Star Wars, Geek Culture, and Power Converters
You are not ready for Alphabet Squadron. No really: you’re not.
More than likely, you have an image in your mind for what you think Alexander Freed’s latest Star Wars book may be like. Maybe you think it’s going to be like the X-Wing books from Legends or maybe you’ve read his other Star Wars books and know how weighty they can be. You think you’re ready for this book but you’re not… and that’s not even remotely a bad thing. Continue reading
Is Darth Vader immortal?
(Spoilers ahead for Return of the Jedi)
No.
But our favorite armored and insecure Dark Lord of the Sith is looking for the key to everlasting life in Vader Immortal, Episode I, which launched last month on the brand new Oculus Quest VR system (system? console? I’m unclear on this point). Continue reading
Something Star Wars, something new! It’s always a good day when we get to experience a new story set in the Star Wars universe and Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott is something likely familiar to fans of a certain science fiction franchise across the pond but brand new to Star Wars. It’s an audio drama with a full cast in addition to all the excellent production value we’ve come to expect from Random House Audio. Jedi Lost takes us through much of the life of Dooku before we ever meet him, pulling back the curtain on one of the most charismatic and enigmatic characters in the galaxy far, far away.
Set at some point during the Clone Wars, Asajj Ventress has been given a mission by her master Count Dooku: find his sister Jenza. To help, he gives her some of the correspondence that had passed between the siblings dating all of the way back to Dooku’s time as an initiate at the Jedi Temple. Ventress being Ventress though, she pokes around and finds out more than the Sith Lord probably would have preferred and gains a deeper understanding of Dooku than perhaps anyone left living. Continue reading
Editor’s Note: The following is something a little different from our usual book reviews… because it’s written by someone from the intended audience for Star Wars: a kid! Olivia W. is nine years old, a member of the Galactic Academy, and one of the biggest Star Wars fans I know. I thought it only fitting to ask her to review the book for us. Enjoy!
Alien Archive – A Guide to the Species of the Galaxy, illustrated by Tim McDonah is an in-universe reference book for explorers, travelers, animal lovers, and those looking to learn more about the galaxy around them. This book includes over two hundred alien species from all times of galactic history and locations. It includes some that are well known to all fans, and others that are only seen briefly in a classic battle scene or mentioned once in a book. Information is laid out in the form of a journal written by some unknown traveler. In addition to facts and details about aliens, their homeworlds, and their characteristics, there are amazing drawings of all of them.
Species are categorized by their habitat, so if you are looking up a specific species you will need to know something about them to get started. Or, this is a book that you can pick up and open to literally any page to learn something about any creature big and small, well known or not. Alternately, there is a good index in the back of all the species by name and by some of the locations where they are found. Some species include notes about famous figures in the history of their kind. Some references have handwritten notes with the observations from the traveler.
Strangely, this book includes no direct references to humans, maybe the author thought that humans weren’t worth talking about in a book of interesting species. On the other hand, if you are desperate to hear about tales of the humans there are many familiar figures and heroes included in the articles about species like the Rodians, or the Lanai. Also, there are multiple entries for “species: unknown; homeworld: unknown”. This book even includes information about aliens when we don’t know what species they are classified to be, like Yoda and Maz.
This book includes characters and species from the movies, books, tv shows (even Resistance!), comic books and more. It will be best appreciated by a true fan that may have wondered just what a Momong looks like, or where a Frigosian is from. This is a colorful and informative addition to the bookshelf of any true Star Wars fan.
Thank you to Disney Lucasfilm Press for providing a copy of the book for review purposes.
There are three certainties in life: death, taxes, and that Claudia Gray’s books will make you feel things.
Master and Apprentice explores the relationship between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi at an uncertain time. They haven’t quite meshed together yet in the way expected of masters and padawans who’ve been together for several years and when Qui-Gon is offered a seat on the Jedi Council, he thinks that accepting it may be the best possible solution for both of them. Before he can make a decision, they’re specifically called to assist with a political dispute on Pijal by Rael Averross, another former padawan of Dooku. What should be simple mission quickly grows more far complicated especially once the Force shows Qui-Gon violent visions of the future… Continue reading
If you’re a Star Wars fan, you probably at least know of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the groundbreaking BioWare RPG that’s still beloved by thousands to this very day and for good reason: it’s damn good. In his first book, journalist Alex Kane dives into the game’s history and its creation, offering a brief yet well-researched oral history of Knights of the Old Republic, showing why it’s so special and why people still play it well over a decade later.
There’s a little bit of something for everyone within these pages whether you’re more of a Star Wars person or more of a BioWare person. (And if you’re both, you’re golden.) The book focuses on the first game and barely mentions Obsidian’s sequel which came out the following year but the tight focus is to its advantage. It’s a fairly quick read but makes good use of every page. As a long time fan of Knights of the Old Republic (aka KOTOR) who considers it to be one of her favorite games of all time yet never really looked into anything behind the scenes for it, the book was a quick yet fascinating read that goes all the way back to the game’s genesis. I was relatively young when KOTOR first came out and didn’t really grasp how revolutionary it was to have the dialogue fully voiced instead of just as text on the screen. No matter how well versed you are in the history of the game, you’ll likely learn at least a new thing or two about it. (I learned far more than that!)
Kane talked to just about all of the major players in KOTOR’s development, from Mike Gallo of LucasArts to James Ohlen of BioWare, and even spoke with voice actress Jennifer Hale who played Bastila Shan. The almost a dozen interviews have been supplemented with previous published ones, all meticulously cited at the end. The love that everyone had for both the game and the galaxy comes through without sugar coating the game-making process. In particular, concept art director John Gallagher seemed to hold nothing back and recounted not only being able to meet the incredible Ralph McQuarrie in a “life-changing” experience but also his dislike for Darth Malak’s final design. It all helps add a delightful sense of this being a true conversation; if you close your eyes, you might be able to imagine them reminiscing over a beer. Games are both an art form and hard work, something the book makes clear without putting one above the other.
Statement: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is out today from Boss Fight Books and is perfect for fans of the iconic game. It’s absolutely worth picking up. Come for the game’s history, stay for the HK-47 tidbits, meatbags.
Thank you to the author for providing an early copy of the book for review purposes. It is available for purchase through the publisher.
Two gnomes, a dwarf, a gryphon, a half-sheep woman, and a halfling set out one morning from a gnome refugee center. No, that’s not the start to a joke, it’s the start of an adventure in No Country for Old Gnomes, the latest entry in the Tales from Pell series by Kevin Hearne and Delilah S. Dawson. Everything’s not fine and dandy in Pell even now that King Gustave (who was definitely not once a goat because wow wouldn’t that be silly) on the throne. The gnomes are in trouble because of some very cruel halflings and it’s up to our new band of heroes to find a way to save the day. Hopefully. What could possibly go wrong?
In all honesty, a heck of lot of things go wrong for our heroes but it would make for a pretty boring story otherwise. And if you think a book by Hearne and Dawson is going to be boring, boy do I have a lake on Tatooine to sell you. No Country for Old Gnomes has the same irreverent sense of humor as the first book, combined with the same heart and soul as a new set of heroes embarks on a crazy journey. Continue reading
It wasn’t that long ago that we all sat down to discuss the premiere of Star Wars Resistance and now here we are, mere months later, all ready to discuss the finale. Just like with that first episode, we’re doing this round robin style so keep on reading for all of our takes on not only the season finale but the first season in general.We are definitely not in slow burn territory anymore. Star Wars Resistance is going full steam ahead and I am Here. For. It!
Although last week’s rescue mission went well, Kaz is in a brand new boatload of trouble. The First Order shows up at Yeager’s garage to arrest all of them for being a Resistance cell. Everyone gets away except for Tam who is arrested and also, coincidentally, the one truly innocent person in this whole mess. In an effort to save the station, Kaz and Yaeger hatch a truly absurd plan to try and break the communications blackout and get a message to the Resistance… they just have to get Captain Doza to agree. Continue reading
It’s all getting real now, kids.
This week’s episode of Star Wars Resistance took us closer to the inescapable doom of Hosnian Prime, and though Kaz and co. may not have foresight like we do, they know something’s amiss. Well, all except Tam. Continue reading