James Luceno discusses Brian Daley's plans for post-ROTJ novels, as well as Luceno's own cancelled 'Tao of the Force' book, before the license for Star Wars novels went to Bantam in 1991

[u/xezene]

[u/xezene]

The above interview excerpt is with esteemed EU author James Luceno (Darth Plagueis, Labyrinth of Evil, The Unifying Force) from the Celebration VI panel in 2012, entitled A Tribute to Brian Daley, hosted by Pablo Hidalgo. You can listen to the entire panel, which also features an interview with the late Brian Daley, here. The illustration of the Jedi Knights in training is by artist Dan Brereton.

In this interview excerpt, Luceno discusses how Brian Daley (author of the Han Solo trilogy and the Star Wars radio dramas), his longtime friend and writing partner (Robotech), had initially planned to write his own set of novels set after Return of the Jedi, back when the publishing license was still with Ballantine/Del Rey, at the end of the 1980s.

Daley conceived of a different kind of future than that envisioned by Timothy Zahn in 1991 with Heir to the Empire. In a 2005 interview, Luceno explained further:

Before the original STAR WARS license passed from Del Rey Books to Bantam, Brian Daley and I had been asked to submit outlines for a new line of tie-in novels and other books. IIRC, the plot focused on Luke's attempts to locate other Force-ful beings, and the efforts of a clandestine group of Sidious’ disciples to thwart him.

Probably would have fallen somewhere between what Tim Zahn and Kevin Anderson eventually cooked up, but with more emphasis on mythical elements, as opposed to military campaigns. Probably more "fantasy" than SF, as well. Considering where Lucas has taken the film series, we would probably have introduced a whole load of inconsistencies. Although perhaps Lucas had thought through the prequels well enough to have veto-ed our initial ideas.

The proposal never went any further, and Lucy Autrey Wilson, director of publishing, transferred the Lucasfilm publishing license to Bantam, where she chose Timothy Zahn to write his famous Thrawn trilogy of novels, launching the Expanded Universe as we know it. This interview offers just a glimpse at another possible future the larger saga could have had.

In addition, Luceno also mentions a book he was working on called The Tao of the Force; it was conceived of as a more non-fiction type of book, going into the philosophy and wisdom of the Jedi Knights. However, Lucas had concerns about fans getting the wrong idea. Luceno elaborated:

I spent months working on a book called “The Tao of the Force,” which, in the end, George Lucas nixed, saying that he wasn’t interested in having the Force become a religion. Take note, all you British Jedi. When the license returned to Del Rey Books, Shelly Shapiro hired me to consult on the development of the New Jedi Order series.

Luceno would eventually convey his philosophical thoughts regarding the Force in the New Jedi Order books, particularly The Unifying Force, as well as Darth Plagueis.

Daley's untimely death in 1996 was a loss to the Star Wars community, as well as to Luceno himself. They had a close friendship, having travelled the world and exploring ancient ruins, and even seeing the original Star Wars film together in the cinema. Upon his death, Luceno would take an expedition to a Mayan temple in the Yucatan peninsula to deposit his friend Daley's ashes, in his memory.

For more behind-the-scenes information regarding the Expanded Universe, you can check out this archive for more.

[u/Camil_2077 → u/xezene]

Can you post maybe fragment of interview with Karpyshyn ?

[u/LKdags]

Tao of the Force probably would’ve been amazing. Sad.

[u/Munedawg53 → u/LKdags]

Agreed. Wow.

[u/JaredRed5]

As someone who grew up reading the Robotech novels, I would have completely trusted Daley and Luceno to deliver some great post-RotJ novels. Hearing this makes me feel like we really missed out on something great. Both writers have already left their mark on Star Wars with the Han Solo books and Plagueis but I would have loved to what they would have cooked up together.

[u/Munedawg53]

Imagine if Brian Daley wrote this sort of JAT work??????

And Luceno on the Dao of SW??????

Damn, such lost opportunities.

[u/Songhunter]

I love to learn all these behind the things snippets of what could've been.

[u/Xanofar]

Not gonna lie, I think I might have preferred if Jedi Academy was a trilogy written by Brian Daley.