This week starwars.com posted two updates on upcoming Clone Wars fiction. The first is cover art and a synopsis of Medstar I: Battle Surgeons:

Pre-order Medstar I: Battle Surgeons at amazon.com

The Clone Wars that swept across the galaxy in the twilight years of the Republic engulfed more than Jedi Knights, clone troopers and droid soldiers. On the fierce battlefields of Drongar, a tiny med unit tends to those wounded from the ceaseless combat waged on the jungle world for control of a priceless native plant.

In the pages of this forthcoming Clone Wars novel, readers will meet a surgeon that cloaks his despair with sardonic wit; another who weathers the death and misery of Drongar by making beautiful music; a compassionate nurse with her heart in her work and her eye on a doctor; and a Jedi Padawan on a healing mission without her Master.

Medstar I: Battle Surgeons is scheduled for release in July 2004. Click HERE to read more.

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After a two-issue absence, fiction returns to Star Wars Insider. Issue #73 offers up not only the Clone Wars short story "League of Spies" by Aaron Allston, but also more Episode III photos, a feature on Mark Hamill, and more. Here's the short description of "League of Spies":

In "The League of Spies," a short story from author Aaron Allston, Joram Kithe and the clone trooper known as Mapper trade the front lines for espionage duty, only to learn just how much of an oxymoron "military intelligence" can be.

Click HERE view the art and read an excerpt of "League of Spies" courtesy of Paizo Publishing.

Got news or questions? E-mail us at Clonewars@starwarz.com. Discuss these stories at The Galactic Senate.

Some of you may want to pre-order your Clone Wars novels for next year. You may do so by surfing to amazon.com, since they recently listed several Clone Wars novels scheduled for release:

-Boba Fett: A New Threat by Elizabeth Hand (April 2004)
-The Cestus Deception by Steven Barnes (June 2004)
-Medstar I: Battle Surgeons by Steve Perry & Michael Reaves (July 2004)
-Untitled Star Wars Adventure* by Sean Stewart (November 2004)

*This novel is likely the "Clone Wars paperback" that LucasBooks editor Sue Rostoni mentioned on the starwars.com message board. It is apparently the replacement for the canned Escape from Dagu and features a "well-known character."

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Also, Jedi: Dooku recently shipped to comic book retailers and this week, the long overdue Republic #58 ships according to the Diamond shipping list! This comic wraps up the Battle of Jabiim arc and brings Dark Horse one step (ahem...comic) closer to getting back on schedule.

Got news or questions? E-mail us at Clonewars@starwarz.com. Discuss these stories at The Galactic Senate.

UGO.com recently posted an interview with various Clone Wars writers and artists including John Ostrander, Jan Duursema, and Joe Corroney. Other Star Wars EU talent interviewed were Beau Smith (Star Wars Tales), Tim Truman (Hunt for Aurra Sing), and Tom Veitch (Dark Empire). Check out the complete interviews HERE!

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The folks at Wizards of the Coast managed to snag an interview with the Lucasfilm "Keeper of the Holocron," Leland Chee. Chee explains how he got his various jobs with Lucasfilm and what exactly is the "holocron" that he "keeps." Click HERE to read the complete interview.

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Finally, the team at Galactic Hunter posted a cover and synopsis for Republic #63. The comic, by Ostrander, Duursema, and Dan Parsons (cover by Brian Ching) is scheduled for a March 2004 release. Head over to GalacticHunter.com for to view the cover and to read a breif synosis. (ed. the cover looks awesome!)

Got news or questions? E-mail us at Clonewars@starwarz.com. Discuss these stories at The Galactic Senate.

The following press release is from a representative at TELETOON. It looks like the Canadian fans will be getting a terrific New Year's present from Lucasfilm afterall. Enjoy!

TELETOON Brings You the Force
Cartoon Series Star Wars: Clone Wars
Debuts January 3 at 5:00 p.m.

Star Wars fans will be wildly "animated" to hear that the epic micro-series Star Wars: Clone Wars is coming to Canada. TELETOON will broadcast the series Saturdays at 5:00 p.m., leading into the network's popular CINETOON feature, and Mondays and Sundays at 9:30 p.m. as a special KAPOW! presentation in The Detour.

Star Wars: Clone Wars creator Genndy Tartakovsky worked closely with George Lucas to continue the saga where the Star Wars feature film Episode II: Attack of the Clones left off. Consisting of 20 three-minute "chapters", the series is produced with traditional cell animation with some CGI computer-generated effects.

An epic civil war rages at the beginning of Star Wars: Clone Wars, pitting the old Galactic Republic against a vast separatist movement and its cloned troopers. The valiant Jedi Knights return in all their glory to lead the Republic's forces against adversaries across the universe. Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi are among the famous characters appearing in animated form. Many of the same live-action actors provide voiceovers for the series.

Produced by The Cartoon Network and Lucasfilm Ltd., the series is sure to create a new swell of interest in the Star Wars franchise prior to the release of Episode III next year. For more Star Wars content, visit www.teletoon.com prior to the January, 2004 premiere broadcast.

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In other news, The Cestus Deception author and friend of the site, Steven Barnes, received the Endeavour Award for his latest novel, Lion's Blood. Barnes shared the award with Kristine Kathryn Rusch, who was recognized for her novel, The Disappeared. Star Wars fans might remember Rusch as the author of the 1996 novel, The New Rebellion.

Click HERE for more details.

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Finally, for fans that listen to Nathan Butler's Internet radio show, Chrono Radio, you might want to check out the latest edition (#12). It features several segements including the end of the New Jedi Order, significant deaths in the Expanded Universe, and the current Clone Wars publishing line. During the Clone Wars segement, Nathan chatted with me, Brian, about the Clone Wars and this site. Check it out when you get the time - it's a huge download. Hit the Chrono Radio link above to download the show.

Got news or questions? E-mail us at Clonewars@starwarz.com. Discuss these stories at The Galactic Senate.