Author Archives: Bria

Cosplay Monday: Princess Leia

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Welcome back to another edition of Cosplay Monday where we strive to brighten the start of your work week with some excellent costuming.  This week, we’re turning the spotlight back to Kate/Lady Lomax Cosplay.  You might recall her wonderful Endor Leia from several months ago.  Well not only has she made improvements to the costume AND now have a life sized speeder but she’s also done an A New Hope Leia costume.  They both look fantastic but seriously, how cool is that speeder?  You can check out more pictures of all of her Leia costume as her Facebook page linked above.

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Coming Fall 2014: Star Wars Rebels!

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Dave Filoni’s been teasing us for days now with his mentions of TIE Fighters and now it’s confirmed.  A new animated series, Star Wars Rebels, is coming to the Disney Channel in Fall 2014!

The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV — an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen. Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point.

Many of those involved with producing The Clone Wars will also be involved with this new show.  Simon Kinberg, Dave Filoni, and Greg Weisman will all serve as Executive Producers for the new show.  Celebration Europe attendees will be the first to get a look at Rebels.

You can read the complete press release over at the official site: StarWars.com

Upcoming Star Wars Author Facebook Chats

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The Official Star Wars Books Facebook page announced that they will be hosting two live chats with Star Wars authors next week.

Tuesday, 5/21 3pm EST – Please join us for a chat with Star Wars comics veteran John Ostrander, who penned the prequel short-story to INTO THE VOID (featured in Star Wars Insider Magazine #141).

Wednesday, 5/22 4pm EST – Please join us for a chat with first time Star Wars author Tim Lebbon, author of the just released INTO THE VOID. Tim will be joining us from across the pond in the UK.

Be sure to check them out especially if you have any questions about the newly released Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void or the related comic penned by Ostrander.

EU Retrospective: The Calm Between The Sith Storms

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This was a much nicer trio of books to read between long series than my previous “palette cleanser.”  SO MUCH NICER.  All three are actually books that I haven’t had the chance to read yet and neither had I heard much about them so this was one giant blank slate for me.  The verdict?  Well, you’ll just have to read the post for that!

Crosscurrent
I had no idea what to expect from this book and yet I’m fairly sure that this wasn’t it.  I’m not saying that in a bad way.  I’m just saying it in a way where I tilt my head to the side and go “huh”.

For the most part, it’s an enjoyable book.  It took me a good 100 pages or so to really get into it though.  The start felt a bit slow but also jumbled with the introduction of a lot of new characters.  It took me a little while to keep everyone straight.  I’m also not sure how I feel about the time travel.  I liked the character of Jaden Korr though as well as Marr and Khedryn.  On the other hand, I’m really not sure what an Anzat looks like exactly but I don’t think I want to because they sound weird and a bit disgusting.

The clone thing was… different.  Although actually, I guess it doesn’t really surprise me that they would’ve tried to clone Jedi but I’m not entirely sure I buy mixing Jedi and Sith DNA.  It makes the choice between following the light or the dark like much less of a choice.  On the other hand, I absolutely buy that they’d be a bit crazy.  That part makes plenty of sense.

My biggest problem with the book is the lack of female characters.  Where were they?  I know it was a small cast but that doesn’t mean that every single one of them had to be male.

Mostly, I’m really just still head tilting at this book.  I’m wondering if a second read through might help but no time for that right now.  It is a good read though and it’s certainly a nice break from watching all of my favorite characters take stupid pills.

Continue reading →

EU Retrospective: Legacy of the Force Part 2

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We’re so close to the end of this project and also so close to me dying of high blood pressure.  I’ve said before that I didn’t hate this series completely the first time I read it and that still remains true now.  However, there is a definite turning point where my enjoyment of the books shoots waaaaay down and that turning point was the ending of Sacrifice.  I’m also realizing that reading all these books so close together isn’t doing me or the series any favors.  When there are months between publications dates or you’re just casually reading the books, you have time to cool down between each book.  When you’re reading them for a blog, you don’t get that breathing space so I apologize, I really do, for the fury displayed in this post.

Ironically enough, much of that fury isn’t directed at Fury.

Inferno
I’m trying really really really hard right now to take some deep breaths after finishing this book.  It’s possible that this book upsets me even more than Sacrifice did because I’m honestly scraping the bottom of the barrel here for any positives about this book.  I guess that I can’t really hate on the writing style?  It didn’t offend me or anything.  Oh!  I did like the brief scene with Han, Leia, and Tenel Ka towards the end.  It’s a nice moment and I love that the Solos see Tenel Ka like part of the family.

Yeah.  That’s all I’ve got. Continue reading →

Cosplay Monday: Star Wars Disney Princesses

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Welcome back to another Cosplay Monday where we strive to brighten the start of your work week with some fantastic costumes.  You know that we love a good crossover and a mash up especially when they involve Star Wars and Disney.  Check out these fun costumes by Aleu Moana and Jennifer as Poca-han-solo and Rapunzel Skywalker!  I can’t say enough good things about them because they just look fantastic.  You can definitely see the inspirations from both characters and together, they make up a beautiful mash up.  Well done ladies!

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EU Retrospective: Legacy of the Force Part 1

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I’m not going to lie: I’ve been dreading reaching these books in my reread not because I dislike them as a whole but because of how controversial they are.  Actually, I don’t hate everything about these books, just certain parts.  In the mean time, observe as I use humor as a red cape to distract all of you for yelling at me for being wrong!  Can you tell I’m nervous?  I think I’m doing that thing where I write too much.  Maybe we should just start with the actual post.

Betrayal
Kids, in spring of 2006, I was ready to give up on the current timeline of Star Wars books.  The Dark Nest trilogy had left me mentally scarred and the Prequel Trilogy books just seemed so much nicer and safer even though I knew everyone was going to die.  And then Del Rey did something very smart: they Allston-ed me. What is ‘Allston-ed’, you ask?

Allston-ed (verb)  1 The act of bringing in Aaron Allston to write more books in the Star Wars Expanded Universe therefore enticing readers who might have otherwise quit to come back and continue reading.
2  Experiencing a heart-breaking character death that makes you want to sob uncontrollably and from which you shall never recover.

To top it off, we were told that the planet Adumar would be making an appearance and that Wedge would be in the book.  You have no idea how disappointed I was that the Adumarians hadn’t put up a statue of Wedge somewhere and written a charming song called ‘Hero of Adumar’ to go with it.  SO DISAPPOINTED.   (Wedge!  The Man They Call Wedge!)

Speaking of Wedge, why can no one just let him retire?  Or maybe you should just not kidnap him and hold him prisoner.  I’m told that’s a sure way to convince him to fight against you simply because he’s pissed.  On the other hand, I find it hilarious when Wedge takes advantage of his pilots’ reflexes and military instincts and yells things like “Rogue Two! Break to port!” at them and makes them look ridiculous.  So much about this book reminds me why he and Tycho Celchu are some of my favorite characters especially when you put the two of them together.

I really enjoyed reading this book.  There was many a time where I was downright grinning like an idiot as I read through it.  It was like I was reading this book for the first time again.  I will never be over the Donoslane and Kolot references or Shalla’s brief unnamed cameo.  To top it off, we get to see both Doran Tainer and Syal Antilles as characters in this book.  Characters who do things and get page time.  I have such a strong love for all of the Wraith and Rogue kids that this made me happy beyond belief.

Oh wait.  These books are supposed to be about the Skywalkers and Solos, aren’t they?  I think that Allston writes a really good Jaina and I love getting to see her as a pilot again.  Wedge and Tycho are right: she is indeed a traitor for not sticking with the piloting thing.  It’s such a shame since she’s so good at it.  As far as Han and Leia go, I just roll my eyes and shake my head at them.  I think they’re actually making the GFFA/Corellia situation worse by meddling.  Allston also writes a really great Ben.  That kid’s sense of humor cracks me up every time especially with his Lando impression.

I’m not a huge fan of Jacen Solo taking stupid pills at the end of the book though nor am I fan of Nelani dying.  She had potential to be a really great character but alas.  Damnit Jacen.  Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to listen to Shire Brie?  This will end in so many tears.  Many of them will be mine.

Continue reading →

Review: Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void

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intothevoidInto the Void is unlike any Star Wars book you’ve ever read before and that’s not a bad thing.  In fact, it turns out to be a rather good thing.

Set over 25,000 years before the Skywalkers were playing leading roles on the galactic stage, Tim Lebbon adds to this new era in the Star Wars universe with the tale of Lanoree Brock, a Je’daii Ranger.  She has been summoned by the Je’daii Council to embark on a mission to stop one man from trying to open a hypergate and incidentally destroy the entire Tythan star system.  It is a mission of utmost importance.  As if the mission wasn’t pressure enough, the Council reveals that she has been chosen for the job because the man is believed to be Dalien Brock, her brother thought to be dead for years.

Continue reading →

Cosplay Monday: Wakanda

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Welcome back to another edition of Cosplay Monday where we try to help your week get off to a great start with some awesome costumes.  This week, we’re featuring another costume group from Megacon this year and it comes to us via Albotas (and Tumblr).  Behold, the best group of Black Panther and Wakanda related characters that you will ever see.  Not only do they all look AMAZING but it’s a very unique group.  Personally, I wish I could’ve seen them in person.  Wow, folks.  My metaphorical hat is off to you.

Wakanda