Dark Force Rising

Dark Force Rising is the second entry in the Thrawn Trilogy, written by Timothy Zahn, published by Bantam Spectra in May 1992. It takes place in 9 ABY. Dark Force Rising was adapted into a comic in 1997.

American

 * ISBN 0553085743; May 1, 1992, Bantam Spectra, 376-page hardcover
 * ISBN 0553470558; May 1, 1992, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, Abridged cassette
 * ISBN 0553089072; June 1, 1992, Bantam Spectra, 376-page limited edition hardcover
 * ISBN 0553560719; April 1993, Bantam Spectra, 439-Page paperback
 * ISBN 0606313079; 1993, Bantam Spectra, Paperback
 * ISBN unknown; July 30, 1997, HighBridge Audio, Audio CD
 * ISBN 0785792910; October 1999, Sagebrush Corporation, School/library binding

Foreign

 * ISBN 837082713; 1995, Amber, 512-page hardcover
 * ISBN 8371693583; 1996, Amber, 512-page paperback
 * 1997, Amber, paperback
 * 2001, Amber, paperback

Hardcover
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&hellip;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.&hellip;"

Paperback
''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 New Republic's destruction. Meanwhile, 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.''

Yet most dangerous of all is a new Dark Jedi, risen from the ashes of a shrouded past, consumed by bitterness&hellip;and scheming to corrupt Luke Skywalker to the Dark Side.

Characters

 * Aban
 * Abric
 * Ackbar
 * Anselm
 * Wedge Antilles
 * Aves
 * Barse
 * Tav Breil'lya
 * C-3PO
 * Lando Calrissian
 * Joruus C'baoth
 * Winter Celchu
 * Chewbacca
 * Chin
 * Freja Covell
 * Dankin
 * Dorja
 * Hiram Drayson
 * Niles Ferrier
 * Borsk Fey'lya
 * Hoffner
 * Garm Bel Iblis
 * Irenez
 * Ir'khaim
 * Talon Karrde
 * Kline
 * Lianna
 * Niles Ferrier's wraith
 * Peregrine (legend)
 * Tra's M'ins
 * The Unnamed Maitrakh of Clan Khim'bar
 * Sena Leikvold Midanyl
 * Mon Mothma
 * Gilad Pellaeon
 * R2-D2
 * Dengar Roth
 * Shen
 * Luke Skywalker
 * Mara Jade
 * Han Solo
 * Leia Organa Solo
 * Svan
 * Tarm
 * Thrawn
 * Tomrus
 * Sarin Virgilio
 * Vor'corkh

Creatures

 * Ch'hala tree
 * Cracian Thumper
 * Craver
 * Hive virus
 * Kholm-grass
 * Stava
 * Swine

Droid models

 * Decon III decontamination droid
 * G-2RD guard droid
 * Serving droid

Locations

 * Amorris
 * Anchoron
 * Bortras
 * Bothawui Proper
 * Corfai
 * Coruscant
 * Hurcha
 * Kamparas
 * Kothlis
 * Lelmra
 * Linuri
 * Mattri asteroids
 * New Cov
 * Palanhi
 * Pantolomin
 * Peregrine's Nest
 * Phorliss
 * Phraetiss
 * Rishi
 * Sarka
 * Tangrene
 * Terrijo system
 * Trogan
 * Vagran
 * Valrar
 * Wistril
 * Womrik
 * Xyquine
 * Yaga Minor
 * Dukha
 * Grand Dukha
 * Grandis Mon theater
 * The Mishra
 * Mattri Asteroid
 * Palanhi system
 * Saffkin Room
 * Tralla Room
 * Wistril system

Organizations and titles

 * Amethyst Shipping and Storage
 * Carbanti United Electronics
 * Cavrilhu Pirates
 * Harkners-Balix
 * Mirnic University
 * Speizoc

Sentient species

 * Bothan
 * Chiss
 * Defel
 * Duinuogwuin
 * Human
 * Mon Calamari
 * Noghri
 * Rishii
 * Wookiee

Vehicles and vessels

 * 903 transport
 * 917 transport
 * 922 transport
 * AT-PT
 * Coral Vanda
 * Coral Vanda escape pod
 * IPV-1 System Patrol Craft
 * Jomark farm cart
 * Recreational speeder bike
 * Scimitar assault bomber
 * Shuttle 37
 * Tamar's Folly
 * W-23 space barge

Miscellanea

 * Armudu spice
 * Carababba tabac
 * Craver
 * Crinbid
 * Hapspir, Barrini, Corbolan, Triaxis
 * Holo-chess
 * Lugjack
 * Menkooro whiskey
 * Pirkha
 * Tregald
 * Twistler

Cover gallery
This is a gallery of the different cover variations of Dark Force Rising.

Non canon points
In the book Mara Jade mentions Darth Vader losing his right hand at the Battle of Yavin, however he lost his hand in a duel with Count Dooku in 22 BBY. The reason this appears is because the prequel trilogy hadn't been made yet and the author had to guess when Vader lost his right hand.