Star Wars: The High Republic: Showdown at the Fair
The Republic Fair has come to the planet Valo, and everyone is celebrating.
Until the dreaded Nihil launch a surprise attack and Burryaga the Wookiee and the other Jedi of the High Republic must save the day!
Author: George Mann
Cover artist: Petur Antonsson
Illustrator: Petur Antonsson
Release date: October 5, 2021
Pages: 24
ISBN: 9781368069847
Fans of stickers, beautiful artwork, engaging, concise writing and old school square-shaped kids books are going to think it’s Life Day already when they get their hands on this, the second such release from Disney Books in this fast-growing saga of The High Republic. It’s notable for a few reasons, foremost being the involvement of a writer from outside the original five Project Luminous crew. George Mann steps in here, fresh from his fan-fave trio of books Myths and Fables, Dark Legends and The Life Day Treasury, and does a stellar and tricky job of bringing a dark storyline thread from the harrowing The Rising Storm and making it kid friendly enough to fly as a childrens book.
Here’s where it shines, as the artwork by Petur Antonsson is an absolute delight, very much in the vein of the beautiful Little Golden Books and delivering images that bubble over with energy and youthful energy, as well as giving us our first look at the Innovator, the Republics medical starship designed to travel the Outer Rim and deliver aid. Again, the wookiee Burryaga is our central character, and we follow him as he defends the visitors to the Republic Fair as the Nihil launch their devastating attack and takes to the skies to battle in his Jedi Vector as Scav Droids – precursors to Buzz Droids from Revenge of the Sith – attack his ship. Readers of The Rising Storm know the devastation and despair that rolls out in that thrilling novel, and here Mann does a fine job of vaguely alluding to that while highlighting the hope and optimism of a galaxy watching on the holonet, enough for young readers to walk away feeling like they’ve read about a victory rather than a devastating and destabilising massacre.
For fans of the series it’s a must, a feast for the eyes and a brisk read that summarises the events from the point of view of the young wookiee, while kids will delight in the detailed artwork and hopefully adventure. Factor in some really cool stickers (who doesn’t love stickers?) and a reasonable price point and you have a winning combination and most importantly a book that invites our youngest fellow fans to the galaxy far, far away. We could always do with more of that, so bravo to all involved.
- Mann, George (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 10/05/2021 (Publication Date) - Random House/Star Wars (Publisher)
