‘Star Wars’ Books Set To Reveal Empire’s End, Backstory For ‘The Force Awakens’
The end of the Galactic Empire, as well as new details about the Battle of Jakku and the world of The Force Awakens, are set to be revealed to Star Wars fans in a new series of books slated for release in the next several months.
Next January will see the release of Star Wars: Aftermath — Empire’s End, the third part of a trilogy brought to life by author Chuck Wendig. Appearing at Friday’s Star Wars Publishing panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Wendig noted that he was sworn to secrecy about the contents of the novel, before managing to reveal that it will indeed address the events that led up to the Battle of Jakku and the final fall of the Empire, as Gizmodo notes.
“The Empire ends. I can tell you that much. The rest is some dramatic stuff. Jakku figures in considerably.”
Lucasfilm reveals details on Star Wars: Aftermath – Empire’s End and new titles https://t.co/GgaDgSzcDU pic.twitter.com/XMPyjlux0O
— Flickering Myth (@flickeringmyth) July 23, 2016
The Battle of Jakku has piqued the interest of Star Wars fans ever since the release of The Force Awakens, which revealed the wreckage of that climactic engagement strewn across the desert planet. Within Disney’s new canon for the Star Wars universe, the battle is seen as a pivotal moment; taking place roughly a year after the destruction of the second Death Star, it marks the turning point that led to the total collapse of the Galactic Empire and the final destruction of their largest capital ships, as the Hollywood Reporter notes.
The back cover to Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath: Empire’s End looks familiar.. via /r/StarWars https://t.co/zPP2yguw7H … pic.twitter.com/W8EqTrlKqg
— Star Wars Reddit (@StarWarsReddit) July 22, 2016
Wendig has already turned in an early draft of Empire’s End, though it has yet to be reviewed by Lucasfilm’s in-house Story Group. Represented on the panel by Matt Miller, that group is responsible for developing and steering the new canon for the Star Wars universe, replacing the previous expanded universe of novels, which have since been relegated to the Legends series.
Just last week, one of the most popular characters from the expanded universe, Grand Admiral Thrawn, was resurrected for Disney’s new continuity and re-introduced as the main antagonist for the upcoming third season of Star Wars Rebels. A new novel addressing the character’s background is also in the works and will be written by Timothy Zahn, the author who originally created Thrawn, as the Inquisitr previously noted.
.@ChuckWendig‘s book signing! #StarWars Aftermath #SDCC2016 pic.twitter.com/qsDNQMlBRy
— CBS News 8 (@CBS8) July 21, 2016
Empire’s End isn’t the only novel Star Wars fans have to look forward to. Several collections of in-universe material were also announced, including one that focuses on Poe Dameron. That project, Poe Dameron: Flight Log, has been written by Michael Kogge, and according to Miller, it reveals far more of the character’s background then fans have already witnessed.
“I think there are more insights into Poe [in that book] than anything else we’ve done.”
Chuck Wendig On Writing STAR WARS AFTERMATH: LIFE DEBT https://t.co/7PBa87UJTK #StarWars #ScifiMovie pic.twitter.com/I1cy6zJ3yO
— Geek News 24I7 (@GeekNews247) July 13, 2016
Flight Log will also be accompanied by Rogue One: Rebel Dossier, which will be released in December. Another collection of in-universe material, it will focus instead on the group of Rebels who attempt to steal the Death Star plans in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. A young readers title, Secret Missions, and an adult coloring book that ties in with Rogue One were also announced, while The Art of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will also be released in the near future, giving fans a look at the concept art created during the development of the first Star Wars spinoff film.
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