It's Lit: Crying Over a 20-Year-Old Star Wars Book and Chatting with Marc Thompson
Both were equally rewarding experiences for different reasons.
Something really amazing happened in the form of an email this morning, and I can’t tell you about it yet. But it made an already stellar week even better, which I really needed, because I’m a journalist and we’re all drowning a little bit. It’s probably fine.
I was fortunate enough to record two interviews this week for Now This Is Lit, one you’'ll hear more about next week and the other I’ll tell you about a few subheadings down. Every time I get to talk about Star Wars books with people who make, read, and enjoy them, I feel warm inside. This is fun. I think I’ll keep doing it.
This week, audiobooks accidentally became the theme of Star Wars publishing. Also, The New Jedi Order hurt my feelings. Let’s talk about that.
Star Wars Legends Audiobooks Are Here to Stay
Del Rey Books announced earlier this week that more Essential Legends Collection unabridged audiobooks are on the way — five of them, in fact. And two of them are just over two months away.
While the last wave and this upcoming wave of releases won’t include audiobooks, this winter will more than make up for that with all Penguin Random House Audio has in store for Star Wars readers.
Outbound Flight (December 19, 2023) – narrated by Marc Thompson
Survivor’s Quest (December 19, 2023) – narrated by Marc Thompson
The Courtship of Princess Leia (January 23, 2024) – narrated by January LaVoy
I, Jedi (January 23, 2024) – narrated by Jonathan Davis
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (March 12, 2024) – narrated by Marc Thompson
We’re getting TWO Timothy Zahn novels on December 19? Narrated by Marc Thompson? Merry early Christmas indeed.
Speaking of Star Wars audiobooks (and Marc Thompson) …
Marc Thompson’s First Audiobook Audition Went Extremely Well, It Seems
A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, Marc Thompson auditioned for his first Star Wars audiobook. Seeing as he’s narrated over 40 of them since then (with more on the way, as you now know), it’s safe to assume it went well, don’t you think?
I currently live not too far from where Marc grew up — these are the kinds of things you learn while you’re checking mics and audio levels before recording an interview. Thankfully, I stopped myself from rambling about the weather and we talked about more interesting things. Like how this whole Star Wars audiobook thing started.
“My agent called and said, ‘Hey, have you ever done audiobooks?’ And I had done, like commercials and cartoons and different things like that. But I was not much of a reader… So I was kind of like trying to hedge my way out of it and I was like, ‘I'm not really sure it's my thing …’ and she was like, “Well, it's a Star Wars audiobook’ and I was like, ‘OK, wait, wait, hold on, hold on. Yes, yes, I would love to audition for that.’” And he did.
“It was all from that one audition,” he said, reflecting on over 15 years of incredible narration in a galaxy far, far away. “That was my first ever audiobook. Like, not even just Star Wars audiobook, but just … audiobook.”
We talked about the voices that still come easily to him, his process for creating new ones, and I even got to ask him if he ever gets tired of listening to himself talk (I’ve always wanted to ask an audiobook narrator about that). Then he agreed to record something special for the show, and my nerd heart soared.
You can listen to (and read) our full conversation this Tuesday, October 17.
Vector Prime and I Are Fighting
Listen. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I started reading the New Jedi Order books for the first time in 2023. Literally. I knew The Big Sad Thing that happens in Vector Prime. I still dove in headfirst anyway. And surprisingly, I had emotions—despite the spoilers.
(I can’t fault six-year-old me for not picking this one up on release day, okay? She had other priorities.)
Knowing going into it what happened, I did not expect to cry. I cried anyway. And I think there’s something to be said about not feeling like you have to read every Star Wars book immediately upon release. It’s been 24 years. I still found extreme joy in reading the book for myself.
Even better, there are dozens of people who would still want to talk about the book with me if I asked. (Perhaps we’ll get to it on the podcast at some point.) It’s never too late to read a Star Wars book. There will always be someone who has read it that would be happy to cry with you, even all these years later.
Will I hold a grudge against this book specifically for making me cry during my workout? Maybe, but it was (mostly) worth it. I know the rest of the series is going to hurt, too, but I can take it. I’ve begun this journey. There’s no turning back now.
Now This Is Lit is a podcast (and newsletter!) about Star Wars books, the people who make them, and the readers who just can’t get enough of them. You can find the show wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to the Substack for more deep dives, guides, interview transcripts, and book love.