Tag: alex irvine

Posted on

Irvine’s Nomi Sunrider novel canceled; Karpyshyn’s new Old Republic novel is Annihilation

Nomi Sunrider / Tales of the JediWe got a lengthy update from Del Rey’s Frank Parisi today, and what’s most of interest to our particular readership is probably the cancellation of Alex Irvine’s Nomi Sunrider novel, one of the few upcoming projects featuring a female protagonist. The novel was known – tentatively – as Mandorla and apparently featured Mandalorians. (Which takes a bit of the sting out of the news, I must say.)

The rest of the post is a few details of Drew Karpyshyn’s next Old Republic novel, including the title, Annihilation. It also has a release date, November 13, and features Republic agent Theron Shan, from the comic The Old Republic: The Lost Suns.

The schedule given is consistent with what we’ve had, though we do have a new tentative date for Zahn’s Han Solo novel – Winter 2012.

Posted on

Don’t trust Amazon on book news: A cautionary tale

Or rather, a reminder. The other day Roqoo Depot discovered a listing on British Amazon for Star Wars: Big Trilogy no 1 (Hardcover) written by Alex Irvine. Today, someone took that news to the Star Wars Books Facebook (without attribution or any of RQ’s context, sigh) and posted as if it was a fact – only to be struck down in a comment from editor David Pomerico:

We’re not sure why Amazon.co.uk is listing a Star Wars trilogy from Alex, but it’s simply not the case. He does have a book coming out with us, scheduled for Fall 2012, but it’s a stand-alone adventure.

This isn’t the first time that Amazon.co.uk has been wrong about something like this: I myself took a jump on something similar (‘Star Wars 7 book series no 1′) back in December. It turned out to be the U.K. edition of Choices of One. (See the comments from Ewan for a possible explanation.)

There’s little doubt in my mind that ‘Star Wars: Big Trilogy no 1’ will turn out to be Irvine’s already-scheduled book, Mandorla.

Listings that appear on Amazon are fed from the publishers – and some are more specific than others. The Star Wars U.K. publisher, Century, is responsible for both the incidents related above. Their titles are probably meant for internal use only. (See today’s comment from Ewan for more detail. I bow to his expertise.)

We have discovered news from (U.S.) Amazon before: The first inklings of The Clone Wars novels from Karen Traviss and Karen Miller back in ’08. But such incidents are very rare – and we soon found the same listings on Random House’s own catalog, which tends to be more trustworthy.

I know the various fansites and regular news gatherers don’t need this reminder, but everyone else: Please exercise caution when dealing with early listings on Amazon, particularly the U.K. version – it’s highly unlikely to see a listing for a brand-new book appear in the U.K. before we’re clued in by the powers that be – particularly now, with folks from Del Rey in direct contact with fans.

Posted on

Tentative title for Irvine’s Nomi Sunrider book

Alex Irvine wrote on his blog Friday that the tentative title for his upcoming Star Wars novel – the one featuring Nomi Sunrider – is Mandorla. The term is Italian for almond and a term for a symbol used in Medieval art. What it means to Star Wars has yet to be determined.

While the art term may give us a hint at the book’s content, I honestly doubt it’ll end up being a final title because of the existing associations. (We’re already seeing folks jump to conclusions on the boards.) A question is in to Sue Rostoni at StarWars.com, so perhaps we’ll get some clarification after the holiday.

TheForce.net found an Irvine interview from 2009 that confirms a Mandalorian link:

AI: I really can’t say much. The story develops the relationship between Nomi and Vima Sunrider and involves a resurgent threat from Sith and Mandalorian forces. Plus I introduce a new character that I’m really enjoying, a sort of interstellar scavenger who runs across some artifacts that are a little more than he can handle.

Oh, bother.

UPDATE (9/08:) Irvine has addressed the title again, clarifying just how tentative it is:

I see that my maundering about a possible title for the Star Wars book has caused more of a ripple than I’d expected, or intended. Just so we’re clear: That’s not anything like a final title. That was me thinking out loud. No telling yet what the final title of the book will be.

Honestly, I can take or leave the title: I’m mostly bothered by how it may reflect on the Mandalorian content of the book. Shouldn’t this flavor-of-the-month have run its course by now?

Posted on

EUbits: This week in Mara, Filoni will speak, Rostoni schedules, Irvine hints, Bohnhoff on philosophy

Namesake corner. Mara Jade is one of Crave’s ten female characters that would kick your face in. Uhh, thanks? I think. Also, apparently the Galaxies trading card game has another Mara card, yet again with art that I don’t totally hate (fourth row here, in wallpaper size and everything. Despite smearing their first offering with an April Fools, I don’t dislike it. One just gets a bit tired of the leather jumpsuit T&A, though it does come in handy for mocking up a cover for the faux smut.)

The Clone Wars. Dave Filoni will be appearing on tonight’s ForceCast Live.

Upcoming. Sue Rostoni confirms that Kemp’s Crosscurrent sequel will get a June 2011 release, pushing the Reaves/Bohnhoff holostar novel up to March. And Alex Irvine drops a few hints about what to expect from his Nomi Sunrider novel. And some people say there are too many big 3 novels…

The blogside. Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff looks at Star Wars as philosophy. (Psst… Googling ‘Midichlorian Rhapsody’ brings up this, filk fans.)

Wait, what? At first I was just rolling my eyes at a visual dictionary for LEGO Star Wars, but now it’s getting the most extensive string of bookstore events yet. Boggling. Well, I guess the kids like it.

Posted on

Infodrop: Sue Rostoni on the new contract

Sue posts furthur details about the upcoming books on her blog. The relevant (new!) information…

  • Fate of the Jedi #1: “Luke and Ben attempt to follow Jacen’s previous journey in the hopes of discovering what and how various Force-using groups influenced him to accept and use dark side powers.”
  • The Clone Wars: Wild Space: Stars Obi-Wan Kenobi and Bail Organa! (Did we already know this?)
  • Blood Oath: Takes place just after we last see Zekk, Dave Seeley is doing the cover!
  • Joe Schreiber’s horror novel: Set between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back.
  • Paul S. Kemp’s Jaden Korr book: Takes place during the… Great Hyperspace War? Well, I’m confused. UPDATE: Kemp clarifies.
  • Alex Irvine’s novel will star Nomi Sunrider!
  • The paperback by Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff features “a promising holostar – a rags to riches story set against the backdrop of the early days of the Rebellion.” (Fan speculation/wishful thinking is pegging the holostar as Wynssa Starflare.)
Posted on

Poll results: Anticipating the new publishing contract

Behold, the next three years of Star Wars publishing, ranked by CJ readers. Most of you seem to be looking forward to Fate of the Jedi: This poll also got more votes than the second, 172 to 143. Of the second poll, which asked you to choose from among the rest of the new contract’s fiction (at least those that we have some detail on) the clear winners were those that have established fanbases: Cunningham’s Blood Oath, featuring charter member of the Jaina Solo harem, Zekk; Irvine’s Knights of the Old Republic novel, set just before the popular games; Traviss’ Imperial Commando; and Drew Karpyshyn’s third Darth Bane novel. The rest are certain to see their stock rise as we get more details.

Posted on

Poll: So we already know you want FOTJ…

The response to our Fate of the Jedi poll was pretty clear: Most of you (58%) are sure to be reading it, 24% are waiting to hear more before you decide, and only 19% have given up entirely (and/or were never big EU readers to begin with.) I’ll make a pretty pie chart after we finish our latest poll, though: Which of the other upcoming novels tickle your fancy the most? Vote below the cut or on the sidebar. Continue reading “Poll: So we already know you want FOTJ…”

Posted on

EU newsbits: Details from Irvine, YA, interviews

More new contract fallout: Alex Irvine details the timing of his ‘ancient Jedi’ novel on his blog:

…Yours truly is going to be writing a novel set just before the Knights of the Old Republic storyline. Since I am one of those guys who saw the movie (you know, The Movie; you know the one I mean) a dozen times the summer it came out, this is kind of a dream come true. Viva la Geek! Plus, there are some interesting open spaces in the continuity from that period, which give me a lot of room to work.

Isn’t that what the comics are doing? Oh well: I won’t even pretend to be an expert on that time period. (Some have speculated that this could be related to the still-rumored KOTOR MMO, but aren’t direct game tie-ins handled by separate contracts?)

Posted on

The next three years in Star Wars publishing

Well, after starting an avalanche of reveals last week, StarWars.com gives us a lowdown of the new publishing contract (so far.) Some of it we already know: Fate of the Jedi, Blood Oath, The Clone Wars. As for reveals…

  • Blood Oath features… Zekk! Still not dead.
  • Christie Golden’s Star Wars debut in summer ’09 will be titled Fate of the Jedi: Enigma.
  • Karen Traviss’ Imperial Commando series will be in paperback, and the first book is 501st, also due next summer.
  • Winter ’09 brings another (horror!?!) standalone from a new author, Joe Schreiber.
  • And a guide to Vader published by Becker & Mayer, who handled last year’s Vault.
  • Drew Karpyshyn’s third Bane novel (hardcover, natch) will appear in early 2010, as will Kemp’s standalone.
  • Fall 2010 bring a Star Wars craft book by Bonnie Burton.

  • And another new-to-us author, Alex Irvine, tackles the ancient Jedi.
  • For 2011 expect Traviss’ Boba Fett standalone in paperback.
  • And another PB from Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff.