‘The High Republic: The Battle of Jedha’ Hardcover Script Book Available Now!
As Phase 2 of the High Republic publishing initiative heads into its second half, readers find themselves making room on their bookshelves for every piece of the puzzle. If you fall into that category and didn’t hear, The Battle of Jedha‘s script by George Mann is available now wherever books are sold.
Released as an audio drama earlier this year, this hardcover edition from Random House Worlds follows the same styling of previous script books, such as Tempest Runner and Dooku: Jedi Lost. As an audiobook guy in general, one thing I don’t do enough of is follow along while the story is being read to me. This version of The Battle of Jedha encourages it as you flip through the pages and see how vital stage direction and sound effects are to the execution of this story.
In my full review of The Battle of Jedha, I praised the production and performances of the entire cast. While the story didn’t necessarily meet my lofty expectations, hindsight is already beginning to favor Mann’s mini-epic. If they stick the landing over the coming months, having The Battle of Jedha as a memento in your collection will make it a prize worth having.
Looking back, George Mann’s biggest idea was the aspiration for peace. Unfortunately, The Battle of Jedha saw the Forever War between Eiram and E’ronoh burst back into life due to the meddling of the Path of the Open Hand in conjunction with those who never wanted the war to end in the first place. That is where peace becomes complex because everyone finds it differently.
One of the best scenes in The Battle of Jedha comes when Jedi Masters Silandra Sho and Creighton Sun are together visiting the kyber mirrors. Silandra finds her lost Padawan at peace with the Force and finally finds her own inner peace she didn’t realize she needed. Creighton, meanwhile, spent the entirety of the conflict burdening himself with the fates of two planets. He found peace when he came to terms and realized he didn’t have to do it alone, culminating with a passionate plea to those who wanted nothing but bloodshed.
The fallout is already being felt across this phase of High Republic storytelling far and wide. The central conflict goes back to Dalna, with the schemes of the Mother and the Path under a greater microscope than ever before. Cataclysm and the remaining novels will pick up on that main story thread. The battle’s impact will also influence Phase 2’s ancillary stories that were left mostly absent from the audio conflict.
For my personal tastes, the most significant absence was felt in the Leveler, who had a minor role in The Battle of Jedha. The Force-eating creature was relegated to threatening the life of Silandra Sho before being taken by the Path’s Herald when he riled up the people of Jedha into a frenzy. The Battle of Jedha never followed up on either, but Marvel’s The High Republic comic series is here to save the day where it gladly has picked up the ball.
Cavan Scott’s comic didn’t receive much spotlight in the audio drama, making this marriage of two mistakes very welcome. The Leveler and some other minor details, like the conflict at the Temple of the Kyber, take center stage over the next several issues. This will go as far as issue #8, due this April. The final two issues of the series, issues 9 and 10, do not have a solicitation yet.
Meanwhile, Dark Horse is still ramping up its High Republic Adventures line on the other side of the Star Wars comic aisle. According to recent solicitations, the events on Jedha will soon be seen in the main The High Republic Adventures series. Daniel José Older’s series has struggled to find its footing through the first two issues, and that seems to be changing for Maz Kanata and Sav. The time for fun and games is ending for a series that desperately needs a sense of urgency, and what better urgency than throwing it into a warzone?
Besides the fact that this hardcover looks excellent on the shelf next to the rest of the High Republic novels, The Battle of Jedha represents a turning point. The script is a joy to revisit, but knowing it serves as a crucial moment in Star Wars makes it worth adding to your collection. As if I had to have to convince any High Republic connoisseur of that. Phase 2 has been a ride, and as the end nears, The Battle of Jedha could be the linchpin that elevates so much more still to come.
Star Wars: The High Republic: The Battle of Jedha is available now in hardcover wherever books are sold. Special thanks to Del Rey and Random House Worlds for the ARC used in this review.
Nate uses his love for Star Wars and movies in general as a way to cope with the pain of being a Minnesota sports fan. When he's not at the theater, you can usually find Nate reading a comic, listening to an audiobook, or playing a Mario video game for the 1,000th time.
