Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
Head out to the bookstore today to pick up the fifth volume of Fate of the Jedi, Christie Golden’s Allies. Also on the shelves is Golden’s Star Wars debut and the second Fate of the Jedi novel, Omen in paperback.
It’s a good week for post-ROTJ comics as well, with Invasion – Rescues #1 and Legacy #48 headed for comic shops on Wednesday.
An audio excerpt of Christie Golden’s Allies – the fifth book of the series, out on the 25th – is up at Random House.
In related news, Sue Rostoni has revealed on the boards that Kenth Hamner, not Saba Sebatyne as previously announced, will get the back cover spot on the sixth book, Denning’s Vortex. (It’s due out in December.) A model has been hired, so presumably he won’t be a dead ringer for William Shatner this time around.
Nonfiction StarWars.com offers up a peek at J.W. Rinzler’s The Making of The Empire Strikes Back. The book’s release was recently pushed back to October, but there’s little doubt that it will be worth the wait.
Street date shuffle. On that note, our book release schedule has been updated. The most notable change: A double shot of Fate of the Jedi paperbacks as Omen and Abyss are moved up to spring.
Podcastery. Star Wars Action News talked to Paul S. Kemp earlier in the month, while the ForceCast caught up with John Jackson Miller at C2E2.
The blogside. Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff on the end game and the last period.
Morsel. Sue Rostoni says that Joe Schreiber’s Black Orchid is getting a new title because some people thought it sounded like a romance novel. Personally I think old school Neil Gaiman/Dave McKean…
Toys. Rebelscum reports that the Legacy Collection’s Expanded Universe action figures (the wave that includes Jacen and Jaina) have begun showing up at Toys “R” Us stores.
The fourth free eBook novella and Fate of the Jedi tie-in from John Jackson Miller went up on StarWars.com tonight. And even if the Sith don’t do anything for you, don’t forget this contains our first look at Christie Golden’s Fate of the Jedi: Allies.
Per usual, it’s feast or famine for our new releases, and this week there are plenty of choices – even if only two of them are new. First up on Tuesday is the paperback release of Aaron Allston’s Fate of the Jedi: Outcast, the first book of the latest series. (I hear we might get the new Lost Tribe of the Sith – aka an Allies excerpt – today as well.)
Comic fans aren’t left hungry, either, with Legacy #47 and Invasion: Refugees, the first trade collection of the New Jedi Order comic series.
And last but… Okay, just last, there’s the latest Star Wars Insider.
Ewan of SWBooks.co.uk spotted the blurb for Denning’s Fate of the Jedi: Vortex in the Random House Fall catalog. It’s somewhat spoilery, so highlight to read:
In Book Six of the bestselling nine-book Star Wars Fate of the Jedi series, the suspense crescendoes as the Skywalkers and their treacherous Sith allies race against time to discover the origins of the mysterious Force-entity known as Abeloth. When they begin to uncover secrets better kept hidden from mortal minds, no one is surprised to see the uneasy partnership erupt into violence. But they are surprised at where the investigation leads: to the home of the reclusive Fallanassi, who may hold in their hands the future of the Jedi Order itself.
Also appearing in the catalog are The Force Unleashed II (Pencil in November 2010 for the game and October 5 for the book;) and a first look at the cover art for Bonnie Burton’s craft book. (Two words: Lightsaber scissors.)
We’re also finally getting the skinny on Visions, with thanks to Eddie. Blurbs have appeared on both the regular and deluxe editions on Amazon. Here’s what the regular has to say:
Star Wars Visions collects a wealth of art – hand-picked by George Lucas – produced by a variety of artists, illustrators, designers and cartoonists, working across all genres and styles to celebrate their favourite characters, themes, worlds and moments from the Star Wars Universe. The full list of contributors is to be released incrimentally over the 6 months leading up to publication, with sneak previews, on starwars.com.
The deluxe blurb gives a list of artists, and the information that it will come with 50 additional “paintings and illustrations,” which is just mean. But such is life.
And while we’re on the subject, President Obama bought a copy of Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy in Iowa City today as a gift for the son of press secretary Robert Gibbs. Hat-tip to reader Greg for the photo link!
The triumphant return of not only Fate of the Jedi, but our book polls! No doubt you’ve been looking forward to it. (Okay, maybe not the poll.) In any case, the fourth Fate of the Jedi book, Allston’s Backlash, came out last week, so now it’s time for you to cast your vote. Head below the cut to play (and don’t forget to check out Erika’s review!) Continue reading “Poll: Weigh in on Fate of the Jedi: Backlash“
Luke and Ben seemed to have abandoned their mission to uncover the murky truth of Jacen’s turn to the Dark Side during the third FOTJ book, Abyss, when a weird new tribe of Sith caught their attention. In Backlash, the adventure continues.
Luke’s on the prowl, metaphorically sniffing out Vestara Kai like some crazy bad ass Jedi hunting dog. With his blood splattered on her person after a lightsaber battle that ended with the death of her Master, Vestara is unaware she’s even being tracked, but you can bet she’s looking for a place to hide. Ben, aware of his father’s exhaustion and despite Luke’s protests, elicits the help of the Jedi via an encrypted, sneaky, and very under-the-radar message intended to make absolutely clear it isn’t Luke who’s asking (which would violate the terms of his parole.) Eager to help and reminding us the “good thing about the Solos and Skywalkers” is they “never run out of things to do” (p. 6), Han and Leia pack Allana and her pet nexu aboard the Falcon and head to the place Luke and Ben guess is the most likely location Vestara would land: Dathomir. And here, ladies and gentlemen, is where the fun begins. What follows is a witty and wild adventure in which Daala realizes she’s in over her head, Han gets a flamethrower, and a nexu manages to elicit more pathos out of me than Allana ever will. Continue reading “Review: Aaron Allston’s Fate of the Jedi: Backlash“
Congrats to Lisa Schapira, aka s65horsey! She was the first to pick House’s Lisa Edelstein as Aaron Allston’s image of Daala.