Review: Black Spire

Black Spire by Delilah Dawson is an interesting and unique entry into Star Wars canon: it’s a tie in to a theme park expansion. Specifically Galaxy’s Edge, which opened at Disneyland in May and will open August 29 at Walt Disney World. Black Spire is named for the main settlement on the planet Batuu, which the locals refer to as Black Spire Outpos (BSO). When I started this novel, I had not yet visited Galaxy’s Edge, but I finished it in between my two visits, which made exploring the land a little more interesting. (I say “a little more” because the land in and of itself is amazing without any outside knowledge.) But the parts of the novel that described BSO, while making me excited to visit Galaxy’s Edge myself, also took me out of the larger story. Does that mean the novel is bad? No, just different. It’s not every day you read a Star Wars book set in a place you can actually visit.   Continue reading

Go/No-Go: Black Spire

nasa-mission-control-3Welcome 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: Star Wars: Black Spire. In Delilah S. Dawson’s latest Star Wars book, we’re headed off to the spires of Batuu so those of us who don’t live near Disney can experience a little part of Galaxy’s Edge from afar but how did we like the book? To mission control for the verdict! Continue reading

Holonet Blast #116

Hey everyone! It’s time for a Galaxy’s Edge-heavy edition of the Holonet Blast, which is appropriate considering I visited Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World for the very first time yesterday! It was absolutely amazing and everything I’ve ever wanted. I got to BE a Star War! But for now, on to the news!

First off, Luke Skywalker is your guide in a new book called The Secrets of the Jedi, by Marc Sumerak. It will be released on November 19 from Insight Editions, and will feature commentary from Luke on the Jedi Order throughout the past and into the present.

Star Wars Roll Out, a new series of animated shorts for the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel, debuted on August 9. Created by Hideo Itoyanagi, the shorts depict the Star Wars characters in the style of beloved droid BB-8. It looks adorable.

If you’re lucky enough to have been to Galaxy’s Edge, you know it has some of the best quick service meals on property, in addition to other treats and drinks. Thanks to a new cookbook, you can recreate these items at home. Released in November, just in time for the holiday season, the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cookbook is also written by Sumerak and released by Insight Editions.

Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World opens on August 29, and to celebrate WDW will be hosting several merchandise events. Ashley Eckstein from Her Universe will be signing at Launch Bay Cargo in Hollywood Studios on August 17. Also at Launch Bay Cargo, on August 18, artists Craig Fraser, Kevin-John, William Silvers, and Charles Wissig will be meeting guests and signing art created just for Galaxy’s Edge. Finally, on August 28, authors Delilah Dawson and Zoraida Córdova will be available to sign copies of their novels Black Spire and A Crash of Fate, while comic creators Ethan Sacks and Will Sliney will be on hand to sign copies of the comic Galaxy’s Edge.

Won’t be able to get to Galaxy’s Edge on either coast for awhile? Don’t worry, Disney has got you covered. The Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge special will air on Freeform network on September 29, and will showcase all parts of the land, including a preview of the Rise of the Resistance attraction, scheduled to open in December in Walt Disney World and January in Disneyland.

That’s the news for the week! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to pass out and dream of Batuu all night long.

Review: A Crash of Fate

Although Star Wars has plenty of well-known romances, it could always use another love story. Thankfully, Lucasfilm is giving us exactly that this summer with one of its Galaxy’s Edge tie-ins A Crash of Fate by Zoraida Córdova. Out today, the novel tells the story of Izzy Garsea and Jules Rakab, two childhood friends who are brought back together thirteen years later for one wild day on Batuu that neither of them ever saw coming. To get out of the fine mess they’ve found themselves in, they’re going to have to trust each other and hope luck’s on their side… and just maybe also see if love’s around the corner too. Continue reading

Holonet Blast #19

Welcome once again to our weekly round-up of Star Wars news from across the galaxy. This was an exciting week to be a Star Wars fan! Sit back, relax, and enjoy re-living some epic moments from the GFFA, or use this opportunity to catch up on anything you may have missed in the whirlwind of amazing things we got to enjoy this week. Let’s dive in, shall we?

Dawn of Rebellion:

The week kicked off with some exciting news for our Of Dice and Droids crew and fellow roleplayers worldwide when Fantasy Flight Games announced a new sourcebook for the Star Wars RPG. Dawn of Rebellion, scheduled for release later this year, is the first sourcebook of its kind, designed to be used alongside the existing SWRPG modules.

Primarily focusing on the years preceding the Battle of Yavin, Dawn of Rebellion features descriptions, context, and statistics for many of the iconic characters and vehicles appearing in the Star Wars: Rebels television show and in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story…..

Dawn of Rebellion will equip players and gamemasters with new options, guides, and insights for the Star Wars Roleplaying Game when it releases later this year. In the meantime, stay on alert for more previews for how this exciting new book will expand your games of Star Wars Roleplaying!

This book is set to deepen, rather than broaden, the already expansive Star Wars RPG universe. The artwork is beautifully done, and the information contained within is likely to be an invaluable resource to Game Masters the galaxy over. Continue reading