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INFERNO SQUAD

new Star Wars
book from Christie “this is war,
A Golden is always a and in order
treat, but the
release of Inferno for things to
Squad is even
more so as it harkens back to get better, the
characters and situations starting
before and continuing through Empire has to
events that played out in the
win—at least,
blockbuster movie Rogue One.
Star Wars Insider: The book’s that’s the
eponymous Inferno Squad is
made up of the Empire’s best justification.”
and brightest. What made you
want to write about them? —Christie Golden
Christie Golden: I enjoy exploring
gray areas, and one question that
almost all my books touch upon 01
is: What makes good people do
bad things? There aren’t a whole the tip of the iceberg, I loved places. He’s in Star Wars: The Clone
lot of good people high up in the writing her. Wars, Rebels, the young adult
Empire—by the time you’re in that Gideon Hask is charming, but novel Rebel Rising, and Rogue One,

deep, you know what’s what. The there’s definitely a cold, dark, very so I was able to research him at a
characters in Inferno Squad are classical Imperial side to him. Del is variety of stages in his life. We also

young, though. Del is 32, Iden and quiet, with a sharp mind and great get to see different “flavors” of his
Gideon are around 22, and Seyn is heart. When he speaks, it’s usually people in each of those time
the youngest at 20. They’ve been the right thing to say. And Seyn was periods, and how they changed
raised to believe that the rebels quite special because I got to create from the idealists of Onderon
are the problem; that the Empire her from a whole cloth. All of them blowing up droids to the cold,
is looking out for everyone’s best are what I call “good traveling violent partisans seen in the movie.
interests; and that when the dust companions”—certainly for me, With Inferno Squad, I was able to
settles everyone will be taken care and I hope for the readers, as well. harvest things from all those
of—not “taken care of!” This is war, versions and also create my own
and in order for things to get better, You’re bringing something new characters. Who are these people
the Empire has to win—at least, to a familiar era, right after the when Saw is no longer there to be

that’s the justification. Plus, Saw destruction of the fi rst Death Star. such a powerful fi gurehead? Where
Gerrera’s partisans are not exactly What were you most excited to are they left now? It’s wonderfully
good guys. Both sides are proud of explore about this time period? juicy stuff to dive into.
their skills and accomplishments, In 1977, I was 13 years old, and
and are convinced they are on the I went to see Star Wars about a You have a long history of writing
right side! billion times. So there is defi nitely Star Wars books and other novels.
a special place in my heart for What has working on Star Wars
Who was your favorite that particular part of the saga. taught you about your craft?
character to write? I was always curious about what My first venture into Star Wars was

Each of them has their appeal. It’s happened afterward, and it’s an Fate of the Jedi. I wrote three novels
an ensemble piece, so I enjoyed honor to have a sliver of time and in a nine-book series, each with
getting to do point-of-view for all place where I get to answer that. another author on either side. The
the main characters. Iden Versio nature of that project means it still
is the main focus, and I had a little What was it like to write for ranks as the most challenging things
diffi culty finding her, but that’s Saw’s militia now there’s no I’d ever done. It was also the fi rst

not surprising. There’s so much Saw to lead them? Was he still project I did after my father passed
to mine there, and she is very an important character for you? away. It really helped give me

good at keeping things locked Absolutely! We don’t get to see a lot confidence in myself and my work,
away. Once I “got” her though, of Saw in action, but when we do so I could tell myself, “Hey, I did
and realized how much was just see him, he’s in lots of different that, I can do this,” going forward.

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