Fanwork Friday: Smuggler’s Gambit

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Art by Paul Bateman.

Okay, so I realize that “Smuggler’s Gambit” was written and performed by professionals (I was there!), but I still wanted to present it for Fanwork Friday. Why? Well, the radio drama was written by Star Wars fans—Kyle Newman and F.J. DeSanto—and it was performed live, in front of an audience of about 2,000 Star Wars fans at Celebration VI, without any rehearsals. It’s not an officially sanctioned work, just fans (with a lot of skill and resources) having fun at a convention. Also, it’s awesome. David Collins does an absolutely fantastic Han Solo, second only to Harrison Ford. He’s joined by many other voice actors from The Clone Wars, including Dee Bradley Baker and Ashley Eckstein.

You can download the full audio and see a video clip in Newman’s blog post at the official site.

 

EU Retrospective: Attack of the Clones

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I took a few days off for Thanksgiving (and so I won’t completely kill Brian with my fast reading speed) but we’re back with more Prequel Era books!  This time, half of the books were obvious tie-ins to books from much further down the timeline and two of them were, well, Attack of the Clones based.  This one’s a bit more of a mixed bag than before.

Rogue Planet
Okay so you know how some people hate Boba Fett and get annoyed by how fans adore him and he gets all these appearances etc etc?  Yeah, that’s me except with Tarkin and the building of the Death Star.  Honestly, what is this obsession that EU authors have with him and the Death Star?  I mean, I know it was a cool looking space station that blew planets up but can we not credit everyone and their mother with its construction?

Overall, the book’s okay but it’s so obviously there for the New Jedi Order that it feels far too much like an extended short story sometimes.  Character-wise, it’s good.  I actually really enjoyed getting some insight into the early years of Obi-Wan and Anakin’s Master/Padawan relationship.  I also rather enjoy Thracia Cho Leem because anyone who can out sass Mace Windu and have his respect deserves your respect.  It’s too bad that she leaves the Jedi Order because wow is he going to need her in about a decade when Shatterpoint happens….  The only thing I’m really not fond of is getting beaten over the head with “Oooo Anakin’s going to fall to the Dark Side one day!”.  I get what Greg Bear was doing but at times, it felt like a bit too much.  Also, I will be forever sad that Anakin didn’t get to keep his ship.  Poor baby.

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‘Winner Lose All’ Available December 10 for $1.99

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Excited for Timothy Zahn’s upcoming Scoundrels? You’ll be able to whet your appetite with an all-new ebook novella on December 10:

Star Wars: Winner Lose All-A Lando Calrissian Tale” by Timothy Zahn is a special eBook original novella. The tale is a prequel of sorts to Zahn’s upcoming novel STAR WARS: SCOUNDRELS (available in hardcover, eBook, and Audio on Jan 1) and will be available for all eBook devices on December 10 for only $1.99. Pre-order now for this fun adventure and don’t forget to begin 2013 with some scoundrels!

That certainly sounds like some great fodder for your e-reader.

So You Want To Get Into Marvel Comics

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So you want to get into Marvel Comics but don’t know where to start.  Well kids, pull up a chair and listen to your Auntie Bria because there are absolutely some good places to begin reading comic books and you won’t even have to go all the way back to the 1960s!*  Will you likely want to jump on Wikipedia and do some research about some aspects of the history of these books or characters?  Probably.  It’s impossible to jump into a medium with such a long history as comic books without there being at least some sort of background you’d like to know more about.  However, I think that each of these suggested titles can be picked up and read with minimal confusion.  Each of these suggestions also takes place in the main Marvel Universe which is also referred to as the 616 verse.  I also tried to refrain from any company wide arcs for reading ease.** With that, enjoy these suggestions and feel free to ask any clarification questions you might have in the comments.

Astonishing X-men
[Amazon – Comixology]
I have fondly referred to this book as my gateway drug to Marvel Comics.  Not only have I used this book to get tons of my friends into comics but I consider it to be one of my favorite runs of all time.  Written by Joss Whedon and with art by John Cassaday, Astonishing X-men takes the X-men back from the black leather street looks (thanks for that, X-men films) and back to their spandex superhero roots.  Mutants have always been treated with at least some fear and distrust by the public and the X-men want to fix this.

Whedon brings together Cyclops/Scott Summers, Emma Frost, Wolverine, Beast/Hank McCoy, and Shadowcat/Kitty Pryde, a group of characters who certain have issues with each other but work together as a team because they have to astonish the world.   It’s a story that not only can stand on its own but also one which will introduce you to the characters in a way that will leave you wanting to know more about them.  Although Whedon’s run concluded back in 2007, it’s certainly a book worth reading if you’re interested in the modern X-men.  Plus, as an added bonus, Whedon introduces us to some awesome new characters, namely Hisako Ichiki/Armor and Abigail Brand.  If you have any interest in the X-men at all, this is the book to start with.

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Trope Tuesday: Off with His Head!

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It’s Tuesday. A post-holiday Tuesday, which is the worst kind of Tuesday. How does a bit of a distraction sound? Up this week in our regular trope feature is a look at one called Off with his Head:

If you’re dealing with any sword-oriented media, whether it be fantasy, medieval, kung fu, or something else, and it’s more violent than a PG-13 rating, chances are, someone is going to get his head chopped off (and it may not even need the R rating if you’re dealing with nonhuman enemies). One of the most common methods of execution back in the medieval era next to hanging, decapitation is usually one of the surest ways to ensure someone is Deader than Dead barring some very potent magic or divine intervention.

Any Ridiculously Human Robot or other decidedly inhuman being will probably be capable of surviving decapitation, and will do so at some point either for a joke or as a plot point. In less serious series, the body will even continue to walk around bumping into things.

It is nearly always depicted as being surprisingly easy to do, even in one blow to a moving target. While Anne Boleyn did get beheaded with one stroke, most pre-guillotine beheadings took at least three strokes (plus, Boleyn’s executioner was — by request — a professional swordsman who would know how to cleanly behead someone).

Sword oriented media, you say? Yeah, this trope has definitely happened in the Star Wars universe a few times. Leia executed (pun fully intended) the trope in Fate of the Jedi: Conviction. Shimmra lost his head to Luke Skywalker in the New Jedi Order. Then of course, there was the case of Jango Fett versus Mace Windu. It didn’t end well for Fett.

Rick McCallum Retires from Lucasfilm

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Quietly last month, producer and long-time studio veteran Rick McCallum retired from Lucasfilm. McCallum played a large part in the Young Indiana Jones television series as well as the Special Edition of the Original Trilogy before producing the Prequel Trilogy. The announcement was made nearly a month ago on the Forcecast by Steve Sansweet but only caught the attention of sites like IGN recently.

What McCallum’s retirement means for the seemingly stuck-on-the-backburner live action television series is unknown, though chances are this isn’t good news for that project. As IGN points out, Disney may have its own vision for what television projects would look like on its network.

Cosplay Monday: Hogwarts Founders

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For this week’s Cosplay Monday, we’re bringing you perfection in a photo.  No, not actually a character named perfection, just a perfect costume group!  Check out this AMAZING group of Hogwarts Founders: Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin!  I love the unique spins they each put into their costumes while making obvious the character they are portraying.  And Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff all have their special artifacts!  Honestly, I can’t say enough things about how wonderful each and every one of them look.  Job well done!