Star Wars: Tales Of Light & Life Reviewed, Ranked & Summarised – The High Republic Short Stories Spanning Phase 1, 2 & 3: Burryaga & Bell Zettifar, Starlight Beacon, Jedi, Nihil & More

BEFORE PHASE 3 KICKS OFF, WE WRAP UP PHASES 1 & 2 OF THE HIGH REPUBLIC! In this release Mike reviews the 10 High Republic short stories found in Tales Of Light & Life and gives brief overviews of each one! The stories take place in phases 1 & 2 of the High Republic, giving closure to some characters, revealing more about others and connecting the dots before we delve into Phase 3! Stories include Axel Greylark, Marda Ro, Ram Jomaram, Rooper Nitani, Bell Zettifar, Vernestra Rwoh & more, including some new characters!

The High Republic: Tales Of Light & Life was released on 5th September 2023 and includes stories from Zoraida Córdova, Tessa Grayton, George Mann, Daniel José Older, Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, Charles Soule, Cavan Scott, Lydia Kang and Alyssa Wong (only the Barnes & Noble edition includes Alyssa’s story).

Mary Kenney Convo; ⁠⁠youtube.com/watch?v=cXt63wQSs7w&t=3s ⁠⁠

Interviews with Claudia Gray, Cavan Scott, George Mann & more can be found on this feed or in this YouTube playlist: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcO1Ib_BGD8aBx1DlANwSaxC09kD-CQuM&si=8l9x_mim-lbkbxh2⁠⁠

Mike recently spoke with Ethan Sacks (author of Bounty Hunters, Galaxy’s Edge & more Star Wars comics) on ep 213 of Genuine Chit-Chat and has recorded an episode with Shadow of the Sith author Adam Christopher, so look out for that too!

In the last episode, Mike delves into more Darth Vader, where VADER CONFRONTS PADMÉ’S HANDMAIDENS BUT WILL THEY JOIN HIM OR REBEL? For ep 142, Mike continues with the 2020 run of Darth Vader comics, with another story surrounding Sabé & Dormé caught in the web of Vader, as they try to save innocents while fighting against Jul Tambor. As Vader’s web entangles the other handmaidens too causing them to ask themselves what they’re willing to sacrifice in order to save lives and if Sabé is truly working for the Dark Lord…

Guest Spots:

Mike (& Megan) appeared on Spider-Dan & The Secret Bores to compare the two Day of The Dead movies Coco & The Book Of Life: ⁠⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/1fdd53⁠⁠⁠

Mike appeared on Back To The Filmography to talk about Jason Statham’s only animated movie to date; Gnomeo & Juliet: ⁠⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/1f9f28⁠⁠⁠

5 episodes of Mike, Maff & Dave’s show; Rebels Reviewed is out now, so listen to their thoughts on seasons 1, 2, 3 & 4 and a bonus prediction/wrap-up episode, all found on any podcast app and on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/1defff⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/BrZrvENUlTM⁠⁠⁠

Mike spoke with Thomas Rochester of Reckless Rebellion to talk about the 3 Thrawn book trilogies: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/1df29c⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to the Pop Culture Collective Newsletter for weekly updates on both of Mike’s shows and plenty of other incredible creators, here: ⁠⁠⁠https://pccnewsletter.com⁠⁠⁠         

To support Mike, you can rate/review the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & other podcast apps, you can share the show or support financially. You can give a one-off payment/donation at ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/genuinechitchat  or you can subscribe monthly at ⁠⁠https://Patreon.com/GenuineChitChat!

Subscribe to Mike’s YouTube channel to see video versions of his conversations, discussion with Star Wars creators, playlists filled with episodes of GCC & SWCIC and more: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠    

Find all of Mike’s social media & links at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Outro read by BZ The Voice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.bzthevoice.com⁠⁠

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:13 What To Expect
02:43 Thoughts On Anthologies
06:06 Other High Republic Content
07:57 Timeline
09:32 Story List & Authors
14:33 Spoiler-Free Thoughts & Rankings
22:28 Spoiler-Filled Thoughts
47:20 Final Thoughts & Overview
48:18 Star Wars Author Interviews
50:37 Coming Up
51:36 Support & Outro

Star Wars: Comics In Canon – Out Of The Shadows by Justina Ireland Review & Overview – Vernestra Rwoh, Sylvestri Yarrow, Reath Silas, Cohmac Vitus & Hyperspace Lore – The High Republic (Phase 1, Wave 2)

This ep is another spoiler-free book review from the High Republic era, with the final book in the second wave (of the first phase); Out Of The Shadows by Justina Ireland – the young adult novel which is set shortly after The Rising Storm & Race to Crashpoint Tower, with a bunch of new and familiar characters from Into The Dark, A Test Of Courage and more!

In more detail, Mike confirms OOTS sits in the timeline and what other SW content Justina Ireland has released, before providing his fully spoiler-free review of the book. Mike then reads the blurb & crawl of the book and gives his thoughts on the themes & characters which features some very minor spoilers, including some interesting lore on Hyperspace. After providing these thoughts, Mike finishes his review by providing more-detailed thoughts on the book and confirms the general plot (including the ending) of the book.

This episode was first released on the feed of Comics In Motion, in March 2022.

Out Of The Shadows was released July 27th 2021 and is by Justina Ireland. For The High Republic, she also wrote the junior novel A Test Of Courage, the manga Edge of Balance and Mission To Disaster (Phase 1, Wave 3). She also wrote the non-High-Republic SW books Lando’s Luck, Spark Of The Resistance and the one-shot comic War Of The Bounty Hunters: Jabba The Hutt 1.

Out Of The Shadows is the young adult novel of the second wave of the High Republic’s first phase along with the “adult” novel The Rising Storm (reviewed in November 2021) and the junior novel Race To Crashpoint Tower (reviewed in February 2022), all set in 231BBY. Wave 3 (due early 2022) will include Claudia Gray’s “adult” novel The Fallen Star plus junior-novel Mission To Disaster by Justina Ireland and Daniel José Older’s young-adult novel Midnight Horizon.

Mike has reviewed all books from the first wave of phase 1 in 2021, which are Light Of The Jedi (reviewed March), A Test Of Courage (August) & Into The Dark (October), all of which take place in 232BBY.

In ep 90, Mike tackled the 2nd volume of High Republic Adventures comics, where two padawans & an ancient jedi master head to Nal Hutta along with crew from The Vessel – this journey brings plenty of reflection and lessons learned. Plus after Race To Crashpoint Tower, some characters are reunited all while Maz Kanata’s castle on Takodana is attacked by the Nihil with only a single jedi there to defend! Plus Mike delves into the Parwan, Kyuzo and Rancor species & more!

To support Mike, you can rate/review the show on podcast apps, share the show with friends, or support financially. You can give a one-off payment at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/genuinechitchat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or you can subscribe monthly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Patreon.com/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – either option will give you access to the exclusive “Afterthoughts” episodes. Patreons get access to weekly episodes plus every past episode (even when paying £1 a month) while Ko-fi tippers will be able to choose some episodes – Afterthoughts includes several Star Wars Legends book reviews/plot overviews including the Darth Bane Trilogy, Darth Plagueis & more!

Subscribe to the Pop Culture Collective Newsletter for weekly updates on both of Mike’s shows and many other incredible creators: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pccnewsletter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  

All of Mike’s social media & links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠⁠

Outro read by BZ The Voice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.bzthevoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Intro theme arranged by Mike Burton, backing music by Eric Matyas at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.soundimage.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:21 Timeline & Other Releases
03:03 Justina Ireland’s Other Works
04:08 Recommended Reading
07:08 Spoiler-Free Thoughts
13:46 Blurb & Opening Crawl
17:56 Themes & Characters
36:11 Trivia & Hyperspace Info
46:17 The Book’s Plot (Spoilers)
58:56 Mike’s Other Content
01:06:16 Coming Up

Star Wars: A Test Of Courage by Justina Ireland Review & Overview – Vernestra Rwoh, Imri Cantaros, Dalna & More – The High Republic Era, Phase 1 Wave 1

This ep, Mike is doing another High Republic spoiler-free book review; A Test Of Courage by Justina Ireland! Although the book is aimed at “middle-school” readers, this is a book that will appeal to all ages due to the writing, characters and themes throughout.

In more detail, for the first half of the episode, Mike gives a bit of information on the other releases for The High Republic (the first two waves within Phase 1) and then delves into his spoiler-free review; primarily providing information from the blurb and within the first few pages; talking about the book’s themes and what he enjoyed about it.

In the second half, Mike provides more details on the new characters and gives examples on how the book’s themes work so well with the story being told, which falls into light-spoiler territory. He gives plenty of warning before delving into his more detailed review, so you can listen to as little or as much info about AToC before picking it up yourself – Mike ends the review with a spoiler-free overview of the first 3 High Republic books and talking about where they fit chronologically with the comics & other High Republic content.

A Test Of Courage is from Phase 1, Wave 1 of The High Republic, also in Wave 1 is Light Of The Jedi and Into The Dark.

A Test Of Courage was released January 5th 2021 by Justina Ireland. She has also written the young adult novel Out Of The Shadows; a “sequel” to both Claudia Gray’s Into The Dark and AToC in The High Republic, plus the War Of The Bounty Hunters Jabba one-shot comic and the junior novels Lando’s Luck and Spark Of The Resistance.

In the last episode of SWCIC, Mike takes you through the first Doctor Aphra adventure from the 2020 comic run where Aphra is back to doing what she loves; finding & selling rare artifacts and almost dying in the process! Join everyone’s favourite rogue archaeologist with a whole new cast of characters and crazy situations that brings mystery, great dialogue and lots of connections to other Star Wars content that Mike will take you through, including info about the Kubaz species, the Tagge family, cursed bone cities and more!

Subscribe to the Pop Culture Collective Newsletter for weekly updates on both of Mike’s shows and plenty of other incredible creators, here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pccnewsletter.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ More Content:

Five episodes of the weekly Mandalorian discussion shows are out now on the podcast feed of Comics In Motion and the video versions are on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/170ad3⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/JeB3e8reVwI⁠⁠ 

Mike, Maff & Dave’s new show; Rebels Reviewed is out now, listen on any podcast app or watch on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pod.fo/e/166659⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/oVXItTYLe68⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mike recently recorded a Where I’m From poem for Alyson Shelton, listen to the mini-interview and poem here: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/kl-E9a-6XIo⁠⁠

To hear Mike’s exclusive book reviews, including A New Dawn and the Legends books Shatterpoint, Rogue Squadron, the Darth Bane Trilogy & Darth Plagueis, plus movie & TV “Afterthoughts” episodes, support the show at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://patreon.com/genuinechitchat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to Mike’s YouTube channel to see discussion with Star Wars creators (including authors Kevin Shinick, Cavan Scott & Claudia Gray), playlists filled with episodes of Genuine Chit-Chat, SWCIC and more: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mike was also recently on Stevie B’s YouTube to talk Star Wars: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/McbWHBMZQxM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find all of Mike’s social media & links at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Outro read by BZ The Voice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.bzthevoice.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Intro theme arranged by Mike Burton, backing music by Eric Matyas at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.soundimage.org