Star Wars Book Report

Most jam packed episode ever!  We break down and discuss The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks, and we interview the author Terry Brooks himself, and speak with him on writing The Phantom Menace, and much more.  You can find more information on Mr. Brooks at http://www.terrybrooks.net/. We announce our Fantasy Football challenge.  If you wish to play against Wayne and I in fantasy football, e-mail me at jesse@starwarsbookreport.com and ask to join the league.  The first 10 e-mails we receive will play against us for fabulous Star Wars Book Report apparel.  Join our league today. We also interview and chat with Pete Morrison from http://www.lightsaberrattling.com/ and talk on a wide range of topics from his website to his dinner with Shelly Shapiro to baseball to many other rabbits. We hope you enjoy this episode of your Star Wars Book Report, and we thank you for exploring the galaxy with us one page at a time. Thanks, Jesse  

In today's episode, we discuss a discussion that most of you have had around comic shops, comic cons, and dinner tables around the world...who would win in a fight between Star Wars with all of its Jedi and Star Trek with all of its Captains.  To join us for this discussion is the man who wrote the book on the Matt Forbeck, who penned Star Wars vs. Star Trek.  Mr. Forbeck, Wayne, and I have a great time giving our thoughts on this book and its fun tongue in cheek look into both franchises. Mr. Forbeck also shares about the differences between working in novels and gaming, and he shares about his other works, which have Wayne and I both interested and in stitches.  Finally, Mr. Forbeck shares with us about his upcoming projects. You can find Matt Forbeck at http://www.forbeck.com/. Wayne and I also set a record on rabbits chased in one episode where we talk about everything from WWE to Nightmares to Reel Steel to Reality TV to Judges... It was all fun, and we hope you enjoy listening to our show as we do making it. Thanks for listening, Jesse Colbert

In today's episode, you have heard Wayne and I break down her Han Solo Trilogy for the last three weeks, and today we tackle the author herself as A. C. Crispin drops by for a wonderful chat.  We discuss everything from how she got into writing, her novels and her series, the seedy side of scammers in the publishing business, her new projects, the best places for crab, and so much more. We have so much fun just talking with Ms. Crispin, and you will have fun listening to her. You can find Ms. Crispin all across the Internet to get all of her latest news and projects. Ms. Crispin's personal website is www.accrispin.com Ms. Crispin's work with Writer Beware can be found at www.writerbeware.com You can find Ms. Crispin on Facebook by clicking here. Ms. Crispin tweets on the twitter.  You can follow her @anncrispin Thanks for listening to our interview with A. C. Crispin. Exploring the galaxy one page at a time, Jesse

In today's episode, Wayne and I complete our journey through the Han Solo Trilogy, by breaking down Rebel Dawn by A. C. Crispin.  We talk romance, love, marriage, blasters, betrayal, gambling, spies, secret transmissions, and so much more.  We share our thoughts on the difficulties of writing a novel when you know how the story must end, and your audience does too.  Then, we praise Ms. Crispin for keeping this novel interesting even when we know how it will end. Also, in this episode, you can hear Wayne and I gush over the fact that we were noticed by Ms. Crispin herself when she commented on our Face Book friend...you should like us on Face Book, so you can read her comments about us and our silly little show. Finally we share an announcement over a search that may interest you over at www.knightsarchive.wordpress.com So come along for the ride and explore the galaxy with us one page at a time. Thanks for listening, Jesse

In today's episode, Wayne and I break down book two of The Han Solo Trilogy of The Hutt Gambit by A. C. Crispin.  We share our likes and dislikes.  We discuss: Hutt politics, broken hearts, new friendships, old enemies, poisoned frogs, love at first sight, capes, and so much more.   Then, Wayne has the audacity of putting down the coolest of all Star Wars characters...what can you do? Also, Wayne and I make some announcements.  One that will interest e-book junkies, but I bet you already know.  One that was just me entertaining myself, and one that is very exciting and actually has something to do with the show. Anyway, we thank you for exploring with us the galaxy one page at a time. Thanks for listening, Jesse

In today's show, Wayne and I discuss the idea of a prequel.  We talk about what makes a prequel so powerful and enjoyable, and we also share why prequels are so hard to get right.  Then, we jump into the prequel novel trilogy involving every one's favorite smuggler with a heart of gold Han Solo as we discuss The Paradise Snare by A. C. Crispin.  We share our favorite moments from the book, and how this lays a beautiful foundation for why Han is Han in the movies.  Finally we talk is it ok for two guys to like a romantic novel this much. Of course we have our fun talking the Hockey playoffs and other non sense, and I share what I think Wayne should do since the US brought Lord Stanley's Trophy home. Finally we share the direction of upcoming podcast unless you have a better idea than let us hear it at jesse@starwarsbookreport.com, and I encourage you to check out our Christie Golden interview which can be found in our Authors Interviewed category to your left. Thanks for giving up your time and exploring the galaxy with us one page at a time. Thanks for listening, Jesse

Today's episode Wayne and I leave the Star Wars Universe...well sort of...We discuss two Star Wars authors' works outside of the Star Wars Universe.  We begin by breaking down Halo: Cryptum by Greg Bear where Mr. Bear begins to lay the foundation for the mysterious forerunners from the widely popular video game franchise Halo, and then, I break down The Dragonback Adventures by Timothy Zahn, which is just a wonderfully fun series. Come along and explore with us the galaxy one page at a time as we try to broaden our horizons and inspire you to new explorations in your local book shop. Have a great day of reading, page turning, without paper cuts. Thanks for listening, Jesse  

In today's episode Wayne and I break down The Last Command by Timothy Zahn.  We share what we love about this novel and our frustrations.  We share which characters from this trilogy that we would want to read in future novels and tell you where you can find these great characters in other novels.  We spend time discussing whether or not we like the demise of Thrawn.  Then we try to put into perspective the significance of this novel and this trilogy. We also unveil our newest bit with "Quote of the Day" where we share with you the best line from today's show.  Listen and see if you can guess which line it is, and the correct answer will be shared at the end of this episode. Also, we give you 4 nicknames for Steve Glosson for the return of Geek Out Loud and share which promo won our promo contest from Episode 25. Join us for our usual nonsense, and explore with us the galaxy one page at a time. Thanks for listening, Jesse

Today's episode is jam packed.  Wayne and I give you each of our top 5 favorite Star Wars authors and why.  We share the strengths, style, and sheer awesomeness of each author.  Of the two list, only one author appears on each list.  Kudos if you can guess which author that is. Also, Wayne and I give you two authors out side of Star Wars that you should check out. Our hope is that our passionate talk and discussion on each author will encourage you to check out their books, show you that all Star Wars novels and authors are not the same, and give you some reading to do outside of Star Wars.  We want to light a passion in you. Finally, we make a big announcment rguarding Geek Out Loud and our good freind Steve Glosson, and then, I have some fun at Steve's expense, but Steve knows how much I love him.  By the way you will love this announcment. Let's get started and explore together the galaxy one page at a time. Thanks for listening, Jesse

In today's episode, Wayne and I have a good old fasion argument over whether or not Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover is a great or terrible book.  What is cool is the reason I really liked this book is the same reason why Wayne did not like it so much.  We discuss how cool it was to read Mace Windu's diary...although I am surprised a man that bad would keep one...We also discuss what we liked and did not like about this novel. Also, we complete our discussion on Eldest by Christopher Paolini, and just how much did this book rip off George Lucas and The Empire Strikes Back with it's two big reveals are so similar to the reveals in Episode 5, and then, we share how good this book is becasue hey, if you are going to be influenced by Mr. Lucas, your work is going to be good.  We also share our likes and dislikes in this novel as well. And we open by discussing Darth Vader's long lost twin on the cover of Deceived by Paul Kemp. It is another big show for you today, and we thank you for exploring the galaxy with us one page at a time.  We hope you enjoy today's nonsense. Thanks for listening, Jesse

Welcome to Episode 23 and in today's episode Wayne and I discuss heroes.  We share what our favorite characteristics of a hero are, and we differ quite a bit.  We discuss our favorite types of heroes, and we share our favorite Star Wars heroes, where we discover one Star Wars novel we completely disagree on...Needless to say we almost launch into Episode 24 immediately, but do hold back, to share with you our favorite heroes from outside the Star Wars universe.  This is where we discover that Wayne words 40% harder than I do, but if you are looking for some good places to start reading or think your out of good books, this is the episode for you because we mentioned quite a few Star Wars novels and series to find great heroes, and we give you at least a dozen good places to find fun heroes outside of Star Wars.  If want a hero to save you, keep listening because we will help you find one. Thank you for exploring the galaxy with us one page and one good guy at at time. Thanks for listening, Jesse

Wayne is back!  And we dive into the force in today's discussion.  The force, or at least our understanding of the force, seems to be being changed everywhere you look these days across the Star Wars timeline.  With Darth Bane, The Lost Tribe of the Sith, The Unifying Force, Episode I: The Phantom Mennance, The Dark Nest Trilogy, Fate of the Jedi, everywhere Qui-Gon pops up, and of course, the latest Mortis Trilogy in The Clone Wars: The Animated Series, it seems the force cannot be or is not the simple matra taught to us as children on Degabah along side Luke.  One of us are really happy about that and one of us...not so much.  Listen to find out who. Wayne also takes revenge for me poking a little fun at the Canadian Jr National Hockey team blowing a 3 goal lead in the 3 period by commenting on my Alma Matar's basketball game against Wisconsin. As always we have fun, chase rabbits, but somewhere in between, we have some good discussion on the nature of the force and our thoughts on being in a time where the force is being defined or redefined depending on your view. Thanks for listening, Jesse

In today's March bonus episode, I celebrate my fandom of The 4400 as a TV and novel series by interviewing David Mack the author of Promises Broken the series finally of this wonderful sci-fi series.  He discusses the differences and challenges of taking an idea to the small screen, to the comic book, and to a novel, and then we break down how he, Greg Cox, and their editor came to be concluding The 4400.  Mr. Mack answers such questions on how they decided whether or not Tom should have taken the shot and much more.  Finally he shares details reguarding a fund raiser that he is a part of for the Red Cross, which is quite cool. I begin by sharing my thoughts on how David Mack and Greg Cox concluded this series.  I will tell you what I liked and didn't about the conclusion, and I will encourage all of you out there in podcast land who have not yet checked out this series to do so. Wayne is sitting in time out for today's episode for not being The 4400 fan that he should be, but he will be back for our regularly scheduled second podcast for this month, so stay tuned for that. Thanks for listening, we really are glad you are a part of us and our discussion, Jesse

In today's episode, Wayne and I dive into the Clone Wars: Gambit Duology by Karen Miller. We discuss Karen Miller's writing style, and what we like about, but how it could not be some's cup of tea. We break down how she uses dialogue, verbal and internal, to take characters we know so well to a whole new level without comprimising on faithfulness to the characters. We break down how her portrayal of the Clone Wars is so different than most other writers, and much more. We make a big announcement of our next Author Interview, which will be shared with you in our next Podcast. I also stick my foot in my mouth, which is always fun...at least for Wayne, so come along and explore the galaxy with us one page at a time. Thanks for listening, Jesse

Episode 19 of your Sci-Fi Book Report is fully packed...just like the Super Bowl was, and now, Wayne pays up in our Super Bowl wager by butchering the US National Anthem worse than it was at the Big Game.  After our normal sports non-sense at the beginning we dive head first into Timothy Zahn's Dark Force Rising, which is part two of the Thrawn Trilogy.  We discuss what we love about this novel and discuss our criticisms of this book.  We compare the style and pacing of the Early Post Yavin novels and the Clone War novels, and much, much more. Next, Wanye and I break down the first half of Eldest by Christopher Paolini, which is the second book in his Inheritance Cycle, and again we discuss our likes and dislikes, as well as compare this novel to other similar tales. Finally, we open by announcing the latest member to join our www.starwarsbookreport.com family. So come and explore the galaxy with us one page at a time. Thanks for listening, Jesse