Out this week: James Luceno takes on Tarkin

tarkin-cropToday, of course, sees the release of James Luceno’s Tarkin, our final novel for the year. If you’re on the fence, you can read the first fifty pages now, or Tosche Station has a Go/No Go.

The book seems to be receiving good reviews from the sort of folks who would enjoy a Luceno novel about Tarkin, but not being one of them, I shall abstain. I do, however, find that Mike Cooper’s review squares pretty well with my past experience of the author.

As for Wednesday, we even have a Dark Horse hardcover, the Dark Times Gallery Edition.

This weekend in Episode VII: Wrap party!

artoo-boyega-wrapAlthough there are some rumblings that filming isn’t quite done for all, Saturday night was the wrap party for Episode VII. John Boyega posted a photo with Artoo and a video to his Instagram, and later shared another from the party. Naturally, the paparazzi were there. (Yes, Simon Pegg was there, so get ready for another round of ‘does he have a role?!?‘)

And you can get a closer look at the Artoo – presumably the same one used during the filmng – at Indie Revolver.

Episode VII filming wraps up for some cast and crew

Well, if the beard wasn’t sign enough, we now have even more proof that filming on Episode VII is wrapping up: A goodbye letter to cast and crew:

You can just see, in the very top of the picture, the VII hat that we’ve seen around before.

Of course, we knew this was inevitable, as it’s been two weeks since we last heard from Kathleen Kennedy, but it’s sad to see the proof rolling in.

…And then there’s Carrie Fisher. Is #blondewatch still a go?

David Eckstein, Her Universe profiled in Fortune

The framing of this Fortune story on David Eckstein and Her Universe seemed odd, until I realized it’s part of a series (in collaboration with Sports Illustrated) that profiles athletes who’ve moved into business careers. In any case, we learn a few things about HU: that they expect to bring in $5 million in sales this year, and the company is profitable. Phew. (via)