As players anxiously await the next chapters of the story within Star Wars: The Old Republic, author and former BioWare writer Drew Karpyshyn has updated his website with some details regarding the next SWTOR novel he is writing. Entitled Annihilation and due out November 13, the second novel focuses on Theron Shan from The Lost Suns comic book series and picks up where game events currently end.
Republic agent Theron Shan and his Twi’lek compadre, Teff’ith must contend with a Sith Empire counter-attack against the Republic, spearheaded by the lethal apprentice of Darth Malgus. Satele Shan and Jace Malcom co-star in what will be a fast-paced and tension-fraught tale based on the award-winning video game from BioWare and LucasArts.
It’s a bit vague, but that’s the problem when you try to stay spoiler free. But I think I can add a bit more without ruining anything. It’s a stand alone story – it has no connection to Revan, and it doesn’t tie in directly with any of the storylines from the SWTOR video game, though it is set in that era. It actually takes place just after the events of the game, and the novel will reflect the Empire and the Republic as they stand at the end of the game’s storylines. (I won’t say anymore to avoid spoiling people who play the game but aren’t finished.)
More information about the novel can be found after the jump.
Annihilation Summary
Now, let’s talk Annihilation. This is my fifth Star Wars novel, and my second Old Republic novel. The book comes out on November 13. Here’s the official summary:
Republic agent Theron Shan and his Twi’lek compadre, Teff’ith must contend with a Sith Empire counter-attack against the Republic, spearheaded by the lethal apprentice of Darth Malgus. Satele Shan and Jace Malcom co-star in what will be a fast-paced and tension-fraught tale based on the award-winning video game from BioWare and LucasArts.
It’s a bit vague, but that’s the problem when you try to stay spoiler free. But I think I can add a bit more without ruining anything. It’s a stand alone story – it has no connection to Revan, and it doesn’t tie in directly with any of the storylines from the SWTOR video game, though it is set in that era. It actually takes place just after the events of the game, and the novel will reflect the Empire and the Republic as they stand at the end of the game’s storylines. (I won’t say anymore to avoid spoiling people who play the game but aren’t finished.)
The game features Theron Shan, a character who first appeared in the Lost Suns Dark Horse graphic novels, written by Alex Freed – my former co-worker at BioWare and the lead writer for SWTOR.
Annihilation is a little different than my other Star Wars books. The Bane trilogy focused on Darth Bane, one of the most powerful Sith Lords who ever lived. Revan obviously focused on Revan, another incredibly powerful Force user. Annihilation is different, because the main character is not a Jedi or Sith. Theron Shan, despite being a descendant of Revan and Bastila, isn’t Force sensitive. That makes for a very different type of novel, and a very different type of main character.
That doesn’t make Theron any less interesting, of course. My personal favorite character in the original trilogy is Han Solo, and I think he’s a good example of how you can be a hero and change the galaxy even if you can’t call on the Force at will.
That’s not to say Theron is an “ordinary” guy: he’s a highly trained field agent working for Republic Strategic Information Services. He has a number of cybernetic implants, along with a host of customized weapons and gadgets, and he’s supplemented his SIS training with his own ecclectic and esoteric studies. Sort of like Batman. Or Jason Bourne. Or James Bond. But in Star Wars.
So let’s call Annihiliaton an action-spy-thriller-sci-fi-epic set in the Star Wars universe. If that doesn’t make you want to buy it, nothing will.
Okay, that’s all for this update. Hopefully by my next update we’ll have a cover and maybe some more interesting news about Annihilation.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted 5/21/2012 1:20:37 PMI wish the book would tie in some game storylines, just to give us a personal feeling of connection to the story. Nothing too intensive so newcomers aren't lost in the book(or spoiled for playing the game if they haven't already), just namedrops and maybe mentions of some events. Maybe tie in the story to the game. Malgus' apprentice gives me a little hope there if it ties directly into and mentions what happens to Malgus near the end of the game(no spoilers).
Would it be so hard for BioWare to introduce Theron as a questgiver in a daily hub or something? Maybe a one-off quest in a world event like the non-daily ones during the Tatooine event? Something to give players of the game a closer connection to the novel.
Revan did it well, tying in to the Emperor and the JK storyline that made players of the game and readers of the book alike rewarded for experiencing one after having experienced the other(in either order). I'd like to see a similar interconnection for this new novel.