StarWars.com has released the cover and blurb for Paul S. Kemp’s Riptide, sequel to last year’s Crosscurrent.
When a ship full of Sith warriors arrived in Galactic Alliance space, the fight to destroy it accidentally uncovered a deadly menace: a long-hidden group of clones, secretly created as insidious weapons capable of wielding the Force and heedless of the differences between light side and dark side. Now the clones have escaped — and evidence suggests they are flawed by genetic disease and violent madness.
Jedi Knight Jaden Korr pursues the clones, hoping to heal them but prepared to destroy them. What he doesn’t know is that Sith agents are hot on his heels, determined not only to recover the clones for their Master but to capture Jaden for their own dark-side purposes. In a life-or-death battle, Jaden will confront a shocking reality that will rock him to his core and bring him face-to-face with the question of what makes a man… and a Jedi.
This book is very much Not For Me, and the cover reflects that, but I must admit it’s pretty striking and the tight crop and yellow lightsaber will stand out on the shelves. It’s a (hopefully) happy medium between the look-at-me-n00bs Fate of the Jedi covers and the painted covers that please many hardcore fans.
Riptide is scheduled for a July 26 release.
The art is okay, but I think there is way too much text in far too many places.
I thought the age of badly photomontaged covers was finally behind us. Honestly, this thing screams “Jedi Apprentice”. Then again it’s post Endor and therefore no concern of mine. ;-)
I never read Crosscurrent, but the cover art at least was kind of interesting and looked like Star Wars. If this didn’t have “Star Wars” written on it and the lightsaber were just a regular sword, the me of working in a book store last year would have automatically gone to shelve it in the romance section. He looks like the kind of tightly trimmed uber-hunk that it’s popular to flood the cover with on those covers lately. Especially the ones that are about princes from the Scottish Highlands.
I never thought of Jaden Korr as white.
I read crosscurrent and it was phenomenal. I read a lot of books and it’s nice to see a writer with actual skill on a star wars novel.
Dunc, given the blurb I wouldn’t read this either but perhaps give crosscurrent a try? Dig into the first few pages and see what you think :)
Austin, totally agree. The text over his forearm is unnecessary, would have been so much better with just the authors name at the bottom across one line. I don’t mind the painted cover style but this one is a tad overwhelming on the macho Jedi front, and doesn’t really say anything about the book, which is a bit of a fail considering its the biggest visual selling tool of a book.
Doyle, LOL he does look a bit chiseled doesn’t he. This is Jaden Korr, poster boy of the Jedi order.
Jedifreac, I thought he had long hair, but I guess that was the Jedi from the past. He actually reminds me of the actor who was in friends, Avatar and Saving Private Ryan, Giovanni Ribisi.
Dunc, given the blurb I wouldn’t read this either but perhaps give crosscurrent a try? Dig into the first few pages and see what you think :)
I did. It’s not for me.
@ Jedi freac: I never thought of Jaden Korr as male.
Because forearm braces and muscles go together like peanut butter and jelly.
@Erika: Exactly my point.