Update 2:
Karen Traviss has posted a follow-up blog entry about the whole issue.
Update:
Lucas Licensing editor Sue Rostoni has made a short comment on the cancellation of the novel.
“Karen’s blog was the first time I had heard that she was not going to write the second Imperial Commando book. I don’t know if we will hire another author to finish the series. It’s rather up in the air at the moment.”
Source: Starwars.com VIP thread
Original Story:
Author Karen Traviss has just revealed on her personal blog that she has “withdrawn from the sequel to Imperial Commando 501st.” The canceled novel – which was set to tie up the plot threads from both the Republic Commando and Imperial Commando series – was supposed to be Ms. Traviss’ last Star Wars book.
Hit the jump for more details on the cancelation, the loose outline of Imperial Commando 2, and (finally) an explanation of exactly what continuity problems caused Karen Traviss to leave.
All of the following can be read in more detail on Ms. Traviss’ blog, but we’ve summarized the important parts here.
Last August, Karen Traviss announced that she would no longer be writing Star Wars novels after she’d wrapped up the last two books in the Republic/Imperial Commando series. This, she said, was due to major continuity issues associated with The Clone Wars animated TV series (outlined below). By this time, Imperial Commando: 501st had already been written and it was too late to make any changes to it. Sadly, major continuity issues, contractual matters, and working practices got in the way of Imperial Commando 2, and Karen Traviss was forced to abandon the project.
For those curious as to what would have happened in the final book, Traviss restated that “[she] wasn’t ever going to be able to deal with Sev’s fate, because he was off limits.” She was also kind enough to provide a loose outline of what would have occurred in her final novel:
Imperial Commando 2 Outline
The main characters would have escaped the Empire in the ba’slan shev’la you already know about from Legacy of the Force. (But you knew all that from Revelation anyway.) I would have left the story in a state where the powers that be could either put it on ice forever, or resurrect it with another writer and a new direction. I don’t write scorched-earth roadblock endings that make it impossible for other authors to continue stories, because that’s pointless and unprofessional, and the only person who suffers is the reader.
The Original Continuity Problem (TCW SPOILERS!)
I was told that the Mandalorians were being revamped as long-standing pacifists who’d given up fighting centuries ago and that Mandalore was now a post-apocalyptic wasteland devastated by war. I was told not to refer to (recent) Mandalorian history because of that, as it was obviously at odds with the old continuity in my novels. That’s fairly common procedure for any franchise - but unfortunately it wasn’t that simple in practice. The two Commando series - and quite a few older books and comics, come to that -were based entirely on that original history, and basic logic meant that the fundamental plot of the series could never have existed if this had been a pacifist society. Neither could any of the characters or their motives have existed, because they were wholly based on a global warrior culture living on a non-nuked Mandalore. I had some discussion in January with the editor about possible ways around the problem, but after that, I heard nothing to indicate that the position would change, so the plan went ahead to wind up my existing storyline in the two books that were already in the pipeline. It was too late for me to rewrite 501st even if the changes hadn’t made that pretty well impossible.
This is a sad day for fans of her book series. Hopefully, the story can be wrapped up in some form; maybe even a short story. For more details, be sure to check out Karen Traviss’ blog.
Source: Karen Traviss
Loading ...
December 2nd, 2009 - 11:30 am
It really is a sad day.
The Republic Commando Saga was fabulous! Traviss is one of the best authors the EU has had in years!
Cancelling it now is a bit like George Lucas finishing his saga after the cliffhanger at the end of Empire!
Well, I guess the blame really lies with Lucas Licensing or whoever is responsible for the CW continuity.
Mandalorians as pacifists? WTF? Next they are going to tell us that it was Obi Wan and not Anakin who fell to the Dark Side…
Seriously, this is a major coninuity change - it even effects the movies as it makes the background of Boba and Jango totally implausible. Not to say that there is no apparent need for such a drastic continuity change…
I really hope someone Lucas Licensing has a plausible explanation (and hopefully a solution!)for all that messed up ####!
Thanks Karen for your excellent work!
You will be missed!!
December 2nd, 2009 - 1:34 pm
Sebastain what on earth are you talking about. It is not the Lucas Licensing people who came up with or write the Clone Wars cartoon storylines their job is to try and keep the storylines straight ONCE they have be written and approved at a much higher level. If George Lucas signs off and gives the CWs writers his blessing the Licensing people have to do the best they can with the material that is be produced.
December 2nd, 2009 - 3:12 pm
In a word - LAME!!! I know GL said he does not care but is he blind to all the armor wearing fans out there that really like this part of Star Wars?
Oh well.
December 2nd, 2009 - 6:48 pm
Mandalorians as pacifists? What in the Force is going on with Star Wars continuity!? You’re right, it is a sad day: Star Wars doesn’t know what Star Wars is anymore; I think some reconsideration and review is greatly needed if anything outside of the movies is going to be left standing for Star Wars. Very, very sad
December 2nd, 2009 - 10:57 pm
Jeez man, what a crappy day? THIS is the whip cream on the friggin sucky day ice cream sunday that was today!
I loved these novels. They gave a different perspective on the whole clone wars. Instead of a Jedi or a Sith lord, it was a lowly clone or Mando merc. What the hell is George doing? Not only is he making an animated t.v show, but he’s managing to throw out all the good clone war stories that hard working authors came up with so he could make money.
And I know; we should all be kissing his boots since he came up with it first. Still, it bothers me that all the books we’ve read (despite still being great) are pretty much being thrown out the window!
…You know what!? F it! I don’t care what the old guy says. Mandos are not pacifists!
December 4th, 2009 - 11:01 am
I think some people at Lucas could use a good kick in the shebs!
I only recently came upon her Republic Commando series, in fact I threw in “Hard Contact” to my Amazon order just to qualify for their 4-for-3 deal. Honestly I didn’t have any expectations that it would be such a good story. I quickly consumed the rest of the series and, like the rest of you, was looking forward to seeing the story of Clan Skirata continue for a few more novels.
Lucas has really derailed the train in many ways. On the whole I still like the prequels just because I’m already invested in the overall Star Wars story, but the cheesy juvenile battle droid banter, Jar Jar, 1950s Earth diner on Coruscant, midichlorians, ugh…it’s been difficult. I get the impression that following the success of the original trilogy, Lucas feels license to be more dismissive of input from others and just steamrolls it with his own ideas. Fair enough, it’s his universe after all, but a lot of what made the original story work came from other contributors, and the more Lucas shows us of his own vision the less I’m liking it.
The Republic Commando series was a great read. Sorry to see it end prematurely.
December 4th, 2009 - 2:15 pm
It is official, I am giving up on Star Wars!
I am happy I will save a lot of money on books and comics from now, I wont waste my money of stuff that gets butchered like that, if they dont care about the books, why should I?
December 4th, 2009 - 3:42 pm
Just to let everyone know, the pacifist thing has already been explained in Star Wars: The Essential Atlas. Both types of Mandos exist. It really doesn’t change Karen’s story at all. If you read her latest blog entry, you’ll see that her real issue was contract and writing issues, something that can happen in any franchise.
December 7th, 2009 - 8:54 pm
Even though the two kinds of Mandos may have been explained in the atlas; I’m afraid this incident will be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to continuity issues. If the franchise is not careful it will become like Star Trek.
One of the reasons I love Star Wars novels is the fact that canon has been for the most part perserved throughout the entire expanded universe. (at least the portions I have read). It felt like you got something for all your time spent reading. Don’t get me wrong the great stories are the reward, but the great bonus was the fact that when you read these stories it felt like you were reading a well maintained chronology of the universe we know and love. every story had its’ time and place.
If this is the direction Star Wars is going, the aformentioned sentiment is so true, “It is a sad day.”
December 8th, 2009 - 8:37 pm
Will Darman ever see Kad
December 9th, 2009 - 10:25 am
Austin,
I have read tons of EU material containing Mando stuff since the days of the original Kotor comics, and there has never been any mentioned of a pacifist faction, the Atlas is just a after though retcon, to minimize the screw up. I dont buy it.
January 30th, 2010 - 4:12 pm
wow that is a shame i persanoly loved the commandos and in what univers are the mandos not fighters GL has gone off his rocker
February 27th, 2010 - 5:34 pm
the commando series by karen traviss is the only reason i have begun reading star wars novels again, and they kept me entertained when i was over seas. the mandolorians are a favorite to me now and with all the past history given should not be touched.
But what can i say, r2d2 is no longer a new droid, the headhunter starfighter is outed for the arc figthers, force is given into science, quigon jinn never vanishes like he should of going back to the force( and in the cartoon he is seen with anakin near a tree which could not have happened, so where is he hiding since he cant be dead), amadala who had an alternate identity called padme is now called padme as her real first name (not much of a secret identity), gredo shooting first, and the list continues on changed, conflicing, or just plain messed up new story arcs.
if you agree with me in anyway i would love to hear from you, particulairly on the karen traviss books(true greatness):lonelyorc@live.com
March 4th, 2010 - 7:53 am
I jsut heard about this recently while looking for a release date on the new novel.
I just started reading the last book, and now I’m hoping for a drastic measure so I can figure out how the story ends.
I found the RC series an incredible read, and it was the only series(besides left behind) that actually kept my genuienly ( I know I spelled that wrong.) interested, not just a “ugh, when will this series end, I can’t put it down cause I have to know how it ends” deal but a “I’m interested and I must know how it ends!” deal. so I’m very dissappointed that something couldn’t be worked out to find I may never know what happens to Niner and Dar, and if they can stop there acclerated aging.
I’ve loved star wars since episode one was released(ummm, yea, I’m only 17). And it’s sad that a good story, is being over run but a second rate cartoon.
You will be missed Imperial Commando book 2!