On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to Daniel José Older all about his latest Star Wars book and entry into wave two of The High Republic era, his excellent middle grade book, Race to Crashpoint Tower.
Here’s the summary…
Long before the Clone Wars, the Empire, or the First Order, the Jedi lit the way for the galaxy in a golden age known as the High Republic!
The Republic Fair is coming! Visitors from all over the galaxy are traveling to the planet Valo for a massive, awe-inspiring festival celebrating the Republic. While his fellow Valons prepare for the fair, Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram is hiding out in his favorite place: a dingy garage filled with mechanical parts and tools. But when a security alarm goes off on the nearby hilltop nicknamed Crashpoint Peak, he ventures out with his trusty droid V- 18 to investigate. There he discovers that someone has knocked out Valo’s communications tower—a frightening sign that Valo, and the Republic Fair, are in danger. Sure enough, as Ram races to warn the Jedi, the dreaded Nihil unleash a surprise attack! It’s up to Ram to face down the enemy at Crashpoint Tower and send a call for help to the Republic. Luckily, he’s about to get some assistance from unexpected new friends….
Part of the second wave of books from phase one of The High Republic era, Race to Crashpoint Tower is set just before the disastrous events of Cavan Scott’s The Rising Storm. Daniel’s book takes place mostly on the planet Valo and follows Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram and a top to bottom fun cast composed mostly of younger characters to create not only an exciting, fast-paced adventure, but a genuine look at how these young Jedi and their friends deal with adversity, relationships, and danger.
We talk about dogs of course, some current hot-button issues in publishing, what exactly is a Star Wars architect, lots of The High Republic, Race to Crashpoint Tower, and much, much more.
The High Republic: Race to Crashpoint Tower is out now, click HERE to order a copy today!
About the Author:
Daniel José Older, a lead story architect for Star Wars: The High Republic, is the New York Times best-selling author of the upcoming Young Adult fantasy novel Ballad & Dagger (book 1 of the Outlaw Saints series), the sci-fi adventure Flood City, the monthly comic series The High Republic Adventures. His other books include the historical fantasy series Dactyl Hill Squad, The Book of Lost Saints, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, Star Wars: Last Shot, and the Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher, including Shadowshaper, which was named one of the best fantasy books of all time by TIME magazine and one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read. He won the International Latino Book Award and has been nominated for the Kirkus Prize, The World Fantasy Award, the Andre Norton Award, the Locus, and the Mythopoeic Award. He also co-wrote the graphic novel Death’s Day.
