Celebration V: EU news – Fate of the Jedi #9 has a name, Knight Errant and season 3 of The Clone Wars

While Dunc is off at fashion shows or handing out orange Death Star fans, I got a chance to attend a couple panels today, and here’s the top information:

  • Apocalypse was announced as the title of the ninth book in the Fate of the Jedi series.
  • Pablo Hidalgo is going to be writing an Essential Reader’s Companion, helping not only to sum up all the existing novels, but also provide some behind-the-scenes, and showcasing connections between stories. It will be illustrated, and Cal Omas will be pictured at last (and not hiding behind a potted plant)
  • After Fate of the Jedi, Del Rey will be staying away from long series for a while, with just one-offs and duo/trilogies.
  • Wedge Antilles is apparently the only SW character allowed to retire. He’s working on his memoirs, but Aaron Allston says not to count him out yet.
  • Knight Errant: comics will be released in October, novel in January, and while you don’t need one to understand the other, hopefully the new storyline will pull you in with a young female Jedi, Kerra Holt, on her own in Sith warlord space a generation before Darth Bane. This is the first time that Dark Horse and Del Rey are working together on a SW project, with a single writer: John Jackson Miller.
  • The Clone Wars – Season 3: going to rock! Dooku gets mad at Asajj, and gets a new Sith villain, raised by the Dathomir nightsisters: A Steelers-colored Maul kinsman. Invisible nightsisters attack Dooku in his pajamas! Shaak Ti is coming! Kamino is under attack (with cool water, smoke and explosion effects). Asajj’s background is revealed! Jawajames explodes from awesomeness of the trailer! Dave Filoni has trouble giving evasive answers to little kids!

Celebration V: George shows up early

Jawajames has been out and about in his Bounty Hunt duties, and caught George Lucas walking the con floor before it opened Friday morning. With the Big Event nearly upon us (reports are that it’s already “insane,”) we all have early call times so I’m trying to make this quick.

(Volunteering and blogging is not a good combo. Though if you stop by the StarWars.com booth and talk to one of the orange shirts there this weekend, there’s a good chance it’ll be Eliz or I, and we have bracelets. Or just come to Fandom in 140 on Sunday, hint hint.)

Good luck to everyone tomorrow! And remember: Twitter is the place to be for on-the-moment news!

Celebration V: The madness begins

I spent much of the day at the StarWars.com booth. While they weren’t selling anything, there were several products on display. Including the small Mara Jade statue you see above! It’s a Star Wars Shop exclusive and will be on sale sometime next year, along with a Darth Bane. Stop by the booth to get a closer look, or I’ll have more pictures later. (Sorry. Conhaustion is kicking in.) Also coming? A friend for the Garden Jawa:

I only got to one panel today, and that may very well be the record for the attending Jaders. (Yes. Ouch. By which I mean, our feet.) The good news is it was the Essential Guides, and there was news: A third Essential Guide to Characters is coming, tentatively dated for 2012.

But the big news, if Twitter and my RSS feeder is to be believed, is that a clip shown at ‘The Clone Wars: Evolution’ panel featured Republic Commandos. Big Shiny Robot has a write-up of both Clone Wars panels, while EU Cantina found video.

I’m hearing that the Hoth Ice Bar is the place to be. Hoping to make it over tomorrow: And I will tweet if I can stay for a while, but it’s looking like another crazy day!

Celebration V: It starts tomorrow!

There’s a new addition to the schedule this morning, the debut of a video
commemorating The Empire Strikes Back
featuring George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan, and John Williams.

Want swag? Keep an eye on the Twitter: We’ll post the where and when there.

Off to Celebration V… Watch the, err, Twitter

I’m leaving for Orlando in the morning, so I probably won’t have much chance to blog. (No free wifi at my airport. Boo.) Most Jaders are actually working at the con, so we might not be able to get news up here immediately… But keep an eye on the @clubjade Twitter and #SWCV hashtag. It’s the quickest and easiest way for us to get stuff out. And keep an eye here in the evenings! We have the technology, just not necessarily the time.

Here’s a few things that popped up today: