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Book news out of C2E2: Making of ROTJ, short stories coming from Zahn, Luceno and Golden

First of all, big thanks to the Star Wars Action News folks for live-tweeting the news out of yesterday’s Star Wars novel panel with Paul S. Kemp, John Jackson Miller, and Del Rey’s Erich Schoeneweiss.

It may not be a surprise, but The Making of Return of the Jedi was officially announced – as confirmed by J.W. Rinzler this morning on Twitter. Look for it in Fall 2013.

The ‘big’ news here seems to be all short-story related: The next two Insider stories will be ‘First Blood’ by Christie Golden (about Vestara Khai) and ‘Buyer’s Market’ by Tim Zahn, which features Lando. TFN reports that the Zahn will be an Original Trilogy era story to tie in with Choices of One, as well as comments from Schoeneweiss that at least three more Insider shorts are in the pipeline.

The shorts with the reissued Phantom Menace and Shadow Hunter paperbacks will both feature a new Darth Maul story by James Luceno. (Also noteworthy: Luceno has finished his Darth Plagueis novel.)

And here’s a tiny bit of hope for those yearning for more Tales of books: There’s nothing planned, but Del Rey would like to do one.

Here’s a puzzling one: “Big things” coming after Fate of the Jedi? “Conversations have been had” on linking the Legacy comics? Hmm… As long as it all happens in standalones and single trilogies.

Naturally, the events of ‘Citadel Rescue’ were discussed. The Clone Wars “is making glitches in the canon.” But “nothing that can’t be fixed.” I remain shrugful at the whole issue.

Ad finally, if it’s comic news you want, Dark Horse has announced Knight Errant: Deluge. Newsarama has an interview with John Jackson Miller. Dark Horse’s Star Wars panel is tomorrow so we may hear more then.

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And the rest: What is Nathan Fillion doing?

Is it… Robot Elvis? What kind of pose is Nathan Fillion doing on the cover of the new Entertainment Weekly? Topless Robot readers have many, many answers. Your reward: Looking at Nathan Fillion.

Shocking facts! A survey of 5,041 Star Trek fans found that 57% of them were female. Fascinating.

Brain a moose. Check out the manuscript for George R. R. Martin’s A Dance With Dragons. Or check out the HBO features on House Stark, House Baratheon, House Lannister and House Targaryen.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry… A funny Regretsy post involving Roseanne Barr, Carrie Fisher and (of course) a puzzling crafted object.

Your indie moment(s) of zen. Mario and a trailer for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off recut as an Sofia Coppola-esque coming-of-age film.

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First Heir to the Empire annotation: Star Destroyers

The Star Wars Books Facebook page posted their first excerpt from the annotations of the Heir to the Empire 20th anniversary edition.

“Each of the three classic Star Wars movies includes a Star Destroyer in its opening scene. All of my Rebellion-era books do the same.” — Timothy Zahn

Okay, so many of us have reread the Thrawn trilogy dozens/hundreds of times and are already pretty familiar with this. But Del Rey says in the comments: “They get longer…just wanted to get everyone’s feet wet.” One down, 13 to go!

The annotated edition will be released June 21.

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Jennifer Lawrence to star in The Hunger Games

Well, it’s official: The Wrap reports that Jennifer Lawrence has won the role of Katniss Everdeen in the Hollywood adaption of the bestselling YA series The Hunger Games. The choice has been somewhat controversial among some fans of the budding franchise.

Lawrence, 20, is hot off an Academy Award nomination for Winter’s Bone, and also plays Mystique in June’s X-Men: First Class.

UPDATE: MTV has the statement from author Suzanne Collins on the casting, while director Gary Ross discusses the decision with Entertainment Weekly.

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EUbits: Why did the Riptide cover change?

Why was the Riptide cover changed? Sue Rostoni answered a reader question on this the other day, saying “The sales folks at Random House weren’t sure it was strong enough — not as dynamic as they’d like.” Not sure I see it, but okay. (Personally, I’d rather they change up the Choices of One cover.) Compare them for yourself by clicking on the thumbnails at right.

In the future… J.W. Rinzler tweeted and then deleted about prepping for “a sequel of sorts” to The Jedi Path. Not a huge surprise in any case, though we all eagerly await details.

Canon, continuity, and The Clone Wars. A certain controversial event happened on last week’s Clone Wars. Leland Chee explains. (Spoilers for ‘Citadel Rescue.’)

Atlasery. Behold the sectors of the Mid Rim in the latest Essential Atlas extra.

Statistics 101. EU Cantina has a new staffer, Andrew, and for his first column he’s taken a look at the complaints that we’re getting less EU product lately.

Comics. Dark Horse’s solicitations for June include Lost Suns #1, Jedi: The Dark Side #2 and trades for Knight Errant: Aflame and the fourth A Long Time Ago omnibus.

On that note… John Jackson Miller’s Knight Errant novel answers, part the second.

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Fate of the Jedi: Back cover, blurb for Conviction

Right in the wake of the ultra-generic catalog text for Ascension, we get the back cover art and actual jacket blurb for Fate of the Jedi: Conviction by Christie Golden. This time it’s actually pretty spoilery, so don’t highlight to read this unless you’re fully caught up on the series.

Chief of State Natasi Daala has been overthrown, and the Jedi Order has taken control of the Galactic Alliance. But while the new governors dismantle Daala’s draconian regime, forces still loyal to the deposed official are mobilizing a counterstrike. And even the Jedi’s new authority may not be enough to save Tahiri Veila, the former Jedi Knight and onetime Sith apprentice convicted of treason for the killing of Galactic Alliance officer Gilad Pellaeon.

Meanwhile, Luke and Ben Skywalker are relentlessly pursuing Abeloth, the powerful dark-side entity bent on ruling the galaxy. But as they corner their monstrous quarry on the planet Nam Chorios, the two lone Jedi must also face the fury of the Sith death squadron bearing down on them. And when Abeloth turns the tables with an insidious ambush, the Skywalkers’ quest threatens to become a suicide mission.

Barring any future date changes, Ascension will be out August 16

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Craft-athlon: Get your paper bag puppets in!

Pocketbook by Dianna BatesStill working on your entries for the Club Jade Craft-athlon? We’ve already received a few entries, and we’d like to remind you that the deadlines for some of the events are coming next week! Be sure to get your photos submitted by the deadlines:

  • Paper Bag Puppets – Monday, March 21
  • Recycled Design vehicles, ships and creatures – Wednesday, March 23
  • Food for Thought artwork – Friday, March 25
  • Star Wars Roll Models – Sunday, March 27
  • Vader’s Custom Tee – Tuesday, March 29

To help inspire you in the contest, check out this zippered pocketbook made by Dianna Bates using some vintage Star Wars bedsheets. With a fully lined on the interior, it even has a cell phone pocket on the inside. Thanks to her husband Justin LaSalata for sending pics along. Check out the submission rules, get crafting and keep those contest entries coming!

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Discussion: What are you reading?

And so we come to the time of the week when we discuss things. And I’m a bit tapped out this week, so we’ll keep it to something simple: What are you reading?

What novel(s) did you just finish and are okay with admitting? What would you recommend? What authors are you mainlining right now? Hell, go ahead and ask for recommendations. As long as it has to do with science fiction and fantasy books, have at it. And by that I mean feel free to go above and beyond Star Wars.

I have some semi-embarrassing YA fantasy (not Twilight) that I’ll bring up in the comments later. Promise. If you’re good. There might even be a touch of rant.

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Do lightsabers and hoverboards really exist? A shocking percentage of British adults think so

A survey by the Birmingham Science City finds that “over a fifth of adults” surveyed believe lightsabers are real. Nearly a quarter believe that humans can be teleported, 50% believe that memory-erasing technology (ala Men in Black) exist, and more than 40% believe in hoverboards. Remember them from Back to the Future Part II? Granted, we can probably blame Robert Zemeckis himself for that one. Science fiction, what have you wrought?