Two New Star Wars Novels From Del Rey Announced For 2016!

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Well, 2015 has definitely been the Year of Star Wars on so many levels, one of them of course being the slew of new novels to add to the ever expanding official Star Wars canon. The excitement doesn’t look like it’s going to be letting up anytime soon as Del Rey has just announced two new upcoming releases for 2016.  Hit the jump for the titles of the upcoming novels, their release dates, and non-finalized covers.

 

 

The first up hits bookstore shelves on March 29th and is written by Lost Stars author Claudia Gray.  It’s interesting that this book is being published by Del Rey as that suggests a departure from the young adult department.  Del Rey has been the sole publisher for all of the canon adult novels thus far.

 

Could this be a follow up story to Lost Stars?  Does this novel follow the characters of Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree or is this a brand new story all its own?

 

New Republic - Bloodline Cover

The second hits shelves on May 31st and is the sequel to Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath.  We now have a title for the second installment in the book trilogy that picked up shortly after Return of the Jedi – Aftermath: Life Debt. 

 

The title is interesting to me as I immediately thought of Chewbacca’s relationship to Han Solo.  There was an interlude in Aftermath where Han and Chewie set off to Kashyyyk to liberate the Wookiee’s planet from the Imperial remnant controlling it.  Maybe we will see more on this storyline in the sequel?  I certainly hope so, but I am guessing that the bulk of the story will follow the new characters we were introduced to in the first book.

 

Aftermath - Life Debt Cover

Special thanks to Cantina member Nick Skywalker for the heads up!

 

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Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

Jordan Pate (Hard Case)

Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

54 thoughts on “Two New Star Wars Novels From Del Rey Announced For 2016!

  • October 10, 2015 at 5:33 pm
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    “life Debt”…. Please tell me Jar Jar is in it.

    • October 10, 2015 at 8:49 pm
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      No no, thatsa moi bombad idea, dere.

  • October 10, 2015 at 5:33 pm
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    YES Claudia Gray just listen to her interview on Jedi Council I love that lady. Lost Stars was amazing. Thane and Ciena we’re develop so well. I really hope this is continuation of their story.

  • October 10, 2015 at 5:33 pm
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    Kudos to Claudia Gray for getting another opportunity to write a Star Wars novel. I really enjoyed Lost Stars and can’t wait for her next offering.

    Wendig, on the other hand…yikes. He can butcher his own Star Wars characters all he likes — I won’t be reading any more of his work — but I hope Lucasfilm is smart enough to keep him away from Han and the rest of the gang.

  • October 10, 2015 at 5:59 pm
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    I just ordered “Lost Stars” after watching the Jedi Council podcast and hearing others praise the book. I am using the excuse it’s for my 14yr old son who likes his Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner books but I am definitely snagging it first when the Amazon parcel drops though the door

  • October 10, 2015 at 6:24 pm
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    Exclusive excerpt from Wendig’s “Aftermath: Life Debt”…

    Baby Kylo cries. Hearty lungs. Loud cries. Han stumbles into the nursery like a Twi-Lek drunk on bantha-nog at the Mos Eisley cantina on Boonta Eve. Han needs sleep. Lots of sleep. But Kylo cries so Han doesn’t sleep. When does the fun begin?

    “Our little nerf-herder needs to be changed.” Leia yells from their space bedroom.

    Duh, Darth Obvious. Han needs sleep.

    “Grab the keys to the Falcon, Chewie. We gotta pick up some space diapers.”

    Bummer. Chewie hates Star-Mart. They don’t like serving his kind.

    • October 10, 2015 at 6:39 pm
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      that made me smile. nice work 😀

    • October 10, 2015 at 8:15 pm
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      LMAO That was great! Very spot on.You caputred pretty much everything I hated about that pile of crap novel in one short comment. Good job!

    • October 10, 2015 at 8:48 pm
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      That was so brutally accurate, lol.

    • October 10, 2015 at 9:02 pm
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      Brilliant!

      After the massive bombardment of negative reviews for Aftermath (mine included), I was really hoping that Disney would re-think their plans for using Chuck Wendig. He has firmly convinced me not to buy any of his upcoming novels, but rather, just catch the synopsis online.

      I did like the other novels, however!

    • October 11, 2015 at 1:24 am
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      That was hilarious! You totally nailed what it’s like to read that garbage. If anyone reading these comments hasn’t read Aftermath and is considering doing so, Steve00020 just gave you a perfect example of what you’re in for!

  • October 10, 2015 at 6:28 pm
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    I’m sure New republic: Bloodline is a sequel to Lost Stars. Why? It had such an open ending, it seems that Nash’ll do something yet. SPOILERS

    • October 10, 2015 at 8:10 pm
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      See, It might be cool to do a sequel but I would prefer it to follow someone else as I rally like how Thane and Ciena’s story ended, maybe following Nash though.

  • October 10, 2015 at 6:44 pm
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    I’m reading A New Dawn now. I’ve only read three or four books in the past. Anyone have a suggestion for what (new Canon) book to read next?

    • October 10, 2015 at 6:59 pm
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      I’d definitely suggest Dark Disciple, especially if you’re a fan of the Clone Wars. That’s my favourite Canon novel so far. I haven’t read Lost Stars yet but it’s been getting a lot of praise, so it’s probably worth checking out!

      • October 10, 2015 at 8:43 pm
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        I hope to get to all of them, thanks!

    • October 10, 2015 at 7:09 pm
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      Lost Stars, without doubt

    • October 10, 2015 at 8:12 pm
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      Best of the new canon, imo, are Lords of the Sith, Tarkin, and Lost Stars. I’d recommend all three of those very highly, though I’ve honestly really enjoyed all the new canon novels, even the young readers ones, except for Aftermath, which was horrendous.

    • October 10, 2015 at 11:59 pm
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      Lords of the Sith was awesome. Dark Disciple was great. Stay light years away from Aftermath. It was absolutely f**king horrible and incredibly disappointing. Just started Lost Stars, and the 2 chapters I’ve read so far are great. Disney/Lucasfilm promoted the hell out of Aftermath and completely left Lost Stars in the dark.The only reason I knew Lost Stars even existed was thanks to the fans. Does Lucasfilm not read or have any idea how good or horrible these CANON books are before they hit the shelves?! Isn’t that the point of the story group?! To guide the storylines onto the right path and filter out garbage like Aftermath? How the hell does Wendig get to write another book after that disaster?!! Lost a lot of faith in the story group after reading Aftermath. It’s promoted as a book that is part of ‘The Journey to the Force Awakens’. Reading that piece of garbage made my LITERARY journey to TFA fly right off a cliff.

    • October 11, 2015 at 6:12 am
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      Lost Stars. You won’t regret it.

  • October 10, 2015 at 6:52 pm
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    Claudia Gray’s Lost Stars is easily one of the best so immediately I’m exited for her new one. As far as the 2nd Aftermath goes, well I guess we might get a plot-point or 2 so that’s good even if its written poorly.

  • October 10, 2015 at 7:00 pm
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    I’m gonna go out on a limb and bet that “New Republic: Bloodline” is somehow significant in setting up TFA’s characters – with the release date being plenty after the movie comes out and all.

  • October 10, 2015 at 7:33 pm
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    I read Aftermath, it wasn’t great. However, like it or hate it, it sets up what is to come for the missing 30 years. I really found it hard to believe the Empire was doing so poorly only a few months after Endor in both military and political fronts. I’ll read the next one anyways but I haven’t been pleased to read the really nasty responses the author has had to some of his critics.

    • October 10, 2015 at 9:08 pm
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      Wait “I’ll read the next one anyways” but “I haven’t been pleased to read the really nasty responses the author has had to some of his critics.”….so you want to buy his book and patronize a guy who disparages the Star Wars community like that? I am confused.

      • October 10, 2015 at 10:04 pm
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        I’ll read it, doesn’t mean I like the guy, maybe I’ll get it from the Library though 🙂

  • October 10, 2015 at 8:14 pm
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    Here’s where it sits in the timeline.

    Claudia Gray announces she’s writing a new novel: Star Wars: New Republic:
    Bloodline,set 6 years before TFA #StarWars #NYCC

    • October 10, 2015 at 8:20 pm
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      Wait… really??? It’s set 6 years before TFA??? Holy crap! That’s amazing freaking news! And we made this happen! I wouldn’t doubt at all that we, the fans, made this happen with our outpouring of love for Lost Stars, so Lucasfilm/Disney gave her a something much more significant for her next novel! So excited to read this!

      • October 10, 2015 at 9:07 pm
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        But if Disney is listening…why is Chuck Wendig writing a sequel in the “aftermath” of having created the worst Star Wars novel of all times?(I agree about Lost Stars, though!)

        • October 11, 2015 at 1:54 am
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          Wouldn’t be surprised if he has a contract to do multiple titles. It’s the only way I can understand how he’s allowed a second book after seeing how poorly Aftermath has been received.

          • October 11, 2015 at 2:05 am
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            Yes, he’s doing all three.

    • October 10, 2015 at 8:39 pm
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      Also, Aftermath: Empire’s End announced.

    • October 10, 2015 at 8:59 pm
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      Please be a sequel to Lost Stars, that is my favorite book out of the new canon, it’s so well done! Tarkin and Lords of the Sith are up there too, but this was so satisfying for being just a young-adult book!

      • October 10, 2015 at 9:05 pm
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        That’s what I’m reading now. Very enjoyable. As to this being a sequel? I don’t think it is. I was following the live Twitter feed and a question was asked about a sequel to the book. The answer was: Always in motion the future is.

  • October 10, 2015 at 9:03 pm
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    Autobuy on Claudia Gray’s book. Autopass on Wendig’s nonsense. I would have thought that the Star Wars Story Group had some out in their contract with Wendig that if his book averaged below three stars in reviews and he acted like a total fool on Twitter that they could escape him…alas, he will write another piece of rubbish. At least we have the Gray announcement as a palette cleanser! Sorry, Chuck…the word is out and your second book will crash and burn. Fool me once…shame on you, fool me twice…

  • October 10, 2015 at 10:22 pm
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    I read Tarkin, A New Dawn, and Aftermath. I did not like any of them, they were just dreck, like somebody just sat down at the keyboard and banged out the book as quick as possible. No heart, no soul, the writers had nothing to say.

    I did like The Darth Plageusis novel but that’s not canon.

    But I’m done reading this kind of BS novels, this stuff really seems like it belongs at the grocery store next to the romance novels.

    I’m sticking with old classic novels for the time being at least they have heart and are free under public domain!

    • October 11, 2015 at 1:02 am
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      You must have been smoking crack the night you read “Tarkin”. Because that is one of the best Star Wars novel’s ever written.

      • October 11, 2015 at 1:50 am
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        I thought it was kind of boring. They could of summed it all up in like 3 pages in another book with Tarkin explaining why he named the ship that. A New Dawn was at least fun though overall disappointing.

        Aftermath was a giant let down, they marketed it as something it wasn’t.

    • October 11, 2015 at 1:44 am
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      Lords of the Sith by Paul Kemp. Check it out. You won’t be disappointed…

      • October 11, 2015 at 1:52 am
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        The concept sounds a little cheesy but I have thought about picking it up based on reviews. But everyone seems to like Tarkin and I thought it was meh.

    • October 11, 2015 at 6:10 am
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      Lost Stars is better than all of those combined.

    • October 12, 2015 at 3:20 am
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      Glanced through most of them. Then I lost my phone and had re-download them. Only book that intrigued me was the very ending of Aftermath. The second novel in the trilogy hopefully will shed some light on who this mystery character is but I can see it veering away completely since they have until 2019 to stretch out the mystery. And cross promoting the novels with a new animated series set in the post ROTJ setting is a good marketing stragegy of course.

  • October 10, 2015 at 11:05 pm
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    The last book in the Aftermath trilogy will be called Empire’s End. They should call it Wendig’s End.

    • October 11, 2015 at 1:14 am
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      No kidding. They should have pulled the plug on that guy after the first horror fest and gotten a new author to actually write good stories for the next 2. He swindled how much money off the SW fans so far?! Twice more is a joke. He won’t be getting another dime of my money.

  • October 11, 2015 at 1:08 am
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    They can keep the Aftermath Trilogy. LOL. not being a troll either…pure honesty. Cannot wait to read New Republic: Bloodline though.

    • October 11, 2015 at 6:09 am
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      Agreed completely.

    • October 15, 2015 at 7:35 pm
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      matthew stover

  • October 11, 2015 at 1:39 am
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    Is there going to be an update to this regarding the other announced books and comic today?

  • October 11, 2015 at 5:21 am
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    I hope it’s a Lost Stars sequel as it was left open ended, It’s far and away the best new EU book, and they have plenty of story to tell in the three decade lead up to TFA. Not so enthusiastic about the Aftermath sequel as the first one was garbage and even the title is unoriginal. I’d honestly be more interested in a Droids novel that about their history from TPM to TFA than another lame “bridge” novel that lacks the main characters.

  • October 11, 2015 at 7:50 am
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    I think I am finally convinced not to get Aftermath which was on top of my list. I will check out the rest. Thanks guys!

  • October 12, 2015 at 5:39 am
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    Life Debt might refer to Chewie and Han as Chewie feels he owes one to Han for saving him.

  • October 12, 2015 at 9:40 pm
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    need more of lukes story post jedi pre force awakens. after the movie is released they should show it

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