Just where is Darth Bane? He's currently in bookstores all over the world, but he's nowhere near Star Wars.com.

(EDIT: Nevermind, he's right here!)*

Yes, my fellow Star Wars fans, today is a very exciting day. On this day, a brand-spanking new Star Wars book comes to a store near you!

What, you ask?

Yeah, that's what I said, too. You see, I consider myself to be fairly well-versed in Star Wars-related news, and in expanded universe literature. However, I had almost completely forgotten that Drew Karpyshyn's new Darth Bane-centric novel, Path of Destruction, is released today. Had this matter not been brought to my attention by my buddy in blogging, luuke.skywalker, I would be without knowledge of this important day in September.

I would like to ask: WHY?

Now, before you get all snarky and reply, "why not?" consider the following:

Path of Destruction is a hardcover book that is highly anticipated by Star Wars comic fans, including yours truly. Remember the last time a Star Wars hardcover was released? It was back in May, when Legacy of the Force: Betrayal came out. The novel was front and center at the official site. There were constant updates being made, interviews with Aaron Allston being posted, and a lot of hype surrounding the release of this book. Bloodlines was no different. Interviews were conducted. Book signings were announced. Boba Fett's mug, which graced the front cover of the book, was ever-present around these parts. No less than three articles on Bloodlines were up on the main site during the week it was released alone!

But where oh where is Darth Bane? Let's check the "What's New" page, your one-stop source for all Star Wars related announcement! Nothing. Okay, moving on. Let's check the expanded universe page. It's bound to be there. Nope. Well, we've got a Mando'a glossary, and news about the Legacy of the Force series is all over the page, but the most recent news about Path of Destruction is from March 31st, 2006 -- back when the cover was first revealed.

Path of Destruction was most certainly released today. I know, because it is currently sitting on my desk. And in my opinion, its release is very newsworthy.

In fact, I think Star Wars.com should be pushing this one like crazy. Star Wars fans who aren't completists are more likely to pick up a paperback with an ageing Mandalorian buckethead on the front than a hardback with some ugly and unrecognizable Sithy-looking man on the front. Buying Path of Destruction requires a leap of faith on the part of the fan -- it's a story set in a completely different era than the movies, with entirely different characters (either from comics or original ones). It might be a good idea to cultivate a bit of hype surrounding this novel, in order to entice fans to take that leap of faith and lay down the benjamins for a hardcover book.

For me, the leap of faith is what makes this novel such an exciting concept. I would love to see the expanded universe exploring the past or far off into the future, rather than constantly retreading the same ground with the same characters. It allows for fewer canon restrictions and more original characters. Personally, I enjoy stories that provide background information or fill in the gaps between movies. But there are only so many times Luke Skywalker can be put into mortal peril during the rebellion era, only to survive at the last second because, well, he can't exactly die when he's alive in the movie set two months later. I want to become invested in compelling original characters who aren't predestined to show up again in an already-published book or movie. I want previously unexplored eras to take center stage in the expanded universe. Comics like Legacy, Kevin J. Anderson's Knights of the Old Republic feature original characters in previously unexplored eras. Though Path of Destruction will be restricted to a greater extent by the Jedi vs. Sith comic and the eventual "rule of two" outcome, the concept of taking the road less travelled is a good one. There are epic wars and earth-shattering conflicts to be had, all without disturbing future events. I'm looking forward to this book. You should too.

And so, I return from my digression to the point of this blog. Why is Path of Destruction going ignored by the official Star Wars site?

Is it because it doesn't feature Mandalorians? Frankly, I would rather read about the finer points of Sith philosophy and the history of the Sith Order than a bunch of amoral war-mongerers turned-mercenaries who are, for some inexplicable reason, worshipped by innumerable fanboys. But maybe that's just me.

No, seriously. I really want to know. Where in the nine Corellian hells is Darth Bane?

Any ideas?



*EDIT: Mystery solved. It looks like updates are made later in the day, so the interview with Drew Karpyshyn is now available!