Survivor's Quest

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Survivor's Quest is a novel written by Timothy Zahn, published in 2004 by Del Rey. The paperback version of this book includes the short story "Fool's Bargain" also by Timothy Zahn, that was previously available only in eBook format. Narration for the audio version of Survivor's Quest was performed by Jonathan Davis.

American

 * ISBN 0345459164; February 3, 2004, Del Rey, 368-page hardcover.
 * ISBN 0739303201; February 3, 2004, Random House Audio, Abridged CD.
 * ISBN 0345459180; December 28, 2004, Del Rey, 480-page paperback.

Foreign

 * ISBN 8324123105; Amber, 368-page Polish paperback.
 * ISBN 1844136809; February 3, 2004, Century, 358-page UK hardcover.
 * ISBN 0099472635; February 3, 2005, Arrow Books Ltd., 420-page UK paperback.
 * ISBN 8025201503; 2005, EGMONT ČR, 320-page Czech paperback (Pouť pozůstalého).
 * ISBN 9545284889; 2005, Trud, 376-page Bulgarian paperback (В търсене на оцелелите).
 * ISBN 9634971665; 2005, Szukits Kiadó, 512 page Hungarian paperback.

Hardcover
A dangerous mission to salvage a piece of Jedi past threatens to make Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker history&hellip;.

''Sometimes it seems a Jedi's work is never done, and Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker know this only too well. Despite the bond they share in the Force, after three years of marriage the Jedi Master and his wife are still learning the ropes of being a couple—and struggling to find time together between the constant demands of duty. But all that will change when they're united on an unexpected mission—and must pool their exceptional skills to combat an insidious enemy&hellip;and salvage a part of Jedi history.''

''It begins with a message from a surprising source: Nirauan, the planet where Thrawn, dangerous disciple of Emperor Palpatine, once held sway&hellip;and from which Luke and Mara barely escaped with their lives. The message itself is shocking. After fifty years, the remains of Outbound Flight—a pioneering Jedi expedition viciously destroyed by Thrawn—have been found on Nirauan. Now, the fiercely honor-bound aliens who reside there wish to turn over the remnants of the doomed mission to the New Republic. Accepting the gesture will mean a long voyage into the treacherous cluster of stars where the thousands of souls aboard the Outbound Flight vessel met their grim fate. But it may also mean something more&hellip;something that has stirred an inexplicable sense of foreboding in Mara.''

''Whatever may await, the Skywalkers will not face it alone. Joining them on the strange and solemn journey are an officer of the post-Palpatine Empire, escorted by a detachment of Imperial stormtroopers; a party of diplomats from a gentle alien species that reveres the fallen Jedi for saving them from bloodthirsty conquerors; and a New Republic ambassador who harbors his own mysterious agenda.''

''Soon enough, suspicion, secrecy, and an unknown saboteur run rampant aboard the isolated ship. But it is within the derelict walls of Outbound Flight itself, buried for half a century on a desolate planetoid, where the gravest danger lies. As the marooned hulk yields up stunning revelations and unexpected terrors to its visitors, Luke and Mara find all they stand for—and their very existence—brutally challenged. And the ultimate test will be surviving the deathtrap carefully laid by foes who are legendary for their ruthlessness&hellip;and determined to complete the job Thrawn began: exterminating the Jedi.''

Paperback
''After fifty years, the remains of Outbound Flight—a pioneering Jedi expedition viciously destroyed by the alien warlord Grand Admiral Thrawn&mdash;have been found on the planet Nirauan. The beings who reside there wish to turn over to the New Republic the remnants of the doomed mission. Accepting the gesture will mean a long voyage into the treacherous cluster of stars where the thousands of souls aboard the Outbound Flight vessel met their grim fate.''

''Embarking on the strange and solemn journey, Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker are unaware that the gravest danger lies within the derelict walls of Outbound Flight itself. As the marooned hulk yields up stunning revelations and unexpected terrors, Luke and Mara find all they stand for—and their very existence—brutally challenged. The ultimate test will be surviving the deathtrap carefully laid by foes who are legendary for their ruthlessness&hellip;and determined to complete the job Thrawn began: exterminating the Jedi.''

Behind the scenes
The book was intended to be a counterpart to Tatooine Ghost, featuring Mara Jade and Luke instead of Han and Leia. Zahn also intended Survivor's Quest and the semi-prequel Outbound Flight to resemble the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy in format (with the latter being made first).

Zahn named the 501st Legion after a worldwide organization of fans, and the book was dedicated to them.

The Polish edition was titled Rozbitkowie z Nirauan - Survivors from Nirauan. This title has been referred to as the worst of all Star Wars books published in Poland.

The cover's image of Luke portrays him as Mark Hamill appeared before his reconstructive surgery.

Cover gallery
This is a gallery of the different cover variations of Survivor's Quest.