OT: Amazons.co.uk/.jp/.de say S&S is doing Star Wars too

[JD]

I just found this story on theforce.net and thought I would share it.

Princess Leia -- Star Wars Novellist!?

Posted By Paul on December 17, 2007

We're treating this VERY cautiously right now, but the British, Japanese and German Amazon sites are claiming that there's a new Star Wars novel due out in September 2008.

The first, really striking, thing about it is that it's supposedly going to be written by Carrie Fisher, the Rebel Princess herself. She's written four semi-autobiographical novels and she has a reputation as a punchy script doctor, quietly improving other people's screenplays in Holywood.

The second interesting thing about this is that it's being advertised as coming from Simon & Schuster, NOT from DelRey, the current licensee for Star Wars novels. But the license is currently up for renewal, with the final volumes appearing in late 2008, and this could MAYBE be the first solid indication of the new direction of the contract. S&S already do the Star Trek novels, for what it's worth.

Of course, this could be complete nonsense that's escaped into the wild from some fanboy's basement. The supposed release-date, 1st September 2008, pre-dates at least two DelRey novels, Matt Stover's hotly-awaited Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor, and the final volume of the Coruscant Nights trilogy; but these are both delayed from intended earlier release-dates -- remember that the last Bantam book, Tales from the New Republic appeared after Vector Prime, the first of the new DelRey novels?

Then there's the question of how this information is appearing. It's on three international Amazon sites, which may suggest that it's coming from a central source within Amazon, strengthening the chance that it's genuine. The UK site has been the first place to release accurate information in the past. Also, the novel is given ISBN numbers, both in the traditional ISBN-10 format (1847370322) and in the new ISBN-13 style (978-1847370327).

On the other hand... all of this remains speculation, working off nothing more than the web pages you can see yourself.

So, could this be the shape of things to come? We're not sure, but we'll keep you posted on more news as we get it.

If this is true and if S&S handles SW as well as they do Trek then I think Star Wars fans could be in for a very bright future.

I admit I also posted this partly to see if any of Pocket/S&S behind the scenes people would care to comment on these rumors.

 

[Geoff Thorne]

Holy crap.

if this is true I am going to actually lose my mind.

What's left anyhow.

 

[Trent Roman]

JD said:
If this is true and if S&S handles SW as well as they do Trek then I think Star Wars fans could be in for a very bright future.

Hells yeah. The quality of the Star Wars line has been in decline ever since they finished the New Jedi Order. I'd be thrilled to see the line pass on to a brand new editorial team, particularly one with the kind of track record Pocket has had.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[KRAD]

^ Really? I find myself enjoying the heck out of the Legacy of the Force series, and I really liked Shatterpoint.....

 

[David Mack]

I'm going to call bullshit. Just because I enjoy using that phrase.

 

[trampledamage]

I'd read a Star Wars novel written by Carrie Fisher, so I hope that bit's true!

 

[JD]

^Would she be the first person involved with the movies to actually write one of the novels?

 

[William Leisner]

It seems to me that if S&S scored a coup like this, they would be the ones to break the news, rather than our frequently wrong friends at Amazon.

Which is a longer way of echoing Dave's call of "bullshit."

 

[Trent Roman]

KRAD said:
^ Really? I find myself enjoying the heck out of the Legacy of the Force series, and I really liked Shatterpoint.....

Oh, Shatterpoint was great, but it's been out for a while now (simultaneously with the final books of the NJO, I believe). As for Legacy, I've read the first four, and while each instalment is competently written, it's just all too repetitive. Each book basically resembles the previous one, and what's happening in the galaxy is too similar to what happened in the prequel trilogy. It's a retread; and I can't help but feel: 'been there, done that'. After the dynamic impetus of the NJO, it's hard to get excited about these exercises in history repeating, and it doesn't help that the arc itself it so static, like an extended exercize in filler. In every book, it seems, Jacen slides more to the dark side with other characters being suspicious but having no proof; Ben continues to be presented with doubts but keeps going back to Jacen; Alema Rar keeps showing up, trying to kill someone and getting away; we spent an entire novel in the Hapes cluster without anybody finding out Allana's parentage... even in terms of plots, instead of the grand Star Wars tradition of sweeping action, mostly we just have the characters standing about staring at each other in indecision. The line is mired, deep. It's like halfway through Buffy Season 6, and I just want to shout: 'I get the point, now do something already!' Ugh. Boring. I've read most of the Star Wars novels to come out over the last number of years, but I'm not sure I'm going to keep at these. Why subject myself to another three-hundred pages of no progression?

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Julio Angel Ortiz]

Trent Roman said:

KRAD said:
^ Really? I find myself enjoying the heck out of the Legacy of the Force series, and I really liked Shatterpoint.....

Oh, Shatterpoint was great, but it's been out for a while now (simultaneously with the final books of the NJO, I believe). As for Legacy, I've read the first four, and while each instalment is competently written, it's just all too repetitive. Each book basically resembles the previous one, and what's happening in the galaxy is too similar to what happened in the prequel trilogy. It's a retread; and I can't help but feel: 'been there, done that'. After the dynamic impetus of the NJO, it's hard to get excited about these exercises in history repeating, and it doesn't help that the arc itself it so static, like an extended exercize in filler. In every book, it seems, Jacen slides more to the dark side with other characters being suspicious but having no proof; Ben continues to be presented with doubts but keeps going back to Jacen; Alema Rar keeps showing up, trying to kill someone and getting away; we spent an entire novel in the Hapes cluster without anybody finding out Allana's parentage... even in terms of plots, instead of the grand Star Wars tradition of sweeping action, mostly we just have the characters standing about staring at each other in indecision. The line is mired, deep. It's like halfway through Buffy Season 6, and I just want to shout: 'I get the point, now do something already!' Ugh. Boring. I've read most of the Star Wars novels to come out over the last number of years, but I'm not sure I'm going to keep at these. Why subject myself to another three-hundred pages of no progression?

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

I'm a big fan of the NJO and onwards Star Wars fiction, and while I like Legacy of the Force, it definitely feels at times like the first 5 books could have been condensed to 3. But Inferno and Fury have been great reads. Fury in particular concludes a few plot threads that have been running, and Revelation looks like it could be awesome.

I particularly like in those latter books:

Spoiler: Spoilers for INFERNO and FURY

How Darth Krayt's new Sith Order make an appearance and start to factor into the storyline.

I'd recommend picking back up with Inferno and decide from there. Just my $0.02.

 

[Stevil2001]

The problem with Legacy is these generic one-word titles that constantly leave me confused as to which book is which.

 

[Smiley]

I'd be very suspicious of this claim. Amazon is about the last place I trust for new book news, and September seems pretty early to get a book written, published, and publicized. I'll wait for something from the official site before I consider this truth.

 

[captcalhoun]

since NJO ended i've only been reading the incredibly excellent Republic Commando series.

 

[JAG]

Steve Mollmann said:
The problem with Legacy is these generic one-word titles that constantly leave me confused as to which book is which.

Quoted for truth. I think I am up to date but never know for sure.

 

[Smiley]

The order is as follows:

Betrayal
Bloodlines
Tempest
Exile
Sacrifice
Inferno
Fury (most recent release)
Revelation (due late February)
Invincible (due late May)

Seven of nine are out; how appropriate to say on a Trek board.

 

[JAG]

I almost bought Fury today, but the line was long and time was short. I will wait for after Christmas.

 

[Jack Bauer]

I'd love for this to be true but sounds like a bunch of bantha poodoo.

 

[Anubis]

I've never read a Star Wars novel in my life. I was thinking of picking up the first Medistar book. Did people here like it?

 

[Smiley]

I liked the Medstar duology, but I don't recommend it as your very first SW novels unless medical thrillers are among your favorite type of book. For Clone Wars era fiction, Shatterpoint, Yoda: Dark Rendezvous, and Labyrinth of Evil are your best bets.

 

[KRAD]

I can second the recommendation of Shatterpoint. It focuses on Mace Windu (he of the purple light sabre of badassitude), and is a fine novel.