“You maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!”
That’s right — the die is cast. Disney-owned Lucasfilm has taken a Death Star superlaser to the vast Expanded Universe of Star Wars tie-in literature, consigning your library to a “Legends” label under which they will continue to print money existing, fan-beloved titles.
Like so much fan fiction, we finally know that they just won’t count anymore.
What will count is a new slate of novels launched Sept. 2, 2014, with A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller, which introducse key characters from the Star Wars Rebels animated television series. Further releases include James Luceno’s Tarkin (Nov. 4), Kevin Hearne’s Heir to the Jedi (January 2015) and Paul S. Kemp’s Lords of the Sith (March 2015).
And so begins the New EU. A prequel to Disney XD’s new TV series — hardly a new concept (tie-ins within tie-ins!). Giving Grand Moff Tarkin the Darth Plagueis treatment — which they could have done without obliterating that Luceno masterpiece. Luke Skywalker’s first person thoughts, and the Emperor and Darth Vader in what amounts to a buddy-cop bloodbath.
Presumably, no more Grand Admiral Thrawn. No Mara Jade or Talon Karrde? No Jedi Academy, Young Jedi Knights, Black Fleet, Yuuzhan Vong, Anakin Solo, Sword of the Jedi or Darth Caedus?
Anyway, read on for official details of each title below, following an excerpt of StarWars.com’s announcement — and don’t forget to sound off in the comments on the coming EU-pocalypse!
Going forward, Lucasfilm has begun mapping out the narrative future of Star Wars storytelling that will appear on film and television and in other media so that all projects will benefit from real-time collaboration and alignment. The future Star Wars novels from Disney Publishing Worldwide and Del Rey Books will now be part of the official Star Wars canon as reflected on upcoming TV and movie screens.
“With the establishment of the Lucasfilm Story Group and our even greater focus on unified storytelling, we expect our entire publishing program to be stronger and more meaningful than ever before,” said Jeanne Mosure, senior vice president and group publisher, Disney Publishing Worldwide. “We’re extremely excited to kick off this new strategy with Del Rey Books.”
The new Star Wars canon books:
STAR WARS: A NEW DAWN by John Jackson Miller
Our very first official canon novel set solidly in the legendary “Dark Times” between Episodes III and IV, A New Dawn will introduce readers to two main characters from the upcoming Star Wars: Rebels animated series—Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla—and will feature jacket art by Doug Wheatley, as well as a foreword by Dave Filoni, one of the executive producers of The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels. Released September 2014. Order it here.
STAR WARS: TARKIN by James Luceno, on sale November 4, 2014
In the second novel created in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group, bestselling Star Wars veteran James Luceno gives Tarkin the Darth Plagueis treatment, bringing a legendary character from A New Hope to full, fascinating life. Released November 2014. Order it here.
STAR WARS: HEIR TO THE JEDI by Kevin Hearne
A thrilling new adventure set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and—for the first time ever—written entirely from Luke Skywalker’s first-person point of view. Created in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group. Jacket art by Larry Rostant. Released January 2015. Order it here.
STAR WARS: LORDS OF THE SITH by Paul S. Kemp
When the Emperor and his notorious apprentice, Darth Vader, find themselves stranded in the middle of insurgent action on an inhospitable planet, they must rely solely on each other, the Force, and their awesome martial skills to prevail. Created in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group. Released March 2015. Jacket art by Aaron McBride. Order it here.
UPDATED WITH NEWER CANON RELEASES:
STAR WARS: DARK DISCIPLE by Christie Golden – order it here
STAR WARS: AFTERMATH by Chuck Wendig – order it here
STAR WARS: LOST STARS by Claudia Gray – order it here
BATTLEFRONT: TWILIGHT COMPANY by Alexander Freed – order it here
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (film novelization) by Alan Dean Foster – order it here
STAR WARS: BLOODLINE by Claudia Gray – order it here
AFTERMATH: LIFE DEBT by Chuck Wendig – order it here
AHSOKA by E.K. Johnston – order it here
CATALYST: A ROGUE ONE STORY by James Luceno — Nov. 15, 2016 — order it here
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY novelization by Alexander Freed — December 2016 — order it here
AFTERMATH: EMPIRE’S END by Chuck Wendig — Jan. 31 Feb. 21, 2017 — order it here
THRAWN by Timothy Zahn — April 11, 2017 — order it here
INFERNO SQUAD by Christie Golden — July 25, 2017 — more here
PHASMA by Delilah S. Dawson — Sept. 1, 2017 — more here
LEIA: PRINCESS OF ALDERAAN by Claudia Gray — Sept. 1, 2017 — more here
Leia: Princess of Alderaan — a bright time for the Rebellion …
FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW anthology — Oct. 3, 2017 — more here
CANTO BIGHT anthology — Dec. 5, 2017 — more here
THE LAST JEDI by Jason Fry — March 6, 2018 — more here
LAST SHOT: A HAN AND LANDO NOVEL by Daniel Jose Older – April 17, 2018 – more here
THRAWN: ALLIANCES by Timothy Zahn — July 24, 2018 — more here
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY: EXPANDED EDITION by Mur Lafferty — Sept. 4, 2018 — more here
QUEEN’S SHADOW by E.K. Johnston — March 5, 2019 — more here
A novel idea: the Star Wars prequels are getting some love once more
MASTER AND APPRENTICE by Claudia Gray — April 16, 2019 — more here
ALPHABET SQUADRON by Alexander Freed — June 11, 2019 — more here
THRAWN: TREASON by Timothy Zahn — July 23, 2019
Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn: Treason hardcover novel coming summer 2019
GALAXY’S EDGE: BLACK SPIRE by Delilah S. Dawson — Aug. 27, 2019
“Walk the ancient streets, meet the colorful characters, and uncover the secret history of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the upcoming expansion to the Disney Parks experience!”
JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER: RESISTANCE REBORN by Rebecca Roanhorse — Nov. 12, 2019
STAR WARS: EPISODE IX — THE RISE OF SKYWALKER by Rae Carson — March 3, 2020
THRAWN: THE ASCENDANCY TRILOGY BOOK 1 by Timothy Zahn — May 5, 2020
SHADOW FALL: AN ALPHABET SQUADRON NOVEL by Alexander Freed — June 30, 2020
PROJECT LUMINOUS anthology(?) by various authors (Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, Daniel Jose Older, Cavan Scott, Charles Soule) — sometime in 2020
*Not yet included here: all junior novels and any comics series
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