Celebration III EU News

I believe that there are going to be some major announcements made at C3 in regards to the EU, post NJO series title, etc...

The panel with LFL / Del Rey is most likely happening right now... just wanted to start a thread where people can post news as it happens...

 

I was just wondering when we were gonna start hearing some good juicy EU info from C3!

 

We should have news within the hour, fingers crossed. Plus Tim Zahn is speaking about the Outbound Flight novel tomorrow.

 

I'm looking foreward to it.

 

http://theforce.net/latestnews/story/C3_Continuity_Panel_for_EU_91612.asp

The Continuity panel at Celebration 3 just concluded. In attendance were Timothy Zahn, Leland Chee from LFL, Sue Rostini, Shelly Shapiro, Troy Denning, Aaron Allston, Pablo Hidalgo, and Dan Wallace. The most interesting piece of news from it was the title of Troy Denning's novel set between Episodes 3 and 4 - Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader. They also mentioned the upcoming Coruscant Knights books. Though there are 3 books, it is not considered a trilogy. They mentioned that there are currently no plans for a book covering the Rise of Palpatine though there are two books left that are unassigned. There are 2 Old Republic books coming, one of which will be set 1000 years before the Battle of Yavin. It will cover the life of Darth Bane from childhood up to the comics. There are no current plans for a short story anthology though everyone seems to want to do one. There are also no Clone Wars era material in the works besides Darh Horses' Clone Wars Advantures #4. Pablo Hidalgo is working on another webstrip as well as Paul Ens and Tom Hodges. Timothy Zahn and Mike Stackpole are wanting to do a story detailing "The Reenlistment of Baron Fel", but no licensee is interested yet. Zahn also would like to do a story with a teenage Ben Skywalker. Zahn mentioned that he's doing a post-ANH novel featuring Mara Jade as the Emperor's Hand and Luke in pre-Jedi Knight mode. (The two don't meet.) More to come!

 

Interesting that there doesn't appear to be anything planned that charts the rise of the rebellion between ROTS and ANH. Perhaps this is covered in the TV series?

 

The most interesting piece of news from it was the title of Troy Denning's novel set between Episodes 3 and 4 - Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader.

That's neither news nor Denning's book.

Hopefully, the "New Star Wars Novel Series" panel (about post-NJO stuff) currently going on now will actually yield more than two new pieces of information....

 

That's what I was thinking, it's the Wookie killer's book, not Dennings.

 

That report seems disjointed - there will probably be one at the official site soon with additional info and clarification.

Here's the blurb from Lucas about the TV series:

Not the first question, but probably the one most anticipated by fans was about the future of Star Wars on television. "You know we're doing a pilot television series now called Clone Wars," said Lucas. "Well we're going to take that and turn it into a 3-D animated version full series." Lucas described the episodes as being 30 minutes in length.

"We're also working on a spin-off series," he added, "with some characters who have appeared before that will be a live action series. We're probably not going to start that for about a year. Like on The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, we want to write all the stories for the entire first season all at once. I'm going to get it started, and hire the show runners and all of that, then I'll probably step away." Even host Jay Laga'aia had a hard time concentrating after that news.

Elaborating on the television series' setting in the chronology of the saga, Lucas explained that the idea currently in development takes place between Episodes III and IV. "There's none of the main characters from I, II, and III (or IV, V and VI for that matter) in the..." he stopped in mid-sentence. "Well, actually, that's not exactly true now that I think about it. We haven't really started the TV show, so it's hard to answer. There's a lot of issues that are connected, but you won't necessarily see a lot of the people that are connected."

A fan asked the chances of exploring the KOTOR-era Jedi or the origins of the Sith on TV, and Lucas stated that if the television projects are successful, he would examine the possibility of moving elsewhere in the saga.

 

Those new tidbits are excellent. Thanks for posting them!

So, am I to take it that Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader is different to Luceno's story with the same half-title? It seems that they are different, which causes me to wonder why the same title will have been used twice. This is the part where Excellence comes in and adds another "Dark" title to the ever-growing list...

I'm looking forward to the Darth Bane book, and I'm sure that the Sith fans are happy about it, too. Coruscant Nights should be decent, if it's anything like MedStar, and Zahn's post-ANH story should be...well, interesting.

As there has been no new information on the post-NJO books, my skepticism has yet to be dispelled.

 

As there has been no new information on the post-NJO books, my skepticism has yet to be dispelled.

The "Continuity" panel took place an hour or two before a post-NJO-specific panel. I expect news soonish.

 

Ta-da

A panel recently closed at Celebration 3 which revealed details on the new post-NJO book series. In attendance were Aaron Allston, Sue Rostini, Karen Traviss, Leland Chee, Shelly Shapiro, and Troy Denning.

The title of the series was announced as being "Legacy of the Force". The era will be referred to as the "Legacy Era". The first book in the series by Aaron Allston will be entitled "Betrayal". There will be a hardback followed by two paperbacks, then that's repeated through the 9 books. The first is due in June 2006 with the others to follow every 3 months. The books will feature conflict stemming from "planetary interests that threaten peace" and Luke will be plagued by visions of "approaching darkness". Much of it will take place in the Outlands. The book covers a 2 - 3 year span and the main characters will be in their 60s which the authors referred to as "the new 40s".

Returning characters will include all the majors plus Tenel Ka, Wedge, Saba, and the female Sith from the Marvel comics. Hobbie, Tycho, and Corran Horn will also have roles. It was also hinted that Anakin may return as a Force ghost. The biggest surprise was that Boba Fett and the new Mandalorians will play a major role in the series. Karen Traviss' book seems to be the one he will be most prominent in. Also look for new characters along the way as well as the heroes being in constant jeopardy. (They dodged questions on if there were more major character deaths.) The "New Jedi" from the previous books will now appear as "maturing Jedi" in their 20's. Also look for the mystery of Vergere to be resolved and a "cicrle" with the prequel era.

The authors and editors dodged questions on if the Sith will reemerge, if we'll se Ben piloting a strange starfighter (ala Luke's vision), or if Jacen has a romance. They said they are forbidden from covering the Whills or Yoda's race by mandate from Lucas. There are also no current plans for more Solo children. With the story still being written, they haven't decided if there will be an Imperial presence in the book. The authors also revealed that they had their first meeting on the series in November and have been corresponding closely on the plot ever since.

A few other items of interest emerged. Troy Denning revealed that Kyle Katarn has a role in Dark Nest as well as the Chiss. Raynar will reappear in the book as well. He's just been MIA, not dead. You will also see the rebuilding of Coruscant and the restoration of the government in this book. Denning also resolves Leia's status as a Jedi.

 

Oh god this is the worst news I've heard today Zhan and his Mary Sue together again. And worse he'll probably work in some way to include his other Mary Sue Thrawn.

 

Yes, Yes, YES!!!! Lumiya and Kyle finally getting there due and appearing novels!!! This makes up for that Zahn tidbit. Thank you Vishnu.

 

Dark Lady Lumiya and an Allston hardcover! Wizard!

 

Where's Excellence to say those two will never appear in novels?



I, personally, am elated, shocked, and awe-struck. This just keeps getting better and better. Lumiya...finally getting what that character deserves: exposure to the masses.

 

Meh Lumiya. A female rip-off from Vader .

 

Lumiya's back!

But I see no mention of Danni, but Tenel Ka is mentioned. That plus them avoiding the "does Jacen have a romance?" questions gives me a bad feeling.

 

King Jacen of Hapes

 

The term "Mary Sue" should really, really be banned from this site.

Anyway, hopefully they'll give Lumiya a new outfit. She looks pretty stupid in her current incarnation.

 

HOLY ****. I never thought they'd bring Lumiya back.

 

Answers about Vergere! YAY!

 

King Jacen of Hapes

Dear God no!!!!!

 

I don't think Jacen would be one to accept such a position.