The Road to Episode Infinity: The Last Jedi

Everyone needs their Star Wars fix, especially this time of year. Whilst some Star Wars fans head back to the cinemas for the 7^th or 8^th viewing of “The Last Jedi”- other fans are consuming as much Expanded Universe media as possible. Disney & Lucasfilm have done a good job publishing media that ties directly into Episode VIII. Here are some books and comics to look out for if you want to know more about the universe of “The Last Jedi”.

The Storms of Crait

Crait is probably the coolest Star Wars planet since Bespin, Hoth, or Dagobah. Anyone who has visited a salt flat will recognize Crait as an Earthly setting- albeit a rare one. Yet- the red mineral lying just below the salt, makes Crait pretty unworldly. The comic “The Storms of Crait” brings Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Wedge Antillies to the salt planet. This was in their younger days- mind you- after Yavin and before Hoth. Crait is a “one-shot”, meaning you can pick it up from your comic store without having to wait months in between releases or have to commit to buying multiple issues. I think it’s the first actual comic (as opposed to a Trade Paperback collection) that I have bought since I was a kid. The Storms of Crait is very much related to the main Marvel “Star Wars” series, which is currently on issue 40. Yet, even someone who has never read a Star Wars comic could easily pick up “The Storms of Crait” without having read any prior entry. The art is beautiful and the story is pretty good as well.

Canto Bight

Canto Bight is a collection of four Novellas, all of which take place on the Casino world of Canto Bight. “Rules of the Game” tells the story of Kedpin Shoklop a good-hearted naïve alien who has won a free vacation to Canto Bight. Kedpin soon finds himself mixed up in a giant interplanetary crime conspiracy. “The Wine in Dreams” tells the story of Derla Piys, a liquor trader, who attempts to procure a mythical wine from the mysterious Grammus sisters, who claim to be from another dimension. “Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing” is pretty much “Taken” in space- in which a masseur named Lexo Sooger must undertake a mission to win back his adopted daughter. “The Ride” features Kal Somni, a professional gambler who is down on his luck and has his life seemingly ruined by “The Lucky Three”, reptilian brothers who seem to defy the odds.

The highlight of this collection is John Jackson Miller’s story “The Ride”. I have read three of Miller’s novels and two of his short stories this year. Miller is certainly one of the most prolific and talented authors in the new era of Star Wars.

Cobalt Squadron

Cobalt Squadron is a middle-grade novel that features the Tica sisters, Rose and Paige in their adventures prior to the events of The Last Jedi. In Episode VIII, viewers know Rose to be a lowly maintenance worker, whose deceased sister is a Resistance Bomber. This book explores the relationship between Rose and Paige including the fact that Rose is a tiny bit jealous of her star-pilot sister.

The book’s visual theme is the same the 2015 books “Before the Awakening”, “Moving Target”, “Smuggler’s Run”, and “Weapon of a Jedi”. Audiobook listeners will be delighted to learn that it is narrated by Kelly Marie Tran who played Rose in The Last Jedi.

DJ: Most Wanted

The comic “DJ: Most Wanted” by Ben Ackner and Ben Blacker will be released on January 31^st and will tell the
story of DJ’s day leading up to his imprisonment and fateful meeting with Finn and Rose.

“DJ” played by Benicio del Toro, never actually says his name in The Last Jedi. “DJ” apparently stands for “Don’t Join” a personal slogan that DJ wears on his hat. Of course, this doesn’t make much sense because the Star Wars galaxy doesn’t use the letters “D” or “J” which makes me wonder if the correct pronunciation of his name would be “Dorn Jenth” which is how you pronounce the Aurebesh letters that are equivalent to “DJ”. Dorn Jenth is a much better name in my opinion, but that won’t keep me from picking up my copy of DJ in late January.

A Year in Review

I've read (and listened to) fifteen Star Wars novels this year. I sat in awe as Timothy Zahn reinvented his signature alien "Thrawn" in a most-artful fashion. I fell in love with Chuck Wendig's "Aftermath" characters in his thrilling trilogy. I met John Jackson Miller in person, asked him some questions, and got him to sign my copy of "A New Dawn". I witnessed Claudia Grey explore the politics and moral ambiguity of the Star Wars galaxy in her books "Lost Stars" and "Bloodline". I listened to Ashley Eckstein read Ahsoka's story to me and Kelly Marie Tran read Rose's story. I survived Delilah S. Dawson's Phasma, even though most of the characters in the book did not. Even Wil Wheaton was able to surprise me with a short story which ended in a twist more terrible than any Shyamalan film. And at the end of the year I still have a long list of Star Wars books that I have yet to read- and someday I just might.