Mike Stackpole

[loserjames]

Does the Lucas Film licesnsing department, or whoevers handles the books, have any future plans for Stackpole to write any PT era books? He seemed to write the best in the post OT era books, so it would only seem logical for him to start in the prequel trilogy..

[JediKeri.]

Unfortunatly Mike Stackpole may not be writing anymore Star Wars novels. Right now he is concentrating on his own work.

[loserjames]

Ahh, nuts. :P

[Flight]

From Stackpole's site (http://www.stormwolf.com/data/msnews.htm):

<<I've been talking with Dave Gross, the editor at Star Wars Insider, about working up a short story. I can't go into anymore details than that until outlines are approved and contracts are signed, but things look hopeful. If everything works out the project will be a lot of fun.>>

[Mookel1138]

This has nothing to do with Michael Stackpole's current writing, but I wrote to him a few years ago, he wrote back and sent his autograph...pretty neat stuff.

[James T. Skywalker]

According to an interview between one of the contributors at the website Jadescrusades.com, Tim Zahn and Mike Stackpole have for some time been nudging Dark Horse to allow them to do stories involving some of their characters. Zahn would love to, but Dark Horse is more interested in their Republic, Empire, and Infinities comics at the moment. Oh well, perhaps it will happen at some point in the future.

~JTS

[Whuffa]

I read somewhere that Zahn and Mike have a finished story for a comic about Fel going to the Chiss, but Dark Horse isn't interested at the moment.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unhappy.gif

[JediKeri.]

that's news to me

[Doctor Evil]

Yeah, he is my favorite EU author. I wish he would write more SW novels in ANY era. I think eventually he will. He made enough money off of his SW books to indulge his other interests for a while, but sooner or later the money will bring him back.

It just may take a while.

Doc

[CorranHorn]

The only books of his that I've read are I Jedi, and the X-Wing series. They were great. I wish he would wright another story though. His characters were really interesting and more real life than other books I've read.

[RedMirax]

He wrote 2 books for the NJO.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Whisper]

He's in the process of submitting a possible short story.

Time frame, unknown, details won't be known until the contracts and all that are signed.


www.stormwolf.com is his homepage

[Doctor Evil]

Stackpole is my favorite as well. I liked his NJO books. I thought they were the best of the early NJO books. then I read I, Jedi and liked that pretty well and then the first 4 X-wing books. I think those X-Wing books were freaking classic!

I admire what Zahn did in basically kick starting the EU as we know it, but I am even more impressed with what Stackpole did. Zahn took all the OT main characters, added a few of his own and wove a great story.

Stackpole took a couple of side characters in the OT, built up nearly all original characters around them and wove a just as great, if not better story. He also did not touch on much "Jedi" stuff except for a bit in the one book and I never missed it.

I just started Wraith Squadron and I'm liking Allston's style alot too.

Doc

[Soontir Solo]

Stackpole is a very good Star Wars writer, almost as good as Zahn, but not quite. Everybdoy should read the X-Wing series adn Dark Tide 1 and 2 of the NJO series. Those two books turned the Vong into really dangerous beings. In Vector Prime the NR went a way with a costly victory, but the cost was much highter in these two.

[Darth Bangkok]

I liked the Dark Tide books a lot. Stackpole is a great writer. I just don't like his Corran Horn character very much and he likes to make him a focus of his books. I hated the book I, Jedi and never read the X-wing books. But his NJO books are great. The characters have a lot of depth to them and you are never really sure if everyone is going to make it out after chewie died. I was thrilled when I though Corran had died and disappointed when I found out he hadn't.

I also like how in his books Han and Leia are finally not the central characters or the ONLY ones in the WHOLE GALAXY that could possibly save the day.

[Darth Bangkok]

Just finished Dark Tide Ruin. What a lame fight between Corran and Shedao Shai. Why can't Corran just die already?

[Ripley the Warmaster]

Originally posted by Whuffa@Dec 2 2002, 08:23 AM
I read somewhere that Zahn and Mike have a finished story for a comic about Fel going to the Chiss, but Dark Horse isn't interested at the moment.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unhappy.gif
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>

<span style="color:blue">The Making of Baron Fel?

Stackpole in general is what I call a mixed bag. His best novel by far is Talion: Revenant. His characters were fresh and new then. The problem is he tends to reuse characters too much. Corran is basically the same as Nolan ra Sinjaria in Talion, Tarrant Hawkings in The Dark Glory War, Will in Fortress Draconis, and When Dragons Rage. There are probably more, but I haven't read all of his works.

Now while he has the problem with the Nolan ripoffs, his fantasy works usally have interesting other characters. DragonCrown War had Resolute, Kerrigan, and Adrogans to name a few. Characters like them make DragonCrown War fairly good.

His Star Wars works, to put midly, don't exactly make the grade. X-Wing 1-4 completely bumbled in the character department. Corran is a ripoff, Isard made to look better than the Emperor, too hard sci-fi(when Star Wars is space fantasy), and virtually no enjoyable characters come close to a huge screw up. The only savaing grace is I like Loor and Vorru, and Bantam at least tried something new. That already said, Isard's Revenge is so bad it should have never been published.

I'm currently rereading I,Jedi. Corran starts to become somewhat likeable, and Stackpole is always the best in first-person. The novel is ok so far, but it's brought down by fact you have to read the first four X-Wing novels.

Dark Tide are by far his best Star Wars novels.(were my favourite for several years) I like the pacing and plot of this story.(Onslaught is probably the closest thing to a non-Nolan ripoff novel he has written) I need to reread them sometime.

His short stories are a lot better than his novels, and I liked Union and Mara Jade, By the Emperor's Hand. Haven't read the X-Wing comics, but it might take a while for me to get to them.

So overall, Stackpole is a fairly good writter who needs expand. Do something other than fantasy/sci-fi for once, and write something without a Nolan-ripoff. I'm following his career, but I have no great desire to see him write Star Wars again.</span>

[Queso]

I Want Mara Jade, By the Emperor's Hand!!!!


just thaought I'd say that..
put if you recieve the Insider like I do....Stackpole has written numerous short stories for them

[Ripley the Warmaster]

First look at "A Secret Atlas." (http://www.stormwolf.com/essays/asapreview.html)<span style="color:red">I hope there isn't any Nolan ripoffs, but I'm probably hoping too much.</span>

[Soontir Solo]

I just want more Stackpole Star Wars books, he is a great Star Wars author.

[Ripley the Warmaster]

Originally posted by Soontir Solo@Dec 23 2004, 10:25 PM
I just want more Stackpole Star Wars books, he is a great Star Wars author.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>

<span style="color:red">I wouldn't buy them because I have no interest on him fawning over the greatness of the Horn/Halcyon bloodline and any more of his boring X-Wing battles.</span>

[Soontir Solo]

Dude the X-Wing novels are hardly boring. If you haven't noticed you are in the minority when it comes to people who like EU but don't like the X-Wing series. In fact your the only one I know that fits this description. Those books aren't boring at all, and just because he wrote I, Jedi (another excellent book) doesn't mean any future book would focus on the Halcyon/Horn family.

Stackpole is widely thought of as the second best Star Wars author behind Zahn. As he should be.

[DarthSolo]

Gotta agree with Soontir. I have loved every Stackpole book ive read. He isnt as good as Allston (IMO) but the battles are absolutely brilliant and the plot lines hardly boring. Sometimes his writing style annoys me, but its not a big thing, and every author has a thing with acertain chracter, especially one he created. With Zahn its Mara and the Chiss and with Stackpole its Corran. I think it might be a bit (just a little tiny small bit) over done, but im a little wierd and like different kinds of characters like Ooryl Qrygg and the like. Hey soontir, lets start Yag D'Hul base, defenders of the X-Wing books. JK! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Soontir Solo]

Yag D'Hul base, defenders of the X-Wing books. The idea has merit I must say.

[DarthSolo]

i was kidding...Id rather us be the Hawk-bats. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Ripley the Warmaster]

Originally posted by Soontir Solo@Dec 26 2004, 12:21 AM
Dude the X-Wing novels are hardly boring. If you haven't noticed you are in the minority when it comes to people who like EU but don't like the X-Wing series. In fact your the only one I know that fits this description. Those books aren't boring at all, and just because he wrote I, Jedi (another excellent book) doesn't mean any future book would focus on the Halcyon/Horn family.

Stackpole is widely thought of as the second best Star Wars author behind Zahn. As he should be.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>

<span style="color:blue">Because hardly anyone who reads Stackpole's Star Wars novels read his original works and sees that he ripoffs the characters, especially with Corran being a huge ripoff of Nolan ra Sinjaria from Talion: Revenant. I can't cure ignorance because people won't read all of his works. Also, all of his novels have been heavy on Horn/Halcyon family, and I don't see him breaking an eight novel trend. I,Jedi suffers from half of the novel being a rehash of a previous trilogy and the other half being his usual subpar SW work.</span>

[DarthSolo]

Soooo basically you don't like Corran Horn, or at least Stackpole's heavy Horn usage? Understandable. Do you have any reason to call his SW work subpar besides that?

[Soontir Solo]

You can't judge a Star Wars book by some books that are totally different. Who cares if you used similar ideas of his OWN creation? All authors do the same thing. Corran Horn is an awesome character, and Stackpole's books are great. His writing style is great. It keeps the reader begging for more. The stories are all great. They are all interesting, unique, and well written. Stackpole is the 2nd best SW author, and the X-Wing Series and Corran Horn were great for the EU.

[Ripley the Warmaster]

Originally posted by DarthSolo@Dec 27 2004, 09:23 PM
Soooo basically you don't like Corran Horn, or at least Stackpole's heavy Horn usage? Understandable. Do you have any reason to call his SW work subpar besides that?
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>

<span style="color:blue">See my big post in "What EU book/novel/short story are you currently reading?" thread.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>You can't judge a Star Wars book by some books that are totally different. Who cares if you used similar ideas of his OWN creation? All authors do the same thing. Corran Horn is an awesome character, and Stackpole's books are great. His writing style is great. It keeps the reader begging for more. The stories are all great. They are all interesting, unique, and well written. Stackpole is the 2nd best SW author, and the X-Wing Series and Corran Horn were great for the EU. [/b][/quote]
Stackpole's novels are similar in style to Star Wars to do being grand fantasy adventures. Please do not say they are totally different when you have not read them, and if you have, I am sorry for making that statement.. I don't mind a writer/director/etc. using the same ideas a few times, but using them over and over again in every single novel you write is bad writing. I didn't mind Nolan the first time I read him in Talion: Revenant. It started getting worse when I saw Nolan again under the name Tarrant Hawkins and Will in The DragonCrown War, and it got very just down right pathetic when I saw Nolan stick his nose again in Stackpole's Star Wars novels. Seeing this characters clones over and over again make me want to puke.

When you say Corran Horn is an awesome character, you do not give any reasons. Without reasons or proof, your statement cannot stand. I would like proof, if there is any, of how Corran is so awesome. When you refer to Stackpole's Star Wars novels, which you mean by saying his novels because it is common for people to say they've read all of his novels but have in reality read his Star Wars novels, you say they're interesting, unique, and well written. How does his novels meet these three points? Again, no reasons or proof on how how Corran is good for Star Wars, how X-Wing is good for Star Wars, and how Mike Stackpole is the second best EU author of all time. All I want is proof.</span>

[DarthSolo]

Originally posted by Ripley the Warmaster+Dec 28 2004, 10:24 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ripley the Warmaster @ Dec 28 2004, 10:24 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Soontir Solo@Dec 27 2004, 11:01 PM
I have to agree with everything DS said.

And as far as Starfighters of Adumar it is an outstanding book. The humor really is funny Ripley, whether you think so or not. It is as funny as humor in a book can be. And the novel has an excellent storyline, with a great battle scene at the end that is very unique considering it takes place in atmosphere the entire time, has fighters we have never seen before, and doesn't involve capital ships really. It is Wedge leading the Rebels against the Imp 181st remnant leading the forces of the tyrants. And lots of hand to hand combat that was awesome, with yet again new weapons.

Awesome book.

And why judge a Star Wars book on non-Star Wars books? Its like comparing apples and oranges. Just doesn't work. No one cares about the other books Stackpole wrote when reading the X-Wing books.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>

<span style="color:blue">1). You have given no proof or examples of how the humour is funny.
2). No examples of how the storyline is excellent.
3). I am comparing an author's work. How does having the word "Star Wars" on a cover of a novel prevent me from seeing if the author has come with anything new or reused in the story? That thinking leads to no Star Wars novels being made by the author.

If you two really want to continue debating, let us do so in the Stackpole and X-Wing thread in the Books forum. The thread has already gotten too far off topic.

On topic, I've read a little of MedStar 2: Jedi Healer. Good so far, but doesn't seem to be as good as Battle Surgeons. None of the new characters have struck a cord with me like the older characters.</span>
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>
[/b][/quote]
brought that quote over from the other thread.
1. Sense of humor varies per person. If someone laughs at something it doesnt mean everyone will. Soontir and I obviously think Allston has good humor, but that doesnt mean everyone will. It still stands that the relationships that are formed with these attempts at humor make the characters more real, more round. That, combined with many other small things make the character believable and make the books better, weather or not you break out into "orgasmic laughter."
2. I think the storyline is excelent or at least good because of unique plot points such as the Krytos Virus, the Tycho Celchu trial, the Rogues breaking away from the NR, the entire Bacta War, the dealings with characters like Huff Darklighter, Talon Karrde and Booster Terrik, the character behind that Imp captain of the SD that left Isard's servie (cant remember his name), the pranks in the Wraith Squadron books, the thoughts characters like Wedge, Kel, Face, Ton, Lara Notsil and many others have, and plenty of other things im not thinking of right now.
3. The difference between your view of the book and Soontir and my view of the books is that you obviously have read Stackpole's other works and therefore are looking at it as him as a writer, where as Soontir and I are looking at it as Star Wars lit. I havent read the books you mention, so i can argue with you there, yet, but as Star Wars literature i think the books are great and i have given reasons why. If you look at the X-Wing books from a Star Wars perspective it was a unique series that added alot to the galaxy.

Generally, if someone is less into the pure military aspects of things they likely will not like the X-Wing books as much, simply because it lacks the "fantasy" aspect of it, as Ripley has pointed out on some post somewhere on this board. That is fine, its a matter of personal preference, but it does not constitute saying that it never should have been written, as was said somewhere. btw, rip, i didnt see any response to my arguments in the other thread. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif all in good fun.

I appologize for the numerous gramatical errors i must have made in this post.

[DarthSolo]

Originally posted by Ripley the Warmaster+Dec 28 2004, 10:47 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ripley the Warmaster @ Dec 28 2004, 10:47 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-DarthSolo@Dec 27 2004, 09:23 PM
Soooo basically you don't like Corran Horn, or at least Stackpole's heavy Horn usage?* Understandable.* Do you have any reason to call his SW work subpar besides that?
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>

[color=blue]See my big post in "What EU book/novel/short story are you currently reading?" thread.
[/b][/quote]
I did, see my reply.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>You can't judge a Star Wars book by some books that are totally different. Who cares if you used similar ideas of his OWN creation? All authors do the same thing. Corran Horn is an awesome character, and Stackpole's books are great. His writing style is great. It keeps the reader begging for more. The stories are all great. They are all interesting, unique, and well written. Stackpole is the 2nd best SW author, and the X-Wing Series and Corran Horn were great for the EU. [/b][/quote]
Stackpole's novels are similar in style to Star Wars to do being grand fantasy adventures. Please do not say they are totally different when you have not read them, and if you have, I am sorry for making that statement.. I don't mind a writer/director/etc. using the same ideas a few times, but using them over and over again in every single novel you write is bad writing. I didn't mind Nolan the first time I read him in Talion: Revenant. It started getting worse when I saw Nolan again under the name Tarrant Hawkins and Will in The DragonCrown War, and it got very just down right pathetic when I saw Nolan stick his nose again in Stackpole's Star Wars novels. Seeing this characters clones over and over again make me want to puke.
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>
[/b][/quote]
I think ill point out here that you said you dont mind when a director uses the same idea a few times, and then went on to give three examples of stackpole using the same idea. 3, to me, is a few. I think it is generally considered a few, so you have kinda defeated your own argument there. Im not a huge Corran fan myself, but he is still an interesting characer. His family storyline is interesting, and his presence as a character adds alot to the Jedi later in the story line after X-Wing, as well as in the X-Wing series.

[Ripley the Warmaster]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>I think ill point out here that you said you dont mind when a director uses the same idea a few times, and then went on to give three examples of stackpole using the same idea. 3, to me, is a few. I think it is generally considered a few, so you have kinda defeated your own argument there. Im not a huge Corran fan myself, but he is still an interesting characer. His family storyline is interesting, and his presence as a character adds alot to the Jedi later in the story line after X-Wing, as well as in the X-Wing series. [/b][/quote]
<span style="color:blue">I listed those three because they're the ones I've read currently. I have heard in many reviews that Nolan sticks his again in Eyes of Silver, Once A Hero, and almost everyone of his novels. I'll also might have another to add when I read A Secret Atlas when it comes out in a few months. I'll get to responding to your arguments in a day or so do to being late here and I generally take a while to respond to arguments in threads.

If you want the reason I'm usually against reusing ideas, give me a PM.</span>

[DarthSolo]

No, its cool, and i dont doubt that Stackpole does it, because i think all authors do it to some extent, and I understand your point of view. I still say as strictly Star Wars literature that argument doesn't come into play.

[MrSouthernRonin]

I'm a big fan of Stackpole's Star Wars work (especially "I, Jedi"), but I can see what you mean. I've seen a lot of authors reuse characters with different names (Piers Anthony, you boogerhead you).

The best example is John Steakley (he wrote Vampire$ and Armor), which both feature the exact same characters with the exact same name, and he just put them in a different scenario, as if they had never been in another book. I loved it, in that situation, because both books really expressed a unique relationship that inspires a lot of thought.

However, I don't see a lot of sci-fi writers doing that nowadays. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Ripley the Warmaster]

<span style="color:blue">A Secret Atlas is coming out this month, and Mike has the first chapter up on his site.</span>

[TuskenRaider1]

Thanks. Id like to see more Stackpole X-wing or Wraith Squad stuff. Perhaps if they were involved post dark nest, that would be cool. Horn at this point is not part of the X-wing series if they were to redo part of it. Actually thats not a bad idea, start a new x-wing series, with Gavin in charge, and go from there.

[jfreadjr]

id like to see zahn and stackpole team up again

[TuskenRaider1]

Yeah, that could be decent. Zahn story with Stackpole lighter side....I could dig that....

[Ithorian guy]

Originally posted by jfreadjr@Mar 24 2005, 09:33 PM
id like to see zahn and stackpole team up again
<div align="right">Quoted post</div>


that would be flippen awesome

[mirax terrik horn]

that would be awesome. In response to what ripley said I think that every author re-uses ideas but Stackpole IMO does a good job with putting a different face and spin on all his ideas.

[Soontir Solo]

I wouldn't mind a new X-Wing series. I personally would like to see some Wraith Squadron books abotu what they were doing during TTT and against all the Warlords and stuff.