#michael a. stackpole

[checkoutmybookshelf]

You Have My Attention: X-Wing Series First Lines

In the many, many series that comprise the Star Wars EU (the Legends Canon since Disney decanonized it in 2014), the X-Wing series is an interesting case because it is fairly cleanly bifurcated between two X-wing squadrons and two authors, and yet the series as a whole--and the characters who cross over between authors--feel remarkably consistent. That's a feat in and of itself, as anyone who has read over the shift from Robert Jordan to Brandon Sanderson in the Wheel of Time can attest.

My clear preference is for Aaron Allston's writing style and the Wrait Squadron missions, but I know readers who dearly love Stackploe's Rogue Squadron as well. So let's take a look at how these authors grab readers with their first lines!

"You're good, Corran, but you're no Luke Skywalker."

-- Rogue Squadron

"Even before his X-wing's sensors had time to scan and identify the new ship, Corran Horn knew he was in trouble."

-- Wedge's Gamble

"Commander Wedge Antilles would have preferred the ceremony to be private."

-- The Krytos Trap

"Somehow the dead of night amplified the lightsaber's hiss, allowing it to fill the room."

-- The Bacta War

"Twelve X-wing snubfighters roared down into the atmosphere."

-- Wraith Squadron

"He made no pretense at being fully human."

-- Iron Fist

"Naval Lieutenant Jart Eyan looked rested and cheerful."

-- Solo Command

"Sithspawn! When his X-wing reverted to realspace before the countdown timer had reached zero, Corran Horn knew Thrawn had somehow managed to outguess the New Republic yet one more time."

-- Isard's Revenge

"She was beautiful and fragile and he could not count the number of times he had told her he loved her."

-- Starfighters of Adumar

"Imperial Admiral Kosh Teradoc paused, irritated and self-conscious, just outside the entryway into the club."

-- Mercy Kill

[mapas-fantasticos]

Map of the world from the DragonCrown War Cycle by Michael A. Stackpole.

[missmultifandommess]

Oh, hoho yeah!

Oh, ho ho YEAH!

MWAHAHA!

*SCREAMS*

Context

[derdave]

So I’ve been re watching the battletech cartoon. Yeah it’s kind of rough but kind of enjoyable. However I decided to give the novels a chance. Download the first vil of the blood of Kerensky (aka the clan invasion story) and wow it’s been really really good so far.

[the-gershomite]

Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, The Rebel Opposition #4 of 4

-October 1995- Dark Horse Comics

story: Michael A. Stackpole

script: Mike Baron

pencils: Allen Nunis

inks: Andy Mushynsky

colors: Dave Nestlle

letters: Steve Dutro

cover art: Dave Dorman

[realitys-ex]

A Really Shitty Review of "The Age of Discovery" By Michael A. Stackpole

So, this'll be worse than my normal "Mediocre Reviews" because I haven't read this series in probably 5? years, and tbh, I tried to re read it, but I couldn't get into it again.

Which, for me, is a bit of a inditement. I reread books. A lot.

If I haven't re read a book within 2 years of reading it initially, it's odd to say the least.

Now, it may be better than I recall, but tbh not the point of this post.

No, I want to talk about the magic system.

Basically the magic is as follows: If you study/practice/get good enough at something you can pass a threshold where you become magically good at it. This always confers 2/3 side effects, along with a few others depending on what you are magically good at.

1)Magical immortality. Or at least you stop aging, and probably heal super well. You can be killed though. 2)You are supernaturally good at whatever, and clearly superior to anyone who isn't also magically good at it. 3)Now I am not 100% on this but iirc when you use your ability there is a chance of random magic effects on the surrounding area. (though that might have only been if there are 2 people going at each other).

So, the first person we meet is a magic swordsman, then there is a magical courtesan, and some other stuff.

The important thing though, is eventually we get a magical beaurocrat.

Yup, some dude gets so good at dealing with paperwork he becomes immortal.

To this day it is one of the funniest concepts I have heard of.

[difunttichronicles]

La Grande Croisade

La Guerre de la Couronne, tome 3, Michael A. Stackpole tome 1 tome 2 PrésentationUN JEUNE VOLEUR DESTINÉ À SAUVER LE MONDE… OU À LE PRÉCIPITER DANS SA CHUTE. Une effroyable nouvelle sème la discorde dans le Conseil des Rois : Will Norrington, l’orphelin qui devait mettre un terme à la tyrannie de Chytrine, manque à l’appel. Tandis que tous s’interrogent sur la succession du jeune homme,…

[mightymur]

[ISvBW] Revisiting the Michael A. Stackpole Interview

Episode 4: Revisiting the Michael A. Stackpole Interview Old I Should Be Writing episodes are new again with classic podcasts from 2005! If you wonder what I Should Be Writing sounded like back in the old days, when podcasting was new and before I was published, look no farther! I’m releasing most of my old episodes with commentary, and maybe some new interviews with old friends. The shows will…

[oldschoolfrp]

Flying Buffalo's Sorcerer's Apprentice featured more well-known authors than most gaming magazines. The special double issue #9/10, Winter/Spring 1981, included fiction by Roger Zelazny, non-fiction by C J Cherryh and L Sprague de Camp, a T&T dungeon by Larry DiTillio, and a feature by Michael Stackpole. This issue also would have premiered a new story by Manly Wade Wellman but the editor postponed it when Lee Brown Coye's illustrations were temporarily lost in the mail. (Richard Becker cover art)

[holonetwork]

George Lucas and the Bantam era Part of a series I’ve put together focusing on the history of the EU. Sources: Tom Dupree (1, 2), Drew Struzan (1, 2), Michael A. Stackpole, Kevin J. Anderson, Dave Wolverton (1, 2, 3), Pablo Hidalgo (The Essential Reader's Companion), Michael P. Kube-McDowell (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), A.C. Crispin (1, 2, 3), & Roger MacBride Allen

[jasperkredas]

"Behold my Master and weep. He has been stolen from us by those who embrace hatred. The Emperor learned that the Rebels had stolen plans for an Imperial Planetary Ore Extractor and intended to use the one they were fabricating at Endor on inhabited planets. He assembled his fleet, and heedless of personal danger, he had me take him to Endor. He infiltrated the half-completed extractor, offering these Rebels his forgiveness and a hand in friendship. They rejected him and attacked his fleet. My Master had no alternative but to destroy this Death Srar himself, perishing in the process so his citizens could live on. I was slain with him, but my death does not distress me, for it came in service to my Master." - Darth Vader

Nothing to see here just the Empire rewriting history. Although the mental image of the Emperor infiltrating the Death Star by sneaking aboard is kinda funny.

[legends-expo]

Photos by Thor Parker / Bekah Marie Photo

We had such a great time with all of you a year ago today in Burbank, CA! We'll be back in the Los Angeles area in 2025 for another convention celebrating the Expanded Universe!

[fakewedge]

actually let's loop back around. what did he mean by this <- knows what stackpole likely intended (it was the 90s) <- still. there are other phrases that convey especially close or important friendships that also don't connote all that. many of them, in fact

[the-gershomite]

Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, The Rebel Opposition #3 of 4

-September 1995- Dark Horse Comics

story: Michael A. Stackpole

script: Mike Baron

pencils: Allen Nunis

inks: Andy Mushynsky

colors: Dave Nestlle

letters: Steve Dutro

cover art: Dave Dorman

[jadecrusades]

Star Wars Customizable Card Game promotional and play cards. “Reflections II: Expanding the Galaxy.” January, 2001.

Decipher’s Reflections II: Expanding the Galaxy series brought a handful of Expanded Universe characters to life including Mara Jade, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Talon Karrde, Corran Horn, Mirax Terrik, Dash Rendar, Prince Xizor, and Guri. Decipher also created an exclusive 5”x7” Promotional Oversized “Signature” Card depicting Mara, Talon Karrde, and Corran Horn for the summer ‘01 convention circuit. Model Shannon (Baksa) McRandle portrayed Mara Jade, while Timothy Zahn was made up to depict Talon Karrde, and Michael Stackpole was costumed to resemble Corran Horn. Stackpole had these memories to share on his blog:

The stuff done in a photostudio is really magic. At first glance, the guys they got for Corran and Karrde were right, in general. Good on the overall dimensions, hair color, eye color, etc., but they were just guys off the street. Then the hair and makeup folks went to work. Karrde got a wig and a full makeup job, which sharpened his features and totally changed him. By the end of the process - during which Tim's camera was clicking almost incessantly - I was believing the guy was Talon Karrde.

Once Karrde was made up and costumed, he was taken onto the photostage and lit. That's a fascinating process. If they put a yellow filter on a light, the light is considered "hot." A blue filter makes it "cold." The art director, photographer and photographer's assistant all discussed and debated, pulling lights this way and that, setting them up at angles, getting the model to look here or there. Then they took test Polaroid shots and digital shots and finally agreed that things were right. It was almost anticlimactic when the shooting got done, but the results were great. Talon Karrde lived.

Shannon Baksa actually did Corran's makeup, then he got lit and shot. One of my concerns had been that the model was a bit older than Corran would have been at that point, but the makeup and lighting slashed 15 years off him. And the models, they put up with a lot. At one point, while folks were off debating how Corran should be lit, the guy who had done Karrde's makeup commented that Corran was just sitting there rock-still. Corran said, "I'd move, but I'm afraid they'd have to re-light me."

[difunttichronicles]

La Furie des Dragons

La Guerre de la Couronne, tome 2, Michael A. Stackpole tome 1 tome 3 PrésentationUN JEUNE VOLEUR DESTINÉ À SAUVER LE MONDE… OU À LE PRÉCIPITER DANS SA CHUTE. Les armées de Chytrine ravagent royaumes et cités en quête des fragments de la Couronne du Dragon. Une fois reconstituée, celle-ci rendra l’impératrice invincible. Armés de leur seul courage, la princesse Alexia et ses compagnons, qui…