Back in April 2019 at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, Lucasfilm teased a new project. “Project Luminous” was introduced as something to watch for in the future. Last night, we finally found out more about it. Via press at a meeting at Disney Studios, we discovered the news about Star Wars: The High Republic, a new publishing initiative involving adult books, YA books, and graphic novels. Five authors that have previously worked on Star Wars in the literary world are on board. Each will be releasing work based in the High Republic setting.
What’s the High Republic?
The High Republic era takes place about 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace. It is the same Republic, same Jedi, but before the system started to go downhill. The Jedi really were peacekeepers vs fighting in a war. There was lots of expansion and exploration in the Outer Rim. This should be a fantastic new playground in which to tell completely new stories about our beloved galaxy far, far away.
Who are the authors?
The authors involved are Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, Daniel José Older, Cavan Scott, and Charles Soule. Claudia Gray is by far one of my favorite authors. She gave us Lost Stars, Bloodline, Leia: Princess of Alderaan, and Master & Apprentice. I am looking forward to seeing more from her in this new era. Cavan Scott wrote Dooku: Jedi Lost, an audio drama that gives us more background on Count Dooku. Daniel José Older brought us into the world of Han Solo with his Last Shot novel about Han and Lando.
When will the books be out?
The first books in the High Republic setting are releasing around the time of Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in August. They are Into the Dark (a YA novel) by Claudia Gray, A Test of Courage (a middle grade novel) by Justina Ireland, The High Republic Adventures (a comic book series) by Daniel José Older, The High Republic (a Marvel comic book series) by Cavan Scott, and Light of the Jedi (an adult novel) by Charles Soule.
Although this announcement might be disappointing to some fans since it doesn’t currently involve any more films or TV shows, I’m looking forward to these new entries into the world of Star Wars. I started reading some of the canon novels at the beginning of 2018, and it has deepened my understanding and interest in this galaxy far, far away. I can’t wait to get my hands on these new books and learn more about this era and the Jedi!
