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Fatal Alliance enters Best Sellers List:
Posted: 31st July (UPDATED: 4th August)
Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams, the first tie-in novel to The Old Republic MMORPG video game due next year from Bioware and LucasArts, has entered The New York Times Best Sellers List at #12 (week commencing 30th July 2010). Although this position is not as high as either Williams' previous Star Wars novelisation: The Force Unleashed entered at #1 in August '08; or the first five Fate of the Jedi novels; it still represents another "Best Seller" for Williams and for Star Wars novels.

UPDATE: Fatal Alliance has done slightly better on Publishers Weekly's Bestsellers List, entering at #11 for week of 2nd August.

Sean Williams discusses Fatal Alliance with Titan Books:
Posted: 30th July
UK publisher of Fatal Alliance, Titan Books, has posted the first part of their interview with the novel's author Sean Williams on their blog in which Sean discusses his earliest memories of Star Wars, Fatal Alliance and his success with his The Force Unleashed novelisation two years ago.
Part one of the interview is available here.

The Old Republic - Blood of the Empire #8 now online:
Posted: 30th July
The eighth issue of Blood of the Empire, the second introductory online comic for the forthcoming MMO video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, is available to read online.
In the eighth issue of Blood of the Empire, Teneb Kel is confronted with a strange and frightening vision of the past, the future, and of his greatest enemy. As he lies broken in the Lenico wasteland, he must seek the truth about Exal Kressh and the Emperor's goals within his mystical dream--or be utterly destroyed when he returns to reality.
(Source: swtor.com)

Knight Errant #0 exclusive to Celebration V:
Posted: 28th July
Attendees to next month's Star Wars Celebration V will be able to pick up an exclusive copy of Knight Errant #0 featuring the Dark Horse cover on one side and the Del Rey novel cover on the other. With the interior being a mix of comic book, sketches, and an excerpt from the novel.
It will be available as a free giveaway at the Dark Horse Comics and Del Rey booths.
(Source: Celebration V Exhibitor Exclusives list [PDF] via TheForce.net)

Official: Darth Plagueis novel resurrected:
Posted: 27th July (UPDATED: 28th July)
NJOE.com are reporting the appearance, or rather the re-appearance, on a book sales database of the once cancelled Star Wars: Darth Plagueis novel by James Luceno that would tell the story of Darth Sidious's (Emperor Palpatine) master. According to the sales database it is due in hardback on 28th February 2012 from LucasBooks.
This previously planned novel was cancelled back in 2007 but now may once again be resurrected to replace the cancelled Imperial Commando II novel as LucasBooks' Executive Editor Sue Rostoni did tease of a replacement for Imperial Commando II earlier this month saying "We have something else in mind, though, something that I know many of you have been wanting for years. So hopefully you'll be happy with the change".
As NJOE.com report, this listing of Star Wars: Darth Plagueis novel does not constitute an official announcement, but as NJOE.com state "[it] comes from a well-trusted source which is the same one that first informed us of Sean Williams’ Old Republic novel, as well as his Force Unleashed sequel".
(Source: NJOE.com)

UPDATE: LucasBooks' Executive Editor Sue Rostoni has confirmed that the Darth Plagueis novel by James Luceno has indeed been resurrected for a February 2012 release but it is not the replacement for Imperial Commando II. Its replacement is scheduled for release on 24th April 2012.

Riptide teaser:
Posted: 27th July
To whet fans appetites Paul S. Kemp has posted the first-draft opening sentences of Riptide, his sequel to Crosscurrent, on his blog:

Jaden kneeled, a penitent at prayer, as blood leaked from his temple and the shrieks of an alarm rose and fell in time with the lurid flashes of overhead lights. He swallowed, put a hand to his head, felt the blood, the small hole there. The rapid flashes made his movements appear herky-jerky, not his own, the stop-starts of a marionette in unpracticed hands.
His body ached. His head felt as if someone had driven a nail into it.
And he had no idea where he was.

Riptide is due for paperback release in July 2011.
(Source: via EUCantina.net)

Roundup of Fatal Alliance reviews:
Posted: 26th July
Released last week, Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams, is the first tie-in novel to Bioware and LucasArts upcoming MMORPG video game The Old Republic, and here is a selection of reviews available on the internet:

• BlogSystemIsGo.com - review by T. J.: "One thing I love about this book is it's not the standard Jedi vs. Sith scenario we've all seen done a million times. Instead you see them competing for the same goal but not in direct conflict, giving the reader a chance to view both sides during this cold war period".
  Read T.J.'s full review here.

• Graeme's Fantasy Book Review - review by Graeme Florry: "has everything that you’d expect to find in a Star Wars novel, the only problem I found was that this meant there was nothing that made the story stand out in it’s own right [...] The end result is almost indistinguishable from other Star Wars novels but every so often you can see that Williams is chafing at the bit and wanting to show us what he can really do".
  Read Graeme's full review here.

• TheForce.net - review by Aldrick Tolliver: "I was somewhat skeptical on beginning Fatal Alliance, with its setting in a brand new era and a bevy of unfamiliar characters—an unusual combination for Star Wars novels. I quickly discovered, however, that Williams had risen to the challenge of capturing the feel of the still-in-development-game while still providing a well-constructed adventure novel with interesting characters".
  Read Aldrick's full review here.

• NJOE.com - review by Obi John: "While I won’t say it is my favorite novel, I will say that Williams definitely redeemed himself for The Force Unleashed in my eyes. I would strongly recommend this novel to any fan of Star Wars, and would say it is a must read for anyone who is planning on playing the game or otherwise immersing themselves in the exciting era that is just beginning to be explored".
  Read Obi John's full review here.

Please note that reviews may contain spoilers.

Next Star Wars Adventures to feature Boba Fett:
Posted: 23rd July (UPDATED: 25th July)
According to a report in the latest issue of Star Wars Insider magazine, issue #119 on sale next week, the next story in Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars Adventures series of graphic novellas will feature Boba Fett! This will be the fifth volume in the Star Wars Adventures series following Han Solo and the Hollow Moon of Khorya, Princess Leia and the Royal Ransom, Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes and The Will of Darth Vader (just released this week in the US).

UPDATE: The initial report in Star Wars Insider #119 also states that the title will be Boba Fett and the Vault of Terror and is written by Jeremy Barlow (Han Solo and the Hollow Moon of Khorya and Princess Leia and the Royal Ransom) with art by Daxiong (Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes). It is due for release in the US in February 2011.
(Source: via StarWarsTimeline.com)

Knight Errant novel cover and synopsis revealed:
Posted: 22nd July (UPDATED: 25th July)
The cover for the first Knight Errant novel has been revealed at Del Rey's stand at San Diego Comic-Con.

Knight Errant is a new comic and novel series set 1,000 years before The Phantom Menace and features the story of Jedi Knight Kerra Holt as she struggles to cope in Sith controlled territory. Both comic and novels will be written by John Jackson Miller, author of Knights of the Old Republic comic series and Lost Tribe of the Sith e-book series. It begins in October with the release of the first issue of a 5-part comic series Knight Errant: Aflame, while the first novel is due for release in paperback in the US on 25th January 2011.

UPDATE: StarWars.com has posted a better image of the novel's cover as well as the first synopsis:
WARNING CONTAINS POSSIBLE SPOILERS Highlight between arrowheads to read>>>The Republic is in crisis, torn by plague and conflict. The Sith roam unchecked, vying with one another to dominate the galaxy. But one lone Jedi, Kerra Holt, is determined to take down the Dark Lords -- one act of sabotage at a time. Her enemies are strange and many: Lord Daiman, who imagines himself the creator of the universe; Lord Odion, who intends to be its destroyer; the curious siblings Quillan and Dromika; the enigmatic Arkadia. So many warring Sith weaving a patchwork of brutality -- with only Kerra Holt to defend the innocents caught underfoot. Sensing a sinister pattern in the chaos, Kerra embarks on a journey that will take her to many worlds and into fierce battles against even fiercer enemies. With one against so many, her only chance of success lies with forging alliances among those who serve her enemies -- including a mysterious Sith spy and a clever mercenary general. But will they be her adversaries or her salvation?<<<

Dark Horse Comics: Eight new comic series next year:
Posted: 23rd July
Dark Horse Comics' Executive Editor Randy Stradley has revealed at San Diego Comic-Con that Dark Horse Comics are planning eight new Star Wars comic series' for 2011 (2011 is Dark Horse Comics' 25th Anniversary and marks the 20th year that they have retained the Star Wars comics license). Although most will be announced next month at Star Wars Celebration V, Randy did say that Haden Blackman (author The Force Unleashed and Purge: The Hidden Blade) is writing a Darth Vader series that "chronicles one of Vader's greatest failures ever", while Tom Taylor's (author Star Wars: Invasion series and The Will of Darth Vader) forthcoming mini-series Blood Ties: A Tale of Jango and Boba Fett will actually be the first in a series of separate stories all focusing on characters with blood ties. Randy also revealed that Haden Blackman's graphic novel adaptation of The Force Unleashed II's story will focus on Boba Fett's role in the game's story. This will give adaptation readers the choice of two story arcs of the game to follow: the novel adaptation by Sean Williams or the graphic novel adaptation by Haden Blackman and Omar Francia.
(Source: ComicBookResources.com)

Book Release: Boba Fett Omnibus:
Posted: 23rd July
Released today in the UK from Titan Books is Omnibus: Boba Fett. This latest Omnibus graphic novel collates the following Boba Fett comic stories published by Dark Horse Comics over the years: Underworld, Enemy of the Empire, Salvage, Sacrifice, Wreckage, Overkill, Twin Engines of Destruction, Bounty on Bar-Kooda, When the Fat Lady Swings, Murder Most Foul and Agent Of Doom

Book Release: The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance
Posted: 23rd July
Released today from Titan Books in hardback in the UK is the first tie-in novel to the forthcoming MMORPG video game The Old Republic, Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams.

Comic Release: The Clone Wars Comic #10:
Posted: 22nd July
Released today in the UK is the latest issue of The Clone Wars Comic from Titan Comics. Issue #10 features the original comic story Suited.

Book Release: The Clone Wars: Secret Missions #2 - Curse of the Black Hole Pirates:
Posted: 22nd July
Released today in US from Grosset & Dunlap is the second title in Ryder Windham's The Clone Wars: Secret Missions series for readers aged 9-14 years, Curse of the Black Hole Pirates.

Book Release: Star Wars Adventures: The Will of Darth Vader
Posted: 21st July
Released today from Dark Horse Books is the fourth title in their Star Wars Adventures graphic novella series, The Will of Darth Vader by Tom Taylor et al.

Book Release: The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance
Posted: 20th July
Released today from Del Rey in hardback in the US is the first tie-in novel to the forthcoming MMORPG video game The Old Republic, Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams (also released as an unabridged audio book).

Official - Imperial Commando II cancelled:
Posted: 19th July
Writing on StarWars.com Forums on 19th July, Sue Rostoni has confirmed that Imperial Commando II has officially been cancelled: when asked "Sue, but does that [...] confirm that IC2 has been cancelled?", Sue replied "Yes, ImpCom2 is canceled". However, for fans looking for some form of conclusion to Traviss's story, Sue promised, "I'm hoping we can find a place in some other upcoming book to tie up the loose ends in a way that works".

First look at The Jedi Path:
Posted: 18th July
StarWars.com has published their first look at Daniel Wallace's (co-author The Essential Atlas) upcoming book, The Jedi Path, including a trailer video and photo of the contents of its "mechanical vault".
Star Wars Books first reported the existence of this book back in January while Wallace confirmed the book's existence in February, even discussing some details of the book in April, but this is the official blurb of the book and its contents.
The Jedi Path is due for release in the US in late September from publisher Becker&Mayer with a cover price of $99.99, however you can pre-order from Amazon.com and save 37% off the cover price!

Behold a tome like no other: The Jedi Path, an artifact thought lost with the rise of the Empire, but recently discovered and now made available to all scholars of the Jedi way. This fully illustrated book comes complete with a mechanical vault, and includes numerous removable artifacts from the Jedi Order.
With the push of a button, the doors of the vault open in a wash of light and Star Wars sound effects. The inner platform rises, revealing this exclusive edition of The Jedi Path.
This ancient training manual, crafted by early Jedi Masters, has educated and enlightened generations of Jedi. It explains the history and hierarchy of the Jedi Order, and what Jedi must know to take their place as defenders of the peace in the galaxy -- from mastery of the Force to the nuances of lightsaber combat.
Passed down from Master to Padawan, the pages of this venerable text have been annotated by those who have held it, studied it, and lived its secrets. From Yoda and Luke Skywalker to Count Dooku and Darth Sidious, they have shaped the content of the book by leaving mementos tucked within the pages, tearing out pages, and adding their personal experiences as tangible reminders of the lessons they've learned.

• The ancient Masters who wrote the text: Fae Coven, Grand Master and head of the Jedi Council; Crix Sunburris, Jedi Ace starfighter pilot; Restelly Quist, Jedi Chief Librarian; Skarch Vaunk, Jedi Battlemaster and lightsaber expert; Bowspritz, Jedi Biologist and expert on the Living Force; Sabla-Mandibu, Jedi Seer and Holocron expert; Morrit Ch'gally, Jedi Recruiter; Gal-Stod Slagistrough, Jedi leader of the Agricultural Corps.

• Jedi who added personal commentary: Yoda, Thame Cerulian, Count Dooku, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Darth Sidious, and Luke Skywalker.

• Removable features: A letter tracing the book's history, a severed Padawan braid, a metal Jedi Credit medallion, a Jedi starfighter patch, a burned poster of the Jedi Code, a map of the Jedi Temple, a lightsaber diagram sketched on the back of a napkin from Dex's Diner, and a note on the missing pages torn from the book by a Sith.

Created in collaboration with Lucasfilm -- along with an acclaimed Star Wars author Daniel Wallace and revered Star Wars illustrators Paul Allan Ballard, Jeff Carlisle, Tommy Lee Edwards, Ryan Hobson, Greg Knight, Chris Reiff, Derek Thompson, Chris Trevas, Terryl Whitlatch, Kieran Yanner, and the studios of Conceptopolis and Storm Lion -- this volume provides new insights into the history and lore of the Jedi Order while introducing never-before-seen ships, creatures, characters, and details about how one trains to become a Jedi.
(Source: StarWars.com)

The Old Republic - Blood of the Empire #7 now online:
Posted: 16th July
The seventh issue of Blood of the Empire, the second introductory online comic for the forthcoming MMO video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, is available to read online.
In the seventh issue of Blood of the Empire, Teneb Kel finds himself beaten and bloodied in the aftermath of the Lenico colony's destruction. Trapped on a strange planet, he must draw upon the ancient Sith arts in order to ensure his survival--and to learn the secrets he needs to resume his vendetta against Exal Kressh.
(Source: swtor.com)

2011 release schedule updates from Sue Rostoni:
Posted: 14th July
LucasBooks' Executive Editor Sue Rostoni has updated her Novels Publishing Calendar for 2011 and contains several changes to expected novel publication dates as well as a few surprises. We reported yesterday that Paul S. Kemp's The Old Republic tie-in novel, Deceived has been pushed back from December 28th to March 22nd 2011, well it appears its vacant December slot has been filled by Joe Schreiber's second horror novel Red Harvest, brought forward from January, while John Jackson Miller's first Knight Errant novel steps up from February to January 25th filling the vacant slot left by Red Harvest.
Other notable changes include slight changes to the release dates for the last three Fate of the Jedi novels: Conviction, book #7 by Aaron Allston, moves up one week from May 24th to May 17th; Ascension, book #8 by Christie Golden slips from 26th July to August 16th; and the final book, as yet untitled by Troy Denning, is brought forward from December to 22nd November.
Meanwhile Timothy Zahn's sequel to Allegiance is brought forward from 30th August to 19th July and now has a title, Hand of Judgment (previously known as Choices). Riptide, Paul S. Kemp's sequel to Crosscurrent slips one month from June 28th to July 26th; while Michael Reaves and Maya Bohnhoff's holostar novel is pushed back from April 26th to September 27th and Jeff Grubb's as yet untitled paperback novel moves from October to January 2012.
Finally, for non-fiction books, Jason Fry's The Essential Guide to Warfare moves from June 28th to August 16th and Pablo Hildago's anticipated The Essential Reader's Companion slips a massive seven months from August 2011 to March 2012.

Comics for October and beyond:
Posted: 14th July
StarWars.com has posted solicitations from Dark Horse Comics for October and includes the fourth issue of The Old Republic which begins the comic book serialisation of Blood of the Empire available on 6th. Beginning in October is John Jackson Miller's new five-part mini-series Knight Errant: Aflame available on 13th. Blood Ties: A Tale of Jango and Boba Fett by Tom Taylor continues with issue #3, due for release on the 27th, while Tom Taylor's other series, Invasion: Rescues, continues with issue #5 (of 6) also on the 27th.
Lastly, Dark Horse Comics have confirmed that their next The Clone Wars Quarterly graphic novella with be Deadly Hands of Shon-Ju by Jeremy Barlow due for release in December and that their next Omnibus release will also be in December will be a Quinlan Vos collection: Quinlan Vos - Jedi in Darkness which includes over 120 pages of story that have never been collected before in graphic novel form.

The Old Republic: Deceived delayed:
Posted: 13th July
The second tie-in novel to the forthcoming MMORPG video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, Deceived by Paul S. Kemp (author of Crosscurrent) has been pushed back from December 28th to March 22nd 2011. According to the novel's author, "the move was made because there is a desire to time the release of the novel nearer to the release of the [videogame]".
The first tie-in novel, Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams, is due for release in hardback next week.
(Source: via Paul S. Kemp's blog)

Preview: The Will of Darth Vader:
Posted: 13th July
Dark Horse Comics has published a four-page preview of The Will of Darth Vader, the fourth title in their Star Wars Adventures graphic novella series: When the Rebellion's hit-and-run attacks on Imperial cargo ships become too audacious to be ignored, Darth Vader is sent in to find the Rebel base and destroy it. But the base, hidden in the center of a constantly shifting asteroid field, cannot be attacked directly...more
Written by Tom Taylor with art by Brian Koschak, The Will of Darth Vader is due for release in US on 21st July.

Preview for Invasion: Rescues #3 now online:
Posted: 13th July
Dark Horse Comics has published a three-page preview of Invasion: Rescues #3, the third issue of the new six-part story Rescues: Two armies have joined forces for a dangerous rescue mission. Both have experience fighting the Yuuzhan Vong, but this time the encounter takes an unexpected turn, and more is revealed about their enemy's strange capabilities...
Meanwhile, Finn Galfridian and the Solo children race to warn Finn's father that a trusted friend is a deadly enemy!
Written by Tom Taylor with art by Colin Wilson, Invasion: Rescues #3 is due for release on 28th July.

Comic Release: The Old Republic #1 (Threat of Peace, part 1 of 3):
Posted: 8th July
Shipping from today from Dark Horse Comics is the first issue of The Old Republic, part 1 of a three-part comic book adaptation of Threat of Peace.

Knight Errant covered:
Posted: 7th July
In an exclusive interview with MTV.com's Splash Page, Knight Errant writer John Jackson Miller has revealed the cover for the first issue, due 13th October and available in two variants (one by Dave Ross and the other by Joe Quinoes). Both cover variants feature Knight Errant's main protagonist, lone Jedi Knight Kerra Holt whom Miller describes as "[a] refugee from a sector conquered years before by the Sith, Kerra fled to the Republic with one goal in mind: to become a living weapon and return to Sith space. She’s young, but she’s driven. Efficient, deadly, and determined, her drive takes her to some places no one should visit without a Star Destroyer for backup. Too bad for her, they haven’t been invented yet!".
View the covers and read the full interview here.

Imperial Commando II cancelled? (again):
Posted: 6th July
Although initially reprieved following Karen Traviss's departure from Star Wars writing with a replacement author, and even a planned release for February 2012, it now looks like Imperial Commando II, the sequel to last year's Imperial Commando: 501st, will now no longer see publication. Writing on StarWars.com Forums LucasBooks' Executive Editor Sue Rostoni stated "Last of the Imperial Commando books --- We're seriously considering abandoning this. The time between the two books is going to be years and we're not sure enough people will still be interested in it to warrant the writing." However, she did tease a replacement "We have something else in mind, though, something that I know many of you have been wanting for years. So hopefully you'll be happy with the change."

Book Release: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia
Posted: 1st July
Released today from Dorling Kindersley in the UK is Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia by Jason Fry:
Learn everything you ever wanted to know about Anakin, Rex, Ahsoka, Cad Bane, Obi-Wan, Yoda, Jabba and all your other favourite The Clone Wars characters! Star Wars The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia will give you all the vital information from Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber skills to Ziro the Hutt's scheming, and everything in between. Includes characters from Seasons 1 and 2 of the hit TV series!....more

Book Release: The Clone Wars: Secret Missions #2 - Curse of the Black Hole Pirates:
Posted: 1st July
Released today in UK from Puffin Books is the second title in Ryder Windham's The Clone Wars: Secret Missions series for readers aged 9-14 years, Curse of the Black Hole Pirates.

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