This week, we begin our time with Alexander Freed’s SHADOW FALL. In our discussion of chapters 1-6, we talk about character development since Alphabet Squadron, the realities of the rebels becoming the New Republic, and whatever is happening with Kairos’ strange collectibles habit.
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For just the second time since the Star Wars universe books relaunched, we’re arrived at a momentous occasion: the conclusion of a book trilogy. (Let’s not split hairs right now regarding the new Thrawn books.) Out today, Alphabet Squadron: Victory’s Price by Alexander Freed brings the story of five New Republic pilots doing their best to survive to its conclusion even as the war against the Empire does the same above the sands of Jakku. After the previous book, Shadow Fall, none of the Alphabet pilots were doing well by any stretch of the imagination but will they all live to see a time of peace? Or will some of them pay the ultimate price in the name of victory? 
The High Republic continues and this time, it’s Claudia Gray at the wheel—err… keyboard. With Into the Dark, out today, Gray introduces us to a new Good Soft Boy to love in the form of one Reath Silas and all was well in the galaxy and this was a very good book, thank you and good night! …oh wait. Did you need to know more about this book other than it has a Good Soft Boy in it? Well if you insist…
Something luminous arrives on January 5th as The High Republic finally kicks off. Not only do we finally get Light of the Jedi but we also get the first middle grade book of the project, A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland. We’re in a brand new timeframe in the Star Wars galaxy but then again, what could possibly be more Star Wars than four teenagers getting themselves into trouble? 
It feels like a century has passed since The High Republic was first teased at Star Wars Celebration Chicago (thanks, 2020!) but at last, it has arrived! A new era of Star Wars publishing kicks off on January 5th, 2021 with the publication of Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule (and A Test of Courage by Justine Ireland) with comics and books by their fellow co-conspirators soon to follow. But is this era of publishing going to be as luminous as we’ve been promised? So far… seems like that answer just might be a resounding yes. 
Three years ago, Del Rey put together a collection of forty short stories to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of A New Hope, offering viewers many different points of view of the story we know so well. And now, in 2020… brace yourselves because this may be shocking: they’ve done it again for the fortieth anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back with Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Even more shocking… it’s good, folks! It’s really good. (Can we do these for every Star Wars movie? Please?)