Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
Sure, it’s a little fuzzy, but you get the idea… And there’s a distinct Return of the Jedi vibe, fitting with this year being the movie’s 30th. We’ll get a closer look when the new ornaments go live on Hallmark’s site. And as for the event exclusive for SDCC and NYCC? It’s the rancor!
Thanks to Rach for the picture, and we’ll let you know when Hallmark takes it all up for public viewing.
NYCC. Aaron Goins writes up last weekend’s Star Wars Books panel. We may have gleaned the big news then, but there’s more here. Since he was in town, Suvudu talked to Pablo Hidalgo about The Essential Readers’ Companion and Timothy Zahn about Scoundrels. And Tim Zahn met the Emperor!
Interviews. EUCantina talked to Del Rey’s Erich Schoeneweiss about winning back jaded fans, editorial decisions and even those Stover rumors. (Spoiler: Don’t hold your breath) and more. Meanwhile, there’s more Pablo over at BSR, and Bombad Radio has Drew Karpyshyn.
The blogside. On the occasion of old stories coming out into the light again, Charlene Newcomb writes about the birth of Alex Winger. And Steve Sansweet learns to love his action figure book.
Sword of the Jedi. All the news is above, but here are Shelly Shapiro, Jennifer Heddle and Frank Parisi discussing the series with Christie Golden.
HORRORS! Tosche Station’s Nanci is rereading the Jedi Prince books. Oh dear.
With New York Comic Con upon us, it’s of course rather apt that Ashley Exckstein and Her Universe are profiled in the New York Times. Newswise, we learn the company “is expected to reach $1 million in sales this year and turn its first profit.”
Her Universe doesn’t have a booth at NYCC this year, but Ashley will be livestreaming with MTV Geek.
What do we have here? Why, on the right, could that be a mockup/sketch of the new Star Wars: The Essential Characters that was announced at CVI? Doug Wheatley is doing the interior art for the book, and Erich Schoeneweiss says that is his “very rough and not final” sketch for the cover.
Both Del Rey and Dark Horse have Star Wars panels at NYCC this Friday. Del Rey will be revealing one new book (could it be the rumored Matt Stover Imperial Commando title?), and Dark Horse will have some big announcements as well.
On Facebook this morning, Timothy Zahn posted that he’ll be attending NYCC in a “spur-of-the-moment decision.” It apperars he’ll be joining Pablo Hidalgo and Jason Fry on the Star Wars Books panel, as well as signings on Friday and Sunday.
Also on Facebook, Lucasbooks editor Jennifer Heddle has addressed concerns being brought up by Mike Cooper on diversity in the EU.
New York Comic Con. The schedule for the October 11-14 con is up, and both EU panels are on Friday… both at noon? Star Wars Books features Jason Fry and Pablo Hidalgo, while Brian Wood & Dark Horse: From World’s End to the Galaxy’s Beginnings will be Brian Wood, Jeremy Atkins, Randy Stradley and Sierra Hahn.
Previews. EUCantina has a few pages from The Essential Reader’s Companion… (Which you can currently pre-order for $19.19 on Amazon.) Oh, and Paul S. Kemp still can’t talk about his duology.
Interviews. There were a lot of them. In text, EUCantina has Haden Blackman, Jedi News has Bill Slavicsek (old-timers will remember his Guide to the Star Wars Universe) and Fangirl talks to Del Rey’s summer intern, Tom Hoeler. In audio, Fictional Frontiers has Aaron Allston, while Jedi Journals caught up with Aaron and Drew Karpyshyn at CVI. And Roqoo Depot ties up their series of CVI video interviews with John Jackson Miller.
The blogside. Roqoo Depot thinks Crucible may bring Borsk Fey’lya back from the dead. Oh-kay.
Reviews. James reads Lost Tribe of the Sith: Spiral #2, Knight Errant: Escape #4, and Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison #5.
Convention swag. Star Wars Books has revealed some of the summer freebies on their Facebook. There’s a nifty 84-page sample books with excerpts and the Insider short stories, a Mercy Kill iron-on and Scoundrels bookmarks. The catch: There are 7, but they won’t all be available at the same con, so unless you’re going to be at SDCC, CVI and NYCC, prepare to swap with some pals to get them all.
In other relevant con season news, Christie Golden will be at SDCC, and Erich is looking to arrange a Warfare signing with Jason Fry and some of the artists.
The blogside. Skuldren wants a Streen series, while Bry Dean reviews I, Jedi and Tosche Station looks back at The Bacta War.
Gaming stuff. Drew Karpyshyn’s The Old Republic: Annihilation has been blessed by the blurb fairy. (via) There’s also going to be an Old Republic Encyclopedia.
Audiobooks. Speaking of Karpyshyn, his Darth Bane books will be getting the unabridged audiobook treatment. Look for them in October.
Endnotes. Never-ending endnotes! Jason Fry has posted part 13 of his look behind The Essential Guide to Warfare
Erich Schoeneweiss posted on Star Wars Books account on Facebook:
Just announced at our Del Rey Star Wars books panel: Drew Karpyshyn will write a fourth novel that will tie into The Old Republic for Fall 2012 and Tim Zahn will write a new novel starring Han Solo set in the classic films era. More details to come on both as they develop.
Dunc adds: I’m sad to see Zahn in the movie era again, but as Han has frequently been the highlight of his other works there, it has possibility. Some on Twitter are hopeful that this could tie into Han’s smuggling days (or at least, other smugglers) which could be interesting.
Surprise! George Lucas made an appearance on stage at last night’s Scream Awards, as the Spike show honored Darth Vader as the ‘Ultimate Villian’.
The awards, which also gave the ‘Ultimate Scream’ prize to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and ‘Best Fantasy Actress’ to Natalie Portman for Black Swan, will air on Spike Tuesday, October 18.
NYCC. Mark Hamill and his evil laugh has his own panel at New York Comic-Con on Friday, and Tor.com has the report. Lucas’ new film, Red Tails, also got a panel, and has a new comic-style poster by Joe Kubert as well.
Amanda Lucas. We’re all familiar with her MMA fighting career, and in a new interview she addresses the constant and inevitable Star Wars references. “I hope to do my best on my own and prove I’m not just George’s daughter. I work just as hard as my training partners and I don’t want any special treatment. (But “Star Wars” is) going to get mentioned – it’s nothing I can hide,” she said on The MMA Hour.
Fandom. The 501st Legion’s Canadian Garrison is profiled by The Sudbury Star.
A new trailer, ‘Signs of War’, for The Old Republic MMO was debuted at New York Comic Con. Darth Hater liveblogged two panels for The Old Republic: the official TOR panel and MMORPG.com’s Q & A session. Also announced was a bumping up of the European release date to coincide with the North American launch – December 20. In related news, the game may have cost about $300 million to develop, or more than double the cost of Revenge of the Sith.
Also at New York Comic Con, Her Universe founder and Star Wars: The Clone Wars voice actor Ashley Eckstein talked about female video gamers, her own favorite games, and hints at getting some video game licenses for the Her Universe lineup.