While the first wave of novels in the Star Wars: The High Republic subseries focused on the Great Disaster, the second wave shits to preventing disaster and celebrating innovation at the Republic Fair. In “First details of the Next Wave of Star Wars: The High Republic Stories Revealed – Exclusive,” the starwars.com team revealed the details of this new wave of books in the subseries, including new summaries of the upcoming titles. While some details about the Republic Fair were announced during the Star Wars: The High Republic Live Stream Launch Event, these newly released synopses shed more light on the Fair’s importance and the lurking dangers that threaten its success.
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During the launch event, Cavan Scott described the Republic Fair as “the World Fair for the Republic.” He further explained that “it’s showing all the great things that happen in the Republic. It’s a chance to see all the excitement, all the new technologies available.” Thus, the fair fits in neatly with the “Great Works” promised by Chancellor Lina Soh. The High Republic government focuses on the artistic, technological and cultural innovation that will form the heart of the Republic Fair.
Daniel José Older described Valo, the planet hosting the Republic Fair, as “one of these kind of out of the way planets that a lot of people don’t go to.” In Charles Soule’s Star Wars: Light of the Jedi (The High Republic), the Nihil are partially motivated by the Republic’s efforts to expand into the Outer Rim. Despite the Nihil’s attacks, the Republic Fair shows that Chancellor Lina Soh is continuing these efforts. By holding the Fair on Valo, readers can reasonably assume that Soh intends to show the citizens of the Outer Rim how they can benefit by joining the Republic.
The new synopses expand more on the trouble lurking in the shadows around the Republic Fair. The synopsis for Scott’s upcoming Star Wars: The Rising Storm (The High Republic) focuses on a Nihil attack at the Republic Fair, and Jedi such as Stellan Gios and Bell Zettifar have to work to prevent the Nihil’s carnage. As this new synopsis and older information reveal, Older’s upcoming Star Wars: Race to Crashpoint Tower (The High Republic) is a middle grade novel focusing on Padawans Ram Jomaram and Lula Talisola as they race to repair a major communication tower on Valo. While both novels are connected by their focus on the Republic Fair, they provide different perspectives of the Nihil attacks and of public perception of the Jedi and the Republic in the Outer Rim.
The initial preview from the launch event discussed how the Republic Fair would affect these two titles, but the starwars.com article demonstrates how the event will be incorporated into other Star Wars titles. First, Star Wars Insider will be publishing “Hidden Danger,” a serialized story by Justina Ireland that focuses on the Starlight Beacon and the Agrarian and Agricultural Alliance holding a conference to prepare for the fair, but the Drengir threaten the proceedings. According to the article, Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures will also kick off a new story arc that features Padawans Farzala and Qort as they team up with the crew of the Vessel on a secret mission. Showdown at the Fair, a storybook by George Mann, will focus on Burryaga and other Jedi protecting the Fair from the Nihil. Thus, new titles tailored for different age ranges and mediums all plan to incorporate the Republic Fair in some manner.
Not all of the upcoming titles appear to be connected to the Republic Fair at first glance. For example, the synopses for Justina Ireland’s Star Wars: Out of the Shadows (The High Republic), future Star Wars: The High Republic issues and the upcoming Star Wars: The High Republic Edge of Balance manga do not mention the Fair at all. Even so, the books in the first wave highlight that the main event will still probably be incorporated in these titles as well.
While there are still not too many details on the Republic Fair, the setting fits in with the subseries’ overall goal to showcase the Republic at its peak. Also, it is a refreshing change of pace to have a major Star Wars event tied in with a celebration rather than a disaster or war, even if danger still lurks in the shadows. Overall, the setting of the Republic Fair will help expand our knowledge of what life was like in the High Republic era outside of the Jedi Order.
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