Shadow Games is a book authored by Michael Reaves together with Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, hitting shelves on November 29 of 2011. This tale presents a "rags to riches" narrative concerning a holostar during the Rebellion's initial phases, unfolding prior to the events depicted in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope; Dash Rendar also makes an appearance.
Certain games carry life-or-death stakes.
Javul Charn reigns as the galaxy's most celebrated pop icon – also, she's the runaway bride of a brutal lieutenant within Black Sun, the criminal organization under Prince Xizor's command. Or so Javul claims. Shortly after Dash Rendar, penniless and desperate, consents to be Javul's protector, he comes to the realization that transparency isn't her forte – and that murder is shadowing her tour. Amidst the discovery of corpses within a cargo hold and an assault from an unidentified warship, Dash and his co-pilot, Eaden Vrill, frantically attempt to decipher who is menacing Javul's tour and the reasoning behind it. When Han Solo unexpectedly joins Javul's traveling show, the stakes escalate significantly. Now Dash, burdened by a past with Han and a far more troubled history with Prince Xizor, relies on his instincts, his discoveries, and Javul herself – leading him directly into a realm potentially too perilous to navigate!
Shadows Games originated as a novel called Holostar, a collaboration between Michael Reaves and Steve Perry. Around 2007, Perry and Reaves presented the concept for Holostar while contemplating another Star Wars novel together. Perry himself conceived the core concept of a narrative set within the entertainment world, developing the character of Javul Charn. However, Del Rey requested alterations, such as the inclusion of characters from the main Star Wars canon. Unwilling to comply, Perry and Reaves withdrew, and the project was put on hold.
Some years later, Del Rey's interest in the idea resurfaced, leading to an offer to rehire Reaves and Perry to write it, albeit with the same imposed changes. Perry declined once more, but permitted Reaves to proceed with the concept if he desired. Reaves agreed and partnered with Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff for the writing. Concurrently, Shelly Shapiro approached Perry to author Indiana Jones and the Army of the Dead for a 2009 release, which he accepted.
Reports vary regarding whether Holostar served as the novel's working title. Regardless, on October 4 of 2010, Del Rey announced that fans would have the opportunity to select the novel's title. The three proposed titles were Star Wars: Shadow Games, Star Wars: Pursuit, and Star Wars: Shadow Play. Following a week-long period, Star Wars: Shadow Games was chosen as the title. The Science Fiction Book Club released an exclusive Hardcover edition.