1/30/10 "When You Ignore the Past, You Jeopardize the Future"

That was the ironic tag-line for last night's continuity-destroying Clone Wars episode. By now, most of you have heard the news and seen last night's "The Plot to Alienate the Core Fanbase" otherwise known as "The Mandalore Plot". The response has been overwhelmingly negative. Even non-Star Wars message boards have been writing about the death-knell of the SW franchise. It's no exaggeration either. Lucas has singlehandedly put a giant hole in the EU. Yes, singlehandedly, as Dave Filoni explained in the Insider #115 of March 2010, Henry Gilroy had submitted a continuity-friendly script that Lucas rejected because he wanted to write his own history of the Mandalorians and ignore 35 years of continuity in the process (except for one or two things, like the DeathWatch, that he could use out of context).

I won't get into a long diatribe here. There's no point and I've spent a lot of my disappointment and anger on the official message boards. In choosing to contradict the recent bestselling series of books (which itself builds on 35 years of continuity), Lucas has not only invalidated the events of those books, but any story that touches on them. With the EU functioning as a living history, it's interconnected like a web. The Republic and Imperial Commando books have a major impact on other titles, including the nine-book Legacy of the Force series, and everything those touch on, including the still ongoing Fate of the Jedi series, not to mention many of the comics, old and new, which are affected in small or large part by Lucas's utter disregard for the Expanded Universe.

What Lucas has basically done in this decision is send a message to the core fans: "I don't care about your interests. I don't care about the authors who've worked tirelessly to create a good story within continuity. I don't care about the editors, including my own at LFL, who've spent months and years ensuring a single functioning continuity. I only value my stories and the money you send me."

What motivated such a response, I don't know. Jealousy, envy, bitterness, arrogance? I won't pretend to be in his head, but his message is clear.

To that end, I've needed to figure out how to approach the future of this site and my involvement with the EU, which I still enjoy. Do I get rid of it all and walk away from a megalomaniacal corporate emperor who rewards his supporters with a smack in the face? I certainly have no intention of giving him any more of my hard-earned cash. He's proven he no longer deserves it.

My decision for now is this: This past episode of the Clone Wars and the following two (which form a trilogy of episodes about Mandalore) are Infinities. Any story that follows on a Duchess Satine, or a pacifist Mandalore is Infinities. I've been debating doing this with the abysmal The Force Unleashed, but in this case, it's required. In order for me to continue moving forward as a fan of the EU with this site, there is no other choice.

That means, folks, that the story you saw last night (and will see in the next two weeks) did not happen.

But it also means that from now on, I severely curtail my expenditures. I'll buy the books from a second-hand merchant. Not sure yet what I'll do about the comic, but I may go that route as well and just buy second-hand trades. I like my collection, but I don't like giving my money to an impertinent ingrate who's forgotten that we the fans are the one who put him where he is.

12/27/09 For Adventure Journal fans

Fans of West End Games' Star Wars Adventure Journal in the 90's will remember Alex Winger, the star of several of Charlene Newcomb's stories in that publication. Hyperspace has just published a previously untold tale in the life of Alex Winger set at 13 ABY. If you're a hyperspace member, you can check out "Shades of Gray" here.

Imperial Commando

LFL is looking into continuing the series with another author (possibly based on Traviss notes?). This is the best-case scenario given the fact of Traviss' departure. As regards the continuity-issues, there may be some things in the works to ensure that everything harmonizes. We'll find out soon enough.

12/13/09 Continuity-Rape 2

Well, they've greenlit a sequel to one of the biggest continuity-violators to date. No, not the Clone Wars animated series (the episode that's supposedly to cause all kinds of problems hasn't yet aired, so it's not fair to condemn it yet ). That's right. The Force Unleashed. # 2 is in now in development. Head over to the Official Site's thread to voice your concern.

12/02/09 No Continuations for Imperial Commando Novel!

At least, not by Karen Traviss, who has stated her position that she will not be continuing the series due to contractual issues and major continuity ones, which she's now specified. Read the full story at her blog here. The short of it is that the cartoon series intends to feature an episode that declares that the Mandalorians have been pacifists for centuries, and that Mandalore is a post-apocalyptic wasteland. To date, she has not been told that this element is going to be fixed to allow her past FIVE novels to make any sense (since these utilize the traditional understanding of Mandalorians as a warrior race and Mandalore as a non-nuked planet). With that understanding, she has decided to leave the franchise.

And the fact is, whether you liked her or her novels, she can't be faulted for this decision. The shame is that after five books, the fans are not only losing an author who's work they've enjoyed, but are left hanging as to the fate of these characters.

As I've noted in the past, this is a serious issue that has larger implications. If these five novels are rendered as never having happened (and not just these five novels, but anything that references them or the older understanding of Mandalore -- which is a lot), it means that a sizeable chunk of the Expanded Universe is being essentially destroyed for the sake of a single episode or two of the cartoon series (enjoyable though that series may be).

Address your polite letters to the official site's message boards.

11/04/09 501st!

If you haven't picked up Karen Traviss' latest book, Imperial Commando: 501st, go get it!! It definitely continues the saga from her Republic Commando books, and minor spoiler, brings back one of my favorite EU characters that vanished during the Clone Wars: Scout, from Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (which some of you know is one of my top five favorite EU books)! I'm going through it nice and slowly, and enjoying the heck out of it! The book continues in the way of being very character-driven, very clone-driven and very Mandalorian, which I think is great! I've been a fan of Mandalore since the days of Marvel, and it's always a pleasure to read an author who incorporates aspects from all the older EU sources. With the recent controversy over Traviss' departure due to continuity issues, there's still concern about what's going to happen in the now-running 2nd season of Clone Wars (which has been excellent), but LFL expert Sue Rostoni and Leland Chee assure us we need not fret. I know I'll feel better when I see exactly what Mr. Lucas did to get Ms. Traviss to depart a lucrative position, and if it even comes to pass (as we've seen, Filoni's been known to pull rabbits from hats). In the meantime, 501st continues to be a great read!

10/13/09 Dawn of the Deathtroopers

What's even better than Star Wars? Star Wars and Zombies!!! Check out the awesome trailer for Death Troopers here before heading out pick up the book!

9/11/09 Death Troopers Are Coming!

On October 13, the first Star Wars horror book, Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber, is headed your way, and in the meantime, have some fun with these exclusive shorts from Schreiber in the form of leaked letters from the ship Purge, where a mysterious disease is starting to take hold. Check out "Recovered Messages from the Imperial Prison Barge Purge". 

9/07/09 Live Action Series, Blu Ray and Books

Steve Sansweet recently revealed that the live action series will debut in 2012. It will be a weekly drama, with hour-long episodes. Apparently, Daniel Logan (young Boba Fett in Ep. II) may be announcing his involvement soon.

As regards the long-awaited box set, Lucas and company ARE working on an upcoming Blu-Ray set of all the films. No word yet on when exactly when can expect to see it, and still no word on the Droids or Ewoks animated series.

If you haven't yet, pick up The Star Wars Atlas. It's pretty amazing: over 4,000 planets listed, tons of maps, and a wealth of material from almost everything in the EU. Jason and Dan have done a really great job on this! And while you're at the bookstore, don't forget to grab Ryder Windham's new The Life of Luke Skywalker and the latest Rebel Force novella.

8/15/09 Update

Sue Rostoni and Leland Chee, heads of Lucasfilm licensing, have weighed and said that we need not be unduly upset as the Clone Wars episodes in question haven't yet aired, and they may not be as damaging as it appears. They've also gone on record as ensuring that any continuity errors that do crop will be smoothed over and reconciled. With that in mind, and after the huge outcry of the fans (go fans!), it's time to take a wait and see attitude.

Also, take a look at the upcoming tales page for a wholly revamped list of upcoming books and newly scheduled books.

8/12/09 And then some bad news...

As some of you have heard by now, Karen Traviss is leaving Star Wars over the issue of continuity. The Art of the Clone Wars book was brought to her attention which showed that the planet Mandalore, established as far back as the 80's in the pages of Star Wars Marvel comics, and enlarged upon by Abel Pena's "History of the Mandalorians" article in the Insider #80, and then again in Traviss' Republic Commando series and Legacy of the Force books. Mandalore is an agricultural planet with its capitol at Keldabe, a city built inside the massive skeletons of giant dinosaur-like beings that once roamed the planet. Well, Traviss discovered that in the upcoming Season Two of the Clone Wars animated series, Lucas is apparently eradicating the established history and geography of that planet, and making into an uninhabitable world with only one habitable area called Cube City in which the Mandalorians live. There may be other issues as well, but this is a big enough one, as it potentially renders her series and quite a number of other books and comics invalid. Traviss considered completely rebooting her series, but in the end decided it wasn't worth it, and that it was time to move on.

Now, I'm not going to go into a diatribe here, except to say that it doesn't matter if you loved Traviss or not. It's a shame to lose a good author, but this is not as much about her, as it is about the foundation of the Expanded Universe, and the responsibility everyone writing for Star Wars has to ensuring (for the fans and for the franchise) that delicate willing suspension of disbelief, which only a strong continuity maintains. To disrupt that, on a whim, even by the creator of the franchise, is ethically irresponsible. The history of Mandalore is official continuity that he approved (through the auspices of LFL) three times over the years. To now change his mind for no good cause (because there's no reason his Cube City can't be a moon of Mandalore, or another city on the planet, or another planet with another name altogether) betrays a lack of respect not only to the fans who've paid good money for those books and comics in the belief that this is one ongoing saga, nor only to the authors and editors who've spent a lot of time maintaining continuity, but to his own franchise, which is at risk if he succeeds in trampling over what's already been established. This is not just idle doomsaying either: alienating the core fanbase, Lucas' bread and butter for over thirty years is a way to ensure that Star Wars doesn't make it another thirty years. People will have no interest in buying books or comics if they're no more than 'What if' stories. And those who've already spent a good amount on Star Wars literature will feel a sting of betrayal if Lucas suddenly renders them apocryphal. It's clear Lucas is gearing to the young kids with the animated series, and that's fine, but that is no reason to disrespect the older fans. Nor is it a guarantee of future prosperity as there is so much more geared to kids nowadays than there was in the late 70's and early 80's. Only a small percentage of those kids will become part of the core fanbase. But if Lucas has alienated them, there will be none to join and the franchise will perish. And what a shame that would be after such a great run!

Of course, Lucas can and will do as he pleases, but that doesn't make it right, and it doesn't mean that those of us who fund his empire have to sit quietly like obsequious little mice and say nothing. If this move of his strikes you as a smack in the face, if you see this as but the first of many such cavalier rewrites of stories, if you care about the future of the Expanded Universe and the overall health of a franchise that depends on continuity, which has thrived because of its single historicity, then register and drop a line over at the official site's message boards. The fan-reaction thread, the VIP thread and the Clone Wars continuity thread have been in a furor over what they fear may come to pass. But together, people can wield great power for change. Traviss' departure is an opportunity to let the powers-that-be know that the fans care about continuity and the welfare of the Expanded Universe now being threatened to be turned into stories that never "happened". True, in the big scheme of the world's problems this is a very, very tiny matter that wouldn't even register as a blip. Everyone should recognize that fact. And I would be thrilled if this was the biggest thing to gripe about. Putting that perspective aside, however, for those of us who've turned to the Star Wars saga as a healthy diversion from the horrors of the real world (which is what good art and entertainment does), this fascinating alternate world, with great characters that have grown through stories that have had impact on future tales over the course of 32 years of one single unified history, deserves better. Drop a respectful comment and let the powers-that-be that this issue matters to you.

7/31/09 Finally, Some News

While the SDCC brought very little in terms of Star Wars news, this one bit did come out, thanks to the efforts of Bryan Young who interviewed Steve Sansweet. You should read his full story here, but the short of it is that the Ultimate box set on Blu-Ray is coming down the pike within the next "several" years with "lots of extras and deleted footage and anything anyone could want." Sansweet jokes that he should say that with trepidation knowing that fans really do want everything and will complain if the Holiday Special isn't included! A very true statement that is. Apparently some work has been done "in cleaning things up" for a Blu-Ray release, though no mention if this includes special edition-type reshoots or additional scenes. No mention if any of the deleted scenes have been or will be put back into the films, and no mention of the Droids and Ewoks full seasons. Still, it's the only news we've had in a long time, and it does sound like good news! Lets hope "several" years is sooner rather than later.

7/24/09 In Unrelated News...

While the San Diego Comic Con will no doubt bring a ton of news on all fronts, including the animated series, the upcoming live-action series, Dark Horse Comics, Del Rey books, more video games, action-figures, statues, etc. (and hopefully some news on a Blu-Ray extended edition box set, as well as the Droids and Ewoks animated series), I just thought I'd drop a line on some unrelated news. My own project is off the ground and running. I've completed the first draft of a book I'm writing (this is the project I've obliquely hinted at in the past) entitled Black Sabbath: The Illustrated Lyrics. The website is also up where you can see some sample illustrations, a list of illustrators, my latest news on the project, and soon a sample of text.

And back to Star Wars news, if you haven't already, pick up the sequel to "Precipice" for free: "Lost Tribe of the Sith: Skyborn". Head here to choose PDF, Kindle or Ebook formats.

5/28/09 Free!

Head over here for a free PDF of the novella: Lost Tribe of the Sith: Precipice!

5/09/09 Wow

If you haven't headed over to the official site in awhile (and who could blame you with their impossible navigation), do so now! The first eight pages of the new Star Wars: Invasion is up, and it's REALLY good! I think Tom Taylor and Colin Wilson have a big hit on their hands! Check it out here!

3/18/09 501st

The official site's posted the new cover and blurb for Imperial Commando: 501st. You can check it out here.

This direct sequel to Karen Traviss' Republic Commando series (and the latter's Order 66) will be on October 27th, 2009..

2/28/09 Threat of Peace

War between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire has gripped the galaxy for decades, but the sacking of Coruscant and a subsequent peace treaty are changing everything. As the Republic scrambles to re-establish order, the Sith Empire moves quickly to consolidate power within its new dominion...

The first part of this new, free online comic is now available. You can find Act I: The Treaty of Coruscant here. New issues will be released twice a month! Enjoy!

2/08/09 More Comic-Con News!

News-heavy weekend: Dark Horse will be publishing an online prequel to the upcoming BioWare massively multiplayer online game Star Wars: The Old Republic. Written by BioWare's Rob Chestney, Star Wars: The Old Republic: Threat of Peace will span the three decades leading up to the game. A new issue will appear every other Friday starting in February exclusively on StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com. Sources from Comic-Con say that Dark Horse will eventually publish a trade paperback at some point of the Old Republic storyline, though whether this is to be a collection of the online material or a new story covering the events of the game itself (or both) remain as yet unclear.

More news!

This will come as expected to some, and upsetting to others, but Rebellion will no longer be continued. Randy Stradley, Dark Horse head-partner, intimated that it was getting harder keeping the story fresh and that the time-frame they were in was continuity-heavy. I think this is good news. If DH can't find a writer who knows the continuity well and works within it, it's just as well they quit while they're ahead. I personally thought the final Vector issues of this series represented Rebellion's high point both art-wise and story-wise. Fans of the classic trilogy era will have Star Wars Adventures to look forward to, digest-sized graphic novels starring Han, Luke, Leia, Chewie and the droids.

2/07/09 Comic-Con News!

Ready for the invasion?! Dark Horse just announced its plans for a fifth series, one taking place during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion 25 years ABY. Check it out!

This ongoing series will feature new characters and stories woven throughout the era known as the New Jedi Order along with Luke, Han, Leia, the Solo kids and the rest of the main cast as well.

The series will be written by Australian playwright Tom Taylor and illustrated by Colin Wilson (Legacy).

Also announced: Be on the lookout for a free Star Wars comic based on Luke's Tatooine nemesis, Fixer. Star Wars: Fixer: From the Shadow of Twin Suns is created by Anthony Forrest (who played Fixer in the deleted scenes of A New Hope) and Kevil Llell.

More news!

The third Darth Bane book will be entitled Dynasty of Evil! And the official site has some info on the second book in the upcoming Fate of the Jedi series: Omen. Check it out!

1/28/09 Reminder

The third Coruscant Nights book is out as of yesterday. Patterns of Force is available at your local bookseller and online retailers. Also, don't forget that May 2nd is Free Comic Book Day and there will be a Star Wars comic offered this time. Check out the convenient store locator to find out where you nearest participating store is.

And while you're at it, check out the cover to the upcoming Deathtroopers! Pretty sweet, huh!?

1/09/09 Retro!

The new series Fate of the Jedi seems to be going for a very retro look for the cover. Interesting choice. Aaron Allston's heading this series (as he had with the Last of the Jedi series), which will feature Troy Denning and Elaine Cunningham (who's also tackled Blood Oath -- see below) Head over to the Starwars.com for a detailed description of what's going on inside the cover and why Luke is branded an Outcast! (Fans of the old EU may experience a slight tickling feeling in the brain as they recall the days when Luke was also branded "Pariah!")

1/07/09 Don't Break the Oath!

The Blood Oath that is. Lucasfilm unveiled the cover of the upcoming novel by Elaine Cunningham, and I think it looks damn good! The story follows Jedi Knight, Zekk, after his adventures in Legacy of the Force. Head on over to The Official Site for more info. Know, however, that there are spoilers!

Update: Unfortunately, it looks like this book won't be coming out after all as the author hadn't turned in the manuscript. Shame too, as it looked and sounded like a great read.