Star Wars universe expands into ebooks.
Read - or else!
The force is with us, fellow geeks. Lucasfilm and Random House have announced the release of the entire back catalogue of Star Wars novels in electronic format.
More than 100 titles will be converted from the current hard copy format to digital editions on June 28th, and any future works will also have a digital version available when released.
In addition, all Star Wars ebooks will feature bonus material, including an introduction to the six main Star Wars eras and a timeline of the novels.
Currently, only 30 titles are available electronically, through Del Ray Books.
Given the business focus of George Lucas, and the massive rise in popularity of ebook platforms, it was inevitable that this electronic library would be made available eventually.
Follow me into the next room and I’ll tell you why I’m so excited it’s happening now.
Given the impact of Star Wars on popular culture, it’s hardly surprising that such quality authors are drawn to that world. Terry Brooks, Alan Dean Foster, Matthew Stover, and Timothy Zahn have all contributed to the Star Wars expanded universe.
I have always loved written storytelling. Splinter of the Mind’s Eye has stayed with me since I read it from the crisp, new printed pages in the late seventies. I was away from that universe for a long time, until the Thrawn trilogy drew me back. And the Revenge of the Sith novelization is among the best science fiction novels I’ve ever read (I was weeping by the end of the prologue. In a bookstore. Shut up).
Late last year, with space at a premium, the Head of Household forced me to reduce my book footprint. Forced to adopt the technology, I purchased an e-reader and have not stopped spending money since.
But the Star Wars digital offering was so sparse and scattershot that I couldn’t find a decent jump-off spot to get back into that universe.
Now, all that changes. It’s time to save my dollars.
On June 28th, I’ll take my first steps into a larger world.
