Upcoming: “Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void” by Tim Lebbon (Del Rey/Random House)

I rather enjoyed the first story-arc for Dark Horse Comics’ Dawn of the Jedi series (they’re into their second arc, The Prisoner of Bogan, but I haven’t had a chance to read it just yet). Now there will be a series of novels set during the same time. The first novel will be written by Tim Lebbon, author of Echo City and The Heretic Land, London Eye and many more critically acclaimed dark fantasy and horror novels.

On the planet Tython, the ancient Je’daii order was founded. And at the feet of its wise Masters, Lanoree Brock learned the mysteries and methods of the Force—and found her calling as one of its most powerful disciples. But as strongly as the Force flowed within Lanoree and her parents, it remained absent in her brother, who grew to despise and shun the Je’daii, and whose training in its ancient ways ended in tragedy.

Now, from her solitary life as a Ranger keeping order across the galaxy, Lanoree has been summoned by the Je’daii Council on a matter of utmost urgency. The leader of a fanatical cult, obsessed with traveling beyond the reaches of known space, is bent on opening a cosmic gateway using dreaded dark matter as the key—risking a cataclysmic reaction that will consume the entire star system. But more shocking to Lanoree than even the prospect of total galactic annihilation, is the decision of her Je’daii Masters to task her with the mission of preventing it. Until a staggering revelation makes clear why she was chosen: The brilliant, dangerous madman she must track down and stop at any cost is the brother whose death she has long grieved—and whose life she must now fear.

Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void will be published in May 2013 by Lucasbooks (Random House). In addition, Lebbon’s latest novel is Coldbrook (Hammer).