Scholastic and Lucasfilm to Create Children's Book Series

Posted on February 9, 2000

Scholastic and >Lucasfilm, the creators of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, have comibined forces to publish The Seventh Tower, a new children's fantasy series under a newly-created LucasBooks imprint. The Seventh Tower, written by Garth Nix, with the first title, The Fall (Scholastic; June 2000; $4.99; Ages 8-12) will be on sale in stores on June 5, 2000. A second book will follow in September with additional titles to follow every three months thereafter.

"I'm pleased that LucasBooks, in collaboration with Scholastic, is expanding into an exciting new realm of fantasy with The Seventh Tower," said George Lucas. "I've always believed that reading encourages children of all ages to use their imagination, and I hope that the adventure that unfolds in The Seventh Tower series will take readers on a new journey of the mind."

The Seventh Tower is a tale of a mountaintop fortress where light is the ultimate commodity and isolation from the outside world is complete. One day, Tal, the main character, tries to steal a precious sunstone, the only way of assuring his family's position among the Chosen people of The Seventh Tower. His desperate attempt fails, and Tal falls from the castle ... straight into the unknown.

Garth Nix is an acclaimed writer for children and young adults. His novel Sabriel was an ALA Notable Book. Shade's Children, was named a 1998 Best Book for Young Adults (ALA) and a "Pick of the Lists" (ABA). A resident of Australia, he was the winner of the Aurealis Award for Excellence in Australian Science Fiction. The Seventh Tower is Garth Nix's first book series.