Book Wars Pod, Episode 156: That’s How You Turn Into A Spider

This week, we’re starting our discussion of Claudia Gray’s The High Republic: Into the Dark. Join us as we discuss horror in Star Wars, team-ups between Force-sensitive folks and “normal” sentiments, and Jedi who are kind of awful at being Jedi.

The cause we’re highlighting for this episode is the Brave Space Alliance. Donate to support the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago here.

For a list of black-owned bookstores to order from, now and always, click here.

To download this episode, click here.

Book Wars Pod explores the Star Wars universe through the franchise’s non-screen media: the canon novels, comics, and video games. Check out our guide to past episodes, and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and wherever else you cast your pods. You can also subscribe to the Tosche Station Radio Mega Feed on iTunesGoogle Play, or Stitcher for more great shows from our podcast network.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for episode updates! Hosted by Chris SedorKate Sedor, Rana LaPine, and Miranda Eldon. Audio and production by Kristen McDonell. Art by Joe Butera. Music by Podington Bear.

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Review: Into the Dark

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…

Padawan Reath Silas would be perfectly content to spend his time in the Jedi Archives but no. His Jedi Master just had to agree to a post at the Starlight Beacon which means he is headed there too. Reluctantly, Reath boards a transport along with several other Jedi only to find himself caught in the middle of the hyperspace disaster. Their (and the other nearby ships’) only hope is an abandoned space station. But there is a darkness lurking in those halls and their problems are about to multiply… and not just because of the plants. Continue reading

Review: A Test of Courage

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? Continue reading

Review: Light of the Jedi

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. Continue reading