Author Steven Barnes discusses his upcoming Mace Windu novel

As the weather begins to get a bit cooler, Star Wars fans may be looking for a new book to curl up to with a cup of tea. Look no further than the upcoming Steven Barnes novel, Star Wars: The Glass Abyss.

Set to be released on October 15, the book takes place between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, following Jedi master Mace Windu as he receives a message from his friend and fallen Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn. Windu takes on the task for his friend of assisting a planet in the outer rim. The Glass Abyss is also receiving an exclusive cover at New York Comic Con for lucky fans who can snag on.

This is the first novel with Windu as the primary character since Disney took over the franchise in 2012. Shatterpoint was a 2003 Legends novel written by Matthew Stover also had Windu at the center. The Glass Abyss will be the first one contained within the canon timeline.

Barnes is familiar with writing within the Star Wars galaxy. He wrote the Legends novel Star Wars: The Cestus Deception

Barnes recently spoke to StarWars.com about his excitement about the novel. “I respected the positions already taken in the films, but felt I could mark out some of my own territory psychologically and even spiritually in the book,” Barnes says. “It was especially fun to mess with his [Mace’s] head.” As he worked to expand Windu’s character and show more of his inner life on the page, Barnes asked himself: What kind of person would Mace Windu be?

The character has been a fan favorite since Samuel L. Jackson brought him to life in the prequel trilogy. Many fans have been clamoring for more stories featuring the character, who has been expanded in the Star Wars canon, including many episodes of The Clone Wars and his own comic book series.

Windu is more than just the character with the purple lightsaber. Said Barnes, “I genuinely love the mythos, and tried to not just please the Star Wars fans, but also science fiction readers and ‘Steven Barnes’ fans, who expect certain things from me philosophically,” he says. “My goal was to make it an easy, fast, but deep read, with all the excitement we expect… and some humanizing surprises.”

The book could easily be a bestseller this fall and holiday season. Star Wars: The Glass Abyss arrives on October 15.