It's Lit: Upcoming Star Wars Books, Inkstone Exclusives, and the New Jedi Order
Inkstone Books has begun an epic journey into tricking us all into giving them all of our money and I'm not even mad.
This past weekend, my producer and I sat at a table with a giant poster board and lightsaber-shaped gel pens and planned out podcast episodes for the rest of the year (and beyond). Snacks were included. I made a long list of “dream” guests, and since then one of them has already agreed to come on the show, so I’m feeling pretty stoked about the near future of Now This Is Lit.
Next week, I’m recording two mind-blowing interviews — I can’t tell you about them yet, but I’m both grateful and nervous. Not because I don’t love this game, but instead because I’m in complete denial that my show is something notable, talented, wonderful people want to be a part of.
While you wait to hear more about all that, how about some Star Wars book news and my early thoughts on Vector Prime?
October’s Star Wars Book Lineup Is Lit
This month’s slate of Star Wars book and comic releases is borderline overwhelming, and I’m here for it. There are three new books coming out next week alone, and you may not even know about all of them.
October 10 promises the release of three new Star Wars titles — two from Disney Books and one from Insight Editions.
Crimson Climb (E.K. Johnston) and The High Republic: Jedi Brave In Every Way (Rosemary and Charles Soule) are going to look beautiful on your bookshelves. And Star Wars: The Ultimate Cookbook (Jenn Fujikawa and Marc Sumerak) is going to absolutely take over your kitchen.
Later this month, a new wave of Essential Legends Collection books are also set to drop. Don’t miss out on those covers!
You can read my full breakdown of October Star Wars books and comics on Dork Side of the Force.
Exclusive Inkstone Legends Books Are Coming
Earlier this week, Inkstone Books announced the first book in its new collection of limited edition Star Wars Legends hardcovers based on the Essential Legends Collection books. The online bookshop specializes in fantasy and science fiction special edition releases, and when I tell you I pre-ordered this within minutes of getting the email … it may have been closer to 5 minutes because I couldn’t remember my account password, but close enough.
This hardcover edition of Star Wars Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void has the same cover art as the recently released ELC edition. However, it also has sprayed edges. Readers go feral for sprayed edges these days. I am among them. I live on the (sprayed) edge.
Those who purchased the Inkstone Books exclusive edition of Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade got first dibs on this one (which is how I got my copy). But if you purchase this next release, you’ll be among the first to get the chance to pre-order the next one.
The form to sign up to get your copy of the book is now open.
My Journey Into the New Jedi Order
When it comes to long-form stories, I’m often late to the party. Whether it’s because part of me doesn’t mind waiting until something is finished before consuming it in its entirety or due to my growing desire to undo my instant-gratification wiring, sometimes I don’t get to shows or movies or book series until years — yikes, even decades — later.
I started reading the New Jedi Order series this week. I’m still toward the beginning of Vector Prime. Yes, I know who doesn’t make it out of this series alive. I know the major points of interest. I know how it ends. But truthfully, not all spoilers are bad. Knowing some of what happens actually makes me want to find out the rest.
These books are long, as I discovered when pulling this one off my shelf (yes, I own about half the series despite it still being in my TBR pile). I’m not going to get through all of them before the end of the year. But so far, the ride has been enjoyable, and I’m going to see it through no matter how long it takes.
It’s my eventual goal to have read every Legends novel. New ones aren’t coming out, so it’s not an impossible feat. It will take years, especially when keeping up with all the new Canon releases. I don’t mind. I’ll have to buy more bookshelves (and a bigger house). But sometimes, it’s the nonessential goals, the small things you strive to work toward that won’t matter much at the end of your life, that keep you going.
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.