The Edelweiss catalog entry for Star Wars: Crucible by Troy Denning, which was announced at San Diego Comic-Con, has an interesting blurb regarding an imminent shift in the direction of EU novels. On the right-hand side of the page, under "Key Selling Points," is this paragraph (emphasis added):
SETS UP NEW SERIES: With this book, Han, Luke, and Leia are passing the torch to the next generation of Star Wars heroes, and the stage will be set for the next major Star Wars series.
The transition to which this paragraph alludes -- a sendoff of sorts for the Big Three and the assumption of the mantle by characters like Ben Skywalker and Jaina Solo -- has been a long time coming. The New Jedi Order, Legacy of the Force, and the recently-concluded Fate of the Jedi series all seemed to be about pushing the younger generation into adulthood at a breakneck pace, their growth and maturity accelerated by events beyond their control.
With the news that Crucible will lay the groundwork for the next stage in the post-ROTJ EU, all that's left to wonder about is just what that next stage will contain. Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse, the nine-book series' finale, alluded to (SPOILER ALERT) events that seem to link up with the Legacy comics. Will Crucible set in motion a union of sorts between the books and the comics? Only time will tell.
You can check out the full catalog entry for Crucible on the Edelweiss site here. Crucible, by Troy Denning, will be released on February 19, 2013, according to that catalog.