William Shakespeare’s Star Wars is in stores today, mashup fans. Of course it has a book trailer.
There are no Star Wars comics this week, but next week will bring us a novel – Troy Denning’s Crucible.
Kemp’s Star Wars dulogy is on ‘standby’
Paul S. Kemp recently did a Reddit Ask Me Anything, and those of you wondering what’s up with his Star Wars duology… Well, here’s what he had to say when asked for an update:
I wish I could say something.
Here’s the thing: The Disney deal and announcement of the new movies is a big deal. I’m on standby at the moment. That’s about all I can say. :-/
If it’s had an effect on Kemp – who has generally stayed away from movie characters – could it be a factor in why we haven’t heard much about Sword of the Jedi as well? Note that nothing that has been scheduled – aside from next week’s Crucible – is set any later than Empire. We knew this was a possibility, so stay tuned… (via)
Ashley Eckstein to chat with Star Wars Books again
Next Thursday, July 11, Ashley Eckstein of Her Universe and The Clone Wars will join the folks at Star Wars Books for another chat.
Not sure what will come up this time, but last time she revealed that more EU designs are in the pipeline for Her Universe.
EUbits: Fan artist takes on Rebels-era Mara Jade
Fan art. Lucasfilm may not have revealed what (most) of the Rebels character design will look like yet, ENGELHA5T on DeviantArt has created several OT-era characters in the style of The Clone Wars. Of particular interest to us would be Mara Jade, but there’s also Han and Chewie, Thrawn and Pellaeon, a teen Leia and even a Luke, may of them with cardbacks as well. You can check out his full gallery, but be warned it does contain some more adult works, though they do seem to be hidden if you’re not logged in to DA.
Del Rey. We actually heard about it way back at Celebration, but now Del Rey has officially announced their Star Wars Action Team. It’s not quite up and running yet, but the general gist is that you “spread the word” and get points. Please don’t break down any doors. On that note, here’s some of the swag they’ll have at SDCC.
Comics. Newsarama has a first look at the next arc of Dark Times, A Spark Remains.
The blogside. At the official blog, Dan Brooks praises Matthew Stover’s Revenge of the Sith adaptation, while Jennifer Heddle talks about why Leia is awesome.
Reviews. Over at Big Shiny Robot, James reads Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #3,The Clone Wars: The Smuggler’s Code and Legacy #4, where Ania Solo learns sometimes shooting first isn’t the best solution.
EUbits: Razor’s Edge moves up to September release
Street date shuffle The release of Martha Wells’ Empire and Rebellion: Razor’s Edge has moved up a week again, this time to September 24, Del Rey tweeted yesterday. Meanwhile, the paperback for Timothy Zahn’s Scoundrels is set for November 26. As always, the dates hang out on our schedule page.
Elsewheres… Time Traveled Tales, a book of short stories that features Aaron Allston, Mike Stackpole and Timothy Zahn among others (like CJers Janine K. Spendlove and Bryan Young) may have passed its original Kickstarter goal of $7,500, but with 17 days to go you can back it now to help add second stories from Stackpole, Allston and Zahn. Meanwhile, a $5 donation guarantees you an eBook version of the anthology.
Toys. We already knew that a Mara Jade Skywalker figure was in the queue, but these inventory lists found by Jedi Temple Archives list a Darth Plagueis as well!
Reviews. Great dialogue and fun characters highlight James’ enjoyment of Legacy #3, he’s impressed with Jan Duursema’s action art in Dawn of the Jedi: Prisoner of Bogan #5, was caught off guard by Dark Times: Fire Carrier #5 and wonders if a boom is too big for Star Wars #6.
Out this week: Allston’s Mercy Kill in paperback
Tuesday brings the paperback edition of Aaron Allston’s X-Wing: Mercy Kill. OCD fans rejoice: the first X-wing novel in a decade or so will now match the others on your shelves. Mostly. (It’s still silver.)
Meanwhile, Legacy: Prisoner Of The Floating World #4 will be in the comic shops on Wednesday.
Our next Star Wars book, out July 2, is William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, followed by Troy Denning’s Crucible on the 9th.
Recently added to the schedule is National Geographic Angry Birds Star Wars, a bizarre hodgepodge which apparently explains “the science behind the saga.” Why exactly you need Angry Birds for that, I don’t know. (Seriously, Rovio, I’ve played these games – they’re barely educational. You’re not fooling me.) In any case, it’s coming out in both hardcover and paperback on September 17 and will probably outsell most of the other stuff in this post.
Darth Maul: Lockdown has a blurb
Knights Archive spotted that Random House has posted the blurb for Joe Schreiber’s Darth Maul: Lockdown:
Set before the events of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, this new novel is a thrilling follow-up to Star Wars: Darth Plagueis
It’s kill or be killed in the space penitentiary that houses the galaxy’s worst criminals, where convicts face off in gladiatorial combat while an underworld gambling empire reaps the profits of the illicit blood sport. But the newest contender in this savage arena, as demonic to behold as he is deadly to challenge, is fighting for more than just survival. His do-or-die mission, for the dark masters he serves, is to capture the ultimate weapon: an object capable of obliterating the Jedi and conquering the galaxy.
Sith lords Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious are determined to possess the prize. And one of the power-hungry duo has his own treacherous plans for it. But first, their fearsome apprentice must take on a bloodthirsty prison warden, a cannibal gang, cutthroat crime lord Jabba the Hutt, and an unspeakable alien horror. No one else could brave such a gauntlet of death and live. But no one else is the dreaded dark-side disciple known as Darth Maul.
Announced back in January, the book is currently on the schedule for a January 21st release.
Out this week: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin, new The Clone Wars digest, Lost Tribe collected
Lots of stuff coming to the comic stores this week – well, three, which is ‘lots’ for our purposes. First off there’s Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #3 and a new Clone Wars digest, The Smuggler’s Code, starring Obi-wan. And for the trade paperback aficionados, there’s the collected Lost Tribe of the Sith: Spiral.
And finally, book fans, next week brings Aaron Allston’s X-Wing: Mercy Kill in paperback to match up with the rest of the series.
Rumor: Episode VII to feature Jaina, Jacen Solo?
Schmoes Know claims to have a source who’s seen the casting breakdown from J.J. Abrams. They claim the storyline involves the training of Jaina and Jacen Solo by Luke Skywalker – and that the below is directly cut and pasted from the casting breakdown:
Storyline: Two 17 year old twins, a girl and a boy, are trained by their uncle Luke to be the greatest Jedi’s in the galaxy. Problems arise when the male twin turns to the dark side.
Jaina Solo – Female, 17 years old, lead. – Jacen’s twin sister, one of the greatest Jedi’s in the galaxy, trained by her uncle Luke Skywalker
Jacen Solo – Male, 17 years old, lead – Jaina’s twin brother, one of the greatest Jedi’s in the world. A loner who is constantly struggling with the idea of what’s right and what’s wrong. Starts to turn to the dark side. Full of conviction that what he is doing is the “right thing”. Will eventually become Darth Caedus.
Of course, I’m deeply skeptical, and not just because this supposed ‘breakdown’ uses the term ‘Jedi’s.’ (Though that helps, it’s not out of the question – I doubt Pablo and co are personally copy-editing every production document, and we’ve seen Lucas do as he wills with in-universe grammar and pronunciation for years.)
But this is pretty straight from the novels, right down to Caedus, and that gives me pause. It’s far too easy to believe that someone who spent an hour or two at Wookieepedia threw this together. It could be their source messing around, it could be the Bad Robot folks testing for leaks – and, yeah, it could be true. But I wouldn’t start betting just yet
UPDATE #1: Bryan over at Big Shiny Robot has more reasons why this is probably false.
UPDATE #2: Collider has heard, independently of the first report, that Episode VII is looking to cast a son of Han Solo, though they’re also doubtful of the full Schmoes Know ‘scoop.’
UPDATE #3: HitFix’s Drew McWeeny is pretty adamant that this is fabricated as well, and that the chances of any EU making it to the screen are extremely slim. He does say that ILM has already begun work on what may be “the most elaborate physical build they’ve done for the effects team since Return Of The Jedi.”
Out this week: Star Wars #6, latest Insider
Star Wars #6 will be waiting for comic fans in the shops come Wednesday.
It’s also time for non-subscribers to start keeping an eye out for Star Wars Insider #142, which contains a few things of interest to us.
Meanwhile, our next novel release is the paperback for Aaron Allston’s X-Wing: Mercy Kill on the 25th.