Star Wars, Geek Culture, and Power Converters
From Saturday evening, it’s the Podcasting/Blogging/Fanfiction Star Wars panel at Dragon Con. We discussed why we do what we do and how people can get into the blogosphere and fan fiction world. Panelists include:
Keep following us on Twitter for additional updates from Dragon Con!
Another treat from last night at the Star Wars track at Dragon Con: the Star Wars Authors panel. The event featured audience questions and was moderated by Bryan Young. The lineup:
Some interesting tidbits in there about the process behind creating Star Wars novels and there’s even some debunking of rumors.
Today Nanci and I will be on the Podcasting/Blogging/Fanfiction/Vidding panel at the Star Wars track. Audio from that panel will be available tomorrow morning.
Did you know we’re at Dragon Con? And on panels? Well, we are!
Something we’re going to try and provide you this convention are recordings of the panels we’re on. First up on the list, the Intro to the Expanded Universe event. Joining Nanci and myself on the panel are Aaron Goins, Brian Nowicke, Tom Hutchens, James Clark, and Daniel Eisenhower.
Tomorrow we’ll be on the Podcasting, Vidding, Blogging and Fanfiction in Star Wars panel. Stay tuned to Twitter tonight as we’ll be at the Meet the Star Wars Authors event.
Let’s just get this out of the way: Kenobi is one of the best entry points to the Expanded Universe available to readers.
That’s really saying something, because in the last year there have been some great additions to EU bookshelves in that regard. I can’t emphasize this enough; anyone can pick up this book regardless of how much Expanded Universe content they have. Whether you’re a new reader or a reader of twenty years, you can enjoy this book and not feel in any way lost. So with that in mind, go buy this book right now.
Star Wars fans are probably already familiar with writer Jeffrey Brown for his cute children’s books “Vader and Son” and “Vader’s Little Princess”. He’s made his return to the galaxy far far away with a new story about brand new characters who attend the Jedi Academy. It’s definitely a children’s book but it’s adorable and will easily bring a smile to the faces of those who read it.
Roan has always wanted to go to the Pilot Academy like his brother and his father before him. There’s just one problem: when the time comes, the Academy rejects him and now he’s going to have to go to the Tatooine Agricultural Academy. Or so he thinks. Instead, the Jedi Academy offers him a place. Now Roan has to catch up on years of Jedi classes, make friends, and struggle to conqueror the essential Jedi skill of lifting really large rocks.
It’s a story that has nothing to do with the rest of the Star Wars universe with the exception of Master Yoda and that’s just fine. The book is a cute little story about a young padawan who’s doing his best to fit in. Brown’s illustrations and sense of humor are just as strong here as in the two Vader books. The story is told mostly through comic strips and through Roan’s journal and illustrations with the occasional report card, homework assignment, and occasional edition of The Padawan Observer. The entire effect is incredibly charming and endearing.
These kinds of stories are clearly Brown’s strength and I can but hope that he writes more of them in the future. The story will be relatable for young children as the Jedi Academy really isn’t that much different from schools in the galaxy. They just happen to have lightsabers and have a wookiee and whatever Yoda is for teachers.
Oh. And if you need another reason to pick up this book, Roan likes to draw a comic about the Ewok Pilot. The Ewok Pilot.
I’d recommend this book for children in elementary school or younger although even adults will likely smile and chuckle at some of the jokes and illustrations. Middle schoolers are more likely to not be quite as charmed by it. It’s absolutely worth picking up if you’d like to share more Star Wars with young kids or even if you just want a break from the current Expanded Universe.
Note: Thank you to Scholastic and Net Galley for providing an advance copy for review purposes.
Kenobi by John Jackson Miller is just plain awesome. Miller has exceeded expectations and written the pitch perfect story about Obi-Wan Kenobi as he adjusts to life as a hermit in the desert after the devastating events on Mustafar. It’s a book that will make you laugh, it’s a book that will make you tear up at times, it’s a book that will surprise you, and it’s a book that you’ll find adding to your pile of yearly rereads.
Picking up immediately when Obi-Wan Kenobi lands on Tatooine, Kenobi tells the tale of a Jedi who must learn how to live a quiet life in hiding after decades of being a hero. Despite his best efforts, Ben finds himself soon entangled in the events of a small community and the conflict between them and the Sand People even though he only wants to stay out of sight and protect the infant Luke Skywalker.
We’re celebrating Kenobi release day on this episode of Tosche Station Radio and to mark the occasion, we’re talking to John Jackson Miller!
The show notes are brief this time around, because we’re skipping Fixer’s Flash and Deak’s Dirt so we can jump straight into this week’s Camie’s Concerns. Kenobi author John Jackson Miller joins the hosts and staff writer Bria for an in-depth, spoiler filled discussion of the book. If you’ve already read it, enjoy the interview! If not, go buy the book right now. We promise, you won’t be disappointed. But again, SPOILERS.
You can find John Jackson Miller online at FarawayPress.com and on Twitter.
As a final note, the hosts are heading to Dragon Con this week! If you’re going to be there, you’ll have a chance to win some great Expanded Universe reading material. Among the books we’re giving away is a copy of Kenobi and the Essential Reader’s Companion. Come to the Intro to the Expanded Universe panel in the Star Wars track room for your chance to win those. We’ve also got a copy of Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void we’ll be giving away at the Women and Minorities in Star Wars panel.
Tosche Station Radio is the official podcast of Tosche-Station.net and a part of Majestic Giraffe Productions. If you like what you hear, please leave a review on the iTunes Music Store. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Nanci and Brian are the co-founders and writers of Tosche-Station.net. You can find Nanci on Twitter with the handle @Nancipants and you can find Brian with @LaneWinree.
This podcast has been brought to you in part by Her Universe and Audible.com.
Welcome back to Go/No-Go, Tosche Station’s regular feature where we offer our spoiler-free opinion as to whether or not you should spend your hard-earned money on a book, film, or other entertainment. Today on the launch pad: Kenobi. Just how much will the staff like this western about Obi-Wan Kenobi adjusting to life in hiding and the residents of a small community on Tatooine? To mission control for the ruling!
File this one under ‘Seriously?!?’ with a skeptical eyebrow raise. Badass Digest is claiming that Episode VII will have a mid-December release date. Forgive us if we take this with a mountain of salt grains. We were told at D23 that Episode VII would have a ‘summer 2015’ release date which fits with the assumption that Lucasfilm will stick with May. Plus, Celebration VII was announced for April 2015 which is another reason to not take this as likely.
Of course, like with most rumors, there’s a possibility it could happen but this it’s highly doubtful.
We got a trailer at San Diego Comic Con and now we’ve got a new trailer and a release date for Book Two of Legend of Korra! Mark down Friday, September 13th on your calendar and get excited!
(Yes, half the staff is currently jumping around with glee.)