, and several items, including a die-cast Imperial military medal. Here’s the official blurb:
As the Imperial Empire expands, high-ranking officials from each branch of the Imperial Military have set down tactical guidelines and procedures for all newly ascending commanders. Set in-universe, this compendium of ordinance, mission reports, and Imperial philosophy was intercepted by members of the Rebel Alliance, some of whom also left commentary scribbled in the margins. Housed in a deluxe case that opens with lights and sounds, this never-before-seen Imperial Handbook is perfect for Star Wars fans—no matter which side of the Civil War they’re on.
Also coming up:
Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy, by Brandon Alinger. Here’s the details on this 266-page hardcover gem:
Who can forget the first time they saw Darth Vader with his black cape and mask? The white hard-body suit of the stormtroopers? Or Leia’s outfit as Jabba’s slave? These costumes—like so many that adorned the characters of that galaxy far, far away—have become iconic. For the first time, the Lucasfilm Archives has unpacked the original costumes to be revealed in breathtaking detail.
Featuring all-new photography, Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy affords both new and longtime Star Wars fans the opportunity to examine the stormtrooper armor and discover how it changed from movie to movie; explore Boba Fett’s suit and inspect the rarely seen details of his blaster and jetpack; compare the helmets and jumpsuits of the rebel fighters; and study the details of the Hoth fighter uniforms.
This lavish large-format book not only showcases high-quality photography of each costume, it also pairs these stunning images with original sketches, behind-the-scenes photographs, production notes, and stories.
It seems like a perfect reference for the costumer on your gift list!
Also listed in the catalog:
Critical reaction to Heir to the Empire. At the StarWars.com blog, Mark Newbold takes a look back at how the first Star Wars novel of the modern era has been received over the years.
A new Star Wars art book devoted to posters is coming this fall, Lucasfilm’s J.W. Rinzler tweeted today. It will features George’s picks from the original trilogy “to today.”
See the cover art under the cut. Continue reading “Next Star Wars art book is devoted to posters”
Star Wars Reads Day returns October 11. The event is back for it’s third year.
On Wednesday, head to your comic shop for Legacy #13. Apparently lightwhips are making a comeback! Exciting stuff.
Alas, when it comes to novels, the schedule is pretty bare, but there is the paperback of Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void coming up on April 1.
Out this week is the sequel to one of the few Star Wars books your non-Star Wars obsessive friends (assuming they’re drama/English geeks or drama/English geek-adjacent) have read. Yes, William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back will be in stores today.
For those who like their Star Wars a little less literary, or their Shakespeare a little less Star Wars, there are comics. Dawn of the Jedi: Force War #5 and Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #4
Our next novel is the paperback release of Tim Lebbon’s Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void on April 1, with J.W. Rinzler’s Star Wars Storyboards: The Original Trilogy on May 13. And the drama/English geeks will get William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return on July 1. The cover was recently revealed on Cnet.
Jason Fry has finished final edits on original Rebels novel. The book is juvenile fiction and being published by Disney Press in October, we found out not long ago.
Another Star Wars vet, Ryder Windham, is writing a Rebels prequel novel that’s due out in August.