<echo_dave> Let's start it this way...for those unfamiliar with his work, Dan has written a number of book in the SW Universe, including "The Essential Guide to Planets" and "The Essential Guide to Droids"

<mowma> thank you everyone for coming and welome to this celebrity with Dan Wallace

<Tyra> Were you a major fan before you did you book?

<Dan_Wallace> I've been a major fan since '77!

<mowma> How did you start writing Star wars ?

<Dan_Wallace> Mowma - I'll answer your Q! I started writing with the Essential Guide to Planets & Moons, and was hired back in 95. A good project to cut my teeth on, since I had done a lot of research on SW planets as a fan. It took about a year and a half, but that includes all the time in editing and layout that I helped with a bit. Then there was a full year where Del Rey actually laid out the book into the form you see it in in the stores.

<mowma> how long did it take to write the ess...to planets ?

<Dan_Wallace> On a tight schedule, things can move MUCH quicker... it just happened that there was enough lead time built into that project.

<mowma> you resently did some articles for the insider. how long did they take ?

<Dan_Wallace> A few weeks for an Insider article. They are fun to do, and I had two come out in the last couple issues -- One on the Droids of E1 and another on the Ships of E1. I've just finished a third article.

<mowma> yes I read them. they are wery well written . whats it about? the third article

<Dan_Wallace> The third article is on the ___ of E1. (heh heh)

<echo_dave> The blank of Episode One?

* Tyra laughs

<echo_dave> You mean "all the stuff that was missing" from Episode 1? <g>

<Dan_Wallace> Since I just recently submitted it, I don't know if I can talk about the contents yet, since it hasn't been approved.

* Tyra finds this very funny

<Dan_Wallace> But it's an encyclopedia-type article in the same vein as the other two, and it was the most fun of them all.

<mowma> can't you tell us to subject ?

<Dan_Wallace> The folks at the Insider are great to work with. Cool magazine, too. ;)

<mowma> I am frusterated with the insider

<echo_dave> I've got a question... How much research went into writing the "essential guide" books on average?

<Dan_Wallace> That's a tough question, since I already have a certain "base" of knowledge about the SW universe that isn't the result of preparing to work on a project -- it's just the result of being a bigtime SW fan.

* Tyra nods

<Dan_Wallace> But for something like Droids, a lot of research needed to be done about the Droid manufacturing conglomerates and the history of things like the R-series astromech. Fortunately, a lot of this history had already been written by the good folks at the now-defunct West End Games. With Episode One material, there's not as much backstory, so there isn't as much research to do.

<Tyra> Were you one of the first in line to see E1?

<Dan_Wallace> You know, I didn't see it opening day (booo). I saw it several days later in an early matinee show, when I knew I had a good chance of getting in. I've seen it multiple times.

<Tyra> What did you think about it?

<Dan_Wallace> I liked Ep. One, particularly the kinetic set pieces and the delightfully subtle performances of people like Ian McDiarmid. And I liked the surprisingly downbeat backbone to the movie, something that is often missed in all the celebratory fanfare. It's really a dark, creepy movie in light of what happens. Can't wait to see more of Ewan McGregor (and McDiarmid! I loved that guy!) in Ep. II.

<echo_dave> You also wrote one of the little "Pocket Guide" books for Running Press - "Episode One: What's What" ...be honest. That only took like 15 minutes, didn't it? <g>

<Dan_Wallace> No, really it took about a month! There was actually a LOT of research to do for that one, since I knew nothing about E1 at the time! There was a lot of background "bible" material generated by LFL that was given to me and other authors, some of it for toy manufacturers and the like and all of that had to be read, digested, and incorporated somewhere into the final product. Not to mention that the manuscript had to be footnoted, especially any "new" parts so the inventions could be approved by LFL Licensing. It's a slim volume, true, but it involved a lot of writing and rewriting. I love the look of it, though, and the great photo selection.

<mowma> that would have been hard

<echo_dave> Are you working on any other Star Wars projects currently? Anything with Kevin Anderson, for example?

<Dan_Wallace> Early in 2000 you'll see The Essential Chronology, a massive SW history book cowritten by myself and Kevin J. Anderson. This project was originally begun by Kevin circa 1994, and it floated around going through lots of iterations before finally solidifying in its current form. The manuscript is FINISHED, and is being layed out with the art now. We think people will really love this, especially with SW history becoming nearly as complex as Earth history these days.

<mowma> what is your favorite sci-fi movie other that star wars

<Dan_Wallace> Favorite SF movie other than SW? Hmm. Does Time Bandits count as sci-fi?

<echo_dave> YES!! <g> ...uhh, at least in my book it does :-)

<Dan_Wallace> Time Bandits it is, then. :)

<mowma> never heard of it !

<echo_dave> mowma> Get Thee To Blockbuster Video and rent it. Tonight if possible. <g>

<Dan_Wallace> Mowma -- you're kidding, right?

<mowma> never heared of it !

<echo_dave> It's even got Kenny "R2D2" Baker in it.

<Dan_Wallace> It's got Jack Purvis & Kenny Baker from SW, if that helps you make up your mind.

<echo_dave> Dan> "younger generation"...'nuff said :-)

<Dan_Wallace> It's a Terry Gilliam flick. Hey, does "Brazil" count as sci-fi? That's choice #2.

<Tyra> Have you heard anything about sequels to the last book Vision of the Future?

<Dan_Wallace> Sequels to Vision of the Future? Nothing by Timothy Zahn, if that's what you mean... But if what you mean is, "are there any books set later in the timeline, the answer is yes -- Mike Stackpole is doing a comic about the marriage of Luke Skywalker, and the Junior Jedi Knights & Young Jedi Knights series are all set later than Vision of the Future. And then of course there's the New Jedi Order, which is set 21 years after ROJ (25 years after ANH). That's the latest book of all. There's NOTHING set after the New Jedi Order. Which is good, since there's no way to tell where the story will go.

<mowma> which is your favorite star wars movie PM , ANH ,ESB ,ROTJ ?

<Dan_Wallace> My favorite movie is ANH. Always has been, always will be. ANH is a perfect little film in many ways.

<mowma> which is the worst star wars movie in your opinion ?

<Dan_Wallace> I don't have a "worst" SW movie, since I like them all so much. Using "worst" to describe a movie is something I like to reserve for "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park." And I like Return of the Jedi. Ewoks too. They play an important role in the mythology.

<mowma> hehehe

<Tyra> lol

<mowma> KISS su-cks

<echo_dave> <Mike> Q: Have you ever found yourself frustrated with writing such long works? How long did it take to write the guides?

<Dan_Wallace> I don't get frustrated with writing long works, really, but I DO get frustrated if I have a long project to write and not enough time to write it in. Which has happened many times, and it means many sleepless nights and much coffee. Dealing with an inescapable deadline is frustrating. But getting it in under the wire is exhilarating! So it all works out.

<echo_dave> How does a Star Wars book like the "Essential" guides come to be? Is it your idea, or do they approach you with the concept in mind?

<Dan_Wallace> Lucasfilm and Del Rey had already worked out the concept for the Planets and Droids guides, but I was responsible for figuring out what would be covered therein. For instance, on Droids I made up a big list of possible robots which was pared down to the final list of 100. The Chronology was different, since things were published while we were writing that we needed to fit into the manuscript. It was ever-changing.

<echo_dave> <mike> Q: What are some of your expectations for the upcoming DVD collections (in 2005)? Do you think that LFL will live up to their potential to make a special set?

<Dan_Wallace> I hope so, since then I might buy a DVD! But seriously, I think LFL's willingness to release the "Biggs Scenes" on the Behind the Magic guide shows that they are perfectly willing to dig up old nuggets from the past for projects like these. I have NO inside info, but something I'd love to see on a DVD would be the "alternate" shooting version of ANH that David West Reynolds recently wrote about in the SW Insider.

<mowma> do you happen to know anything about Mara dying ?

<Dan_Wallace> Mara dying? The recent exerpt from Vector Prime in the Insider features Mara, so you know she's alive and well in the latest series.

<mowma> Kathy Tyres sais that in Vector Prime at least Mara is " up and kicking "

<echo_dave> Not that you could rant even if you wanted to <g>, but how has your experience been in working with LFL? Are they easy? Harsh? Insane? Laid back?

<Dan_Wallace> My experience with LFL has been very positive, and this is based on years of experience dealing with all sorts of clients and suppliers. They've always been willing to provide me with info, and in some cases have gone above & beyond the call of duty in helping me out. Things can be a little crazy at times, especially around a tight deadline (or during the entire pre-TPM hoopla) but generally it works out very smoothly.

<echo_dave> <Mike> Q: If there is something you could add to the films, or even take out (in ideas, cut scenes, ect.), what do you think you would narrow it down to?

<Dan_Wallace> Yikes! Is there anything I would want to cut out? I have to say no -- if anything, I'd like to see more things added back in. There was an extended scene between Luke & Red Leader that didn't make it into the SE... that would be nice to see. And there are various things that were cut from TPM that, in my opinion, would have been wonderful additions. I hope they're restored for the hypothetical TPM:SE. <g>

<echo_dave> <Kir_Kanos_> will the essential chronology contain info about episode 2 and 3?

<Dan_Wallace> The Essential Chronology won't contain anything specific about Ep. 2 & 3, for the simple fact that nobody knows what they're about! Except George Lucas! However, we need to deal with the time period SOMEHOW, so it's referenced in a very oblique way by talking about the Clone Wars, etc. This way, we can't write something speculative and be proven utterly wrong when the new movies actually come out.

* echo_dave makes a mental note: aha! ...so the clone wars are definitely in episode two...<g>

<mowma> what did you think of the PM novilization by Terry brooks ?

<Dan_Wallace> Mowma -- I liked Brooks' novelization, wished it could have been longer.

<Dan_Wallace> Dave -- I dunno when the Clone Wars take place! It's up to GL.

<echo_dave> okay, okay...I'll let you slide on that one <g> With what (if any) other projects outside of the SW Universe are you involved? (or in the SW Universe as well, I suppose)

<Dan_Wallace> I'm busy with work for an ad agency and busy at home, but SW has taken up a lot of freelance time. In addition to finishing up the Chronology, I'm also working on other projects down the pipe just a little, but I have to keep mum on them for security reasons. Oh, and C-3PO: Tales of the Golden Droid will be out shortly.

<mowma> is that a comic ?

<Dan_Wallace> It's a Masterpiece Edition book/figure combo in a collector's box, like the Anakin Skywalker project from last year. This one is Threepio, everybody's favorite worrywart.

<echo_dave> Can you tell us more about the 3P0 book? Will that cover some of the "missing" time in his existence...stuff "outside" the movies?

<Dan_Wallace> My favorite, anyway.

<mowma> those are good but they cost a bit !

<Dan_Wallace> It'll cover his history in Expanded Universe fiction. Including E1, but not 2 &3. Again, I don't know what'll happen to Threepio in his future movie career. Yes, it's a hole, but we as SW fans have been dealing with the "prequel hole" for years & years. At least now it's 1/3 filled in. (Personally, I'm a bit freaked there are only 2 more films. What a world we'll live in in 2005 -- no more SW movies, ever!)

<echo_dave> Yeah, well, we made it through 8 years with nothing...not even rumors...and then another few years with only books and even then no rumors of films...we'll survive somehow :-)

<Dan_Wallace> Sure, I'll answer a few more questions. I agree that it's gone fast & we haven't covered much! But I need to log off in a little bit.

<mowma> ok

<echo_dave> <Mike> Q: What is your take on the entire Palpatine/Sidious debate?

<Dan_Wallace> My take as a moviegoer is that it really seems as if they're the same chap -- it's Ian McDiarmid, after all. But the counterargument to that is "of course it looks that way, that's what they WANT you to think." (shrug) So I don't know. There certainly could be a surprise in E2, or it could be just how it looks. Not much of an answer, but I'm willing to wait a few years to find out.

<mowma> whats with "what's what"'s size ?

<echo_dave> mowma> It says "a pocket guide to TPM" on the cover ...full size books don't fit in pockets <g>

<Dan_Wallace> What's What is a pocket guide to TPM! I can fit it in my pocket easy! Maybe your pockets aren't big enough! Buy some cargo pants. <g>

<mowma> was Star Wars different to you than other things you have done or is it just another project? I wear cargo pants

<Dan_Wallace> Star Wars is my first big love! I'm of the generation that were kids when ANH was released in theaters, and I think it's no coincidence that many of us are working on SW things these days (or working in SW related careers such as filmmaking or visual effects). It had a tremendously stimulating effect on millions of young imaginations.

* Tyra agrees

<echo_dave> <chuckle> Of course, some of us get paid to do it...and some of us live in fear of Cease and Desist orders <g>

<Dan_Wallace> But it's all one big happy generation. <g> Not to exclude older or younger fans, btw. I don't want to sound like a generational snob, just trying to quantify my own experience with SW.

<echo_dave> <Mike> Q: What are some of your favorite websites to visit? <g> (he desperately wants to know if you go to www.outer-rim.net <g>)

<Dan_Wallace> I don't know if I can answer that question honestly -- I know many of the people that run the major SW websites, so I'm reluctant to name a favorite. So I'll wimp out by saying www.starwars.com. (The safe answer)

<echo_dave> ...what a cowardly answer <g> ...but yes, it's a safe one :-)

<Dan_Wallace> I have to run...

<Tyra> Thank you very much for coming

<echo_dave> Okay Dan...thanks for taking the time out of your day to stay around and chat. We appreciate it.

<Dan_Wallace> Thank you so much for putting on this great chat, and thanks to everyone here for attending!!!

<mowma> thanks Dan

<RiPToR> bye.. thanks for the great chat

<Dan_Wallace> I had a great time and would be happy to do it again any time.

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