The High Republic’s Phase II: Quest for the Jedi is barreling towards it end in May, leavings fans to wait for Phase III to start in November, though thankfully there’ll be content to tide everyone over, like the much-anticipated YA Anthology featuring all the initiative’s authors! Entertainment Weekly revealed the anthology’s title is Tales of Light and Life, alongside showing off its cover and featuring an excerpt from Claudia Gray’s short story, so head below for more details on the anthology book and when to expect the High Republic panel at Celebration London in April!
Coming out September 5, 2023, Tales of Life and Life has a short story from each of the initiative’s authors from all over the various Phases, details we learned from NYCC back in 2022: Zoraida Córdova has one set in Phase II; Tessa Gratton is post-Phase II (though not Phase I); Claudia Gray’s is 1 day after end of Phase I, which we’ll discuss in a moment thanks to the excerpt; Justina Ireland has one set post-Phase I, though before Phase III; Lydia Kang goes post-Phase II; George Mann will also be post-Phase II (I’m hoping Silandra Sho, if she makes it through it); Daniel José Older’s is nebulously set late-to-mid Phase I; Cavan Scott is almost Phase III; and Charles Soule will also dip his toes close to Phase III.
Gray’s story, “After the Fall” isn’t subtle about where and when it’s set on title alone, moments after Starlight Beacon fell in The Fallen Star, and the excerpt reveals it stars the much-beloved crew of the Vessel, Affie Hollow, Leox Gyasi, and Geode! It’s mostly somber, as Affie and crew survey the fallen station and the nearby city on Eiram, though there’s a little description of Geode which made me crack a smile. Either way, it was great to be with Phase I characters again, as while Phase II has had some winners (Silandra Sho!), I’m still far more attached to Phase I.
As for the beautiful cover, the art’s by the always impressive Tara Phillips, while it was designed by Jake Bartok, per Older on Twitter! And the two lightsabers/hands should be familiar to fans, as it’s Vernestra Rwoh on the left and Keeve Trennis on the right, two of my favorite characters from the initiative and Star Wars overall! Can’t wait to have this anthology to take us all across the Phases ahead of the final Phase beginning in November.
We’ll get our first teases of Phase III: Trials of the Jedi before Tales of Light and Life thanks to the Celebration London 2023 High Republic Panel. On Saturday, April 8 at 1pm in London, or 7pm CST for myself in the US, the High Republic Panel will feature, “…all-new announcements and reveals from Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II, and a sneak peek of what’s to come in Phase III!” Celebration will be live-streamed, so let’s hope this panel makes the cut like it did for Celebration Anaheim 2022 (if not, fans tweeting from there will bring us the news before they hopefully post the panel video later)! Either way, we’ll bring you the news on the Manor when it drops. Until then, keep checking back to the site for reviews on the remaining Phase II content, like our Cataclysm reviews dropping on March 21!
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.