Big, Cool Star Wars News!

First thing, check out this cover for the first Imperial Commando novel, written by Karen Traviss, 501st:

Doesn’t that look cool?! And here’s the official blurb for the book, taken from this post on the official site:

The Clone Wars are over, but for those with reason to run from the new galactic Empire, the battle to survive has only just begun….

The Jedi have been decimated in the Great Purge, and the Republic has fallen. Now the former Republic Commandos — the galaxy’s finest special forces troops, cloned from Jango Fett — find themselves on opposing sides and in very different armor. Some have deserted and fled to Mandalore with the mercenaries, renegade clone troopers, and rogue Jedi who make up Kal Skirata’s ragtag resistance to Imperial occupation. Others — including men from Delta and Omega squads — now serve as Imperial Commandos, a black ops unit within Vader’s own 501st Legion, tasked to hunt down fugitive Jedi and clone deserters.

For Darman, grieving for his Jedi wife and separated from his son, it’s an agonizing test of loyalty. But he’s not the only one who’ll be forced to test the ties of brotherhood. On Mandalore, clone deserters and the planet’s own natives, who have no love for the Jedi, will have their most cherished beliefs challenged. In the savage new galactic order, old feuds may have to be set aside to unite against a far bigger threat, and nobody can take old loyalties for granted.

Pre-order your copy here for those in the States and here for those in Europe!

Next up, the incomparable Timothy Zahn returns to the Star Wars Expanded Universe!

Bestselling author and fan-favorite Timothy Zahn will return to the Expanded Universe of Star Wars novels with a new full-length story to be published by Del Rey Books in 2011. The new tale of intrigue and action is set in the time of classic Star Wars trilogy, not long after the events of his previous novel, Allegiance. The legendary heroes return — Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Chewbacca — along with some of Zahn’s most popular creations: Thrawn, Mara Jade and the Hand of Judgment stormtroopers.

The book is as yet untitled, but is slated to debut in fall of 2011, the year that marks the 20th anniversary of his first Star Wars novel, Heir to the Empire, the blockbuster book that launched the modern era of Star Wars publishing.

Taken from this post, this is also great news! Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy were the first EU books I ever read, and probably what led me to having over 110 SWs novels in my collection so far. 🙂 The man knows Star Wars, knows the characters, knows the themes – in short, he’s one of the best EU writers working today, and his books are always entertaining and true to the galaxy that George Lucas created. 🙂 You can be sure I’ll update you on any further information and will post the cover as soon as it’s available. 🙂

And last but not least, some cool Fate of the Jedi goodies! Want some peeks into the 9-book series opener, Outcast? Follow this link. 🙂

Be Fantastic!

 

Star Wars Imperial Commando: 501st Blurb!

I saw this on theforce.net a few minutes ago and thought I’d post it here – but beware, if you haven’t read Karen Traviss’ Republic Commando series (Hard Contact, Triple Zero, True Colours, Order 66) and don’t want to be spoiled, DON’T READ THIS! 🙂 You have been warned!

This is a blurb for the book from amazon.uk, and remember, it might not be the actual blurb that’ll appear on the book.

*****SPOILER WARNING*****

The Clone Wars are over, but the clone deserters’ personal battle against the Empire has only just begun. With death warrants on their heads, and a hated Imperial garrison on Mandalore, Kal Skirata’s clan of clone veterans, Mando mercenaries, misfit refugees, and a renegade Jedi find all their worst nightmares have followed them home. The search for a cure for the clones’ premature aging grows more desperate, and Etain’s son must be protected at all costs. Darman and Niner are still stranded in the Imperial legion, and fight to survive in a very different army. But as Mandalore prepares to resist Palpatine’s new order, Skirata is forced to give safe haven to those he hates most, and some he thought were dead. Clan Skirata thinks things can’t possibly get any worse – until their ragtag private army faces the reality of fighting the Empire. Their most lethal enemies are now their own brothers.

Sounds great, huh? 🙂

Pre-order the book here!

Be Fantastic!

PS. I’ll post the cover art as soon as it’s available!