The Expanded Universe discussion

Okay, so since we have been talking so much about the new Old Republic series coming out, I think it only proper that we start a new thread.

I was just peeking at the synopsis of Fatal Alliance, and it looks like it is more or less around the time of Knights of the Old Republic or a little before. Depending on the popularity of this series, it may end up laying a good groundwork for a new crop of things to follow.

Not really a question, but hopefully a conversation starter.

This is actually where I wanted them to go after the Prequels were all out. I have mixed feelings about the NJO books, i.e. I wish they had ended the Big Three's story with the Thrawn Duology. But now they are just going and going further down the line.

I felt like they should have tapped this relatively un-explored time of the Old Republic sooner. Not only can they do so with out dragging out/ruining any of the characters people love (i.e. Chewbaca, Mara, etc.), but the fans have been asking for this for a long time. And since there won't be any movies preceding the prequels it only makes sense. Not to mention there is an almost infinite window of time in that direction.

That rant being put out there, I'm really excited about these novels. It will be interesting to see if they try to do some direct tie ins with works that come later in the timeline, like Rogue Planet did with Vegere as the NJO were coming out.

Plus, let's be honest. This galaxy is pretty much established, so you could really have any characters doing anything, and you could have a relatively good story. For crying out loud, you could have a book about Tarkin and how he rose through the Imperial Navy. That may be a little stale, but still.

I think that the main reason that this era has heretofore gone unexplored is because it doesn't directly do with the movie characters, and it doesn't really have a direct impact on those storylines.

I am currently reading the Knights of the old Rebuplic
Comic book/Graphic novel series, and it has tied in many times with the video game, and I would love to see more detail go into the characters of this era.

Speaking of which, have any of you guys heard about The Old Republic, the new MMO? It looks good, but if it flops like Galaxies, it could seriously mess with the Old Republic. What are your views on it?

I don't know, but I would guess that if it is about the Rise of the Sith, it would be more about the most recent resurgence before the Battle of Yavin, culminating in Palpatine's rule.

Jacer3000 wrote: "I am currently reading the Knights of the old Rebuplic
Comic book/Graphic novel series, and it has tied in many times with the video game, and I would love to see more detail go into the character..."

I think the Old Republic MMO looks amazing. I can't wait to try it out in Spring 2011. I watched all the coverage of it on G4 during E3 and am amazed that it is fully voiced. Is there anything I should read to brush up for the game? They haven't really released a lot on what the storyline is or what the missions are.

Well, I recommend the KOTOR comics if you like that kind of thing. Also, the Darth Bane books are excellent.

They're coming out with a new Old republic this summer, and that will probably the best prep-read.

Thanks I will have to look into those. You're not the first who has reccommended the Darth Bane books. I just tend to shy away from anything not post-ANH. After hearing about this game, I will have to give them a try.

Well, I've only read the first Darth Bane book, but it was excellent. It basically tells the story about how the sith started going around in pairs of 2.

Ok, I know this is a really stupid question, and I got your meaning from the context, but what does ANH mean? Oh shoot, I just figured it out. I get it, A New Hope. Clever.

lmao Dry humor is the best kind. Thanks for the recommendation.

No problemo. Now I just need to follow my own advice, and I'll be golden.

Hey, so I've been doing Sith Era catchup myself of late and can help with general info and reading order.

Firstly, this site is the best quick-glance list of everything in timeline-order I've found, at least for Sith Era. (Note that it lists anything cannon - comics, novels, games, short fiction.) And note also that the era takes place mostly around 3 different millennia, ~5000 BBY is Fall of the Sith Empire stuff - Naga Sadow era, if you will; ~4000BBY is Ulic Qel-Droma/KotOR era; and ~2000 BBY is Darth Bane era.

Now then, for each millennium, I recommend reading everything in release order rather than timeline order as they tended to jump around filling holes, offering insights, and more recently surprising you with what characters develop into whom.

In particular, you'll get more out of the KotOR (2006) comic series if you've played the two video games. I've just finished it, and it's worth the read. JJM is following it up with Knight Errant early next year before going back into comics with another series that takes place after both, and it's expected that the novel and new series will join the upcoming ToR series of novels in tying into the ToR MMORPG in some way.

No way! That's awesome!! I just finished the KotOR comic series, (loved it) and wanted more, can't wait!

I have played both KOTR games, I even got the original on the launch date way back when. Easily possibly my favorite game ever. KOTOR 2 was good, but my copy has a glitch, I can't follow the light side. At some point it won't let me progress when following the light side and it kept rearing its ugly head some point on Nar Shadda. Maybe I should get another copy, because the light side quest is the canon one.

Ha. That's hilarious, I've never played the second one, but I have a friend who decided it would be a good idea to spoil the whole story for me, so I'm not really lacking in that department. I have never actually beaten the first game either, I have what I like to call: "Get to the End then Stop Syndrome".
Or GESS for short. I have literally gotten to the last (or second-to-last) level in countless games, and abruptly decided I should go play (or read) something else for 6 months before I actually finish it.

Haaaah, sorry about that. I really needed to get that off my chest. And my spine for that matter.

Brett wrote: "And since there won't be any movies preceding the prequels"

Im doubting their will any more movies period. Sadly.

Agree with most of your sentiment concerning the Old Republic stuff. Looking forward to them :)

DARN THAT LUCAS! He wrote 9 movie-screenplay thingies, but only developed 6. I would be fascinated to see what those screen-plays look like.

Knight Errant #0 Available at Celebration V

"Del Rey and Dark Horse Comics have partnered on an exclusive Issue #0 of the new Knight Errant comic book. The comic will feature the Dark Horse cover on one side and the Del Rey novel cover on the other. The interior will be a mix of comic book, sketches, and an excerpt from the novel. Issue #0 will be available as a free giveaway at the Dark Horse and Del Rey booths."

source

Cool.

No, but I thought the force Unleashed was extremely well done for a video-game book IMO.

But overall, I still agree that books based on games are usually very oddly written.

The first issue of the new comic series releases October 13th. More info here.

There's an exclusive Knight Errant short story on starwars.com, Influx. Hyperspace membership is not required.

You can find it here.

Kyle wrote: "There's an exclusive Knight Errant short story on starwars.com, Influx. Hyperspace membership is not required.

You can find it here."

Thanks!!

You're welcome.

I've also read the preview and first comic. I like it, but I don't love it. Maybe I'm still getting used to new characters and a new timeline, but I was hoping for more Zayne & Jarael. Also, I guess I didn't expect the main character to be a militaristic female jedi knight. It's definitely interesting though. I think the novel will help me get into her head, so I'm looking forward to that.

Lost Tribe of the Sith #5: Purgatory is now available for free pdf download and #6 is in copy edit. According to the author surprise ending warning, beware of spoilers. I'll get Purgatory in the system when the kindle version is available.


(I'm not caught up, but I assume this series is still in the Sith Era. If it's not, let me know.)

I just found out about this, so I thought I'd share.

Apparently there is a big controversy over the name Sunrider with an unknown party (assumed to be Jeep, of the Jeep Sunrider). Lucasfilm has had to deal with this in the past including that Bastila Shan was originally supposed to be Vima Sunrider, Nomi's daughter, connecting what Vima Da-Boda said in the Star Wars: Dark Empire Trilogy HC about her ancestor Vima Sunrider's great skill of battle meditation.

They are currently able to include members of the Sunrider family by name in products, but are not able to use the word Sunrider in a product's name or title. This has been cited as the reason that the upcoming Nomi Sunder novel will be called Holostar.

If you haven't seen Star Wars: The Essential Atlas in person, it's a sight to behold. Easily the best Essentials books and best Star Wars reference book outside of the old and new Encyclopedias, they've been adding digital appendices to the Atlas for a while now.

The latest serves as a companion to the Star Wars: Knight Errant comic series, introducing the setting and history and providing some very nice maps of the areas under sith occupation.

Kyle wrote: "If you haven't seen Star Wars: The Essential Atlas in person, it's a sight to behold. Easily the best Essentials books and best Star Wars reference book outside of the [book:old|9837..."

Ooh... pretty. I like the map on starwars.com.

Link?

Sorry. I guess the quote took out the link. The links are the "old" and "new" encyclopedia links.

No, I meant please link to the starwars.com map you like.

I think I made a mistake when I bought the New Chronological book instead of the Atlas back when I had some money. I had a hard time choosing too. Oh well I will get it someday. Although the Chronological book is useful too for things up until things 2005 storyline wise, when it was published....... so a new one is probably going to come out within the next 5 years.

I think that's the only issue with buying the books. Within a few months, they're outdated. It makes me sad. To that end, I usually try to stick to online chronologies, since those are usually updated within a few days . . . weeks at most.

Those Atlas appendices have been keeping it amazingly updated, though I wish they'd do the same for the new encyclopedia.

Just a reminder: Knight Errant releases in 2 days!

In case you hadn't heard, TOR #3 is Revan!

Drew Karpyshyn, author of the Bane series and Principal Writer for the TOR mmorpg and other BioWare videogames talks about his upcoming book on the TOR blog.

For more TOR story, Smuggler's Vanguard is a free short story available online and The Third Lesson, Paul S. Kemp's prelude to Deceived, is available in Star Wars Insider issue 124.

Drew has a blog post up as well.

I was actually quoting the TOR blog there. ;-)

With the success of the Darth Bane books, do you think he'll be booked to do more than one?

He is a genius when it comes to Star Wars, I know that without a doubt.

The TOR videogame is supposed to cover the stories of KotOR 3-6, so I suspect Drew is only setting up for what will occur in the new game and/or tucking Revan away if he doesn't have much to do with the game. He might want to do future books to set up for stories in expansions, but I suspect the majority of his time is taken up with TOR finalizing, Mass Effect 3 writing, and possibly another Mass Effect novel to take place just before ME3.

I think Karpyshin is a great author, but I wonder if his storytelling is at all hampered by TOR's being a tie-in with the game. He's done writing for games like KOTOR, which I felt we're fantastic, but the TOR series...well, lets just say that I feel that it has some shortcomings. I don't know who to look to for those. Maybe it's just that its a whole new era, relatively speaking.