EUbits: Why did the Riptide cover change?

Why was the Riptide cover changed? Sue Rostoni answered a reader question on this the other day, saying “The sales folks at Random House weren’t sure it was strong enough — not as dynamic as they’d like.” Not sure I see it, but okay. (Personally, I’d rather they change up the Choices of One cover.) Compare them for yourself by clicking on the thumbnails at right.

In the future… J.W. Rinzler tweeted and then deleted about prepping for “a sequel of sorts” to The Jedi Path. Not a huge surprise in any case, though we all eagerly await details.

Canon, continuity, and The Clone Wars. A certain controversial event happened on last week’s Clone Wars. Leland Chee explains. (Spoilers for ‘Citadel Rescue.’)

Atlasery. Behold the sectors of the Mid Rim in the latest Essential Atlas extra.

Statistics 101. EU Cantina has a new staffer, Andrew, and for his first column he’s taken a look at the complaints that we’re getting less EU product lately.

Comics. Dark Horse’s solicitations for June include Lost Suns #1, Jedi: The Dark Side #2 and trades for Knight Errant: Aflame and the fourth A Long Time Ago omnibus.

On that note… John Jackson Miller’s Knight Errant novel answers, part the second.

Street date shuffle: Realigning the novels for 2011/2012

We got a number of schedule updates from Sue Rostoni today. There were a few notable delays – Riptide, Shadow Games and (sigh) Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse have all been pushed back a few months. There were also a number of additions: Drew Karpyshyn’s contribution to The Old Republic tie-ins set for October. Looking forward into 2012, Luceno’s Plagueis novel is up for January, and Allston’s new Wraith book for July.

We also got what is perhaps our first conformation that John Jackson Miller’s Lost Tribe of the Sith is set for print. Head on over to our book schedule for all the details.

First look at Kemp’s Riptide

StarWars.com has released the cover and blurb for Paul S. Kemp’s Riptide, sequel to last year’s Crosscurrent.

When a ship full of Sith warriors arrived in Galactic Alliance space, the fight to destroy it accidentally uncovered a deadly menace: a long-hidden group of clones, secretly created as insidious weapons capable of wielding the Force and heedless of the differences between light side and dark side. Now the clones have escaped — and evidence suggests they are flawed by genetic disease and violent madness.

Jedi Knight Jaden Korr pursues the clones, hoping to heal them but prepared to destroy them. What he doesn’t know is that Sith agents are hot on his heels, determined not only to recover the clones for their Master but to capture Jaden for their own dark-side purposes. In a life-or-death battle, Jaden will confront a shocking reality that will rock him to his core and bring him face-to-face with the question of what makes a man… and a Jedi.

This book is very much Not For Me, and the cover reflects that, but I must admit it’s pretty striking and the tight crop and yellow lightsaber will stand out on the shelves. It’s a (hopefully) happy medium between the look-at-me-n00bs Fate of the Jedi covers and the painted covers that please many hardcore fans.

Riptide is scheduled for a July 26 release.

New Zahn novel gets yet another title change; Kemp teases Riptide on Twitter

Sue Rostoni just posted that she’s received Timothy Zahn’s manuscript for his upcoming Star Wars novel – and that the book, which we’ve known as Choices and Hand of Judgment, now has yet another title: Choices of One.

Criticizing the titles of Star Wars novels is like shooting fish in a barrel and Hand of Judgment wasn’t some great prize, but… Choices of One? Really? It just makes me think of a crossover between Wheaties and those lame army commercials. Meh.

Meanwhile, Paul S. Kemp has tweeted a brief peek at his upcoming Crosscurrent sequel, Riptide:

“Indeed,” Grandmaster Skywalker said. “The dark side is at work through more than the clones. Be careful, Jaden.”