Showing posts with label michael stackpole. Show all posts
Showing posts with label michael stackpole. Show all posts

Sunday, January 18, 2026

🍾Sunday's Short Stack🍾: Best of 2025



As the new year moves forward and we say goodbye to the old, we find ourselves looking at our "Best of" lists.  So this week's Sunday's Short Stack post features the 6 most viewed of 2025.

Click on the title links to take you to the original posts.  It's possible not all the original purchase links will still work, in those cases be sure to check the author's websites for latest purchasing details.













Sunday, May 4, 2025

Sunday's Short Stack(Star Wars Day - May the 4th Be With You): Union by Michael Stackpole



Union (1999-2000) #1
Summary:
Though the New Republic is thriving, there are still many who remain true to the spirit and evil designs of Emperor Palpatine. So when Luke Skywalker, the New Republic's greatest hero and sole Jedi master, decides to marry Mara Jade, the woman who was formerly Emperor Palpatine's personal assassin and executor of the Empire's will, you can be sure that somebody is going to raise their hands in protest!







Union (1999-2000) #2
Summary:
As the wedding approaches, Luke Skywalker has a troubling vision: somewhere in their future, a dark hand is grasping at him and his new wife, Mara Jade. But nothing can shake the young Jedi Knight's resolve, not a solemn ceremony of Jedi accepting the Union, nor even a night of carousing and revelry deep within the city canyons of Coruscant.









Union (1999-2000) #3
Summary:
As Luke and Mara gather their friends about them and prepare to share their vows, another vow is also closer to being fulfilled: Imperial Moff Takkar pledges the destruction of this wedding, a travesty and an insult to the memory of the once-great Empire!









Union (1999-2000) #4
Summary:
Wedding Day! But as the guests are taking their places, the Imperial's disruption of the festivities begins! Swoop riders are raiding the building and a madman with a vest-full of explosives is threatening to take the entire building down! Who can save the saviors of the galaxy?








Union Complete(Out of Print)
Summary:
When Luke Skywalker, the New Republic's greatest hero and sole Jedi Master, decides to marry Mara Jade, the woman who was once the Emperor's personal assassin, you can be sure that hands both Imperial and New Republican will be raised to stop the marriage -- at any cost! Written by acclaimed Star Wars novelist Michael A. Stackpole (X-Wing Rogue Squadron; I, Jedi) and illustrated with photographic realism by Robert Teranishi, Union spotlights a monumental event in the Star Wars timeline that bridges the classic Star Wars trilogy to its boundless future a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away!


Re-Read Review May 2022:
I can't tell you how many times over the years that I have read Union.  If there was ever a graphic novel/comic that I wished was a full-fledged novel, it is this one.  I loved Mara Jade from the very first time we meet her in Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire and new her and Luke were destined so when Union became available, I grabbed it and never let go.  Might be corny at times but so much fun, so much Star Wars-ian brilliance.  And yes, this is part of the Legends timeline and has nothing to do with Disney's future but I don't care because I just love this story so much.

RATING:






















Michael A Stackpole
Michael A. Stackpole is the New York Times bestselling author of over 55 novels, including I, Jedi and Rogue Squadron. He's won awards in the realms of podcasting, game designer, computer game design, screenwriting, editing, graphic novel writing and novel writing. He lives in Arizona and frequently travels the United States attending conventions and teaching writing workshops.



Michael A Stackpole
PATREON  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS 

Robert Teranishi(Illustrator)

Duncan Fegredo(Cover Artist)
INSTAGRAM  /  MARVEL  /  WIKI
YOUTUBE  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS


Union #3

Union #4

Series


Sunday, May 7, 2023

Sunday's Short Stack(Star Wars Week 2023): Mara Jade - By the Emperor's Hand by Michael A Stackpole



Mara Jade - By The Emperor's Hand Complete Graphic Novel (Out of Print)

Summary:
Mara Jade is beautiful, intelligent -- and deadly. She is the Emperor's Hand, the personal assassin of the Empire's dark overlord. Mara has destroyed many enemies of the Empire in her time, and has always carried out her missions with forethought and skill. But after the Emperor's death at the hands of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, an unforeseen variable is about to enter the scene of her final mission for her employer: the assassination of the leader of the Black Nebula crime organization. Though her master is dead, Jade must complete her final mission...even if it costs her life.



I originally read this graphic novel wayback when but this past week was the first time I re-visited it in way too long.  Mara Jade has always been my favorite character introduced in the now non-canon SWEU.  Ever since Timothy Zahn created her back in Heir to the Empire, I couldn't imagine reading a comic book, graphic novel, or full length novel without her making an appearance.  So when we got to see a glimpse into her past that began to bridge the gap between Return of the Jedi and Heir to the Empire I jumped at the chance even though if I'm completely honest at that time had rarely read comic book or graphic novel format.  I was completely enthralled then and I still am today, despite being non-canon Mara Jade, the Emperor's Hand is a fun and intriguing bit of SW storytelling.  No matter how you view the differing timelines or multiverse as some might label them, I highly recommend any Star Wars fan giving this a read.  You won't be disappointed.

RATING:



Mara Jade - By The Emperor's Hand (1998-1999) #1
Summary:
After she fails to eliminate the young Jedi Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade is dispatched to take down a crimelord who seeks to reestablish the criminal organization Black Sun. Little does she know that the Emperor's imminent date with death will change her life forever! 






Mara Jade - By The Emperor's Hand (1998-1999) #2
Summary:
Under cover of an Imperial raid, Mara Jade infiltrates the headquarters of would-be Black Nebula overlord Dequc, and assassinates the criminal leader. But back on Imperial Center, she finds evidence that the person she shot was a stand-in, and that the real Dequc is still out there, and gunning for her!






Mara Jade - By The Emperor's Hand (1998-1999) #3
Summary:
In the wake of the Emperor's death at the hands of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, Mara Jade has been captured! Since her captor is one of only a handful who knows she is the Emperor's Hand, Mara knows she must escape quickly- or die!






Mara Jade - By The Emperor's Hand (1998-1999) #4
Summary:
After the death of Emperor Palpatine, Mara Jade escapes from Imperial Center and throws herself headlong into the underground of the Empire's underworld. Though her master is dead, Jade must complete her final mission, even if it costs her life!






Mara Jade - By The Emperor's Hand (1998-1999) #5
Summary:
Fed up with being hunted by her enemies, Mara Jade decides it's time to become the hunter. First on her payback list? The evil Dequc, Black Nebula crime lord, the man who survived her final assignment for the Emperor! Now, Mara must infiltrate his hidden base, take him down, and escape! Could she finally be in over her head?






Mara Jade - By The Emperor's Hand (1998-1999) #6
Summary:
Mara Jade has destroyed many enemies of the Empire in her time, and has always carried out her missions with forethought and skill. But an unforeseen variable is about to enter the scene of her final mission for her dead employer, and Mara knows that her own survival is second to getting the job done!











Michael A Stackpole
Michael A. Stackpole is the multiple New York Times bestselling author of over forty fantasy and science fiction novels, his best known books written in the Star Wars® universe, including I, JEDI and ROGUE SQUADRON, as well as the X-Wing graphic novel series. He has also written in the Conan, Pathfinder, BattleTech and World of Warcraft universes, among others.

Currently the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University Distinguished Writer-in-Residence, Stackpole’s other honors include: Induction into the Academy Gaming Arts and Design Hall of Fame, a Parsec Award for “Best Podcast Short Story,” and a Topps’s selection as Best Star Wars® Comic Book Writer. Stackpole is the first author to sell work in Apple’s App Store, and he’s been an advocate for authors taking advantage of the digital revolution.



Timothy Zahn
Timothy Zahn is the author of more than fifty novels, more than a hundred short stories and novelettes, and five short-fiction collections. In 1984, he won the Hugo Award for Best Novella. Zahn is best known for his Star Wars novels (Thrawn, Thrawn: Alliances, Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, Specter of the Past, Vision of the Future, Survivor’s Quest, Outbound Flight, Allegiance, Choices of One, and Scoundrels), with more than eight million copies of his books in print. His other books include StarCraft: Evolution, the Cobra series, the Quadrail series, and the young adult Dragonback series. Zahn has a B.S. in physics from Michigan State University and an M.S. from the University of Illinois. He lives with his family on the Oregon coast.



Michael A Stackpole(Writer)
FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE
RANDOM HOUSE  /  KOBO  /  iTUNES
GOOGLE PLAY  /  AUDIBLE  /  B&N
PATREON  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS

Timothy Zahn(Story)
FACEBOOK  /  ISFDB  /  iTUNES
AUDIBLE  /  GOOGLE PLAY  /  MARVEL
WIKI  /  AMAZON  /  GOODREADS

Carlos Ezquerra (Illustrator)

Kilian Plunkett (Cover Art)


Mara Jade #1

Mara Jade #2

Mara Jade #3

Mara Jade #4

Mara Jade #5

Mara Jade #6

Series