Star Wars: Blogs | Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka | It's Away! First Draft of the Star Wars Atlas Submitted

Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka

by: Dan Wallace

date posted: Aug 12, 2007 9:32 PM

It's Away! First Draft of the Star Wars Atlas Submitted

The first draft of STAR WARS: THE ESSENTIAL ATLAS (working title? I'm still not sure) has been submitted to Del Rey.

This book, written by myself and Jason Fry, will be the deepest look Lucasfilm has ever allowed into the geography of our favorite galaxy far, far away. There's lots more still to do on this project -- and our draft could still undergo heavy rewrites -- so take everything with a grain of salt at this early date. But I thought it would be a good idea to address some of the questions that I've been getting:

Q: Is this a star charts book, or is it a new version of The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons?

A: Yes! The Atlas will combine extensive star charts/maps with planet profiles like the ones in the original EGPM (though almost certainly laid out differently).

Q: Will the book be light years better than the original EGPM?

A: Yes, light years. I can say that because I wrote the original, and realize that I spent way too much time recapping plots instead of actually describing planets. Hey, it was my first book.

Q: When's it coming out?

A: 2008. More than that I can't say, but certainly no earlier than next summer.

Q: So what's in it already?

A: We're still at first-draft stage, so full caveats, but in broad strokes the book is equal parts cosmology, planet profiles, political structure, colonization, history, the sweep and scale of wars, and bulleted lists presenting miscellaneous items of kewlness. I mean, I like Star Trek: Star Charts, but it's just charts. By contrast, the Atlas will hopefully feel closer in spirit to classic, meaty RPG resources like Platt's Starport Guide or Han Solo and the Corporate Sector Sourcebook.

More to come!

Dan
(writing projects and current releases)

http://blogs.starwars.com/danwallace/79

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	Trak Nar The Ramblin' Rodian
date Posted: Aug 12, 2007 10:19 PM Awesome! Definetly adding it to my library when it comes out. Now submit my theories while you're at it. >>; Just kidding about submitting 'em. ...Or am I? ominous "dun dun duuuunnn!" No, seriously, I'm just kidding.

	Master Ki-Aaron-Mundi I was a Teenage Jedi
date Posted: Aug 13, 2007 12:08 AM Very cool! I hadn't heard about this, but if it's anywhere near the quality of the New Essential Guide to Droids (or any of your other Essential Guides, for that matter), I'm sure it'll be great! Already looking forward to it! ...As a side note, I had no idea the Essential Guide to Planets and Moons was your first book!

	jSarek jSarek's Infonet
date Posted: Aug 13, 2007 3:52 AM I don't believe I've told you or Jason lately that you're awesome. You're awesome. That is all. Okay, that's not all, because I must ask . . . was Porkins just a random pick, or does he have some hidden significance to the Atlas that I'm not noticing?

	Darth NTM Do Nautolans Dream of Aquatic Sheep?
date Posted: Aug 13, 2007 5:40 AM JSarek, I'm guessing the Atlas reveals everything you need to know about the deep fried fat deposits of Bestine IV.... (if you get the joke without Wookieepedia, I give you +10,000 fanboy points...)

	Rainbow Droideka Aren't you a little short for an egg?
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 1:51 AM OMG this sounds AWESOME! I think it's a picture of Porkins because the book is going to BLOW OUR MINDS (kind of like how Vader blew Porkins' X-Wing to bits). I have noticed that you spent a lot of time on plots in the EGPM, but it wasn't bad at all for a first book! And you've gotten a lot better since then. The New Essential Guide to Droids is exceptional!

	Sompeetalay Sompeetalay's Source Blog
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 5:25 AM This sounds like a truly cool book. I was hoping it would come one day and you'll be the best author to do it. I hope it will settle some facts that are now uncertain about the location of several planets. And I also hope it will deal with planets from the spin-offs such as Droids and the Clone Wars.

	Dan Wallace Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 6:57 AM New information revealed only in the Atlas: Porkins built the Corellian system. And the Maw.

	Jason Fry
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 8:19 AM And then he ate them.

	Jade Sabre777 A luminous being, I am...
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 9:55 AM Awesome! I can't wait!!

	Dan Wallace Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 1:24 PM And then he ate them. Brilliant! Behold the power of co-authors.

	Sompeetalay Sompeetalay's Source Blog
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 2:19 PM What did he have for dessert?

	Rainbow Droideka Aren't you a little short for an egg?
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 2:35 PM The Sharu's neighbors maybe?

	Dan Wallace Continuity, Criticisms, and Captain Panaka
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 6:56 PM He ate the True Sith for dessert.

	jSarek jSarek's Infonet
date Posted: Aug 15, 2007 1:11 AM Tastes like chicken.

	janlomona Smugglers Rants
date Posted: Aug 15, 2007 3:25 PM Any fan-ish easter eggs in there? Like non-cannon locations, such as those found in fan fic? I'm REALLY angling here, I'd just love to see the Setnin Sector at the very edge of a Mid-Rim starchart, just between Naboo and Triffis on the Bordon Space Lane. Well, I had to ask, didn't I!

	Hedec Ga War Journal of Hedec Ga
date Posted: Aug 16, 2007 1:12 PM I'm really looking forward to this book.......and any mention of Lowick

	Darth NTM Do Nautolans Dream of Aquatic Sheep?
date Posted: Aug 17, 2007 12:01 AM Like non-cannon locations I think Alderaan must be "non-cannon". After all, it apparently had "no weapons".

	Rainbow Droideka Aren't you a little short for an egg?
date Posted: Aug 17, 2007 7:17 PM I think Alderaan must be "non-cannon". After all, it apparently had "no weapons". Yeah, especially after the Death Star was done with it, it was quite piece-full. Then again, Hapes is the planet whose very Queen Mother is dis-armed.

	janlomona Smugglers Rants
date Posted: Aug 18, 2007 2:24 PM LOL, this has suddenly become a Stooge blog!

danielc56

date Posted: Aug 23, 2007 4:29 PM

Dan, it's great to see a new planets book coming!

There's a thread at TFN about N.E.G. to Aliens, where (Senator_Cilghal) listed things that he'd love to see covered:

"..what kind of architecture is common on their homeworlds? governmental institutions and religions; history, legend, myth, folklore, music; famous individuals (ie, IN-UNIVERSE famous, not simply representative member seen in movies thus known to fans) and heroes and villains; a little chronological history; unique technology."

His ideas fit perfectly in a planets book too. Any chance you'll cover some of these topics?

Keep up the great work (from one Daniel to another)!

danielc56

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