SWBC: On reading, reviewing, and collecting Star Wars books
Plus: Another 'The Princess and the Scoundrel' excerpt, and send me your FAQs about Star Wars books.
It’s been about a year and a half since I officially joined the online community of Star Wars book nerds.
I had been reading Star Wars books off and on since the release of The Force Awakens, but I’ve been a Star Wars fan since my dad showed me the original trilogy and took me to see the prequel films in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Like so many others around the world, I gained new hobbies, perspectives, and priorities during the pandemic. I left my soul-sucking daily news job and became a freelancer and eventually a college professor teaching journalism. Star Wars, and books especially, helped me get through it all and continue to bring me so much joy and light.
The first Star Wars books I reviewed professionally were the first High Republic books, Light of the Jedi and Into the Dark. Then, I joined Dork Side of the Force and quickly grew into an unofficial book critic, reading and reviewing every new Star Wars novel from Del Rey and Disney Books.
Since Light of the Jedi in January 2021, I’ve reviewed almost 20 new Star Wars books. An excerpt from one of those reviews — Victory’s Price — even made it onto the back of the paperback version of the final Alphabet Squadron book.
And since joining the Star Wars Book Community on Instagram and Star Wars BookTok on TikTok, I’ve met and connected with dozens of fellow book nerds. I’ve never met any of them in person, but I consider them to be among the most supportive of my work and each other’s work.
Who knew so many people would bond over pretty pictures of Star Wars books?
As this community grows and my Space Wizards Book Club adds more members, I wanted to take some time to answer a few FAQs about how I read, review, and collect Star Wars books.
One of the most commonly asked questions I get is how to start reading and reviewing. There’s a simple answer: Start anywhere you want with any character or time period you want. Post pictures and videos that you would want to read and watch. Engage with and share others’ content.
It does not matter if it’s your very first Star Wars book or your 100th. Everyone is welcome in this community.
As for reviewing, the path to working with publishers and getting advanced reader copies (ARCs) is different for everyone. I’m a professionally trained and educated journalist who has been a news reporter and entertainment writer for the last decade. So, pitching publicists for coverage is second nature to me.
However, the best way to get into covering books is to join NetGalley — a free service that allows readers to request digital advanced copies of books from publishers in exchange for honest reviews.
You don’t have to have a Bookstagram or BookTok page, but they do help you get approved for ARCs quicker.
Lastly, I often get asked how I choose which Star Wars books to buy and in what format, how I organize my bookshelf, and how I find certain special editions.
The basics:
I’ve recently reorganized by Star Wars book shelf in canon timeline order. That means adult novels, YA, and middle grade books are all in chronological order starting with The High Republic through The Rise of Skywalker.
I am ~ so close ~ to owning every canon adult and YA novel. A hardcover Dark Disciple is in the mail (finally!). And beyond that I need to exchange my paperback Aftermath trilogy for hardcovers, get Heir to the Jedi, A New Dawn, Dooku: Jedi Lost, Return of the Jedi, Solo, and Canto Bight in hardcover.
As for Legends, I’ve been collecting every Essential Legends Collection paperback as it comes out, and I’m a few novels away from having the whole X-Wing series in the original mass market paperback (MMP) version. I also have an assorted collection of Legends MMPs that I’ve picked up at thrift stores and little free libraries.
When I’m looking for a specific format or special edition of a Star Wars book that’s been out for a while, my go-to is Thriftbooks. I’ve also had a bit of luck buying and selling books on Mercari and Pango Books.
With all of that — plus some anthologies, comics, art books, visual guides, reference books, and manga — I’ve more than filled up an entire IKEA Billy bookshelf.
There are so many more Star Wars books to come. And I will read all of them.
What other FAQs do you want to know about me, my reviews, and Star Wars books?
Let me know below.
Star Wars books and comics out this week
Han Solo & Chewbacca #4 (July 20)
Star Wars #25 (July 20)
Darth Vader #25 (July 20)
Coming next week: Review of Padawan
Star Wars: Padawan by Kiersten White drops next Tuesday, July 26. My full review over on Dork Side of the Force will release that day and will be included in next week’s newsletter.
The Princess and the Scoundrel excerpt: Han proposes to Leia
If you thought last week’s The Princess and the Scoundrel excerpt was a doozy, get some tissues ready for this one.
The passage from the novel by Beth Revis is from Han Solo’s point of view and shows him grappling with his new status as a general in a Rebel army that’s about to turn into the New Republic. It also shows how, in the midst of celebration and mourning, his thoughts keep turning to a certain princess.
Check out my post on Dork Side of the Force to read about Han’s proposal to Princess Leia.
The Princess and the Scoundrel arrives on Aug. 16. My full review is coming next month.
Star Wars stuff @ San Diego Comic-Con
San Diego Comic-Con, a.k.a. the biggest nerd convention in the world, is happening this weekend. That means three days of announcements, reveals, cosplay, shopping, celebrity guests, and more.
Though Star Wars Celebration just happened, Comic-Con has a solid lineup of exclusive Star Wars merch. Here are some of the hot ticket items, including a fuzzy Black Krrstantan Funko Pop, A Black Series Boba Fett in the all-black disguise from War of the Bounty Hunters, and this gorgeous art of Grand Admiral Thrawn by Joe Corroney.
There are also a bunch of Star Wars authors attending SDCC for panels and book signings. Here’s who to look out for:
Adam Christopher (Shadow of the Sith)
Beth Revis (Rebel Rising; The Princess and the Scoundrel)
Claudia Gray (The High Republic; Lost Stars; Leia: Princess of Alderaan)
Cavan Scott (The High Republic; Marvel’s Star Wars comics; Dooku: Jedi Lost)
Kiersten White (Padawan)
Sarah Kuhn (Doctor Aphra audio drama and script book)
Lucasfilm Publishing will have a panel with authors Adam Christopher, Beth Revis, and Cavan Scott from 1-2 p.m. PT on Friday, July 22.
Find a full Comic-Con schedule for Del Rey Star Wars and Penguin Random House here.
Currently reading
Padawan (July 26)
History and Politics of Star Wars (August 11)
Star Wars Rebels trade paperback from Dark Horse (August 16)
A New Dawn
Thrawn (via audiobook)
Giveaway reminder
Enter here for a chance to win a copy of Star Wars: Dark Legends by George Mann. The giveaway is open through July 25!
SWBC wants to know…
This book club is so close to 200 subscribers, so please share with your Star Wars-loving friends!
Plus, with so many joining the club, I’m considering offering paid subscriptions with some fun extras.
Those benefits include personalized reading recommendations, access to discussion forums, behind-the-scenes insights, buddy reading, historical guides, creator shoutouts, and more.
But I want to know: What subscriber benefits would you like to see?
Let me know in the comments!