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Only Sith Deal In Absolutes!

by: Halagad

date posted: Jul 21, 2005 5:10 PM | updated: Aug 30, 2006 12:56 AM

Vader: The Ultimate Guide

Note: With the release of the Vader Guide this past week at Comic-Con International, I decided to split the Memorable EU Moments and Ultimate Vader Guide blog into separate entries to allow discussion of each independently.

In other Star Wars news: while I don't know why it hasn't been publicized more widely, there will be a very cool special publication called Vader: The Ultimate Guide available this July, I believe, to which I contributed a fair amount of work. Other acknowledged contributors include fan-favorites Joe Corroney (Star Wars Empire comics), author Daniel Wallace (The New Essential Chronology), and author Karen Traviss (Republic Commando: Hard Contact), who has written a Vader short story for the publication set shortly after Revenge of the Sith. Juicy.

Update: Also, for those of you who received the Star Wars Insider e-mail hyping the Ultimate Vader Guide, you already know that artists Jan Duursema (Star Wars Republic comics), Chris Trevas (Star Wars Insider and the WEG rpg), Tommy Lee Edwards (Wizards of the Coast Star Wars rpg), and Matt Busch (Star Wars Topps cards and WEG rpg) are also contributing. The "Path of Evil" text that appears next to Chris Trevas' illustration of Owen and Beru in the e-flier is part of my contribution to the Vader Guide. The book makes its debut at this year's San Diego Comic-Con International, July 13-17.

Update: Finally, you can read the official word from Lucasfilm on the guide in this feature from starwars.com.

Update: It's in my hands! I'm very happy with the way the look of the book came out. It's visual heavy, and has some exceptionally striking new art. My favorites include (impromptu titles follow) a hypnotic "X-Ray Vader" illustration by Tommy Lee Edwards, "Vader vs. the Ewoks" by Bryan Fradente, and Joe Corroney and Brian Miller's "Vader's Remorse."

The guide should be a joy for any fan of Star Wars and Vader. But fret not hardcore Star Warriors. There's something special in here for you too. For example:

- An elaboration of the events of the New Sith Wars, including the "Darth" name of the renegade Jedi who started it all...

- Whatever happened to Qui-Gon Jinn's lightsaber?

- A cameo by a certain indestructible Sith mitt.

- Details behind Anakin's assignation of the title Tan.

- The reconciliation of conflicting accounts concerning the construction of Anakin's podracer.

- A bridging of the events following Vader's fleeing of the Death Star as depicted in Empire: Savage Heart and Scoundrel's Luck.

- An elaboration of this line from the original Star Wars novelization, spoken to Luke by Garven "Dave" Dreis, a.k.a Red Leader, on the eve of the Battle of Yavin: "I met your father once when I was just a boy, Luke. He was a great pilot. You'll do all right out there. If you've got half your father's skill, you'll do a damn sight better than all right."

And that's just in my sections! Enjoy fanboys and girls! ~ Abel G. Pe�a

BLOG INDEX

MYSPACE PROFILE

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The Vader: The Ultimate Guide is now completely sold out, but you can often find it listed on ebay or Amazon.com.

http://blogs.starwars.com/abelgpena/14

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	mavrick889 Here's where the fun begins - timelines, continuity and that sort of thing
date Posted: Jul 21, 2005 8:39 PM A bridging of the events following Vader's fleeing of the Death Star as depicted in Empire: Savage Heart and Scoundrel's Luck. Awesome. This was a topic I was planning on touching in a future blog (which I haven't updated in quite some time, sadly) but I'm glad this wasn't forgotten (I figured you'd be the one to help smooth this one over).

	Halagad Only Sith Deal In Absolutes!
date Posted: Jul 21, 2005 9:50 PM Chances are you'll still be able to run wild with it, Mav. LFL wanted to keep the Vader Guide new reader friendly, so I wasn't able to elaborate in the way I usually would have. Nontheless, it's a start!

	Rainbow Droideka Aren't you a little short for an egg?
date Posted: Jul 24, 2005 7:38 PM Do you know if the guide is available to order from anywhere besides the IDG site? And is it still in stock there?

SCRAPINFRAME

date Posted: Jul 25, 2005 9:14 AM

since we're on the subject of vader......i came across my dads org copy of splinter on the minds eye book......it mentions the kaiburr crystal in there,as how they spelled it.so how much of this novel is gl's visiono or striclty unrelated events.i mean the crystal was mentioned there in 1978,and basically luke and vader duel over it,in a very heated battle. and vader gets damaged,talks about the crystal having some healing powers,bcause luke uses it to heal leia's wounds.yet the crystal is kinda new with all the prequel stuff.any connections to the vision.......

	Korpil A Verpine's blog
date Posted: Aug 25, 2005 9:45 AM Man! Congratulations! I received the guide the past week and I've dissected it! Your work is superb as usual, and congratulations must be done also to Dan Wallace which compiled Anakin's story in such a great way. I have recommended the guide to the readers of my news bulletin to acquire it, because it's such a lavish piece of work!

	Korpil A Verpine's blog
date Posted: Aug 25, 2005 9:48 AM By the way, I had the pleasure to interview Abel himself, you can read the interview in English here, or its Spanish translation here. Why do I bring this up? Because in the last part of the interview, Abel explains a bit the origin of the word "Tan". You will be able to understand better where this little detail came from.

	Halagad Only Sith Deal In Absolutes!
date Posted: Aug 25, 2005 2:00 PM Do you know if the guide is available to order from anywhere besides the IDG site? And is it still in stock there? That's the only place I know of, Rainbow Droideka.

	Halagad Only Sith Deal In Absolutes!
date Posted: Aug 25, 2005 2:02 PM Hey SCRAPINFRAME. References to the Kaiburr Crystal can be found in some of the earliest drafts of A New Hope. You can find information about a lot of these references by reading a terrific book called the Star Wars Annotated Screenplays by, I believe, Mark Cotta Vaz.

	Halagad Only Sith Deal In Absolutes!
date Posted: Aug 25, 2005 2:05 PM Korpil! How are ya, you old pirate. You nailed it: if there's one word for the Vader Guide, its lavish. The look of the book alone is such a treat, especially with all the new art inside.

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