Read, Dare You? Dark Legends

The creative team behind 2019's Myths & Fables returns with another collection of stories for younglings, but this time not for the easily frightened!

Star Wars: Dark Legends (Disney-Lucasfilm Press) is a 200+ page middle-grade hardcover collection of stories from author George Mann with eerily wonderful illustrations by Grant Griffin.

This spine-tingling set of spooky tales has much in common with Myths & Fables as the stories are generally cautionary tales set in-universe in the Star Wars galaxy. Perhaps these are the stories that kept young padawans up at night?

Continue on...if you dare!

If you enjoyed the creepier stories in Myths & Fables you'll love Dark Legends too. The stories are all Star Wars, but certainly some resemble horror stories of earth. Featured among these tales are the Star Wars equivalent of vampires, werewolves and witches. There's a few that have a strong "be careful what you wish for" message, and twist endings right out of the Twilight Zone.

Like Myths & Fables, everything about the Dark Legends presentation is like an old-fashioned book of tales for children, from the look of the book, the cut of the paper, the style of the artwork and the language of the narratives. It is a real treat to see these kinds of books and the attention to detail that goes into them.

Also available!

The "Legends" within Dark Legends are not connected to each other, cross the Star Wars timeline in interesting ways, and can be enjoyed in any order.

The only thing close to a complaint would be that this book is much smaller than Myths & Fables. It's digest size is dwarfed by the previous collection. Together they don't really look like the set they appeared to be.

That aside, Dark Legends is another great collection in a fun new direction in Star Wars publishing!

Publisher's recommendation: 8 - 12 years

Read, You Must: THE Book for The Mandalorian Fans!

While no official novels or comics directly connected to The Mandalorian have been announced (yet), there is one book that fans of the wildly successful streaming Disney+ show should have in their collection: The Bounty Hunter Code.

The title alone should be familiar with viewers of The Mandalorian as the "code" is mentioned several times in the first season. But what about the "guild", or the many specific references to Mandalorian culture? All of that and more is detailed in this book.

The Bounty Hunter Code is part of a series of In-Universe books from becker&mayer!/Chronicle Books, collectively known as the "Secrets of the Galaxy" series. This series includes The Jedi Path, The Book of Sith, and more recently The Smuggler's Guide and The Rebel Files. Each book is an industry-specific guide book or training manual presented as though it actually exists in the Star Wars galaxy, complete with handwritten notes from notable Star Wars characters, as though passed from person to person over time.

The only official The Mandalorian book yet

 

2013 Deluxe Edition

The Bounty Hunter Code was released in 2013 initially in a deluxe packaging set. That included a very cool case, data card, a Kaminoan saber dart, a wanted poster and an extra booklet still unavailable elsewhere. The following year it was released on its own, just the book. While it is not specifically a book for young readers, fans who are already watching the The Mandalorian will be able to handle any of the concepts presented here.

Inside what you get is a copy of "The Bounty Hunters Guild Handbook", the guide you may need to start your career in this profession. Instructions and advice follow on how to find work, how to capture and contain targets, how to collect rewards and more. What equipment to use, what weapons and vehicles too, can mean life or death in this line of work, so it's a good idea to read carefully!

Some of the bounty hunting methods like trackers and pucks are a little different in The Mandalorian than what is written here, but remember that the series takes place after the fall of the Empire, while this handbook was put together well before the Empire then updated during the height of the Emperor's reign. Generally it feels like the creators of the TV series were all told to read this book before they started writing.

This book is subtitled "From the Files of Boba Fett" and was presumably written some time before Boba Fett was born. Some of it would not be considered "canon" in Star Wars, most notably the references to Boba Fett having a daughter named Ailyn Vel, a character not established in the official timeline. For the most part though, it is very relevant to the show and the current Star Wars galaxy.

While there's no Child here (aka "Baby Yoda"), the final part of the book is filled with concepts seen in the show: included in this book is a 30-page history of Death Watch, which covers a lot of Mandalorian warrior culture and history. What is Beskar? What is a Mythosaur? These things and more are mentioned in the show but not really explained in detail. The Bounty Hunter Code elaborates on both, enhancing the understanding of what's going on screen.

The Bounty Hunter Code was collectively written by Daniel Wallace (The Jedi Path), Jason Fry (The Weapon of a Jedi) & Ryder Windham (Adventures in Hyperspace), three of the most prolific authors of Star Wars books, and wonderfully illustrated by a variety of artists. 

Ryder Windham elaborated on some of these ideas of the working life of a bounty hunter in his novel Star Wars Rebels: Ezra's Gamble, where Ezra encounters the infamous bounty hunter Bossk.

Until there is an official tie-in book series for The Mandalorian, fans of the show can find plenty to enjoy here in The Bounty Hunter Code.

Dive into the Star Wars universe with In-Universe books

Other than those "sacred Jedi texts" that Yoda couldn't even pretend to enjoy reading, you don't often see much reading of books happening within the Star Wars movies.

However there are plenty of books out there, and more to come, set within the Star Wars universe. These books are often described as being "In-Universe". But what does that mean?

An In-Universe book is a book written here on earth, published by an earthbound publisher, but presented as though written by a Star Wars character. In many cases, the book is put together as though it would be one that Star Wars characters might read.

For example, the recent The Secrets of the Jedi is presented as though Luke Skywalker himself wrote it. Although actually written by non-Jedi earthling Marc Sumerak, it comes across as Luke's own thoughts and knowledge, his notes for future Jedi.

The journal style is a common one for In-Universe books, like Rebel Journal by Ezra Bridger and Sabine's My Rebel Sketchbook (both written by Daniel Wallace) or Rey's Survival Guide, Rose Tico: Resistance Fighter, or Rogue One: Rebel Dossier (all by Jason Fry). These books appear to be the personal diaries/scrapbooks of the characters, giving young readers a more intimate perspective on the characters' onscreen adventures.

Along this line are the instructional manual books like The Jedi Path, The Book of Sith and The Bounty Hunter Guide (all by Daniel Wallace & others). These books are actually put together as though if it were a training manual in each respective field. On top of that, there are notes from key Star Wars characters jotted in the margins, as though the copy you are holding has been in many notable hands before.

Another type of In-Universe book is the reference book, like Galactic Maps or Alien Archive. Both of these are written to be as non-fiction books you might find within the Star Wars universe. Every library must have them, presumably.

Taking the In-Universe idea even further are books like Myths & Fables (and presumably its upcoming follow-up Dark Legends).  Myths & Fables is completely presented as if it's a storybook you could purchase somewhere in the Star Wars universe. What would a bookshop on Coruscant carry in it's Kids section? Probably something like this.

Also coming soon is Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu. This guidebook to the Disney Parks attraction will also be In-Universe "as if you are a visitor from another part of the galaxy looking for recommendations on where to eat, shop, and sightsee while on your trip to this exciting location."

If you are looking for a change of pace in your Star Wars reading, try out an In-Universe title for a different perspective and a lot of fun!

Coming July 2020

Learn The Secrets of the Jedi

Wouldn't we all like to know the secrets of the Jedi? How to attune ourselves with the Force and become a powerful guardian of peace in the galaxy?

That may not be entirely possible just yet, but a new book from Insight Kids (Insight Editions) seeks to give young Jedi a start on their path of unraveling all of the Jedi order's mysteries...and secrets.

The Secrets of the Jedi is journal of sorts, told by Luke Skywalker himself (actually Marc Sumerak), detailing a brief history of Jedi lore, techniques, philosophies and more. Presumably Luke took a few hours to himself to get all his thoughts down before appearing at the battle of Crait at the end of The Last Jedi.

Over 32 beautifully illustrated pages (illustrations by Sergio Gómez Silvan), "Luke" discusses topics like the Old Republic, The Force, The Light Side, The Dark Side and more. He also goes into detail about lightsabers, Jedi combat techniques, and Force abilities.  

The Secrets of the Jedi really feels like an extension of the earlier book The Jedi Path by Daniel Wallace, like it's Luke's additional notes on that text. In fact one of the sections inside is titled The Jedi Path.

Not only is this large-size hardcover book illustrated, it also contains fold-outs, pop-ups, envelopes to open, and a poster of the cover artwork.

Author Marc Sumerak (Star Wars: Droidography) truly captures the voice of the troubled older Luke, looking back on the successes and failures of his teachers and his own teachings. He reflects on what he had learned from Masters like Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, but also what younger students like Ben Solo and Rey taught him. Luke frequently refers to Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader as his father, personally connecting himself to these stories.

Not to be confused with this one!

Occasionally Luke here knows something where one must stop and ponder HOW Luke would know that. Some are easy to sort out, others pose interesting questions. Like how did Luke know the true circumstances of Mace Windu's death? Only Darth Sidious, and newly named Darth Vader, walked out of that office alive. Perhaps through the Force he was able to learn the truth. The official Imperial account of the events would have been much different.

I have mentioned this in previous more recent book reviews, but it bears repeating, that one of the wonderful aspects of the Disney era of Star Wars books is that the entire saga can be used and referenced. There are many examples here of Luke discussing not only details we saw in the movies, but also characters and events from The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels too. Treating the saga as one big story really makes it feel like a cohesive and interconnected galaxy. Years ago had this book been written, it would be much more limited in scope.

For younglings, Padawans, and older fans looking to dive into the teachings of the Jedi, and especially Master Luke Skywalker, The Secrets of the Jedi is an excellent start.

(Publisher's Recommendation: 8 - 12 years)
 
See also:

Also "by Luke Skywalker"

Read, You Must: Star Wars Myths & Fables

Incredible cover art by Grant Griffin

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."

That introduction to the first Star Wars movie in 1977 (and each one since) was always meant to sound a lot like the classic fairy tale beginning "Once, upon a time..."

Star Wars always has been more like a fairy tale in space than pure science fiction. A new middle grade book from Disney/Lucasfilm Press takes that idea even further. 

Feels like one of these!

Imagine you're a kid in the Star Wars galaxy - what would your bedtime stories be like? What kind of stories did Luke Skywalker grow up with? Or after the Empire collapsed, what stories do those fathier stable kids in The Last Jedi hear, read and share?

Star Wars: Myths & Fables presents a 172 page collection of short stories of daring adventures and lessons learned. Packaged very much like an old-fashioned edition of children's stories, Myths & Fables presents nine exciting inspirational and cautionary tales in an entertaining and age-appropriate way for young readers.

Unlike most Star Wars books, this is written and presented as "In-Universe", as though it's actually a book of folklore you could buy on Coruscant or Naboo for a child. The stories are set in the Star Wars galaxy we know, but talk about it as though it's far in the past. They feel very much like they've been told many times, passed down to younger generations, and author George Mann has just finally written them down. Details are sketchy and descriptions are exaggerated, but readers will enjoy separating the likely facts from the creative embellishments.

One character, known only as the "Dark Wraith", haunts people with his flashing red arm and horrible rasping breath. We know this is probably about Darth Vader & his red lightsaber, but the teller of the tale doesn't know that name or even what a lightsaber is.

While some of the stories are perfect for "bedtime stories", others may be a little bit scary at times. Such is the nature of fairy tales, and author Mann does not shy away from this. In fact some of the stories like "The Witch & the Wookiee" feel like they come straight out of Grimm's Fairy Tales, just adapted into the Star Wars galaxy. Even the language Mann uses feels quite old-fashioned at times with many vocabulary-building words that may be a good challenge younger readers (or their parents!).

Like many early 20th century books for kids, the illustrations are sparse but beautiful. Each story has one incredible painting by Grant Griffin. Some of them are stunning and every one of them could be a framed poster in any Star Wars fan's room.

The title is a little odd as there really aren't any fables here (stories that typically have animals as the main characters) and a more appropriate title would've been Myths & Legends, or even "Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away" but that title has already been used for a different collection of short stories.

While a few of the stories are connected to each other really they could be read in any order. At least two of the stories take place on Batuu, which connect them to the events and locations of Disney Parks' new Galaxy's Edge Star Wars attractions. Visitors to the parks can come already knowing a bit about Black Spire Outpost and some of the spots within the locale. 

This is a new kind of Star Wars book, and hopefully we'll see more in the future. In fact that may be the only disappointment in this book - it leaves the reader wanting more stories and more of the fantastic paintings. Highly recommended!

(Publisher's Recommendation: Ages 8+)

While not exactly the same thing, readers who enjoy Myths & Fables will probably also like The Legends of Luke Skywalker by Ken Liu, and also the aforementioned collection of short stories Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Aliens vol 1 by Landry Q Walker.

Read, You Must: Alien Archive

New from Disney - Lucasfilm Press is Star Wars: Alien Archive (A Guide to the Species of the Galaxy), an in-universe guide to nearly every alien species, from gigantic creatures like Rancors and Krayt Dragons to Jawas, Porgs, Tookas and well, whatever Yoda is!

Page after page of colourful illustrations, facts, and notable examples of each alien species fill this oversized 157 page hardcover. Basically anything that isn't a human and isn't a droid is probably covered in here somewhere.

The book is written in-universe, meaning the "author" is Xoddam Lothipp, Deputy Director of something called the "Graf Archive". The contents are presented as though this journal archive was discovered within the Star Wars galaxy.

Alien Archive has a very similar feel to 2016's Star Wars: Galactic Maps and works well as a companion to that book. Like in Galactic Maps, the all-new illustrations have an old-fashioned "wood cut" feel, once again by Tim McDonagh. It also covers some of the same ground as 2016's Aliens of the Galaxy, but it goes into far more depth and is about four times as long!

Galactic Maps (2016)

 
If you don't know an Ewok from an Ugnaught, is the book for you. Alien Archive is impressively comprehensive, including creatures and aliens from of course the Star Wars movies (as recent as Solo) as well as those only seen in The Clone Wars and Rebels. 

A treat for the die-hard fans is also discovering creatures only seen in novels, comics, games or even from the Ewok adventure TV specials. 

For most of the species presented there are notable examples given, hints as to where the reader may have seen this creature before. It would be nice to have some sort of footnotes to help readers find some of the more obscure species on screen or wherever they're from. However, since this book is in-universe, it doesn't really acknowledge that Star Wars IS a bunch of movies, TV shows and more. As far as the author is concerned, this is all real!

Longtime fans and brand-new fans of any age will find plenty to discover and enjoy in this archive. Highly recommended!

(Publisher's recommendation Ages 8-12)

Read, You Must: Poe Dameron Flight Log

Poe Dameron: Flight Log is a new “replica journal” from Studio Fun, the publishers of previous Star Wars middle grade books like Ezra’s Rebel Journal and Sabine’s My Rebel Sketchbook. This means the book is set "In-Universe" and meant to be a replica of Poe’s actual writings and data files. 

The story of The Force Awakens, or at least Poe’s part in the adventure, is told by “the best pilot in the Resistance” himself through a series of transcribed conversations and notes. The back cover warns that these are “highly classified” documents inside this 96 page hardcover!

Similar to the earlier Rey’s Survival Guide, Poe Dameron: Flight Log includes photos, diagrams of ships, and insights specifically from Poe’s perspective. There are fold-out pages and hologram images cleverly revealed through lift-the-flaps.

The book goes beyond simply re-telling the story of the movie. There are events that happen before Poe meets Lor San Tekka on Jakku. Such events may be familiar to readers of the Poe Dameron comic series, but might be new to others.  

Poe Dameron: Flight Log also has a few other bits and pieces of Poe’s family history included, pulled from comics and other novels. There’s even a bit of insight of what happened to Poe after he and Finn crashed on Jakku, who rescued him and how Poe made it off-world.

Poe Dameron: Flight Log is written by Michael Kogge who has previously written several Star Wars Rebels novels and the terrific The Force Awakens Junior Novel. Kogge captures the same confident attitude that hotshot pilot Poe displays throughout the film. Poe shows disdain for reports and protocol: he just wants to fly!

Check this out too!

The book ends with an overview of Poe’s fellow pilots that participated in the final destruction of Starkiller Base and a promise of more adventures to come!     

         

Perhaps due to the marketing of The Force Awakens, or that the toys stand side-by-side on the shelves, it’s easy to forget how little Poe crosses paths with Rey in the movie. Reading books like Rey’s Story and this one really point out that those two key characters, though they make mutual friends in Finn, really have no contact. Perhaps in The Last Jedi they'll get to have a conversation?

If you want to expand on what you know of Poe, or just revisit The Force Awakens from a new perspective, this book is for you.

Publisher’s recommendation Ages 6-12

Also available now for Poe Dameron fans from Lucasfilm/Disney Press: