In June 1992, Timothy Zahn published the bestselling sequel to the New York Times Bestselling Star Wars: Heir to the Empire. The novel fully explores the Star Wars galaxy, adding many new species, people, and technology. Synopsis: The number-one New York Times bestselling Heir to the Empire was the publishing event of the year, the first novel to continue the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo, beyond the events of the most popular trilogy in movie history. Now comes Dark Force Rising, the second volume of a three-book cycle authorized by Lucasfilm Ltd. and written by Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn. Five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the fragile Republic that was born with the defeat of Darth Vader, the Emperor, and the infamous Death Star stands threatened from within and without. The dying Empire's most cunning and ruthless warlord—Grand Admiral Thrawn—has taken command of the remnants of the Imperial fleet and launched a massive campaign aimed at the Republic's destruction. With the aid of unimaginable weapons long hidden away by the Emperor on a backwater planet, Thrawn plans to turn the tide of the battle, overwhelm the New Republic, and impose his iron rule throughout the galaxy. Meanwhile, dissension and personal ambition threaten to tear the Republic apart. As Princess Leia—pregnant with Jedi twins—risks her life to bring a proud and lethal alien race into alliance with the Republic, Han and Lando Calrissian race against time to find proof of treason inside the highest Republic Council—only to discover instead a ghostly fleet of warships that could bring doom to their friends and victory to their enemies. But most dangerous of all is a new Dark Jedi, risen from the ashes of a shrouded past, consumed by bitterness…and thoroughly, utterly insane. Now he schemes to use his awesome mastery of the Force to summon young Skywalker, allay his misgivings, cunningly enthrall him, and ultimately corrupt him to the Dark Side. A tale of brilliant spectacle, startling revelations, and tumultuous action, Dark Force Rising
moves with the speed of light across a dazzling epic landscape of
galactic proportions, from world to world, from adventure to adventure,
as Good and Evil clash across the vastness of space "a long time ago, in
a galaxy far, far away...."
Because of how the Battle of Sluis Van went, Grand Admiral Thrawn and Captain Gilad Pellaeon search the planet Myrkr for smuggler Talon Karrde. Karrde, at the edge of the system, flees with his crew, including Mara Jade--a former Emperor's Hand. On Sluis Van, Han Solo and Lando Calrissian, and Luke Skywalker try to find evidence of the mysterious Delta Source at the planet New Cov. At New Cov, it is believed that one of Senator Borsk Fey'lya's advisers is a traitor to the New Republic for Thrawn, and is thus a primary suspect for Delta Source. But before Han, Lando and Luke can find any real evidence to whether or not Fey'lya's adviser is a traitor, the three of them soon find out that Thrawn's forces have arrived on the planet. They manage to escape, and Han and Lando are saved by a third party, which takes them to an unknown location where they meet the legendary General Garm bel Iblis, one of the initial members of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Bel Iblis disagrees to help the New Republic defeat Thrawn on account of personal problems with Chief of State Mon Mothma.
Luke heads to Jomark and meets the insane Dark Jedi Joruus C'baoth--a clone of Jedi Master Jorus C'baoth--who beings to complete Luke's training. Luke notices that C'baoth's version of what a Jedi should be--C'baoth believes that all living beings are meant to serve Jedi and that the Jedi can impose their will on the people--differs vastly from what Obi-Wan and Yoda taught him. Meanwhile, Karrde gets captured by Thrawn and Mara, despite her longing to kill Luke, goes to Jomark to get Luke to help her rescue Karrde. C'baoth is furious that Luke is leaving and tries to attack. Thanks to an ysalamiri that she brought with her, Mara and Luke defeat C'baoth and they infiltrate Chimaera to rescue Karrde. Despite encountering armed stormtroopers, they manage to escape. Leia Solo, meanwhile, keeps her promise to Khabarakh and she, Khabarakh, Chewbacca, and C-3PO head to Honoghr. Once there, Leia manages to get the entire Noghri race to side with the New Republic against Thrawn by exposing the fact that it was the Empire that devastated Honoghr, not the Alliance. (In the actual timeline and chronology of events, it was General Grievous who did this atrocity during the Clone Wars.)
After a race against time, the New Republic finds out via Karrde that he exposed the secret of the legendary Katana fleet to Thrawn under torture. This fleet can supposedly grant Thrawn total infallible military power that will ultimately cripple the New Republic. Borsk and Leia take a New Republic task force whose crew members are loyal to Fey'la to the location of the Katana Fleet. Once they get there, they find Luke, Karrde, Lando, and Han trying to stave off Thrwan's forces form taking the last ten ships. Wedge Antilles leads Rogue Squadron to lend them a hand while the heroes secure the rest of the ships. Karrde tricks Fey'lya into admitting that he only agreed to come out here for political reasons and that "honor is outdated." The crew hears this and locks Fey'lya up; Mara brings in Karrde's forces and, after a battle, manage to destroy a couple of the ships Thrawn was taking, but ultimately, Thrawn ends up with the majority of the Katana fleet. Mara is rendered unconscious during the fight and the heroes take her to Coruscant where Karrde leaves her in the care of Leia; his best slicer, Zakarisz Ghent stays behind too.
All in all, a wonderful novel crafted by Timothy Zahn in the glory days of the Bantam Spectra decade. Timothy Zahn brought a sense of wonder and excitement back to Star Wars. Great pacing, wonderful characters, thrilling action scenes, this novel is must read for all fans of Star Wars.
Because of how the Battle of Sluis Van went, Grand Admiral Thrawn and Captain Gilad Pellaeon search the planet Myrkr for smuggler Talon Karrde. Karrde, at the edge of the system, flees with his crew, including Mara Jade--a former Emperor's Hand. On Sluis Van, Han Solo and Lando Calrissian, and Luke Skywalker try to find evidence of the mysterious Delta Source at the planet New Cov. At New Cov, it is believed that one of Senator Borsk Fey'lya's advisers is a traitor to the New Republic for Thrawn, and is thus a primary suspect for Delta Source. But before Han, Lando and Luke can find any real evidence to whether or not Fey'lya's adviser is a traitor, the three of them soon find out that Thrawn's forces have arrived on the planet. They manage to escape, and Han and Lando are saved by a third party, which takes them to an unknown location where they meet the legendary General Garm bel Iblis, one of the initial members of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Bel Iblis disagrees to help the New Republic defeat Thrawn on account of personal problems with Chief of State Mon Mothma.
Luke heads to Jomark and meets the insane Dark Jedi Joruus C'baoth--a clone of Jedi Master Jorus C'baoth--who beings to complete Luke's training. Luke notices that C'baoth's version of what a Jedi should be--C'baoth believes that all living beings are meant to serve Jedi and that the Jedi can impose their will on the people--differs vastly from what Obi-Wan and Yoda taught him. Meanwhile, Karrde gets captured by Thrawn and Mara, despite her longing to kill Luke, goes to Jomark to get Luke to help her rescue Karrde. C'baoth is furious that Luke is leaving and tries to attack. Thanks to an ysalamiri that she brought with her, Mara and Luke defeat C'baoth and they infiltrate Chimaera to rescue Karrde. Despite encountering armed stormtroopers, they manage to escape. Leia Solo, meanwhile, keeps her promise to Khabarakh and she, Khabarakh, Chewbacca, and C-3PO head to Honoghr. Once there, Leia manages to get the entire Noghri race to side with the New Republic against Thrawn by exposing the fact that it was the Empire that devastated Honoghr, not the Alliance. (In the actual timeline and chronology of events, it was General Grievous who did this atrocity during the Clone Wars.)
After a race against time, the New Republic finds out via Karrde that he exposed the secret of the legendary Katana fleet to Thrawn under torture. This fleet can supposedly grant Thrawn total infallible military power that will ultimately cripple the New Republic. Borsk and Leia take a New Republic task force whose crew members are loyal to Fey'la to the location of the Katana Fleet. Once they get there, they find Luke, Karrde, Lando, and Han trying to stave off Thrwan's forces form taking the last ten ships. Wedge Antilles leads Rogue Squadron to lend them a hand while the heroes secure the rest of the ships. Karrde tricks Fey'lya into admitting that he only agreed to come out here for political reasons and that "honor is outdated." The crew hears this and locks Fey'lya up; Mara brings in Karrde's forces and, after a battle, manage to destroy a couple of the ships Thrawn was taking, but ultimately, Thrawn ends up with the majority of the Katana fleet. Mara is rendered unconscious during the fight and the heroes take her to Coruscant where Karrde leaves her in the care of Leia; his best slicer, Zakarisz Ghent stays behind too.
All in all, a wonderful novel crafted by Timothy Zahn in the glory days of the Bantam Spectra decade. Timothy Zahn brought a sense of wonder and excitement back to Star Wars. Great pacing, wonderful characters, thrilling action scenes, this novel is must read for all fans of Star Wars.
