Jedi Search

Jedi Search is the first novel of the Jedi Academy Trilogy, written by Kevin J. Anderson and published by Bantam Spectra in March 1994. Narration for the audio version was performed by Anthony Heald.

American

 * ISBN 0553297988; March 1994, Bantam Spectra, 354-page paperback.
 * ISBN 0553471996 and ISBN 0553745123; March 1994, Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, 2 abridged cassettes (3 hrs.).
 * ISBN 0606082026; March 1994, Sagebrush Corporation, Turtleback.

Foreign

 * ISBN 380252313X; March 1994, VGS, 394-page German hardcover.
 * ISBN 0553408089; June 30, 1994, Transworld Publishers, 384-page UK paperback.
 * ISBN 0001050842; January 22, 1996, HarperCollins Publishers, UK abridged cassette.
 * ISBN 807186918X; 2003, EGMONT ČR, 249-page Czech paperback (Hledání Jedi).

Publisher's summary
'As the war between the Republic and the scattered remnants of the Empire continues, two children—the Jedi twins—will come into their powers in a universe on the brink of vast changes and challenges. In this time of turmoil and discovery, an extraordinary new Star Wars saga begins&hellip;'

While Luke Skywalker takes the first step toward setting up an academy to train a new order of Jedi Knights, Han Solo and Chewbacca are taken prisoner on the planet Kessel and forced to work in the fathomless depths of a spice mine.

But when Han and Chewie break away, they flee desperately to a secret Imperial research laboratory surrounded by a cluster of black holes—and go from one danger to a far greater one&hellip;

''On Kessel, Luke picks up the trail of his two friends, only to come face-to-face with a weapon so awesome, it can wipe out an entire solar system. It is a death ship called the Sun Crusher, invented by a reclusive genius and piloted by none other than Han himself&hellip;''

Plot summary
Han Solo and Chewbacca travel to Kessel as representatives of the New Republic, but are attacked and imprisoned by the ragtag forces of Moruth Doole. Doole fought for and won control of the spice mining planet and its prison facilities after the fall of the Galactic Empire, and holds a grudge against Solo from their smuggling days. Han and Chewbacca are forced to mine luminous Glitterstim in the underground darkness where it grows.

On Coruscant, Luke Skywalker is given governmental permission and resources to search for any Force-sensitive individuals that may be left scattered across the galaxy, in hopes of founding a new Jedi academy. He eventually finds Gantoris on Eol Sha and Streen on Bespin. Lando Calrissian's search of another lead on Umgul does not pan out, but does lead to an unexpected and much-needed financial payoff.

Leia Organa-Solo tries to balance her governmental duties with the return of her two older children, the toddlers Jaina Solo and Jacen Solo, from protective hiding. Han's disappearance weighs heavily on her mind, although he and Chewbacca manage to escape with fellow slave Kyp Durron, only to stumble on Maw Installation, a secret, hidden Imperial military research-and-development facility home to a Death Star prototype. Its residents are waiting in vain for Grand Moff Tarkin to send orders to deploy the deadly Sun Crusher.

Han convinces scientist Qwi Xux of the evil her creations are used for, causing her to help steal the Sun Crusher and defect with the escaped prisoners. Kyp uses his latent force abilities to guide the ship around a maze of black holes where they run into the relinquished Millennium Falcon, piloted by Luke and Lando. The pursuing fleets of Kessel and Maw Installation are left to battle each other.

Meanwhile, Leia and Mon Mothma select the moon Yavin 4 as the location for a new Jedi academy. Luke is pleased with the selection, and invites Kyp Durron to join in future training.

Behind the scenes
At one point Luke thinks back to his duel with Darth Vader on Bespin, and that Vader told him, "Luke, I am your father!" This is a frequent real-world misquotation of the actual line, "No, I am your father!"

Han tells Kyp that he and Leia met Vima-Da-Boda on Nal Hutta. However, in Dark Empire, they met her on Nal Hutta's moon, Nar Shaddaa.

Daala, has Grand Moff on her chest insignia in the cover art, despite her admiral rank and insignia referenced correctly in the text.

Cover gallery
This is a gallery of the cover variations of Jedi Search.