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The list of almost one hundred novels includes almost all novels published by Bantam Spectra during the 1990s: from Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy of Heir to the Empire in 1991 thru to Aaron Allston's X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar in 1999; as well as Del Rey's novelisations of the six films, the remaining 16 novels of The New Jedi Order not previously available in e-Book form, and most other novels up to last year's Fatal Alliance and this year's Knight Errant. According to the online catalogue, all titles will be released on 17th August in the US for around $7.99 each.
However, it should be noted that this is not the first instance of Random House releasing many titles en-masse in a digital format as regular visitors to Star Wars Books will recall that four years ago on 20th February 2007, Random House Audio (the audio book division of Random House) released their back catalogue of Star Wars audio books in digital format, allowing many fans the chance to download audio books previously out of publication.

Here is a complete list of the titles proposed for release on 17th August (as composed by Lightsaber Rattling)

Comic Book by John Ostrander, Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons et al.
Dark Horse Comics ( & [import])
Approximately 138 years after the Battle of Yavin:
As Jedi and Imperial Knights fight shoulder to shoulder against the Sith in defense of the Hidden Temple, Cade Skywalker can’t help but think of his father and the horrible losses the Jedi suffered the last time the Sith attacked...more

Darth Vader and the Lost Command #3 (of 5)
Comic Book by Haden Blackman, Rick Leonardi, Dan Green, Wes Dzioba et al.
Dark Horse Comics ( & [import])
Approximately 19 years before the Battle of Yavin:
An attempt on his life leaves Darth Vader and a handful of loyal troops trapped on a desolate world. Despite the deadly perils posed by the environment and attacks from his mysterious enemy, Vader will not veer from his duty...more

In their Star Wars Friday blog entry, Dark Horse Comics has revealed not only the cover for the first issue of the much anticipated Crimson Empire III but also two interior pages (excluding lettering) and that it will begin this Fall. Written by Mike Richardson (with art by Paul Gulacy), Crimson Empire III promises to provide closure on Kir Kanos's unfinished story from Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood.

Dark Horse Comics also published a sneak peek at three interior pages from the first issue of a new five-part mini-series that signals the return of Dark Times comic series in Out of the Wilderness. Written by Mick Harrison with art by Doug Wheatley, the first issue is due for release on 3rd August.

Hardback Novel by Paul S. Kemp
Titan Books ( )
Approximately 3,653 years before the Battle of Yavin:
Darth Malgus brought down the Jedi Temple on Coruscant in a brutal assault that shocked the galaxy. But if war crowned him the darkest of Sith heroes, peace would transform him into something far more heinous: something Malgus would never want to be, but cannot stop, any more than he can stop the rogue Jedi fast approaching...more

The Old Republic: Volume 1 - Blood of the Empire
Graphic Novel by Alexander Freed et al.
Titan Books ( )
Approximately 3,678 years before the Battle of Yavin:
Collating issues #4 thru #6 of The Old Republic comic book series:
The Galaxy is at war. The Sith Empire strikes blow after blow against a Republic reeling from the return of its ancient enemies, and the Jedi scramble to defend their holdings...more

Paul S. Kemp, author of The Old Republic: Deceived, Crosscurrent and the forthcoming sequel to Crosscurrent, Riptide, has been interviewed by Expanded Universe blog site Lightsaber Rattling. While primarily discussing those titles, Kemp also talks about his short story, The Old Republic: The Third Lesson, which was published in this month's edition of Star Wars Insider magazine (issue #124 in the US and #100 in the UK); as well as his, as yet untitled, forthcoming hardcover duology.

The Old Republic: Deceived is available now in hardback in the US by Del Rey and from Friday in the UK by Titan Books.

Writing on Dark Horse Comics' Message Boards, John Ostrander author of the forthcoming Agent of the Empire comic book series revealed the following:

We're looking at a series of miniseries here with a forward narrative progressing as we go. [Jahan] Cross has a backstory and we'll fill you in on it as we go and its relevant to the story we're telling. While the shorthand description of the series is "James Bond meets Star Wars", it's not just a Bond knockoff. Cross will be his own character and I'll be pulling tropes from Jason Bourne, Secret Agent, and other espionage sources. Those who know my work know I've done a LOT of espionage themed stories in my career; Suicide Squad at DC did it with supervillains.
Part of the reason to do the series as we are is a new way of looking at the events and characters of the Original Trilogy. I hope/intend to use established characters as supporting characters in this series, depending on their availability and what they're doing in the timeline and subject, as always, to LucasFilm Licensing approval.

John also added the following about series artist Stéphane Roux:

Stephane is an amazing artist and I think you're going to psyched when you see more of this. I'm hard at work on the first story now and we'll reveal more here on the boards as we can.

Comic fans don't have to wait until December to be able to judge for themselves Stephane's take on Star Wars as her first Star Wars comic story, Jedi: The Dark Side, premiers in May.

Dark Horse Comics has announced at this year's Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) a new comic series written by John Ostrander (Legacy) titled Agent of the Empire. Here's the blurb from Randy Stradley, Editor at Dark Horse Comics:

The series will be written by John Ostrander, with art by Stéphane Roux.
Set in the years prior to A New Hope, the series will focus on the adventures of Imperial agent Jahan Cross. In some ways, Cross fulfills for the Empire the role the Jedi played for the Republic -- taking on everything from diplomatic assignments to helping to enforce the laws of the galaxy. Only instead of a lightsaber, Cross packs a blaster (and other secret weapons), and instead of the Force, he is supported by the custom-built assassin droid N-GA-44.
The series is set to debut in December.

While TheForce.net reveal some more info:

[Agent of the Empire] takes place 3 years before A New Hope [...] include strong female figures including possibly Leia, Winter & Isard [...] as well as movie characters form the Original Trilogy, but not in main roles.

In other news from the Dark Horse Comics panel at C2E2: the collected graphic novel for Darth Vader and the Lost Command will be released in hardback; Dark Horse Comics will produce more direct tie-in material to The Clone Wars; an "enhanced" relationship between Dark Horse Comics and Del Rey; the much anticipated Crimson Empire III comic series is set 2 years after Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood; and Darth Revan will feature on the cover of issue #2 of The Old Republic: The Lost Suns.
(Source: TheForce.net)

Knight Errant author John Jackson Miller has been interviewed by Newsarama.com and talks about the second Knight Errant comic series, Deluge. For its protagonist, Jedi Knight Kerra Holt, Miller says:

Kerra has returned, at last, to Aquilaris, responding to a distress call. It’s the chance she’s been looking for to score some points and get some personal satisfaction from it. But it comes at a time of increasing frustration for Kerra, too. People living out in the Sith-controlled Outer Rim are completely battered down and downtrodden; it’s not ripe for mounting a rebellion or revolution. Many of the people here have been enslaved for their entire lives, and there’s drug abuse, as people try to forget their hardships. More than anything, she could use some help...
...and we give it to her. Knight Errant: Deluge sees her getting her fondest dream: competent help she can trust. New allies arrive from the Republic in the form of Captain Jenn Devaad and her Devil Squadron, the advance team for the mercy mission known as Grace Command. In many ways, they’re like the allies that Kerra lost in that initial disaster; absolutely what she was looking for. Other allies she’s had, like Jarrow Rusher in the novel, she couldn’t quite trust because they’d worked for the Sith. Devaad definitely doesn’t. For Kerra, it’s an enormously happy moment — a chance to get back on the path she wanted to walk.

As for the series title, Miller explains:

On the simplest level, “Deluge” is the name of the drug that’s circulating in the populations Kerra encounters; it’s one of the things making it hard for Kerra to help the people help themselves, and an added source of frustration for her. But there’s another meaning, and it relates to a new invasion that’s taking place — from a completely different quarter. We’ve shown Sith-on-Sith violence; now, we’ll see that other opportunists are out there, waiting to take advantage of the situation.

He also reveals that the main antagonists in this second series may be not necessarily be the Sith:

As we’ve seen, the Hutts are Sith-like in many aspects of their attitudes and behavior — there are some differences, of course, but in their own way, the Hutts are a plague of equal menace [...] in this time period one of the largest regions ostensibly under Sith control is Hutt Space; as we’ll learn, it’s an open question who’s controlling whom. And they’re ready to branch out: one of the most intrepid Hutts, Zodoh, sees nothing but opportunity in the chaos of the Grumani Sector. He could either be kingmaker in the battle between Sith Lords Daiman, Odion, and their rivals — or king himself! So we really do have the flood on the way: plagues from in the neighborhood, and plagues from without!

Finally, the cover for the first issue by Joe Quinones was revealed by Miller - a cover that Miller claims "really suggests it all — it’s almost like a patriotic World War II poster. Kerra Holt is back in the fight".

Knight Errant: Deluge #1 is due for release in August from Dark Horse Comics.

In other news, Star Wars Insider magazine from Titan Magazines will feature more original short stories. Following this month's edition (#124 - US / #100 - UK) and the inclusion of Paul S. Kemp's The Third Lesson short story, issue #125/#101 (due late April) will feature a short story by Christie Golden (Omen, Allies) titled First Blood that will feature leading Fate of the Jedi Sith acolyte Vestara Khai. While issue #126/#102 (due late May/early June) will feature a story by Timothy Zahn, Buyer's Market, that stars Lando Calrissian and is presumably a tie-in to his forthcoming Choices of One novel.
(Source: Star Wars Action News via EUCantina.net)

StarWars.com has released the blurb and cover for the penultimate Lost Tribe of the Sith e-Book novella, Pantheon, by John Jackson Miller. As this contains possible spoilers highlight between arrow-heads to read >>>When the Sith ship Omen crash-landed on Kesh two thousand years ago, the crew encountered native barbarism and superstition. Now a violent millennium has reduced the Lost Tribe of the Sith to a similar state. While Sith teachings are remembered, honored, and violently practiced, knowledge of the Lost Tribe's true origins has all but vanished.
With a dark age imperiling the Sith, the future rests in the hands of the unlikeliest of people: Caretaker Hilts, the official keeper of lore. Mild-mannered by Sith standards, the aged Hilts hopes to use the wisdom of the ancients to reunite his people. But the truth he uncovers becomes anything but the Tribe's salvation. Rather, he may have set loose forces leading to its destruction -- and his own.<<<

Lost Tribe of the Sith: Pantheon is due to be released as a free download (PDF) from StarWars.com on 18th July and from online retailers.

Premier Comic Book
Titan Comics ( )
Featuring reprints from Invasion: Refugees, Blood Ties: Jango & Boba Fett and Knight Errant: Aflame.

Star Wars Insider #100
Magazine
Titan Magazines ( )
Featuring an original short story, The Old Republic: The Third Lesson by Paul S. Kemp, that acts as a prequel to his forthcoming novel The Old Republic: Deceived due for release next week in hardback. Plus explore the history of the Wookiee-Trandoshan conflict through the pages of the Expanded Universe; behind the scenes on LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars; and sculptor Darren Marshall of The Clone Wars talks about how his awesome character maquettes are created and used on the show.

Jedi: The Dark Side #2 (of 5)
Comic book by Scott Allie, Mahmud Asrar, Paul Mounts and Stéphane Roux
Approximately 53 years before the Battle of Yavin
Dispatched to the planet Telos IV, Qui-Gon, his Padawan Xanatos, and the lovely Jedi Master Tahl must uncover the secrets behind a recent political assassination and prevent an outbreak of civil war. For the headstrong Xanatos, this return to the world of his birth has dredged up hidden resentments, while Master Tahl has herself become a target for assassination!
Intrigue, action, danger, and the dark side are imminent!
Available: June 22nd 2011

The Old Republic: The Lost Suns #1 (of 5)
Comic book by Alexander Freed, George Freeman, Dave Ross, Mark McKenna and Michael Atiyeh
Approximately 3,660 years before the Battle of Yavin
Theron Shan—descendant of the legendary bloodline that includes Jedi Bastila Shan and Satele Shan—is no Jedi he's a Republic spy! His mission: to discover the blackest secret at the heart of the evil Sith Empire!
The first issue in a brand-new story!
Available: June 8th 2011

Contains minor spoilers. Highlight between arrow-heads to read >>>Luke Skywalker, his son Ben, and the Sith girl Vestara are in hot pursuit of the dread power called Abeloth, who has joined forces with the Sith in a bid to take over the galaxy. The leadership of the government is uncertain, torn apart by power struggles and infiltrators, while the Sith have a terrible secret that could shake the Jedi Order to its core...<<<

Fate of the Jedi: Ascension by Christie Golden is due to be released in hardback in the US on 16th August and about two weeks later in the UK.
(Source: via NJOE.com)

Fate of the Jedi: Backlash
Paperback Novel by Aaron Allston
Arrow Books ( )
Approximately 44 years after the Battle of Yavin:
Repercussions from the dark side's fatal seduction of Jacen Solo and the mysterious plague of madness afflicting young Jedi continue to wreak havoc galaxy-wide. Having narrowly escaped the deranged Force worshippers known as the Mind Walkers, and a deadly Sith hit squad, Luke and Ben Skywalker are in pursuit of the now Masterless Sith apprentice Vestara Khai...more

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Comic #18
Children's Comic Book
Titan Comics ( )
Between 22 and 19 years before the Battle of Yavin:
Featuring an original short comic story, Repel all Boarders!, plus puzzles, games and free cover gift.

NJOE.com has discovered a place-holder listing on Amazon.co.uk for the graphic novel edition of the first Knight Errant comic story arc, Aflame. Amazon.co.uk list this UK edition from publisher Titan Books as being released on 26th August, but as NJOE.com state "take this [release date] with a grain of salt - but it does match when I'd expect the first Knight Errant TPB to be released (in time for folks to get caught up on "the story so far" just as the first issue of Knight Errant vol 2: Deluge is released."
We can expect an official announcement from Dark Horse Comics regarding a US release either later this month or next month.

UPDATE: In their June solicitations, Dark Horse Comics announced that Knight Errant Volume 1: Aflame graphic novel is due for release in the US on 3rd August.
(Source: via NJOE.com)

It stars Republic spy Theron Shan, son of Jedi Master Satele Shan, and packs explosive revelations relating to the events of the game.

Written and drawn by the same team who created Blood of the Empire: Alexander Freed (writer), Dave Ross (pencils), Mark McKenna (inks), Michael Atiyeh (colors), and Benjamin Carre (covers); the first issue of The Old Republic: The Lost Suns is due for release in June.
(Source: via NJOE.com)

UPDATE: Discussing his contribution to The Lost Suns on Dark Horse Comics' Blog, writer Alexander Freed states "The Lost Suns is our chance to craft an Old Republic story we could never tell in a video game. For readers familiar with the setting, the comic starts when the game starts and showcases events and mysteries key to the battle between Republic and Empire. For readers who’ve never heard of the game, we want to recapture the Star Wars sense of adventure in a strange universe, where the stakes are impossibly high and treacherously personal."
(Source: Dark Horse Comics Blog)

• Invasion: Revelations begins in June:
  This new third story arc sees the heroes of the Galfridian family step into their new roles as combatants in the middle of the biggest war the Star Wars galaxy has ever seen. Finn Galfridian has already lost his father and his homeworld to the Yuuzhan Vong, and now he offers himself for Force training by Master Dray-who just might be insane. Elsewhere, Finn’s mother and sister reach the Imperial outpost of Shramar, where refugees from their home planet hope to reunite with their family members. But a mystery turns dangerous and then threatens violent conflict between the New Republic and the Empire!
• Dark Times: Out of the Wilderness is a new 5-part series beginning in August:
  Jennir Dass, one of the few surviving Jedi from Order 66, is trying to evade the Empire. But his pursuer is none other than Darth Vader! And to make matters worse, a mysterious bounty hunter and his droid killer are also after Jennir, while his former smuggling comrades hope to meet him at their ship, Uhumele. All their paths are destined to intersect and when they do, get ready for a collision!
• Knight Errant: Deluge also begins in August and is set immediately after the Knight Errant novel:
  Kerra Holt returns to her homeworld of Aquilar, which fell to the Sith decades ago. But her enemies, and even her allies, are not what she expected. Kerra will learn that some things are worse than the Sith.

(Source: via NJOE.com)

Star Wars Insider #124 goes on sale on the 15th March in the US and on the 17th March in UK (as Star Wars Insider #100) from Titan Magazines.
The Old Republic: Deceived is released in hardback (and unabridged audio book) on 22nd March in the US and 25th March in the UK.

© SWBooks.co.uk.

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