A peek at my bookcase....

My nearly complete Star Wars Novel collection.

Savage Opress: This looks incredible.

Darth Maul's Brother: Savage Opress

In an incredible move Star Wars: The Clone Wars is coming to the big screen for a limited theatrical engagement on December 7th.  Featuring a 3 episode story arch that promises to expose the secrets of Darth Maul and introduces his brother Savage Opress.

The screening will take place in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, L.A., NYC, Philly, San Fran, Seattle, Phoenix and D.C.

Not only is it a chance to see the episodes a month before they air on the Cartoon Network, but its free and Lucasfilm is only asking for guests to bring unwrapped toys as a donation to charity.

I scored my wife and I both scored passes to the L.A. event which appears to be full right now.  If you are interested in attending check the website and different cities to see if any tickets are still available.

When Dave Filoni introduced Savage Opress at Celebration V, I have to admit I groaned.  Great I thought to myself a silly name that is supposed to be pronounced in a french accent, and a character who is a recycled Darth Maul.  Boy was I wrong.  If these clips are any indication, Savage Opress has the potential to be the best Star Wars villain introduced since the original trilogy.  This looks epic, these could be the best episodes of the Clone Wars that are ever produced.

I am calling it right now.  Savage Opress will cause the Clone Wars series to explode into another level of popularity and will instantly be a huge fan favorite.

He is the very opposite of the highly refined Darth Maul.  Maul trained since his youth by Darth Sidious, was a weapon made flesh.  Opress is a force of nature that Darth Tyranus is trying to contain and channel by training.

Watch and behold the awesomeness that is Savage Opress.

Trailer #1


Trailer #2

Vode An: To our Veterans on Memorial Day. A Star Wars tribute.

VODE AN (Brothers All)

Kote!
Kandosii sa ka'rta, Vode an.
Coruscanta a'den mhi, Vode an.
Bal kote, darasuum kote,
Jorso'ran kando a tome.
Sa kyr'am nau tracyn kad, Vode an.

Kandosii sa ka'rta, Vode an.
Coruscanta a'den mhi, Vode an.
Bal...
Motir ca'tra nau tracinya.
Gra'tua cuun hett su dralshy'a.
Aruetyc runi solus cet o'r.
Motir ca'tra nau tracinya.
Gra'tua cuun hett su dralshy'a.
Aruetyc runi trattok'o.
Sa kyr'am nau tracyn kad, Vode an!

Glory!
One indomitable heart, Brothers all.
We, the wrath of Coruscant, Brothers all.
And glory, eternal glory,
We shall bear its weight together.
Forged like the saber in the fires of death, Brothers all.

One indomitable heart, Brothers all.
We, the wrath of Coruscant, Brothers all.
And...
Those who stand before us light the night sky in flame.
Our vengeance burns brighter still.
Every last traitorous soul shall kneel.
Those who stand before us light the night sky in flame.
Our vengeance burns brighter still.
Every last traitorous soul shall fall.
Forged like the saber in the fires of death, Brothers all!

Note: Vode An text from Wookieepedia.

Preview Review: Red Harvest by Joe Schreiber: Chapter 1 *Spoilers*

What is Red Harvest?

Red Harvest is Joe Schreiber's follow up to last years Death Troopers.  It will be released December 28th in Hardcover and Unabridged audio CD.  Its a short hard cover novel coming in at only 272 pages.  It is available for pre-order on Amazon for $17.82. Blurb:

The era of the Old Republic is a dark and dangerous time, as Jedi Knights valiantly battle the Sith Lords and their ruthless armies. But the Sith have disturbing plans—and none more so than the fulfillment of Darth Scabrous’s fanatical dream, which is about to become nightmarish reality.

Unlike those other Jedi sidelined to the Agricultural Corps—young Jedi whose abilities have not proved up to snuff—Hestizo Trace possesses one extraordinary Force talent: a gift with plants. Suddenly her quiet existence among greenhouse and garden specimens is violently destroyed by the arrival of an emissary from Darth Scabrous. For the rare black orchid that she has nurtured and bonded with is the final ingredient in an ancient Sith formula that promises to grant Darth Scabrous his greatest desire.

But at the heart of the formula is a never-before-seen virus that’s worse than fatal—it doesn’t just kill, it transforms. Now the rotting, ravenous dead are rising, driven by a bloodthirsty hunger for all things living—and commanded by a Sith Master with an insatiable lust for power and the ultimate prize: immortality . . . no matter the cost.

Chapter 1: Preview Review  *SPOILERS*

Setting: 3645 BBY, Sith Academy on Odacer-Faustin,  Dueling Ring.


Chapter Dramatis Personae: Wim Nickter, Sith Acolyte;  Lord Shak'Weth, Sith Blademaster; Rance Lussk, Sith Acolyte.

Summary:

In a scene familiar to those who have read Drew Karpyshyn's Darth Bane novel Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, in the first chapter we are taken to a Sith training academy.  We are introduced to a Sith Blademaster reminscent of Lord Kasim, in the person of Shak'Weth.  We have a duel between Lussk the undisputed strongest student at the academy, someone that has defeated and destroyed dueling opponents, and unassuming Sith Wim Nickter.  But this duel is not all it seems, and Lussk has ulterior motives in choosing Nickter as his dueling partner, as he tries some rare Sith mind control technique to dominate Nickter's will and leaves Nickter lucky to be alive.  At least alive for now....

Chapter Excerpt:

I own you, maggot, it said, the strength of the other cadet’s will booming through Nickter’s skull, and you will do as you’re told.  No. Nickter’s jaw clenched, summoning what remained of his resolve.
He understood now that his only hope lay in freeing himself, wresting his will away from Lussk’s authority. What the other acolyte was practicing on him now was obviously some advanced Force mind control technique learned from one of the Sith Lords at the academy, perhaps at the knee of Scabrous himself. Had the rumors of his secret tutelage been true after all? Whatever the case, for reasons known only to Lussk, he’d decided to try it out this morning on Nickter, and Nickter had nothing to counter with.

Impressions:

I purchased and enjoyed Mr. Schreiber's novel Death Troopers.  That being said, it didn't really have the feel of Star Wars to me. I gotta say this book has me much more excited.  Ancient Sith and Jedi are a lot more interesting then an Imperial Prison Barge.  I really enjoyed the Darth Bane novels, so the chance in this brief glimpse to see some more of Sith training and the ultra competitive nature of Sith academies is entertaining to read.  Is Nickter going to be our luck Sith Zombie survivor? Or an early victim?  Should be interesting to see.  The two characters I am most interested in don't appear in this excerpt.  The mysterious Lord Scabrous and failed Jedi Agricorps member Hestizo Trace.  Why does Trace help a Sith?  There is a ton of potential for interesting story telling with that character.

The chapter is only nine pages long, if most of the book follows a similar pace it could be a short novel with small chapters which makes for a very quick read.  There have been some good short SW novels, but much of the time with the sub-300 page books it seems like there was missed storytelling opportunities within the structure of the story.  The idea of Sith sorcery is not new, we have seen it a number of times including recently in Darth Bane: Rule of Two, with the technobeasts created by Sith Lord Belia Darzu. It will be interesting how far Schreiber goes with this zombie virus and whether this book feels like Star Wars. 

To read the full chapter excerpt in PDF click HERE.

Star Wars meets Science #1: Holographic Communications

Princess Leia: [in a holo message] General Kenobi: Years ago, you served my father in the Clone Wars; now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father's request to you in person; but my ship has fallen under attack and I'm afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I've placed information vital to the survival of the rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; you're my only hope.

 Researchers publishing in the Journal Nature have created a working 3D holographic communications device, termed “holographic three-dimensional telepresence.”  This has the potential to make the I-phone look primitive.  Imagine, we are potentially only 7-10 years away from having a holocomm unit using a holonet to communicate.

More than 30 years after the famous Star Wars movie scene in which a hologram of Princess Leia appealed for help from Obi-Wan Kenobi, US researchers have unveiled holographic technology to transmit and view moving three-dimensional images.

 Whether it be placing a phone call to family or friends, making a presentation, or playing a game like holochess (dejarik) the potential applications for this are awesome.  Imagine 20 years from now, when you make a phone call an accurate 3D hologram of the person you are talking to appears.

Who wouldn't want to appear as a giant floating head ala the Emperor and impress your friends or scare your children.  This kind of advance in technology could change the already dying home phone market, as many users are using cell phones exclusively.  This is a potential long term replacement  for the telephone that makes the most sense as a home or office feature and would seem to be much farther away from a mobile application. 

The scientists at the University of Arizona say their prototype “holographic three-dimensional telepresence” is the world’s first practical 3D transmission system that works without requiring viewers to wear special glasses or other devices. The research is published in the journal Nature.“Holographic telepresence means we can record a three-dimensional image in one location and show it in another location, in real-time, anywhere in the world,” said Nasser Peyghambarian, project leader. Professor Peyghambarian said it would take at least seven to 10 years’ work before a consumer version of the system was ready to test in people’s homes.

[R2-D2 and Chewbacca are playing the holographic game aboard the Millennium Falcon]
Chewbacca: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrgh!
C-3PO: He made a fair move. Screaming about it can't help you.
Han Solo: Let him have it. It's not wise to upset a Wookiee.
C-3PO: But sir, nobody worries about upsetting a droid.
Han Solo: That's 'cause droids don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. Wookiees are known to do that.
Chewbacca: Grrf.
C-3PO: I see your point, sir. I suggest a new strategy, R2: let the Wookiee win