Our ‘Tarkin’ Interview with James Luceno

October 24, 2014 at 12:01 am | Posted in Books, Interview, Random House, Star Wars, Star Wars Books | 2 Comments
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Front cover of 'Tarkin'Tarkin will be hitting book stores soon and for those looking forward to the release, we have an interview with author James Luceno. James talks about the title character, his similarities to the Sith, the use of surnames, and some very fun insight into the novel without spoiling anything.

What drew you to choosing Tarkin as the focus of your next Star Wars book?

James Luceno: Actually, Tarkin was pitched to me. I worried at first that while Peter Cushing is immediately recognizable in the role, casual fans might not recall the name of the character who commanded the Death Star. Even so, I jumped at the chance. I always viewed Tarkin as being as emblematic of the Empire as the Death Star itself. I loved his casually sarcastic comeback to Princess Leia’s line about recognizing Tarkin’s “foul stench” when she was first brought aboard the battle station. “Charming to the last,” he replies. “You don’t know how hard I found it signing the order to terminate your life.”  Equally intriguing to me was Tarkin’s relationship with Vader, who in the first film we know only as the Dark Lord of the Sith. I didn’t see Tarkin so much as holding Vader’s leash as being his equal in the Imperial chain-of-command, and I wondered how that came to be. Finally, for all Tarkin’s ruthless self-assurance, he is shocked that Leia would lie to him about the location of the Rebel base, and in his final moments he refuses to acknowledge—openly, at least—that the Death Star, as much his project as it was the Emperor’s, is also fatally flawed.

Continue Reading Our ‘Tarkin’ Interview with James Luceno…

Around the Web

October 24, 2014 at 12:00 am | Posted in Books, Comic Books, Interview, Marvel, Movies, News, Star Wars, Star Wars Books, Star Wars News, Toys & Collectibles, trailers, Video Games | Leave a comment

Here is this week’s Around the Web news roundup of Star Wars and beyond.

Book News

  • StarWars.com has a small preview of Star Wars Art: Posters. Having just gotten a copy of the book, this is a really cool collection of Star Wars poster art. It’s definitely worth checking out.
  • IGN has a sneak peek at Star Wars Costumes: The Original Trilogy (which will be out October 28).
  • And The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight by Tony DiTerlizzi and Ralph McQuarrie came out this week (Amazon link).
  • Edelweiss now has a listing for Jedi Academy 3. Release date is slated for July 28, 2015. Price is listed at $12.99, hardcover, 176 pages. Here’s the blurb for it…

After last year, Roan will attempt to redeem himself, avoid the Dark Side, be a better student, and a better friend. But as he and his friends deal with substitute teachers, new aliens, more robots, vegan food, braces, final exams, and more middle school awkwardness, will Roan be able to stay the path of the Jedi?

  • They also have listings for a new series of illustrated Star Wars movie trilogy books for younger readers. There’s Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope: Being the Story of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and the Rise of the Rebellion by R.J. Palacio with illustrations by Iain McCaig (release date: June 23, 2015, $17.99, hardcover, ages 8 to 12, Disney Lucasfilm Press, 224 pages); Star Wars: Return of the Jedi by Tom Angleberger and illustrations by Iain McCaig (release date: August 18, 2015, $17.99, hardcover, ages 8 to 12, Disney Lucasfilm Press, 224 pages); and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back: So You Want To Be A Jedi? by Adam Gidwitz and illustrations by Iain McCaig (release date: July 21, 2015, $17.99, hardcover, ages 8 to 12, Disney Lucasfilm Press, 224 pages).
  • Drew Karpyshyn also updated that he’s completed Chaos Unleashed (which won’t be out until July). Drew also revealed he’ll be heading to the Lucca Comics and Games convention in Italy.

Comic News

  • Newsarama has an interview with Kanan: The Last Padawan comic writer Greg Weisman.

Continue Reading Around the Web…

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