Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader is a book written by James Luceno and published by Del Rey. Dark Lord takes place in the immediate aftermath of the events in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and focuses on Darth Vader and his rise to prominence in the newly-inaugurated Galactic Empire.

Author Luceno devotes much of Dark Lord to the internal conflict that Darth Vader undergoes as he tries to slough-off his former identity of Anakin Skywalker. Palpatine intends for these early missions that he sends Vader on to be as much about learning what it means to be a Sith as they are about consolidating the rule of the nascent Empire.

Synopsis
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader begins in the final hours of the Clone Wars, just prior to the implementation of Order 66. When a contingent of Republic clone troopers on the planet Murkhana refuses to open fire on Jedi Masters Roan Shryne and Bol Chatak, along with Padawan Olee Starstone, the Jedi with whom it has fought alongside during the war, Emperor Palpatine orders Darth Vader to investigate the matter. Vader's query soon becomes a hunt for the fugitive Jedi, and takes him back to Coruscant, then onto Alderaan and Kashyyyk. During the course of Vader's search we discover the whereabouts of several other characters from Revenge of the Sith, including Bail Organa, R2-D2 and C-3PO, Chewbacca, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. We also see the beginning of Vader's partnership with Moff Tarkin.

The final chapters of the novel depict the beginning of the Imperial enslavement of the Wookiees of Kashyyyk, an act that will eventually lead to the partnership that develops between Han Solo and Chewbacca.

The novel ends with Obi-Wan Kenobi watching the infant Luke Skywalker as Qui-Gon Jinn's spirit tells Kenobi why it is that Darth Vader will never return to Tatooine, thus ensuring Luke's safety.

Dramatis personae

 * Raymus Antilles
 * Passel Argente
 * C-3PO
 * Chewbacca
 * Jango Fett
 * General Grievous
 * Qui-Gon Jinn
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Beru Lars
 * Owen Lars
 * Saras Loorne
 * Mon Mothma
 * Nat-Sem
 * Bail Organa
 * Breha Organa
 * Palpatine
 * Salvo
 * Roan Shryne
 * Luke Skywalker
 * Olee Starstone
 * Tarfful
 * Darth Vader
 * Fang Zar

Species

 * Human
 * Koorivar
 * Wookiee

Locations

 * Coruscant
 * Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center
 * Geonosis
 * Kashyyyk
 * Murkhana
 * Argente Tower
 * Murkhana City
 * Muunilist
 * Mygeeto
 * Neimoidia
 * Paarin Minor

Vehicles/vessels

 * Droid tri-fighter
 * Imperator-class Star Destroyer
 * Exactor
 * Executrix
 * Mankvim-814 light interceptor
 * Vulture droid starfighter
 * Victory-class Star Destroyer
 * Gallant

Other items

 * Corporate Alliance
 * Grand Army

Behind the scenes

 * Luceno told the magazine Star Wars Insider about a discussion he had with Ryan Kaufman, formerly of LucasArts, who had worn a Darth Vader costume during the production of a number of LucasArts Star Wars video games. Kaufman's description of what it was like to wear the suit led Luceno to dedicate a substantial amount of the novel toward Vader's struggling with the discomfort of his new prosthetics and armor.

Editions

 * ISBN 0345477324; November 22, 2005; Del Rey, 336-page hardcover
 * ISBN 0739323946; November 22, 2005; Random House Audio, Abridged CD (Jonathan Davis - Narrator)
 * ISBN 0345477332; June 27, 2006, Del Rey, 368-page paperback