Dark Nest III: The Swarm War

The Swarm War is the third novel of the Dark Nest Trilogy by Troy Denning. It was released from Del Rey Books on December 27, 2005. Narration for the audio version was performed by Jonathan Davis.

Editions

 * ISBN 0345463056; December 27, 2005, Del Rey, 357-page paperback
 * ISBN 073932036X; December 27, 2005, Random House Audio, Abridged CD
 * ISBN 8324126562; Amber, 296-page Polish paperback

Publisher's summary
'In the explosive conclusion to the Dark Nest trilogy, Luke Skywalker summons the heroes of the New Jedi Order from near and far as the Star Wars galaxy teeters on the edge of eternal war. Yet even the combined powers of the formidable Jedi may not be enough to vanquish the deadly perils confronting them'.

''Luke Skywalker summons Jedi Knights from all over the galaxy as war starts. Yet even the combined might of the Jedi Order may not be enough against the deadly perils confronting them.''

''The Chiss-Killik border confrontration is threatening to engulf the entire galaxy in yet another galactic war. The Killik have planned to absorb all living creatures into a single hive mind. The only hope for peace lies in the hands of the Jedi, who must not only end the war between the Chiss and the Killik but also confront the new threat of the Dark Nest and its unseen queen.''

Leia's Jedi skills will be put to the test in the coming conflict, while Luke will have to prove in a brilliant display of Force strength and swordplay, that he is the most powerful Jedi Master in the galaxy.

Synopsis
This is the third and last book in the Dark Nest trilogy that bridges the events of the New Jedi Order saga and the 9-part Legacy of the Force series.

With the Jedi Order splintered by conflicts of conscience, and a war erupting between the Killiks and Chiss that could spread across the entire galaxy, troubled Jedi Master Luke Skywalker takes charge. His bold plan will play all sides against each other and carry those closest to him deep into hostile territory. It is also the only thing standing between the galaxy and the eternal war that his nephew, Jacen Solo, has foreseen in nightmarish visions.

For the Jedi to succeed, they must step beyond the reach of any galactic government and undermine the war-making capabilities of all sides - and Luke Skywalker must assume his fated role as Grand Master of the Jedi Order...if he survives the Swarm War.

Dramatis personae

 * Alema Rar; Gorog Night Herald (female Twi'lek)
 * Ben Skywalker; child (male Human)
 * C-3PO; protocol droid
 * Cal Omas; Galactic Alliance Chief of State (male Human)
 * Corran Horn; Jedi Master (male Human)
 * Emala; War profiteer (female Squib)
 * Gilad Pellaeon; acting Galactic Alliance Supreme Commander (male Human)
 * Gorog; mastermind (Killik)
 * Grees; War profiteer (male Squib)
 * Han Solo; captain, Millennium Falcon (male Human)
 * Jacen Solo; Jedi Knight (male Human)
 * Jae Juun; Galactic Alliance Intelligence agent (male Sullustan)
 * Jaina Solo; Jedi Knight (female Human)
 * Kyp Durron; Jedi Master (male Human)
 * Leia Organa Solo; Jedi Knight, copilot, Millennium Falcon (female Human)
 * Lomi Plo; Gorog Queen (female Human...mostly)
 * Lowbacca; Jedi Knight (male Wookiee)
 * Luke Skywalker; Jedi Grand Master (male Human)
 * Mara Jade Skywalker; Jedi Master (female Human)
 * R2-D2; astromech droid
 * Raynar Thul; UnuThul (male Human)
 * Saba Sebatyne; Jedi Master (female Barabel)
 * Sligh; War profiteer (male Squib)
 * Tahiri Veila; Jedi Knight (female Human)
 * Tarfang; Galactic Alliance Intelligence Agent (male Ewok)
 * Tenel Ka; Jedi Knight, Queen Mother (female Human)
 * Tesar Sebatyne; Jedi Knight (male Barabel)
 * Unu; The Will (Killik)
 * Wuluw; communications aide (Killik)
 * Zekk; Jedi Knight (male Human)

.

Other characters

 * Allana
 * Akanah
 * Padmé Amidala
 * Ark'ik
 * Baltke
 * Nek Bwua'tu
 * Cakhmaim
 * Lando Calrissian
 * Chaf'orm'bintrano
 * Cilghal
 * Jagged Fel
 * Zakarisz Ghent
 * Gundar
 * Kenth Hamner
 * Iesei
 * Jooj
 * Talon Karrde
 * Kyle Katarn
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Kolosolok
 * Krafte
 * Lizil
 * Tresina Lobi
 * Longnose
 * Meewalh
 * Mollom
 * Nanna
 * Neufie
 * Nine
 * Bail Prestor Organa
 * Palpatine
 * Danni Quee
 * R2-0
 * Ra'tre
 * Rekker
 * ReyaTaat
 * Rysto
 * Scarcheek
 * Seneki
 * Anakin Skywalker
 * Sneaky
 * Kam Solusar
 * Tionne Solusar
 * Syrule
 * Tekli
 * Aryn Thul
 * Bornan Thul
 * Tyko Thul
 * Tito
 * Twool
 * Typho
 * UnuThul
 * Vergere
 * Vero'tog'leo
 * Mace Windu
 * Yoda
 * Yugi
 * Zalk't

Creatures

 * Beldon
 * Bloodbat
 * Kaddyr bug
 * Gorax
 * Monkey-lizard?
 * Shenbit
 * Snake-bird
 * Spidersloth
 * Yuugrr

Droid models

 * 3PO-series protocol droid
 * GH-7 medical droid
 * MSE-6 mouse droid
 * R2-series astromech droid
 * R9-series astromech droid
 * YVH 5-S Bugcruncher war droid

Locations

 * Yuza Bre

Planets

 * Coruscant
 * PaAR Five
 * New Jedi Temple
 * Knights Billet
 * Liberation Lake
 * Victory Square
 * Dagobah
 * Kr
 * Mustafar
 * Nickel One
 * Ossus
 * Jedi Praxeum
 * Crooked Way
 * Star Pond
 * Pavo Prime
 * Polis Massa
 * Polis Massa Base
 * Qoribu
 * Sarm
 * Snevu
 * Tenupe
 * Thrago
 * Supply Depot Thrago
 * Thyferra
 * Zalxuc
 * Woteba
 * Yoggoy
 * Zonama Sekot

Moons

 * Forest Moon of Endor
 * Yavin 4

Other

 * Nickel One
 * Talos City

Organizations

 * Adepts of the White Current
 * Bornaryn Trading
 * Chiss Ascendancy
 * Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet
 * Zark Squadron
 * Confederacy of Independent Systems
 * Dark Nest
 * Moon Fleet
 * Galactic Federation of Free Alliances
 * Rogue Squadron
 * Wraith Squadron
 * Galactic Empire
 * Galactic Senate
 * Industrial Automaton
 * New Jedi Order
 * Slayn & Korpil
 * Xtib

Boats

 * Stomper One

Capital ships

 * Admiral Ackbar
 * Chiss Star Destroyer
 * Fell Defender
 * Elegos A'Kla
 * Megador
 * Mon Mothma
 * Shard-class capital ship
 * Star Destroyer

Cruisers

 * Chiss Assault Cruiser
 * Defoliator
 * Tradewyn

Freighters and Transports

 * Gallofree light transport
 * Gatherer-class transport
 * Millennium Falcon
 * Real Deal
 * Swiff
 * Tachyon Flier

Starfighters

 * AirStraeker
 * B-wing starfighter
 * Dartship
 * Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor
 * Nssis-class Clawcraft
 * StealthX

Species

 * Arkanian
 * Barabel
 * Chiss
 * Duros
 * Ewok
 * Fallanassi
 * Falleen
 * Fefze
 * Flakax
 * Geonosian
 * Human
 * Hutt
 * Jenet
 * Kamarian
 * Killik
 * Aebea
 * Gorog
 * Iesei
 * Jooj
 * Kolosolok
 * Lizil
 * Mollom
 * Qeeq
 * Rekker
 * Saras
 * Sotatos
 * Taat
 * Unu
 * Wuluw
 * Yoggoy
 * Noghri
 * Squib
 * Snutib
 * Sullustan
 * Toydarian
 * Twi'lek
 * Verpine
 * Vratix
 * Wasbo
 * Wookiee
 * Yam'rii (Huk)
 * Yuuzhan Vong

Weapons

 * 434 "DeathHammer"
 * Alpha Red
 * Charric
 * Demolition satchel
 * DL-44
 * G-12 Power Blaster
 * Lightsaber
 * Magcannon Max
 * Shadow bomb
 * Stun grenade
 * T-21 Light Repeating Blaster
 * Thermal detonator
 * Thermal grenade
 * Turbolaser
 * Vape charge
 * Verpine shatter gun

Index

 * brot-rib, p.103
 * Corusca gem necklace, p.48
 * Dray-class transport, p.55
 * Rubogean Gambit, pp.27-28
 * thakitillo, green p.103

Cover gallery
This is a gallery of the different cover variations of Dark Nest III: The Swarm War.

Behind the scenes

 * Emala, Sligh and Grees, the Squibs from Denning's previous Star Wars book, Tatooine Ghost, reappear in this book.
 * The Skywalker family saga comes full circle as Luke watches a hologram of Anakin Skywalker Force-choking Padmé Amidala, as well as his and Leia's birth (this was omited from the audio book).
 * On page five, Jacen is misspelled "Jacon".
 * Despite the cover art, Luke did not cast his unique green Electric Judgment in the book.