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UPDATE: 7/20/02 (Coopra) - Well, we've officially relocated to TFN. I have a whole buttload of links to fix now, so site navigation will be kinda weird for a while, but it's all here. I own "unjoh.com" for another year, but their stupid URL forwarding thing puts a banner at the bottom of the screen, so I'd recommend getting to the page through the link on TFN Books as soon as it appears (I'm tinkering with the html as we speak). Oh yeah; if you haven't yet, check out Jeff Carlisle's new website! UPDATE: 7/14/02 (Nom Anor) - Finally an update to the Yuuzhan Vong Database! The Yuuzhan Vong Bestiary is finally complete. Well, nearly complete - I still have to write up a new introduction for that section, but that's not what everybody's interested in anyways! I rewrote at least part of every entry, but most entries have had major overhauls. This section is up-to-date with Rebel Stand. Sorry to keep everyone waiting so long. UPDATE: 7/7/02 (Coopra) - Lots of NJO-related gaming news lately. Head here for the first (far as I know) Jedi Outcast Yuuzhan Vong skin. UPDATE: 7/3/02 (Coopra) - We've given a lot of thought to the fate of the forums lately, seeing as how our main point of interest is gonna be the JCs from now on. This is definitely the slowest they've ever been, but seeing as the whole purpose of a forum is to serve the needs of the people, I thought it should be the people who decide its fate. If you vote to disband, the entire forum will be destroyed, so this is a warning to anyone who might have any valuable information there. If you vote not to disband, I'll leave them up, but don't except much in the way of moderation or upkeep. UPDATE: 6/23/02 (Coopra) - Thanks to Jace for pointing out a new summary of Traitor on the Barnes & Noble website. It's not really anything new, but some might consider it spoiler-laden, so continue on to read it for yourself. UPDATE: 6/18/02 (Coopra & Nom Anor) - And now, the real announcement #1... Nick and I have just signed up to join TheForce.net's Books page! What does that mean for UNJOH? Well, mostly, I get to move everything to the TFN server. We're still working out the kinks, but it looks like everything on UNJOH will remain the same, structurally, except that news updates will be done at the main TFN books page. For the next year and a half, the site will serve as a repository of NJO information, and once the series ends, everything will be dissolved into the rest of TFN, and the YVD will get its own section of TFN with a brand-new layout. More info will be available very soon... UPDATE: 6/18/02 (Coopra) - And now, announcement #1... In Destiny's Way, Tsavong Lah is revealed to be Jacen's real father! .......juuuust kidding. Come back in half an hour. Heheh, suckers... UPDATE: 6/15/02 (Nom Anor) - The 1st Edition of the French Yuuzhan Vong Database has been released! Corran's team has been working long and hard to translate the guide, so give it a look, even if you can't read French. This is equivalent to Version 2.0 in English. Note: This is not the big announcement, although it is pretty cool UPDATE: 6/15/02 (Nom Anor) - Yeah, what Coop said. UPDATE: 6/14/02 (Coopra) - *achem* Well, we've had some big developments lately. Expect two titanic announcements before the end of the month. In the meantime, um...read Rebel Stand again. UPDATE: 5/28/02 (Coopra) - Added a few new NJO customs by Craig Mullan to the Gallery. Oh yeah; Rebel Stand is out now. Go, like, buy it or something. UPDATE: 5/26/02 (Nom Anor) - With only two days until the release of Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand, I bring you a full summary of the new novel. Thanks to Acky of the Unofficial New Jedi Order Encyclopedia for the summary. Beware, this is full of spoilers! Highlight to read:
- This summary is the property of the writer and NJOE.com. This summary is NOT to be reposted in any shape or form without consent from the NJOE.com administration - Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand
The novel opens with a battle above the Pyria system, in which New Republic forces attempt to escort a Gallofree Transport, Reckless Abandon, to Borleias, against the attack of coralskippers and the ongoing annoyance of dovin basal mines sown there by the Yuuzhan Vong. The fighter squadron escorting the Reckless Abandon, a mixed group of X- and E-wings, is the Taanab Yellow Aces, a volunteer unit led by none other than Wes Janson. Wes and his Aces are set to stay on Borleias to assist in its defense.
Meanwhile, on Coruscant, the action breaks to an odd scene
in which a mysterious tall man is attempting to break down a wall which stands in his way to an unknown treasure. He somehow subverts a Coruscant to help him by getting a laser cutter.
On the worldship, Domain Hul, Czulkang Lah greets the arrival of the priest Harrar, on whom he bestows the service of a warrior and pilot named Charat Kraal, whose objective it is to capture Jaina Solo and to expose that she is no avatar or incarnation of Yun-Harla, the Yuuzhan Vong Trickster Goddess.
Back on Coruscant, the team of Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker, Tahiri, Danni Quee, and the Wraiths are going about their mission to create resistance cells from Coruscant survivors. They are clad in makeup, fake and actual vonduun crab armor, and modified ooglish masquers to look like Yuuzhan Vong. It works quite well, as they are first attacked by a mob of natives and then believed to be Yuuzhan Vong by one of their patrols. Face, acting as the voice of the group, orders the patrol to give way for their mission of "training his warriors", which naturally will end up in an honor duel. Since the team is very impaired in their fighting ability in their disguises, the Jedi ignite their lightsabers and attack the Vong, but those are no the only ones; there are some nearby. Kell Tainer, being the demolitions expert that he is, blasts the Vong into pieces, leaving the team?s presence there on Coruscant a secret.
When later meeting with a cell of natives fighting the Vong, one of them brings up an experience of meeting an impossibly tall pale man who kills anyone he comes upon, including Vong warriors. He likens it to an old Corellian story about a large pale ghost called Lord Nyax, who stole children from their beds. Quite a mystery for the team.
Back on Borleias, Czulkang Lah launches another probe of the defenders? defenses, sending two cruiser analogs, also called mataloks, and coralskippers. The Twin Suns shred one of the cruiser analogs with a new weapon using a plasma charge and ball bearings heated to the temperature at which their explosions would cause the damage of a proton torpedo.
On Coruscant, the mysterious tall man watches as his servant attempts to break through the wall with a laser cutter, but it fails. He kills the man, named Ryuk, and then sets out to find a smarter person with better machines.
On the planet Vannix, in the Vankalay system, Han and Leia arrive to see the Senator Addath Gadan and see what they can do in the oncoming election for Presider, or President, of the system. Her opponent is the commander of the navy, Admiral Apelben Werl. Addath expects the Solos to bestow their considerable political influence on her campaign, and it appears that that is what they are there to do. Addath supports non-aggression pacts with the Vong, while the Admiral supports military opposition, as one can expect from a self-preservative politician and a military officer, respectively.
On Tsavong Lah?s worldship in Coruscant orbit, his radank claw arm is worsening, but being tended to by Ghithra Dal, his shaper. As Viqi Shesh predicted, Nen Yim uncovers that Dal is inducing a substance that is causing the rejection of his arm. Tsavong Lah proposes then to discover the entire conspiracy of Dal and a young priest of Yun-Yuuzhan, Takhaff Uul, and deal with it then.
Back in the company of the mysterious large man, he has a man and woman use devices of alternating heat and cold to begin to break down the wall. However, they tell him it will be a very long process, and he is displeased with them. One woman suggests the use of a huge machine to break down the wall, and he sends her off to find one.
Tsavong Lah summons Viqi Shesh to him and instructs her to go to the surface to find the supposed Jedi on the planet, and to take a contingent of warriors and the remaining voxyn, among the last of their dying race, with her, to find them.
Back on Coruscant, the tall man has found a name that the people call him. Lord Nyax. He is pleased with the name and his servants? progress in digging out and repairing the huge machine that will bash down the wall. However, he is angered that there are those out there that he cannot control with his mind; those he will destroy.
On Coruscant, the team has found what they think to be a devourer tank, a tank of life forms that metabolizes anything organic that enters it. However, it is not smashed like the rest of the machinery around, and the team cannot understand why. Luke volunteers to go in and try and figure out why, using his Force influence to convince the organisms that he is not food. At the bottom of the tank, he finds a metal wheel, which he turns and then returns to the surface, to find that a 3-meter tall plug had risen out of the ground. Inside it was a turbolift, which led them to a research room.
The Jedi sense the lingering darkness inside, the anger and violent intent that he had sensed on Borleias. They find dead ysalamiri and lightsaber slashes that destroyed droids and cut apart a middle-aged woman. They also find an Imperial-era hibernation tank, one built for a being of 3 meters.
On Vannix, Han and Leia are being bribed by Addath to remain on Vannix and throw their support to her for military materiel that she technically does not control. They catch her in the bribe attempt by use of a holocam newscaster, because they cannot support someone who will make pacts with the Vong instead of fight them, which is what she would do. They arrange for the bribe attempt to be broadcasted as as soon as she leaves the system, so that the Admiral will win and give them the military materiel they were promised by her.
On Coruscant, the team uncovered the records of the "Subject" of the testing in the lab. It turns out he was a human male in who was installed armor plates and exposed to specific growth hormones and cybernetic enhancement past adolescence. He emerged and destroyed the monitoring droids, leaving the team to assume that this Lord Nyax, a three-meter tall Jedi, is wandering around Coruscant, a world where he doesn?t know anything.
Viqi Shesh?s team stumbles across Lord Nyax, and the Vong warriors charge into battle with him. They and the voxyn are slain by the huge Jedi, and Shesh flees. Before this, she had found a tracking device for a ship and now sought to find it, since she is alone.
The Jedi on the team awoke with the ripple of evil sent off by Lord Nyax, and then set out to hunt. They find the dismembered Vong warriors and voxyn, with obvious lightsaber burns on them.
Shesh, still running from the evil of Lord Nyax, the Jedi, the Vong, and the cannibals of Coruscant, finds the ship that her tracking device was attuned to, the Ugly Truth, still spaceworthy, but its exit blocked by rubble.
Han and Leia have now proceeded to the Aphram system, under piratical disguises, although they are found out and arrested. Artoo and Threepio break them out of jail and away from what appears to be a Peace Brigade trap for them. They got offworld and back to Borleias.
Meanwhile, Jaina, Jagged Fel, and Kyp Durron are having an important chat about their relationship. Jaina doesn?t know what she and Kyp are anymore. Certainly not boyfriend and girlfriend or Master and apprentice, and she doesn?t even know if they are partners any longer. She feels, when they are attuned with each other and the Force when they are in combat, that he is readying himself to go off and run someday, sometime. Finally, after some soul-searching, they decide to stay partners, that Kyp won?t go off and try to die alone.
Eldo Davip, commander of the Super Star Destroyer Lusankya, surveys the odd work done to his ship, the long apparatus hidden in the access shaft of the ship. It would mark the end of Davip?s most prestigious command, but prestige wouldn?t mean a thing if the Vong won, so he wished its construction and use well.
On a Vong transport in Coruscant orbit, Tsavong Lah has collected all the priests and shapers who were in on the conspiracy against him. He confronts them about them and takes his revenge, releasing in the transport four rancors who rip the conspirators apart.
Back on Coruscant, the team has uncovered the true identity of Lord Nyax. He was Irek Ismaren, a a possible son of the Emperor, a Dark Jedi in training. He is younger than he should be, which is thirty or so, because his vital processes were slowed. His bones grew for longer than they were supposed to, giving him more muscle mass. As a baby, he was given a computer apparatus implanted in his head to give him more control over the Force. He is imbued with knowledge of lightsaber combat. However, his mother had brought another Dark Jedi into the partnership, and he had gotten into an argument with Irek, and then a battle. Irek killed the other Jedi, but took a lightsaber through the head and technically died; only his vital functions were sustained. A groundquake damaged the hibernation tank and he broke out, killing his mother, who he did not recognize, and everyone else in the complex. He has some deep motivations, such as to destroy Jedi, locate concentrations of the Force and dominate them, and to conquer the galaxy. However, he lacks memory, all emotion but anger, anguish, etc, and linguistics, so it is impossible to reason with him.
Shesh, back at the Ugly Truth, is found by Denua Ku, the leader of the troupe of warriors that was slaughtered by Nyax. He tells her that he escaped and is now prepared to lead a large contingent of warriors to kill the "giant Jeedai". She will return to the worldship after they kill Nyax, he tells her.
The team finds Nyax, who is pleased with the progress of his servants in excavating the construction droid that he will use to batter down the wall. The Vong find him at the same time, and they all attack Nyax and each other.
Kell and Face find Shesh and take from her the locator from the Ugly Truth, in order that they use it to get offworld.
Meanwhile, Nyax faces off against Luke and Mara, who he tries to use the Force to influence themn to assist him in his quest for domination, but they resist, and the battle breaks out. Nyax has lightsabers imbedded in both of his wrists, elbows, and knees. Tahiri joins them in the fight, but it doesn?t look like it is going too well.
The construction droid then begins to plow through the cityscape of Coruscant and pitches all the combatants to the floor. Nyax follows it, and the Jedi him, while Shesh escapes from a wounded Denau Ku.
The droid is heading right for the old location of the Jedi Temple, for unknown reasons. Vong warriors are rushing towards Nyax and the droid, but they are intercepted by huge numbers of natives, controlled by Nyax.
Finally, the Jedi catch up to Nyax, who projects into their heads a command to stop and go fight the Vong. Luke and Mara are about to obey as Nyax pushes sensations of pain into the minds. However, Tahiri, because of the pain and loss that she?s experienced, resists the pain and confronts Nyax. Luke slamed a piece of rubble into his back to distract Nyax. The Jedi together stopped Nyax?s mind manipulation and stood against him together, about to attack before the wall broke open.
The reservoir of pure Force energy slammed into them and through the galaxy, disorienting and confusing all the Jedi. The Jedi Temple had been built over it to protect everyone from it, but it was loose now, and Nyax could drink of it. His expression was of boundless happiness as he drove a hole from where they were to the surface of Coruscant, letting the sunlight through.
The Jedi came to the top of the droid, where coralskippers attacked it. They found that they, too, could use this energy, and used it to send rubble into the air to destroy the skips. Nyax lifted a huge column of rubble in every direction as he floated in the middle of swirling rocks, destroying coralskippers and buildings alike.
Shesh returned to the building where the Ugly Truth had been, and all that was there were military rations and a farewell note from the Wraiths.
The Jedi deliberated shortly on how to fight Nyax. Tahiri suggested that she be able to finish him, saying that he could fight the Jedi by feeling them in the Force, but couldn?t feel the Vong. Since she was both, she could kill him. Tahiri went around as Mara and Luke attacked from the front. She struck him in the back and shattered his bones, and so he fell screaming into the hole that he had created.
Nyax lay at the bottom of the pit he had created and screamed out his last breath, imbuing everything around with his malevolent intent, his last will. He roared out his pain and sent rubble into the air, seeking to destroy anything and everything that he could. He obliterated two cruiser analogs that threatened, and then died.
The Wraiths, feeling sorry for Shesh as she wept there, alone, picked her up in the Ugly Truth, However, she did something unexpected. She said that no Jedi, no Vong, no Noghri, no one could kill her. They were all beneath her. Only Viqi Shesh could kill Viqi Shesh. At that, she stepped out of the viewport and plummeted.
Kell and Luke piloted the Ugly Truth back to Borleias, where Wedge provided the final plan to those assembled. The Starlancer superlaser was a fake, only a ruse to keep the Vong guessing. This was to be their final defense of Borleias, then they would finally retreat. Eldo Davip, commander of the Lusankya, was to pilot the "deadliest single-pilot starfighter the galaxy had ever seen".
Luke was give command of Blackmoon Squadron for the battle and the rest of the elite squadrons; The Rogues, Wild Knights, Taanab Aces, Vanguards, and Twin Suns, lifted off.
Czulkang Lah believed that this attack was an all-out push to kill his son, using the pipelighters? superlaser to destroy his worldship. He had tactics, using trained pilots who could function without a yammosk to kill their elite squadrons, and using mobile dovin basal mines to strip their shields. Charat Kraal was off to capture Jaina Solo, but unbeknownst to him, a modified proton torpedo broadcasting her gravitic signal is what he would be chasing.
Lusankya left orbit and headed straight for Domain Hul, Czulkang Lah?s worldship. Meanwhile, Lah sent two cruiser analogs against the Errant Venture, hoping it to be an easy kill. However, there was deception. As Lusankya had suffered minor battle damage, crews had transferred her weapons to other ships, to replace or add weaponry to them. Terrik?s ship now had a great deal of firepower, surprising and destroying the two jaded cruisers. It then hit hyperspace, leaving Lah to believe that all three ships had perished.
Lusankya, now practically ungunned, only carried one crew member; her captain, Eldo Davip. He flew the great spearhead right at the worldship, preparing for Operation Emperor?s Spear. She was escorted by the elite squadrons who had just abandoned the useless pipefighters, trying to keep her somewhat intact to finish her final mission.
Wedge was nearly the only person left on the ground, as the complex?s ground and starfighter defenses began to crumble.
The large number of coralskippers attacking Lusankya and her escort were beginning to take their toll on the ships and fighters.
Wedge finally ran out of the operations center. His shuttle had been destroyed, so he took an X-wing, the one of Blackmoon Eleven. He would not be idenitifed, so if he died, no one would know how or when. He lifted to protect a freighter than had engine trouble. A rakamat and coralskipper threatened the freighter. Wedge led the skip in pursuit and created a smoke and dust cloud in front of him. He flew right over the rakamat, but the skip flew right into it and destroyed them both, leaving the crew time to escape.
Czulkang Lah finally figured out that it was the intent of the Lusankya to ram Domain Hul and instructed the worldship to get away.
Jaina noticed the forming up of coralskippers to attack and capture her, and put her plan into motion. The torpedo codenamed Goddess, with her gravitic signature, was fired into a dovin basal minefield, while she adjusted her own to become an anonymous pilot, Twin Suns Nine. The skips followed into the minefield. The pursuers did not even act in concert; from different domains, some even wanted to kill instead of capture "Jaina".
The freighter Wedge had escorted finally lifted and was headed out, but then a squadron of skips began to vector in on it.
Charat Kraal finally closed upon "Jaina", she whipped around a dovin basal mine faster than any starfighter could, and slammed into him, obliterating his skip.
Eldo Davip was in the control center on Lusankya, deep inside the hull, steering his ship towards the worldship Domain Hul. The ship was falling apart, but together enough that he could finish his mission. There was a Y-wing in the aft of the tunnel; his escape vessel.
Wedge engaged the skip squadron, and through excellent flying and inventive use of a torpedo, had pared their numbers down to four.
Czulkang Lah noted the protrusion of a "stinger" from the eaten-away hull of Lusankya, but could not understand how an infidel ship could have something so organic. Now, the Star Destroyer Mon Mothma dropped out of hyperspace near Domain Hul, activating its gravity well projectors to make sure the worldship could not jump, and its yammosk jamming, to disrupt the Vong?s battle meld. Also, dovin basal mines were chasing five missiles gravitically configured to resemble the Millenium Falcon right near the worldship, interfering with the dovin basals. Lah contacted his son, to tell him that Borleias had fallen, but that his last words would be for him. Tsavong Lah gave the order to evacuate Domain Hul.
Wedge was able to destroy the remaining four skips, but at the loss of his shields and damage to his fighter. However, a second squadron was closing on the freighter he escorted. He fired upon them to draw them to him, knowing it would he his death. He took a great deal of damage and began to ballistic spin, and thought that was the end.
Eldo Davip lined up the Lusankya on Domain Hul and was about to flee in his Y-wing, but the worldship?s dovin basals sought to deflect the arrowhead. Davip redlined his engines to bring it back on target. He would stay there and make sure everything went according to plan, if he needed to. The prow of the Lusankya hit the worldship and drove in deep. The core was swallowed by the innards of Domain Hul as the superstructure flaked off and stayed on the surface of the giant ship. Then, the tip of the spear inside exploded, detonating the next section, and then the next. Then the worldship began to die.
The Rogues intervened in Wedge?s death, chasing off and destroying the attacking skips, leaving the hero to live and fight another day.
All the forces regrouped and rendezvoused elsewhere, leaving Borleias the Vong?s costliest victory.
Tsavong Lah mused, back on his worldship. Did the gods love him? They had restored his arm to him and taken Borleias back. Did they hate him? They had taken his father from him, the great Czulkang Lah. The universe had grown far stranger to the warmaster.
- This summary is the property of the writer and NJOE.com. This summary is NOT to be reposted in any shape or form without consent from the NJOE.com administration - UPDATE: 5/23/02 (Nom Anor) - Today I bring you a few pieces of info from Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand. Thanks to Ginger for the advance info! Highlight to read:
Not since Emperor Palpatine have the Jedi battled such monstrous evil. Unless they succeed against staggering odds, the galaxy is doomed.
Luke Skywalker's daring mission to halt the Yuuzhan Vong's nefarious plot to overthrow the New Republic is struggling on all fronts. And time is slipping away for Han and Leia Organa Solo, trapped on a small planet whose rulers are about to yield to Yuuzhan Vong pressure to give up the Jedi rebels.
On Coruscant, Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker have made a shocking discovery that is preventing the Yuuzhan Vong from exerting complete control. Luke and Mara are thrust into a fierce battle for their lives. Suddenly, the chances of escaping appear nearly impossible. And in space, another battle rages, one that holds ominous consequences for the New Republic-and for the Jedi themselves...
Dramatis Personae
The Jedi
Luke Skywalker; Jedi Master (male human)
Mara Jade Skywalker; Jedi Master (female human)
Jaina Solo; Jedi Knight, Twin Suns leader (human female)
Kyp Durron; Jedi Master, Twin Suns pilot (human male)
Corran Horn; Jedi Knight, Rogue Squadron pilot (human male)
Tahiri Veila; Jedi student (human female)
With the New Republic Military
General Wedge Antilles (male human)
Colonel Tycho Celchu (male human)
Cononel Gavin Darklighter; Rogue Squadron leader (human male)
Captain Kral Nevil; Rogue Squadron pilot (Quarren male)
Flight Officer Leth Liav; Rogue Squadron pilot (Sullustan female)
Captain Garik "Face" Loran; Wraith Squadron leader (human male)
Kell Tainer (male human)
Elassar Targon (male Devaronian)
Bhindi Drayson (female human)
Baljos Arnjak (male human)
Iella Wessiri Antilles; Intelligence director (female human)
Jagged Fel; Twin Suns pilot (human male)
Zindra Daine; Twin Suns pilot (female human)
Voort "Piggy" saBinring; Twin Suns pilot (male Gamorrean)
Beelyath; Twin Suns pilot (male human)
Sharr Latt; Twin Suns pilot (male human)
Tilath Keer; Twin Suns pilot (female human)
Shawnkyr Nuruodo; Vanguard Squardron leader (female Chiss)
YVH 1-1A (masculine droid)
Civilians
Danni Quee; scientist (female human)
Wolam Tser; holodocumentarian (male human)
Tam Elgrin; holocam operator (male human)
Han Solo; captain, Millennium Falcon (male human)
Leia Organa Solo; Republic ambassador (female human)
With the Yuuzhan Vong
Tsavong Lah; warmaster (male Yuuzhan Vong)
Czulkang Lah; commander (male Yuuzhan Vong)
Nen Yim; shaper (female Yuuzhan Vong)
Kasdakh Buhl; warrior (male Yuuzhan Vong)
Maal Lah; warrior (male Yuuzhan Vong)
Denua Ku; warrior (male Yuuzhan Vong)
Viqi Shesh; former Senator (female human)
Harrar; priest (male Yuuzhan Vong)
Takkhaff Uul; priest (male Yuuzhan Vong)
Ghithra Dal; shaper (male Yuuzhan Vong)
Nom Anor's Indianapolis Adventure! Friday, May 3, 2002 I arrived Friday at about 11:00 AM (it's about a two hour drive from Louisville). I stayed at the wonderful Adam's Mark Hotel which was a short walk from the Indiana Convention Center. My first task upon arrival was to orient myself - the place is BIG! There was an uncountable number of people swarming around me, but luckily the 501st Imperial Legion was there to keep things in order. After a bit of exploring I stood in line for the International Book Give-Away and snagged a copy of Vector Prime through Balance Point in Japanese. Then I ventured up to the second floor for Bob Salvatore's talk on the writing of the Attack of the Clones Novelization and the following panel on The New Jedi Order. I've already posted on the stuff that was discussed, so no need to repeat that. I got to meet all of the authors who were very nice (although one of them smelled kinda funny, but it was hot in there, so I'll give him that.) The majority of the day was spent wandering around and seeing the awesome sights. I got to meet a good many of the people with whom I've developed working friendships with over the interent, including Dan Wallace, Joe Corroney, and of course my good bud Jeff Carlisle. If anyone stopped by Jeff's table you may have seen my face as a Yuuzhan Vong warrior (Ni'Khess) and you could have picked up a UNJOH flyer and experience firsthand the wonders of my computer's printing capacity. In the evening I stopped by Tatooine for "Attack of the Fetts!" The bounty hunting trio was astounding and they all were in good humor. Then back to the hotel room to watch the Mothman Prophecies (I fell alseep if that's any testament to the movie's quality). Saturday, May 4, 2002 After a refreshing night's sleep I hurried back to the convention center in time for the panel on presenting a portfolio to Lucasfilm. Next up was the Contuinity panel with majority of the same people as the NJO panel. Good stuff here too. Bob and Troy were constantly bombarded with the same questions about the deaths of Chewie and Anakin. Without a break I met up with my good mom, who was nice enough to stand in line for McCallum's Specatular, which I must say, was well worth her wait. The things our parents do for us! The show was indeed spectacular, especially the part where Yoda kicks some ass and the fact that it was done digitally. Awesome stuff! I spent the next two hours exploring some more, picking up free stuff, chilling with Jeff, and bumping into some guy named Hayden Christenson. He's a really friendly guy and the perfect choice for Anakin. I watched Life as a House last night, and I have to say - the guy's got talent. After I recovered from that encounter I headed back to Naboo on the second floor to hear John Knoll talk about his work on Episode II. He showed a hilarious video he patched together as a thank-you for the hard workers at ILM - the arena monsters pulling a little John Travolta action to Stayin' Alive. Well all that walking certainly made me hungry so we headed out to P. F. Chang's Chinese Bistro - some of the best Chinese cuisine I've had in my life. The crab wontons are great! Our return from dinner yielded another trip to Naboo, this time to hear Lorne Peterson and his crew talk about the modelmaking process for Episode II. Having failed to acquire both tickets to the 25 Anniversery Concert and the exclusive Jorg Sacul action figure we called it a night and headed off to see Spider-Man. After reading the rest of my report, go see this movie! Sunday, May 5, 2002 Sunday was the shortest of the three days and I wanted to spend most of my time exploring and seeing the Archives exhibit. I listened to Dan Wallace's talk on "Documenting the Magic: The Annals of Star Wars." Dr. David West Reynold was also part of this panel and his story of tracking down the original locations in Tunisia was astounding. After that it was off to "The Art of Attack of the Clones" with Iain McCaig, Dermot Power, Dan Gregoire, and Erik Tiemens. They shared a lot of stories behind the concept art, much more so than The Art of Attack of the Clones book, although I recommend picking this up nonetheless. The last few hours were spent exploring, talking with Jeff (who introduced me to Sean Glenn, the art director for the Star Wars RPG), and spitting some game with Mackenzie, the hot one in the black leather pants at the Gentle Giant Studios booth. After exchanging digits we parted ways and I snapped back to reality, boarded my ship, and headed back to Louisville. Certainly an experience to remember! Only four days to go until Star Wars - Episode II: Attack of the Clones! UPDATE: 5/11/02 (Coopra) - Interested in reading some fan speculation? Some really, really, out there fan speculation? Check out this page for a very, um...well thought out theory connecting the Vong and Zonama Sekot. UPDATE: 5/11/02 (Coopra) - First we break the news of the cover thumbnail being online. Then we're the first ones to mention the full cover at TOS. And now, being the nifty site we are, the Gallery's been updated with not one but TWO Destiny's Way covers: the official TOS version, and a fan version by Jedi Freac, who just won't seem to leave me alone these days. =p UPDATE: 5/10/02 (Nom Anor) Hot on the heels of the thumbnail cover comes the full-size version at the official site. View the First Look: Destiny's Way. I will update tomorrow about my experience at Celebration II, with pictures coming.... when they get developed. UPDATE: 5/10/02 (Coopra) - Huge-o thanks to longtime UNJOHer Jedi Freac for pointing me to Del Rey's Destiny's Way order page, where a thumbnail of the front cover has appeared. It's not much to go by, but if it's there at all, chances are TOS' big front-and-back version should be along any day now. Also, Celebration 2 attendee Beth told me she spoke to Sue Rostoni, who mentioned that neither of Tim Zahn's upcoming books will be out until 2006. The interesting part is that one of them will be in the "Classic Era". That term could theoretically mean anything from Rebellion-era to the NJO, but as we all know, the NJO will be over by '06. That makes this the first confirmation of a post-NJO Luke/Han/Leia novel. Its location in the timeline is still a mystery, but this might be where the aforementioned discovery of Luke and Leia's prequel origins takes place. UPDATE: 5/5/02 (Coopra) - I've talked to Nom, and he's got a nice big follow-up report coming up soon, along with lots of photos. If any of you went to the Celebration and have anything of your own to report, send it on in. Nom also made about 50 UNJOH flyers for Jeff Carlisle to pass out at his booth, and he says they were all taken. Guess that means we'll have a bunch of new visitors soon, huh? UPDATE: 5/5/02 (Nom Anor) - Well folks, I'm back from Celebration II and I had an amazing time. While TF.N may have reported a few bits about the NJO, I have a few lesser known points to let you in on. Some of this may be known already, but prepare yourself...
The fifth and final hardcover will be written by Jim Luceno and
will be called The Unifying Force.
The standalone paperback between the Force Heretic trilogy and The Unifying Force will be
written by Greg Keyes. It does not yet have a title or an outline. I had a chat with
Sue Rostoni after the Continuity panel and she told me this.
In regards to the release date of Rebel Stand there is still some confusion. Sue
Rostoni told me it would be out in August, while at the Del Rey booth I was told it
would be out in May, followed by Traitor in August. I was also given an advance
copy of a fantasy novel (I don't remember the title off the top of my head) to review.
In return the paper said I will be sent a free copy of Traitor when the book is
released in August.
Jim Luceno mentioned that Nen Yim will have a major role in the future.
When asked whether Boba Fett will be appearing, the panel responded "The series isn't
over yet."
When asked whether the spirits of dead Jedi would return to offer advice the panel gave
a "very strong no comment."
Another question was asked in regard to the fate of the captured and devastated planets. The responsse was "Wait and see."
The origin of the name "Yuuzhan Vong" relates the end of the series and will revealed in
one of the later books.
Jim Luceno mentioned that Wraith Squadron will be returned after the Enemy Lines duology.
Ikrit's prophecy regarding Anakin and Tahiri was actually written after Anakin's death
had been planned out. They are still deciding what, if anything, to do with the prophecy.
The finale of the New Jedi Order was replanned as recently as May 3rd. A new major plot
point was developed that wasn't originally planned, and the ending is not yet set in
stone. The NJO Bible used by the authors is 500+ pages now. It is maintained by two editors. When asked if it would ever see print there was no definitive answer, although the panel believed it would be too technical to enjoy. There are no definitive plans for post-NJO series books as of yet. Tim Zahn will be writing two books in the future, but not the NJO. I'll tell you all about the rest of my adventure in Indianapolis a little later. For now, enjoy the latest news. UPDATE: 4/28/02 (Coopra) - Howdy. I'm officially putting out a call to anyone who knows how to set up and manage professional forums. We're looking to move ours to something like Snowball or XMB, but we haven't the first idea how to run those things. If anyone wants to lend a hand, or knows of any other reliable forum sites that would work, let me know. UPDATE: 4/20/02 (Nom Anor) - Some semi-NJO related news for everyone today. Someone within the vast domain of LFL passed along a bit of info regarding The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels, which I'm going to guess will be out in May 2003 (but bear in mind that's just a guess). The new guide will be written by Haden Blackman, a big name from LucasArts and the brains behind the game Starfighter and the comic mini-series Starfighter: Crossbones, not to mention the content supervisor for the upcoming Star Wars Galaxies. The book will also feature color artwork. UPDATE: 4/19/02 (Coopra) - Not to be outdone by alternative sources, TOS has posted its trademark "First Look" feature for Traitor. Nothing new really, but it's the first "official" appearance of the cover. UPDATE: 4/18/02 (Coopra) - A veeeeery veeeeeery early excerpt from Traitor has shown up online. Go to TFN Books to get links to the original image files, or click here for a typed version, courtesy of Jacen. UPDATE: 4/16/02 (Coopra) - I've been hearing a lot of people complain about Luceno doing the fifth hardcover, especially people that wanted Tim Zahn to do it. Well, early this morning, TFN reported that Zahn himself told a fan he's just signed on to do a TPM - AOTC bridge novel. To me, this is a hundred times cooler than anything he could've done in the NJO, and here's why. There are some mild AOTC spoilers toward the end, so reader beware. The NJO is a pre-scripted storyline. Right now, somewhere deep within the Lucasfilm vaults or whatever, is a piece of paper or a disk that tells exactly how this story's gonna end. As I see it, this is beneficial for two reasons: one, we get a lengthy story that allows more much more consistency then the Bantam era did, and two, it gives LFL a chance to try out a bunch of new authors, while still keeping control over what stories they're telling, which prevents disasters like the Bounty Hunter Wars trilogy. It's cautious experimentation. Even the handful of SW veterans that have written NJO books got to venture into new territory - Stackpole and Allston finally got to focus on the Skywalker/Solo family, and Tyers got to take Mara Jade and the three Solo young'ns for a spin. Which brings us to Tim Zahn. He invented Mara and the Solo twins, for cryin' out loud. He's done Luke and Mara to death. Granted, he did them quite well (understand that this isn't criticism of Zahn's books in any way, shape, or form, just a reasoning of why he shouldn't be doing NJO), but the NJO is about trying new things. Until the NJO, he was also the only one to use the Chiss, and look at how well newbie Elaine Cunningham did with them. So I've established why he shouldn't do NJO. But I'm absolutley hyper about him doing a prequel book. Why? Well, for starters, it'd give him a chance to address some of the dating inconsistencies from way back in the Thrawn Trilogy. And with that out of the way, just think about all the prequel-era goodies he left sitting around a decade ago that can now finally be fleshed out. Imagine the possibilities: Obi-Wan and Anakin sent to oversee the departure of the Outbound Flight Project. Jango Fett hired by a competitor of Rendili StarDrive to sabotage the Katana Fleet on its maiden voyage. A young Gilad Pellaeon, going into battle from the bridge of an Acclamator-class starship (the SSD-looking ships from the Clone War trailer). He could even throw in the origin of the Spaarti cloning cylinders, and tie it into what the Kaminoans are using. I drool just thinking about it. So what would you really rather see, a NJO Zahn novel, that's structurally exactly the same as if anyone else had written it, or a prequel Zahn novel, boldly going where no Zahn has gone before? Oh yeah, I added a relevant poll to see just how many of you get where I'm coming from. UPDATE: 4/14/02 (Coopra) - Almost forgot. A couple new summaries have been circulating since back when the site was down, and I'd been meaning to stick them up for anyone who hasn't encountered them yet. Here ya go: Traitor Deep in the bowels of the captured capital planet of Coruscant, a hunted Jedi is hidden with an unexpected mentor who teaches him new ways to understand the Force - and what it means to be a Jedi.
Destiny's Way
The time of reckoning is close at hand. Events in
the New York Times bestselling Star Wars The New Jedi Order series take a decisive turn,
as the heroes of the New Republic prepare for their most volatile clash yet with the
enemy - from without and within.
In the war against the ruthless Yuuzhan Vong, the fall of Coruscant leaves the New
Republic divided by internal strife, and on the verge of bowing to conquest. But those
who steadfastly refuse to consider surrender - Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa
Solo, and their children and comrades-in-arms - are determined to seize victory against
overwhelming odds. And now, finally, there are signs that the tide may be turning in the
New Republic?s favor.
After capturing crucial Yuuzhan Vong intelligence, Jedi fighter-pilot Jaina Solo prepares
to lead a daring surprise strike against an enemy flagship. Meanwhile, Jaina?s brother
Jacen - liberated from the hands of the enemy and newly schooled in an even greater
mastery of the Force by the Jedi Knight Vergere - is eagerly poised to bring his unique
skills to bear against the invaders. And on Mon Calamari, the New Republic?s provisional
capital, the retired, ailing hero Admiral Ackbar has conceived a major tactical plan that
could spell the beginning of a swift end for the Yuuzhan Vong. Always knew Ackbar'd be the one to save us all. =) UPDATE: 4/14/02 (Coopra) - Big news today, kids. GhentZ has popped back into his old role of guy-who-makes-my-news and given the net two beauties to start out the week with: the cover for Traitor, and the long-awaited revelation of the Hardcover 5 author - James Luceno! As far as that cover goes, I definitely like the symmetry with it and Dark Journey (even if DJ wasn't the greatest cover to begin with), But I don't know why they'd put a decent-looking Coruscant scene on it when there's no way in hell any part of it still looks like that. It'd be much more interesting to have seen a couple smashed buildings covered in that green stuff. Maybe a Golan shooting out of orbit in the background... *achem* Anyway, I couldn't be happier with the picking of Luceno for HC5. The only person I might have been happier with is Stackpole, and even I have to admit, he's written plenty already. UPDATE: 4/12/02 (Nom Anor) - It's finally finished (well almost anyways). The 4th edition of The Essential Guide to the Yuuzhan Vong has now been uploaded to the Yuuzhan Vong Database. With the exception of Part II: The History of the Yuuzhan Vong and Part IV: The Yuuzhan Vong Bestiary, the Database is complete. I have reformated the finished sections and they are now much easier to read - each entry can now be clearly dilineated. The other two sections will be updated very soon, but since the majority was finished I wanted to go ahead and get in online. Although there is a link to the downloadble version, it has not been uploaded yet. I will do so when I have finished the last two sections. After finishing them I plan to get started right away on a major update to the 4th edition, which will include all of Rebel Dream and at least one new appendix. I hope you enjoy the new version, and let me apologize for taking so long with it! UPDATE: 4/8/02 (Nom Anor) - Well, it appears as though most of my updates were swallowed by the endless void that is the internet. If memory serves me correctly, I previously confirmed that the Action Fleet worldship rumor was indeed false, I posted a preview of Knights of the Old Republic, and I started to bring the Yuuzhan Vong Database up to 4th edition status (which was all deleted). I've recovered rather quickly, and the full guide should be ready to go in the near future (I mean it this time). UPDATE: 3/31/02 (Coopra) - I just brought the Release Schedule up to date. If anyone out there has a copy of Rebel Dream with a clean spine (i.e., not bent and scratched) and wants to scan it for me, I'd be much abliged. | |
