Tarkin (novel)

"In our second upcoming novel created in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group, bestselling Star Wars veteran James Luceno gives Tarkin the Darth Plagueis treatment, bringing a legendary character from A New Hope to full, fascinating life."

- Del Rey

Tarkin is a novel by James Luceno, released on November 4, 2014. It focuses on the character of Wilhuff Tarkin, similar to how Luceno focused his previous novel Darth Plagueis on Darth Sidious' eponymous master. The title was released in paperback on June 30, 2015 and was included as part of the compilation The Rise of the Empire on October 6, 2015.

Back cover
'''He's the Emperor's right hand... and the Empire's iron fist.'''

Internal flap
'''"Of power, I could tell you much. One must seize the moment, and strike." &mdash;Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin'''

''He’s the scion of an honorable and revered family. A dedicated soldier and distinguished legislator. Loyal proponent of the Republic and trusted ally of the Jedi Order. Groomed by the ruthless politician and Sith Lord who would be Emperor, Governor Wilhuff Tarkin rises through the Imperial ranks, enforcing his authority ever more mercilessly&hellip; and zealously pursuing his destiny as the architect of absolute dominion.''

''Rule through the fear of force rather than force itself, he advises his Emperor. Under Tarkin's guidance, an ultimate weapon of unparalleled destruction moves ever closer to becoming a terrifying reality. When the so-called Death Star is completed, Tarkin is confident that the galaxy's lingering pockets of Separatist rebellion will be brought to heel&mdash;by intimidation&hellip; or annihilation.''

''Until then, however, insurgency remains a genuine threat. Escalating guerrilla attacks by resistance forces and newfound evidence of a growing Separatist conspiracy are an immediate danger the Empire must meet with swift and brutal action. And to bring down a band of elusive freedom fighters, the Emperor turns to his most formidable agents: Darth Vader, the fearsome new Sith enforcer as remorseless as he is mysterious; and Tarkin&mdash;whose tactical cunning and cold-blooded efficiency will pave the way for the Empire's supremacy&hellip; and its enemies' extinction.''

Plot summary
Moff Wilhuff Tarkin is stationed at Sentinel Base, an Imperial facility in the Outer Rim when the base was attacked by a ship made from amalgam Separatist parts, carrying droid fighters. After repelling the attack, he became suspicious of an ex-Separatist vendetta against the Empire, and was called to Coruscant to investigate.

The Emperor tasks Tarkin and Darth Vader to get to the bottom of the incident as the Imperial Security Bureau and Naval Intelligence squabbled. After a botched mission on Murkhana, Carrion Spike, Tarkin's personal modified stealth corvette, was stolen by unknown dissidents, who Tarkin was sure to be connected to the Sentinel Base attack, as well as being supported by someone high up in the Imperial military. Throughout the investigation, Tarkin has flashbacks to various moments of his past, centering on his childhood trials in an Eriadu wilderness region known as the Carrion, as well as his rise to prominence in the Republic Juridical Forces and the Outland Regions Security Force.

After being evaded repeatedly, Tarkin and Vader managed to discover the dissidents to be led by an Ex Republic Intelligence agent Berch Teller, and anti-Imperial journalists Anora Fair and Hask Taff, supported by their co-conspirator, Vice Admiral Rancit, who wanted to use the incident to gain favor with the Emperor by betraying the rebels, thus securing a long desired position of Moff. While Vader executed Rancit, Tarkin led the Star Destroyer Executrix in destroying the dissident fleet, capturing most members who are executed.

After the incident, Tarkin and Vader develop a new sense of mutual respect. The Emperor promotes Tarkin to Grand Moff, and assigns him management of the Death Star. As compensation for the lost Carrion Spike, the Executrix was granted to the Grand Moff as his personal vessel. Luring Teller into a trap, Tarkin captured the former agent at the Carrion on his homeworld Eriadu, but chose to spare him for sport. He then travels to Geonosis to oversee the construction of the Death Star.

Development
The novel and its title were announced on April 25, 2014. It was written in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group, making it part of the new canon. James Luceno submitted his manuscript for the novel by May 5, 2014. A preview for the novel was released in an Exclusive Advance Reader's Edition of A New Dawn at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con.