Info

Tarkin's Top Shelf

A Star Wars literary podcast that strives to deliver an educational and yet, entertaining analysis and outlook, pertaining to the new canonical novels/YA books from the galaxy far, far away. In other words, Becca and Mark are your guardians to the Whills and your librarians to the long-lost Jedi Archives.
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Tarkin's Top Shelf
2024
March
February
January


2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
January


2016
November
September
August
July
May
April
March
February
January


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: 2020
Dec 22, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf takes a moment from reading to discuss the season finale of season 2 of the Disney Plus series: The Mandalorian. In this episode, Mark and Becca go over how the series has successfully incorporated literature into its live-action narrative. But first, your hosts talk a bit about some recent Star Wars News.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Dec 10, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf is back with Part 3 of their review of Star Wars: From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back. In this episode, Mark and Becca discuss chapters 28 through 40 and talk about how each one changes or enhances The Empire Strikes Back. But first, your hosts go over the latest chapter of Star Wars: The Mandalorian: The Tragedy on Disney Plus.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Dec 2, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf welcomes author Cole Horton to the show! In this episode, your hosts' review "The Star Wars Book" by DK Publishing and co-authored by Cole Horton, Dan Zehr, and Pablo Hidalgo. Mark, Becca, and their special guest Cole Horton discuss the writing process, concept planning, and all the makings that went into crafting this wonderous exploration of the galaxy far, far away that is "The Star Wars Book."

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Nov 25, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf is back with Part 2 of their review of Star Wars: From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back. In this episode, Mark and Becca discuss chapters 15 through 27 and talk about how each one changes and uniquely enhances the film. But first, your hosts go over the latest chapter of Star Wars: The Mandalorian: The Siege on Disney Plus.

Donate to 2020 Hyper Toy Drive! 

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Nov 14, 2020

In this Episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, Mark and Becca sit down to discuss the first fourteen of forty stories from Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Your hosts take a close look at each of the first fourteen short stories and talk about how each one changes and uniquely enhances the film. But first, they go over the latest chapter of Star Wars: The Mandalorian on Disney Plus. So, if you have yet to see chapter 11: The Heiress, then proceed with caution as this episode may contain some spoilers about The Mandalorian.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

Nov 5, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf reviews Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 Poster Book by Disney Books and Lucasfilm Press. Mark and Becca sit down to discuss Episode 1: The Marshal from Season 2 of Star Wars: The Mandalorian on Disney Plus, Cobb Vanth's character crossover debut from Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy, and the Poster Book of Season 2.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Oct 24, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf jumps on The High Republic Hype Train! In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, Mark and Becca sit down and take a closer look at the upcoming Star Wars: The High Republic series coming out this January. They discuss possible continuity connections, Jedi Lore through the lens of the Knights of the Roundtable, and lightsabers in comparison to Excalibur. Essentially, anything and everything is possible, and this is just the beginning!

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Oct 13, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf apologizes in advance for the audio interference found within this episode. Unfortunately, there are some inconsistencies with the recording, resulting in the form of an echo. Your hosts' hope that you'll still find the interview worthwhile and enjoyable despite the audio hiccup. In this episode, Mark and Becca welcome Amy Ratcliffe back to the show! They discuss her latest work, "The Jedi Mind (Secrets from the Force for Balance and Peace)," and the importance of mindfulness and self-care.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Oct 2, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, your hosts' review, "A Jedi, You Will Be," by Preeti Chhibber and Disney Publishing. But that's not all! No. They sit down for a deep-dive discussion on The Mandalorian and realize this conversation could be a "bridger" too far. As in, Ezra Bridger. Shoutout to Rahul Kohli for the fun tweets on twitter!

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

Sep 15, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf welcomes E. Anne Convery, The Clone Wars Anthology Author of the short-story "Bug," to the show! Your hosts' had the honor to sit-down with the delightful and talented author of the only original short-story from Star Wars: The Clone Wars - stories of the light and dark, E. Anne Convery, and discuss "Bug," Star Wars, and fairytale themes. So please, join Mark and Becca as they geek out with E. Anne Convery!

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Sep 5, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf reviews Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy (Chaos Rising) by Timothy Zahn and Del Rey Publishing. In this episode, your hosts discuss the first story of a new Thrawn trilogy as they journey back to the wars among the stars, to a time long ago "Beyond" a galaxy far, far away. But first, Mark and Becca take the time to go over the latest in Star Wars news, The High Republic

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Sep 1, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf is LIVE from Force Fest Celebration! In this episode, your hosts bring their discussion to the Force Fest virtual stage as they talk about character crossovers and the evolution of literary characters from storybook to on-screen, and to live-action in their very own theme park, Star Wars: Galaxy Edge! Headlining their conversation is none other than General Organa's most trusted spy, Vi Moradi, code name Starling, Amaka Kottu, Evette Harlo, or Magpie.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Aug 22, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf welcomes Sarah Kuhn, the author of Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (audio drama) to the show. In this episode, your hosts' invite Sarah Kuhn to discuss Chelli Lona Aphra's character, her story, and the creating process that became Doctor Aphra's chaotic chronicles of near-death experiences. So, ladies and gentlemen, and violent robots, without further ado, here's the delightful and talented Sarah Kuhn.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Aug 13, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, your hosts' welcome Alden Diaz from Ahch-To Radio to the show. Mark and Becca sit down with Alden to discuss Star Wars perigons and cyclical connections. Specifically, the closing scene, "A New Home" from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. But first, they go over the latest in Star Wars news like Vader, issue 4, the full cast for Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Stories of Light and Dark from Random House Audio, and Force Fest.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Aug 5, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, Mark and Becca review Star Wars: Poe Dameron: Free Fall by Alex Segura and Disney/Lucasfilm Press. Your hosts discuss the prequel character-focused book about our favorite hot-headed star pilot, Poe Dameron. They go over character evolution, plot device, and cohesive continuity of the overall story. But first, they take a look at the latest Star Wars News from the recent Darth Vader comics and the Mandalorian tie-in novel.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Aug 1, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, your hosts' review Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (an audio drama) by Sarah Kuhn and Random House Audio. Mark and Becca discuss the format of the story, character relevance, and evolution, and the necessity of the storyline to move the story, as a whole, forward.

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

 

Jul 29, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, Mark and Becca review the sequel to George Mann's "Star Wars: Myths & Fables," "Dark Legends." Your hosts discuss each story and how it connects to the real world and the galaxy far, far away. So, as the media announcement reads, "Read on if you dare!" the same thing applies here. Except, "click play, instead of reading, if you dare!"

Help us spread the word about the show

Feedback and Promotion

Jul 24, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin’sTop Shelf, Mark and Becca revisit Solo: A Star Wars Solo now on Disney Plus, and go over The Mandalorian Publishing Program announcement. But first, your hosts discuss the latest in Star Wars news, Doctor Aphra Audio Drama by Sarah Kuhn, Anakin discussions in the upcoming From a Certain Point of View Strikes Back, and possibilities for new Live-Action series on Disney Plus.

Jul 9, 2020
In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, your hosts welcome Idiot's Array Podcast and Kanata's Castle to a "Behind the Podcast" roundtable event. The Pitiful Little Band Network, a collective group of positive Star Wars content contributors and creators who love delving deep in passionate discussions about the galaxy far, far away. 
 
Jul 2, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, Mark and Becca welcome author Adam Bray to the show for a Bookish Perspective on Star Wars. Adam Bray is the author of Marvel and Star Wars Visual Dictionaries and Encyclopedias, and most recently, "Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition (Journey to The Rise of Skywalker)." Mr. Bray joins Becca and Mark on the latest Tarkin's Top Shelf to discuss the current literary content in the Star Wars Universe, and what bookish possibilities may or may not be on the horizon for the galaxy far, far away.

Jun 19, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, Mark and Becca talk about what's coming to Star Wars. Your hosts take a look at "Jedi Temple Challenge," featuring Ahmed Best as Master Kelleran Beq and then set their focus on Star Wars: From A Certain POV Strikes Back. Mark and Becca go into an in-depth, but fun, conversation on the many story possibilities that could come from "The Empire Strikes Back." 

 

Jun 7, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, Mark and Becca review Star Wars: Queen's Peril, the prequel to Queen's Shadow by E.K. Johnston and Disney Publishing. Your hosts discuss the timeline of the book, the broadening of characters and characterizations, world-building, and the synchronization between Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and Queen's Peril.

Jun 1, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, your hosts' review Star Wars: Shadow Fall (an Alphabet Squadron Novel) by Alexander Freed and Del Rey Publishing. Mark and Becca discuss the complexity of character growth and the evolution of world-building introduced by Mr. Freed in the second installment of his Star Wars literary trilogy. So, without further ado, go ahead and click play because Tarkin's Top Shelf is reporting for duty!

 

 

May 26, 2020

Tarkin's Top Shelf welcomes back author Michael Kogge to the show to discuss his latest work Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker A Junior Novel. In this episode, Mark and Becca chat with Michael about Star Wars, his Star Wars Hat-Trick, and his contributions to our beloved space-opera.

May 12, 2020

In this episode of Tarkin's Top Shelf, Mark and Becca review Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Junior Novelization by Michael Kogge and Disney Lucasfilm Press. Your hosts go over Michael's perspective of the film and compare his creative take to Rae Carson's point of view from her  "Expanded Edition." They also go over their initial thoughts as a whole and whether or not both books work as essential companion pieces to enjoy and or enrich the film's thematic conclusion of the Skywalker Saga. 

1 2 Next »