Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

Lucasfilm in 1996 created an interguel project called Shadows of the Empire, whose plot takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It was commercially supported in all aspects except making a real film. Novels, video games, trading cards, a soundtrack, dolls, action figures, and comic books were all elements of the interguel.

The plot
Steve Parry's novelization of the project, published by Bantam Books, contains the storyline for Shadows of the Empire. Prince Xizor is introduced as an alien crimelord of the largest criminal organization in a galaxy far, far away who is trying to become what Darth Vader is: the man at Emperor Palpatine's side. Han Solo, frozen in carbonite as he was in The Empire Strikes Back, is being taken to Jabba the Hutt by Boba Fett. Darth Vader searches for his son Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia searches for Boba Fett, and future Jedi Luke Skywalker contructs his new lightsaber.