What can we look forward to in this series for Ahsoka and the rest of the Jedi?
The two main things I like about the season are the connections to the old saga and the secrets being revealed. We explore some of the connections and those episodes are just unbelievable. As for the secrets, we get to explore a really great back story and one of the storylines is going to blow fans' minds that we are even able to attempt it.
New Interview with Ashley Eckstein who plays Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Give it a read.
Source: The Force.net http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/Ashley_Eckstein_Talks_To_The_Daily_Record_135831.asp
Source: The Scottish Daily Record. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-interviews/2010/12/29/q-a-with-ashley-eckstein-the-voice-of-ahsoka-tano-from-star-wars-the-clone-wars-animation-series-86908-22813614/
While it is not an altogether new phenominon we have seen an explosion in the trend of one word novel titles in recent years. The two most recent main Novel Series', Legacy of the Force and Fate of the Jedi, as well as the E-book novella series Lost Tribe of the Sith have all gone with one word titles.
For example;
Legacy has given us: Betrayal, Bloodlines, Tempest, Exile, Sacrifice, Inferno, Fury, Revelation, & Invincible.
Fate of the Jedi has given us: Outcast, Omen, Abyss, Backlash, Allies, Vortex, Conviction, Ascension, & Apocalypse.
Lost Tribe has given us: Precipice, Skyborn, Paragon, Savior, Purgatory, Sentinel, Pantheon, & Secrets.
During the Bantam era the more common trend was for trilogies and one-offs which tended to have two to four word titles, for example Heir to the Empire, Dark Apprentice, Ambush at Corellia. This is in keeping with the earliest Star Was novels, Splinters of the Mind's Eye, The Han Solo Adventures, and The Adventures of Lando Calrissian.
It begs the question, is this a publishing industry wide trend or is this unique to Star Wars?
Call me old fashioned but I kinda of prefer the old title style, even though they tend to sound like B-Movie titles sometimes.
Star Wars Books UK is reporting that "Previews" Magazine is reporting that a new piece of Star Wars fiction is set to appear in the March issue of Star Wars: Insider, Issue #124.
This fits with the previous announcement that Insider would see a return of fiction content to its pages.
The speculation is that since no other Short stories have been announced and because it is close to the release date of The Old Republic: Deceived, that this would be the spot for Paul S. Kemp's as yet untitled Old Republic Short Story.
Star Wars: Knight Errant #4 - Aflame part 4 is due out from Dark Horse Comics on Jan. 12, 2011.
According to Knight Errant author John Jackson Miller, the comic will contain an excerpt from the forthcoming novel by the same name. The Knight Errant novel starring Jedi Knight Kera Holt is due to be released Jan. 25, 2011.
To Pre-Order Knight Errant #4, Go to TFAW: LINK To Pre-Order Knight Errant the Novel, Amazon LINK
Warning: The following contains spoilers for the forthcoming novel, Red Harvest.
StarWars.com has released the 8th and final chapter excerpt for Joe Schreiber's latest Star Wars Horror novel, Red Harvest. Red Harvest tells the origin story of the zombie virus that first appeared as an Imperial bio-weapon in the novel Death Troopers.
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.
There are cool flowers like Mario's fire flower that give you a quick change of clothes and the ability to shoot fireballs, and then there are flowers that turn you into mindless darkside zombies. Darth Scabrous is going to get his hands on one of these very rare black orchid flowers and zombie hijinks ensue.
The Chapter 8 (Polyskin) excerpt opens at the scene of a crashed Sith Warship on the planet Geonosis. We are introduced to an aloof Jedi Knight Rojo Trace, who is the brother of one of the books main characters Hestizo "Zo" Trace a member of the Jedi AgriCorps and the person whom is bonded with and nurturing the rare black orchid flower.
Rojo gets in a turf battle with a bureaucratic Republic officer Lt. Norch, and gets some unneeded attention by the Jedi Fan Club member Republic officer Captain Tekla Ansgar.
After asserting his authority over the crash site and warning the Republic personnel away because of a pocket of dangerous gas the Sith Warship crashed into, Rojo jumps down into the crash site using the force to levitate down and into an opening in the ship.
While investigating the ship, Rojo has a force vision of his sister in danger and pain, "blindsided by a storm of disjointed images: the shaft of a spear, dripping with blood; a flash of green; a whiff of something rancid and feral. His nostrils burned with the stench of a place that had been bottled up too long, a place of death and solitude and agonized last breaths."
Thoughts and Impressions:
Mr. Schreiber has a particular aspect to his writing that many Star Wars authors ignore, that is in depth visual descriptions of his new characters. We have already seen this with the introduction of Darth Scabrous, but we get the same treatment in Chapter 8 for Rojo Trace.
Chapter Excerpt #1:
He was a dark- haired man of unremarkable build and complexion, tall and steady and vaguely handsome in a way that didn’t draw attention to the unshaven jawline, the green eyes, and the faintly smiling lips. Yet for every moment that he stood motionless outside the tent—perhaps listening, perhaps not—a sense of intensity seemed to gather around him, a sense of acute psychological awareness of its own rarefied state.
I think many of the authors are in the habit of not including such descriptions for two reasons, either the characters are movie characters and we should have an image in our head already what they look like, or the characters are previously established characters in the EU, and similarly they feel that they have been described sufficiently in the past.
I enjoy getting these in depth descriptions of these characters, it helps fill out the chapters, and if you are new to the EU or to those characters in particular it helps give you a better grasp of who is who in the universe.
In terms of characters introduced in this chapter we really only get Rojo Trace, as both Republic officers are there for him to play off of. Initial impressions of Rojo are that he is really kind of a jerk. Is he actually a jerk or is he just a Jedi with particularly poor interpersonal skills? I suppose we will have to wait until the full novel to find out.
Mr. Schreiber does a very nice job describing Rojo's use of the force, making it easy to visualize not only what he is doing but how he is doing it.
Chapter Excerpt #2:
Shearing downward through the chasm, he summoned the Force, generating a cushion of resistance beneath him until he felt his free fall slackening, the crater walls slowing down, individual molecules mesh-ing to buffet his descent. Now, with a little bit of concentration, he could see every crack and divot in the rock as it passed.
The weirdest part of the excerpt was what seems to be Rojo Trace channeling Liam Neisson's character from the 2008 movie Taken.
Chapter Excerpt #3:
Listen to me, Trace told him. I don’t know who you are, but I am in possession of a very special set of skills. If you bring my sister back right now, unharmed, then I’ll let you go. But if you don’t, I promise you, I will track you down. I will find you. And I will make you pay.
Bryan: I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.
I don't mind this throwback to the movie Taken, as it is one of my recent favorites, as well as the fact that it comes from an actor who appeared in Episode I: TPM as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, but it took me out of the reading of the excerpt for a minute because it sounded so familiar. Some fans may have issue with this however.
Read Chapter Previews 1-8 below and get hooked on some Sith Zombies...
Download Red Harvest Chapter 1: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 2: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 3: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 4: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 5: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 6: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 7: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 8: Here
Lucasfilm continues a new book marketing strategy of early free chapter downloads with lawyer/author Paul S. Kemp's latest novel, The Old Republic: Deceived.
The novel stars Darth Malgus, the Dark Lord of the Sith who lead the sacking of Coruscant and destruction of the Jedi Temple.
The first three chapters are an action packed ride filled with swirling emotional termoil for the main characters. The theme of love and attachment and how if effects our decisions appears to play heavily in this story set approximately 3,653 years BBY.
The following reviews includes Spoilers from the first three Chapters of Deceived which have been released on-line for free.
Chapters Dramatis Personae:
Zeerid "Z-Man", smuggler/Captain of Fatman. Darth Malgus/Veradun, Sith Lord. Eleena, Twi'lek slave/lover of Darth Malgus The Mandalorian, Female Bounty Hunter Aryn Leneer, Female Jedi Knight Syo, Male Jedi Knight Dar'nala, Jedi Master Satele Shan, Jedi Knight Ven Zallow, Male Jedi Master Oren, Male Human, Handler for The Exchange Darth Angral, Sith Lord, Sith Commander of Invasion. Darth Adraas, Sith Lord, Drop-ship commander Republic Senator Am-ris, Cerean Male. Lord Baras, Sith Lord and negotiator.
Plot Summary:
Zeerid is a former Republic trooper turned smuggler, who is now working for a criminal syndicate called "The Exchange." Zeerid is the first character we meet in the story, a down-on-his-luck shipper who has a sick daughter Arra, who's existence he keeps a secret so that the Exchange cannot use her as leverage against him.
Zeerid's life is turned even more upside down when he is ambushed on a weapon drop off, and forced to blow up a case of the Exchanges grenades up to escape. This puts him even farther in the Exchanges debt and forces him to make a special drug run of Spice to Coruscant, that promises to pay off his debts but could cost him his life.
We also meet Darth Malgus who we have previously seen in the Old Republic Trailer "Hope," about the Battle of Alderaan when he had a grenade exploded in his face by a Republic Trooper. Leading to the breath-mask wearing monstrosity we see on the cover. We get hints from the relationship that Malgus has with his slave/lover Eleena, that he may have some internal conflict that will later boil to the surface.
Malgus answers to Lord Angral who waits in orbit above Coruscant in his command ship. Malgus is accompanied on his attack on the Jedi Temple by his political rival Lord Adraas who was given command of the drop ship and Sith warriors aboard.
With the help of the Mandalorian, the Sith are able to bring down Coruscant's defenses. The few Jedi at the Temple are led in their defense by Master Ven Zallow, the former master of Jedi Knight of Aryn Leneer who is part of the Republic delegation to Alderaan.
With Eleena and her twin blaster pistols at his side, Malgus stages his attack on the Jedi Temple. The battle for the Jedi temple opens with the Sith drop-ship crashing into the Temple behind Malgus and Aleena, as Lord Ardaas and 50 Sith warriors pour out and a melee ensues pitting Sith versus Jedi. Ultimately concluding with a dramatic duel between Malgus and Zallow, passion vs. peace.
Meanwhile Master Dar'nala and Senator Am-ris are leading the Republic delegation set to meet with the Sith to negotiate a peace treaty suddenly and surprisingly proposed by the Sith Emperor. Among the delegation are three Jedi Knights, Syo, Aryn Leneer, and future Jedi Grand Master Satele Shan.
The death of her former Master and surrogate father Zallow, causes Aryn to give in to her emotions and almost fall to the darkside before being calmed by her fellow Jedi. But Aryn has vowed to herself to learn the identity of the Sith who killed her Master and make him pay.
Impressions:
Deceived is author Paul S. Kemp's second entrance into the GFFA, following last years Jaden Korr centered novel Crosscurrent. In terms of novel time-line it precedes Sean Williams' The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance, in which we see Satele Shan as Jedi Grand Master.
The first chapters of Deceived match pretty closely with what we have seen in the first Old Republic Teaser trailer posted above. The "Hope" trailer tells the story about the events leading up to both The Old Republic MMORPG and the series of The Old Republic tie-in novels.
I really enjoyed Kemp's Crosscurrent novel which had some weird elements that aren't traditionally part of Star Wars novels, the Anzati "soup" drinker as well as the demented Dark Jedi clones. It was like weaving some horror into the space opera without making it an overtly horror novel. A nice touch.
Aside from Zeerid's self inflicted nickname "Z-Man," which annoys me beyond belief for some unknown reason, I really enjoyed the first three chapters of Deceived. I get the feeling that Spice isn't the only thing Zeerid is going to be hauling into Sith Empire occupied Coruscant, somehow Aryn is going to find her way aboard in her search for answers in her Master's murder and the fall of Coruscant.
Of what has been released so far Aryn and Malgus are the most interesting characters to me. Is Malgus a purely evil hearted Sith Lord, or does his relationship with Eleena expose some fatal flaw within him that will cause problems for him in the Empire's hierarchy?
Aryn gave into her emotions pretty hard in the chapters as well, can she avoid falling to the darkside, I am not sure but I really want to find out.
In these introductory chapters Kemp also succeeding in drawing emotional reactions to supporting characters, I already hate Lord Ardaas and cannot wait for someone to put a lightsaber through him. I also have a very strong dislike for Jedi Master Dar'nala who appears to be the TOR equivalent of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.
I really enjoy Kemp's style of writing and at 304 pages, Deceived is a pretty good sized hardcover novel. It looks like this book is going to be well worth the price. Pick it up Tuesday March 22, 2011 wherever books are sold.
Picture found at: http://simonz.co.hu/clonewars_eng.html
1. Senator Garm Bel Iblis:
Garm is the Senator from Corellia, created by Timothy Zahn in the Thrawn Trilogy and established in the EU as one of the founding members of the Rebel Alliance. Who because of a falling out with Mon Mothma left the Rebel Alliance and waged a private war against the Empire.
We have already a had Mon Mothma introduced as well as a number of other minor Senators, Garm is an obvious character who should be in the series to connect it to the rest of the EU. I really wonder if Lucas has something big planned for Corellia as it has been noticablh absent from the series, given the planet/systems importance in the rest of the EU material.
2. Cathar Jedi
The Cathar are simply a cool species, picture a feline wookiee type species.
3. A young Wilhuff Tarkin:
It could just be a cameo, but it would be very cool to see a young Wilhuff Tarkin seeking to suck up to Chancellor Palpatine.
4. More Republic Commando characters:
We will be getting a brief appearance by Delta Squad in the Season 3 episode "Monster" debuting Jan. 14. But we haven't seen any Mandalorian training Sergeants, Kal Skirata, Walon Vau or any other of Mandos would be awesome. There is also Etain Tur-Mukan and Bardan Jusik the staring Jedi of the series.
5. The Caamasi:
The destruction of The Caamasi homeworld and later Alderaan destroyed most of the Caamasi in the GFFA, however they are a very interesting looking species which according to the EU had a strong effect early in the Jedi's history in developing Jedi philosophy and morality. They seem to be the perfect species to include in the Clone Wars both from a visual point of view and because they were pacifists who could make interesting opposition voices in the show.
6. Jedi Master Djinn Altis and Callista Masana:
Master Altis and Callista would be very interesting characters for Anakin to interact with given his romantic attachment issues. It would also allow for the introduction of Jedi Praxeum ships into the series, which according to Jedi Path seem to be a relatively common mode of Jedi training in the Old Republic.
Daniel Wallace's latest entry into the Star Wars universe is a book that doubles as collectors item and will appeal greatly to EU fans. At $99.99 retail price, the cost of the book maybe prohibitive for some but it is well worth your time if you can get your hands on it.
The book comes in an electronic case that opens, lights up, and plays music. The book also contains extra inside it's pages including Qui-Gon Jinn'a Padawan braid, a Jedi Ace patch, and a Corellian Jedi Credcoin.
Jedi Path is similar to Ryder Windham's recent Jedi vs. Sith: An Essential Guide to the Force, in that both books are told in universe. They are treated as texts that were written for Jedi and others to read. As such the articles within each section are authored by leading Jedi of the era. Grand Master Fae Coven, Chief Librarian Restelly Quist, Battlemaster Skarch Vaunk, Jedi Ace Crix Sunburris, Jedi Biologist Bowspritz, Jedi Recruiter Morrit Ch'Gally, Jedi Seer Sabla-Mandibu, and AgriCorps Jedi Gal-Stod Slagistrough.
Jedi Path also includes annotations by the Jedi whose hands it passed through. Yoda, Thame Cerulian, Dooku, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Luke Skywalker all make comments. It also has what amounts to Sith Graffiti by Darth Sidious (Aka Emperor Palpatine). This is tough because Wallace only has about a sentence each time to try to convey that characters personality and views at the time they read possessed the book. I think he is most effective with Obi-Wan and least effective with Ahsoka.
Jedi Path is a very ambitious book that delves deeply into Jedi philosophy, organization and training. It is the best description we have yet gotten of Old Republic Jedi, how they lived, viewed the force, and their role in the galaxy.
I particularly enjoyed the detailed descriptions about different Jedi career paths it was a bit like a Jedi guidance counselor.
It also did a vey good job detailing lightsaber design and combat, as well as various aspects of the force and names for individual force powers.
It seems that this book begs for a Sith version as a sequel. That would be a tremendously fun read.
Overall Jedi Path is a must have book for novel collectors or those who collect the Essential Guides. For others the price may be prohibitive and I would suggest attempting to find it on sale, used, or hope for a cheaper re-release without all the extras.
I give it 8.0 Lightsabers out of 10. (It would be higher but for the cost.)
The brilliant Seth Green and Matthew Senreich's Robot Chicken show returns to a Galaxy Far Far Away for the latest installment, Robot Chicken Star Wars III.
RCSW3 will be airing on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim for a full hour followed by Episode I at 12:30am and Episode II at 1:00am.
For Preview Clips for tonight's episode: Here
For an interview with creators Seth Green and Matthew Senreich: Here
A Bonus clip of one of my all time favorite shorts "Emperor's Phone Call."
For More Robot Chicken Clips see the Star Wars Official Site Video Section: Here
In celebration of you all making this blog such a success, I am holding a give away prize pack.
Prize:
2 Gift Cards for Station Cash for Clone Wars Adventures game. ($10 value each)
3 sheets of Clone Wars temporary tattoos.
Rules: Two ways to enter
1) Follow me on Twitter @ Pete_Morrison, and mention @Pete_Morrison #CloneWarGiveaway
2) Like Lightsaber Rattling on Facebook, and comment in the comment section under this post on Facebook.
Drawing:
I will be holding a random drawing January 1st and mailing out to the winner as soon as I get contact info.
Here is a peak at some really cool artwork from the current issue of Star Wars Insider published by Titan. The current issue #122 is on news stands now. Its a little pricey at $7.99 but this issue is chock full of cool stuff on the Nightsisters, major Savage Opress spoilers and a feature on Asajj Ventress, and much much more.
Nightsister Concept Art
Cover
New Asajj Ventress character model
Explanation/Retcon of Dathomir, Zabraks, and Rattatak.
I am going to visit family over the Xmas holiday. While I am gone I will try to post if there is any big EU news while I am gone. It all depends on internet access as I am going to be in northern Michigan without highspeed internet access.
If I don't post them while I am away, look for more break downs of Red Harvest and Deceived as we have a ton of free material to read in anticipation of the novel releases.
Also look forward to Previews and Reviews of the Savage Opress Episodes in January and the rest of the Clone Wars Season 3 subsequently.
Hot off the heals of the Red Harvest PDF chapter releases, Lucasbook appears to be following a similar marketing strategy for Paul S. Kemp's new novel Star Wars The Old Republic: Deceived.
The book ties into the new yet to be released on-line MMORPG: Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Starwars.com has released another excerpt from Joe Schreiber's new Sith Horror novel Red Harvest. Chapter 7 is now on-line.
Read Chapter Previews 1-7 below and get hooked on some Sith Zombies...
Download Red Harvest Chapter 1: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 2: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 3: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 4: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 5: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 6: Here
Download Red Harvest Chapter 7: Here
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From the Random House Summer 2011 Catalog we have a cover a new information regarding the new Essential Guide to Warfare. The book will weigh in at 240 pages and retail for $26. For those of you unfamiliar this was the essential guide that was originally planned to be authored by Karen Traviss before she left the Star Wars universe.
A new, never-before-published entry in our series of extremely popular Star Wars Essential Guides. The Essential Guide to Warfare is the book Star Wars fans have been waiting for, and will be presented with astonishing full-color artwork throughout!
Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Warfare will be the first Essential Guide devoted entirely to all aspects of the various militaries and major battles fought throughout the history of the Star Wars universe. All ground will be covered, including material from the films, The Clone Wars TV series, books, comics, and video games.
Key Points/Quotes
TRADE PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
OUR FULL-COLOR Essential Guides have been hugely popular, and backlist tremendously--there are more than a half-million copies of the seven previous full color Essential Guides in print.
THE FOCAL POINTS of this book--the military and warfare--are of great interest to Star Wars fans, and this will be the very first time that we are dedicating an entire Essential Guide to them.
AUTHOR JASON FRY is an established Star Wars author and has written numerous Clone Wars books, as well as Star Wars: The Essential Atlas.
ORIGINAL ARTWORK: More than sixty full-colored original illustrations will be featured throughout.
ENDURING POPULARITY: The success of Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network; the strong buzz building around two new video games, The Force Unleashed II and The Old Republic; and the strong continuing sales of our Star Wars novels proves that Star Wars is as popular as ever.
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