Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
Out Tuesday is Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnoff’s The Last Jedi, which continues the story of Jax Pavan from the Coruscant Knights book.
Wednesday has plenty to offer comic fans, with Agent of the Empire: Hard Targets #5 and Dawn of the Jedi: The Prisoner of Bogan #3. Plus there’s the third printing of Star Wars #1.
Our next novel release won’t be until May, with Tim Lebbon’s Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void.
Ponders. Christian Blauvelt asks eight Star Wars authors (Drew Karpyshyn, Paul Kemp, Troy Denning, John Jackson Miller, James Luceno, Michael Reaves, Christie Golden and Aaron Allston) what they’d like to see in Episode VII and the other new films. Lots of love for the EU and female characters, naturally, which is more than I can say for most of the other wishlists that have been popping up daily.
Spin-offs. Ewan McGregor continues to voice his willingness to return as Obi-Wan. “I don’t know what he did in the desert,” he tells MTV. “We could make up some stuff.”
Superfans. Kevin Smith is (still) very excited. Though his casting for a young Han Solo is… the worst I’ve seen yet. Hopefully for the LULZ.
Blast from the past. Tom Dupree, who was an editor at Bantam, writes about his time editing Star Wars novels on his blog as part of a larger series on his career. Old-timers like yours truly will remember him dropping little hints of book news on the AOL Fan Forum, or perhaps such hints being reported in a so-called ‘fan fiction’ newsletter.
Interview. Michael Reaves talks Shadow Games over at Suvudu. Iffy on the book? Take a test drive with a 50-page excerpt.
Excerpts. A little bit of Luceno’s Darth Plagueis.
Comic reviews. Over at Big Shiny Robot, James reviews Knight Errant: Deluge #4, Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost #2, and Dark Times: Out of the Wilderness #3.
Pretties. Flickr user Sith_fire30 creates custom figures based on Star Wars games and comics. Be sure to check out his Jedi Master Luke Skywalker (based on an issue of Invasion, Cade Skywalker, Savage Opress and more.
Tuesday brings our final Star Wars novel of the year, Shadow Games by Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff. Here’s a mini-excerpt for the Dash Rendar fans.
Comic fans will have two books to look for on Wednesday – Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost #2 and Dark Times: Out Of The Wilderness #3.
Our next major release will be James Luceno’s Darth Plagueis on January 10. This one also has a recent mini-excerpt.
StarWars.com has posted a seven-page excerpt of the upcoming novel Shadow Games, by Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff. In this first selection, Dash Rendar finds a lack of gravity disturbing aboard the Millennium Falcon. Will Han help Dash get his feet back on the ground? The official site also has a brief teaser summary.
Shadow Games will go on sale in paperback and as an ebook on November 29, 2011.
Two smugglers walk into a bar… Today on the official forums, editor Sue Rostoni shared a brief excerpt from the proof of Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff’s Shadow Games. Black-barred for the paranoid spoilerphobics:
“In case you haven’t noticed, Captain, there are Imperials all over the place. It would be in our customer’s interests to be discreet.”
The Wookiee said something, to which Han replied, “Of course I’m discreet. I’m always discreet.” To Dash he said, “What’d you have in mind?”
The proof, for those of you keeping track, is 338 pages. Shadow Games will be out in paperback in the fall.
Interview. Lightsaber Rattling talks to Paul Kemp about his just-released Old Republic tie-in, Deceived.
Blurbs. In other Kemp-related news, there’s a summary out there now for his September paperback, Riptide. (via)
Comics. The Crimson Empire story that will be in Dark Horse Presents #1 will feature Kir Kanos in a standalone tale that will both recap some of the earlier CE and set things up for CEIII, according to Randy Stradley.
First look. The next in the Lost Tribe of the Sith series, ‘Pantheon,’ will hit July 18th.
StarWars.com has first look at the cover and blurb for Michael Reaves and and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff’s Shadow Games. It’s very, um… Mainstream thrillery? Ehh.
Does this make you want to pick it up? Because it seems like the more we hear about this one, the less interested I get…
Straight from the Star Wars Books Facebook account… The winner of the title poll for the novel formerly known as Holostar is Shadow Games. (via)
Suvudu has three possible titles for Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff’s Holostar novel (none of which are Holostar, sadly.) They’re all pretty generic, so let’s focus on the blurb, which is our first detailed look at the book:
Stranded on Tatooine with a broken-down hyperdrive, Dash Rendar and crew—his Nautolan copilot, Eaden Vrill, and a droid named Leebo—have to find a way to raise credits. It comes in the lovely form of Javul Charn, a multi-talented human holostar being stalked by an over-zealous fan. She needs bodyguards to protect her during her tour along the Corellian Run; Dash needs credits. It’s a perfect match… until things begin to go wrong—seriously and dangerously wrong. By the time Dash realizes that the threat to Javul is not what it seems, he’s in up to his neck in a conspiracy that goes much deeper than anything he would have signed up for. Even with the help of his hated rival—Han Solo—will Dash be able to protect this spoiled entertainer, all the while being reminded that he couldn’t protect his own family?
It’s cute that Dash Rendar, the expanded universe equivalent of New Coke, thinks he’s actually a rival of Han Solo. At least, that’s how I hope they play it. We need the comedy, guys!
UPDATE 10/05: In the comments of the Suvudu post, Del Rey editor David Pomerico explains why Holostar isn’t an option the poll.
…Just wanted to let you know the reasoning behind changing from HOLOSTAR. Ultimately it was felt around here that while there is a holostar as one of the main characters, the feel of this book is much more like a traditional thriller than an adventure, and we wanted it to have a slightly darker, slightly more exciting edge.
I honestly think once you get a chance to read the novel that you’ll see that one of these three titles truly works best for this story, and I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed.
Oh well. I suppose my (comedy) prince will come another day.
The book, whatever the title ends up being, is scheduled for a September 2011 release.
UPDATE: Look, Googlers: There will be no more Imperial or Republic Commando books. Aaron Allston is writing a Wraith Squadron book that took RC #2’s publishing slot. It’s over.
Sue Rostoni has let lose several bits of news on the StarWars.com message boards today:
She’s also posted an updated release schedule: I’ll be updating ours later today. Thanks to Eddie for the heads-up!