Karen Traviss: British author (that means she's from the UK. Alright) who used to be a Defense correspondent, penned many science fiction short stories and novels. She served in the Territorial Army and the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, did her share of military talk as a reporter which is why some people even referred to her as a female Tom Clancy.

She didn't know much of Star Wars before she was asked to write a novel based on the video game Republic Commando and she even said "I should have taken notes when watching A New Hope at the theaters back in the 70's" at some point. Correct me if that's wrong. She was coached into becoming a successful Star Wars novelist by many people at Lucasfilm. At this day there is one complete series of Republic Commando novels, parts of Legacy of the Force and upcoming sequels under the name of Imperial Commando, due this fall.

Publish stuff that concern us:
Republic Commando: Hard Contact
Republic Commando: Triple Zero
Republic Commando: True Colors
Republic Commando: Order 66
Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines
Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice
Legacy of the Force: Revelation
Boba Fett: A Practical Man

Traviss and the Mandalorians: the "RepCom" series introduced some of the first elements of "modern culture" for Mandalorians after it was set by Jango Fett's story and the business at Galidraan. Things falling on top of each other we now have a very well-rounded society of people in the Star Wars universe, with their own language (Mando'a) and rather strict morals and ethics.

You may or may not like Traviss's work on the Mandalorian lore. There's a controversy about this since some "old school" fans still view Mandalorians loosely based on Boba Fett's character and the Bounty Hunter Wars series. Traviss brings quite a different perspective, making them seem more human and generally nicer than the fearsome man behind the black T-visor.

But (thankfully) Traviss isn't just good at writing Star Wars. She published sci-fi novels called the Wess'har series between 2004 and 2008. In the main lines, the story is set many hundreds of years in the future when human are sending colonies out to a habitable planet in the Cavanagh's Star system because Earth is basically screwed. What we don't know first-hand is that the planet and its moon are inhabitated by alien species that are at war against each other. The main character is Shan Frankland, ex-cop and eco-terrorist kind of woman who is not afraid to literally kick bureaucratic ass. Not to go too deep into detail, her characters are colorful and realistic. The way she writes this stories is (in my opinion) nothing like her Star Wars works. This is pure science fiction: she takes the familiar and places it in situations that are so alien, and so outside the way we usually think that it hooks the reader. I think I have completely changed the way I look at other species (animals, insects, and plants) since I started reading City of Pearl. So if you're looking for a healthy break from SW, this is definitely a great option and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys thinking outside the box.

Sources:
www.karentraviss.com
Wookiepedia
+ what I recall for various forums and interviews

Karen Traviss is a godsend for the Mandalorians. If other authors wrote about them, they'd most likely have them be killed off by Caedus.

She definitely has fleshed them out for the Empire/Legacy Era. It'd be interesting to see what she could do with the KOTOR era Mandalorians, when the Mandos were fanatical Crusaders and whatnot.

TBH, I resent the representation of Mandos in the KOTOR comics (IE Rohlan being a traitor and being the main Mando character). As I've been playing a KOTOR era Mandalorian for several years now, I have it down pretty well, the culture and mindset of Mandos of that era. I take all my notes from Canderous anyway.

I just would like to know if any of you have any idea what happens to all the clones with there advanced aging I mean its one of the main themes in Traviss's books and now with this whole continuity thing she can't even finish it and fill in the loos ends I mean now I'm in libo never going to know what happens to omega and delta squads I know that omega defect to madalor and Darman is going to be with his son but what about the revesal of the there genes to give them a regular life span? Nothing is ever said in the later films nothing was ever said so I guess i'll never know...What are you thoughts???

Oh! Oh! Don't forget, she also writes the Gears of War novels! They're fantastic, and the third one is coming out later this year.

Gears of War titles:
Aspho Fields
Jacinto's Remnant
Anvil Gate (Due August)

Yea, ok that's what I figured..

It was also confirmed by Sue Rostoni that Imperial Commando 2 will be written by a new author.

Yea but that's bullshit because the new author is not going to do it right. Are they going to tie up the loose ends I doubt it. Plus the general theme will be totally different I mean if they are a pacifist society everything that traviss wrote would not make sense in the new book. just because everything has to match up with the whole revamping of the mandalorians for their cartoon. I just don't get why they just would not let her do it not worry about how it affected the cartoon or whatever else.

Just to remind you that it was KT's decision to stop writing in the LFL franchise, that doesn't mean the new author will retcon her work. It's a series, they have to respect most of the continuity and its readers.

As much as I hate that KT left, the fact that they are considering NOT leaving the series to dangle for all eternity makes me feel better. In my opinion, some closure is better than no closure.

I'm being cautiously optimistic about a new author taking over the series. All we can do is just wait and see.

However, I couldn't find anything on Sue Rostoni other than she is the editor at LucasFilm for Expanded Universe comics and books. Does anyone know what else she's done?