SDCC Star Wars Friday: Del Rey Publishing News

Del Rey announced the following titles at today's "The Future of Star Wars Publishing: Dark Horse & Del Rey" panel at San Diego Comic-Con.

We got more information and cover art for the previously announced The Last Jedi by Michael Reeves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, the introduction of a new author to the Star Wars universe in Tim Lebbon and his still shrouded in mystery Dawn of the Jedi novel that will tie into the Dark Horse Comics series by the same name, and finally a new stand alone novel by Star Wars go to novel author Troy Denning.

The Last Jedi is the fourth installment of the Coruscant Nights series, but it is interesting that it is not billed as such on the cover, my guess is that it will be a rather self contained tale.  I do like the cover art, but it is extremely different to the previous three books in the series which maintained a unique art style.

The Dawn of the Jedi novel probably has me most intrigued out of the three books featured at the panel.  I haven't read any of Tim Lebbon's books (yet), but his website describes him as a "horror and dark fantasy author."  Hopefully Lebbon is similar to author Paul S. Kemp's fantasy writing background and his darker tones, which I really enjoy.  Since Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void is so far away, we didn't get cover art or a real story description yet.

Crucible has me curious, Big Shiny Robot's Bryan Young (@swankmotron) was at the SDCC Panel today and has a great article including the following regarding Crucible,

Troy Denning is making an announcement. A Standalone a year after Apocoypse. It stars the big three, starts in a cantina. It’s set in a new part of the galaxy. Lando will be involved. There are no grandkids along. At the start of the book, the Jedi are worried about whether Abeloth is really gone or not. They’re worried about the Sith. But they quickly discover they have something bigger to worry about. There are new villains that have a connection that goes way back to West End games… The villain’s mother knew Han way back when. It’s about things spinning out of control and getting worse until the heroes find themselves in a tight situation…

It is interesting that there is a West End Games connection to the villains in the new novel.  Mr. Denning according to Wookieepedia wrote 3 books for WEG and had one cancelled project (Gambler's Luck).

The three books he did write where Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races, Scoundrel's Luck, and Jedi's Honor. If the villain(s)'s mother knew Han and is a character that Denning created or used previously in his West End Games work then it would make sense it would come from Scoundrel's Luck. I have never read the 80 page game book, but going through the Wookieepedia page, there are two female characters that have their own articles, one is Mama, a Columi information broker, and the other is Alfreda Goot a Togorian who is also a Mandalorian wash-out and who was shot by Han. Early money would be on a son or children of Goot being the villains, but that is simply wild speculation at this point.

The following is the artwork associated with the novel announcements and the comments written on Star Wars Books' Facebook page:

The Last Jedi (Coruscant Nights IV)

First up is STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI by Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff

"Another fast-paced, action-packed Star Wars stand-alone mass market original by New York Times bestselling authors Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff!

Ever since Emperor Palpatine's Order 66--which called for the execution of all Jedi--Jax Pavan is the last Knight around to fight the dark side of the Force. Together with his droid I-5, Jax has eluded Vader time and again, all the while wreaking havoc against the Empire through the underground resistance on Coruscant. But now the Rebel's leader on the city-planet has been captured, and it's up to the Last Jedi to ride again...possibly for one final adventure."

Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void

Next up is STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI: INTO THE VOID by Tim Lebbon.

A stand-alone mass market tie-in to the successful comic book series, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, written by fantasy novelist, Tim Lebbon

Star Wars: Crucible

Finally we have a new hardcover, STAR WARS: CRUCIBLE by Troy Denning

"Han, Luke, and Leia are back in action--older and wiser, but as ready as ever to leap headlong into adventure!

Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia have spent a lifetime fighting wars, bringing the Jedi back from extinction, raising families, and saving the galaxy more times than they can count. They've earned the right to rest on their laurels and let the younger generation shoulder the burden--but fate has another adventure in store for our heroes, a quest only they can tackle and hope to survive..."

Cover attached. Cover illustration by Cliff Nielsen and cover design by Scott Biel.

SOURCES: Star Wars Books on Facebook and Fangirlblog