Darksaber (novel)

Darksaber is a 1995 bestselling novel written by Kevin J. Anderson. The novel is set immediately after Children of the Jedi in the Expanded Universe timeline. Narration for the audio version was performed by Anthony Heald.

Editions

 * ISBN 0553099744, ISBN 0593037677, ISBN 0614154898; Bantam Spectra, November 2, 1995, 399-page hardcover
 * ISBN 0553746723; Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, November 2, 1995, Audio cassette
 * ISBN 0553474235; Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, November 2, 1995, Abridged cassette
 * ISBN 0001050907; HarperCollins Publishers, August 19, 1996, Audio cassette
 * ISBN 0553408801, ISBN 0553576119, ISBN 0553840118; Bantam Spectra, November 7, 1996, 430-page paperback
 * ISBN 3453131045; Heyne, January 1998, German paperback
 * ISBN 0739316729; Random House Audio, March 2005, Abridged cassette

Publisher's summary
Acclaimed author of the Jedi Academy trilogy, Kevin J. Anderson is back with a blockbuster novel, returning to Luke Skywalker's home planet of Tatooine.

''Luke returns home with Han Solo, hoping to make contact with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Instead, what they find is disturbing news: the Hutts, criminal warlords of the galaxy, are building a secret superweapon, a reconstruction of the original Death Star superlaser, to be called Darksaber. This planet-crushing power will be in the ruthless hands of Durga, a creature without conscience or mercy. And there is trouble on another front: Admiral Daala is very much alive and, in league with Pellaeon, is marshaling forces to destroy the Rebels. Soon they and Luke will face the ultimate test of their power—one in which all the temptations of the dark side of the Force beckon&hellip;''

Background and setting
In the Jedi Academy trilogy, Admiral Daala was forced to retreat to the Core Worlds, where some of the remaining Imperial warlords bicker over the Empire's remaining forces in the region. Immediately thereafter, Luke Skywalker encounters Callista, a former Jedi who was trapped in the Eye of Palpatine. After being rescued, Callista is forced to take the form of one of Luke's former students. Luke and Callista immediately fall in love and work on building the Jedi Academy, though Callista still cannot use the Force. Meanwhile, Bevel Lemelisk is searching for a new assignment, which is given to him by Durga the Hutt.

Darksaber was set eight years after the Battle of Endor, a time in which both Grand Admiral Thrawn and the resurrected Emperor were defeated, and the New Republic experienced a brief lull in conflict after the events in Children of the Jedi.

Summary
While searching Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo learn that the Hutts are planning to build another superweapon. Meanwhile, in the Hoth Asteroid Belt, Durga the Hutt is planning a diplomatic mission to Coruscant, where he will secretly obtain the plans for the Death Star superlaser for Bevel Lemelisk, the Death Star's designer. Skywalker and Solo reveal their discoveries, but not before Durga's subordinates steal the plans from the Imperial Palace. In order to find out the location of the superweapon, the New Republic launches a covert operation to Nal Hutta, disguised as a diplomatic summit. Back at the Hoth asteroid belt, Lemelisk starts construction on the cylindrical superlaser, which he calls the "Darksaber" for its shape is similar to the hilt of a lightsaber.

Luke and Callista embark on a vacation that eventually leaves them stranded near the Hoth asteroid belt. They are rescued by Han and Leia Organa Solo, who just returned from the successful mission on Nal Hutta. However, Luke and Callista's rescue is mainly thanks to the Republic fleet, who arrived to launch Crix Madine and his squad to locate the Darksaber reported to be under construction in the region. While Madine succeeds in relaying the location to the fleet, he is captured and killed by Durga. However, Durga's triumph is short-lived when the Republic fleet spots the Darksaber and begins pursuit. The Darksaber attempts to fire its superlaser and make an escape, but the weapon fails and the ship is destroyed by two large asteroids.

Meanwhile, Admiral Daala succeeds in uniting the remains of the Empire in the core systems. With the help of Pellaeon, she plans a strike force against a series of New Republic targets, including the Jedi academy on Yavin IV. They also attack Khomm, where Jedi trainees Kyp Durron and Dorsk 81 are visiting. Furious, the pair of Jedi spy on Daala's fleet and succeed in warning the academy of the attack. Using the powers of the Force, the Jedi trainees back at Yavin IV manage to hold off Daala's forces until New Republic reinforcements arrive. Daala is forced to retreat when her Super Star Destroyer, the Knight Hammer, is destroyed. After the failed attack, Daala transfers control over the Imperial forces to Pellaeon. Meanwhile, Callista decides to temporarily leave Luke and venture on a journey to regain her powers. Luke is heartbroken, but decies to move on and continue to build the Jedi academy.

Reception
Darksaber was published worldwide in November 1995, a time in which Bantam Spectra was releasing several bestselling Star Wars novels a year. Although it was not as successful as the Jedi Academy trilogy, Darksaber peaked at number three on the New York Times Bestseller list. The novel that preceeded it, Children of the Jedi by Barbara Hambly, was also a bestseller.

According to the back cover of Darksaber, Starlog claimed that "Anderson has all but assumed the title of chancellor of the Star Wars University."

Characters

 * C-3PO
 * Callista Ming
 * Bevel Lemelisk
 * Maizor
 * Luke Skywalker
 * Anakin Solo
 * Jacen Solo
 * Jaina Solo
 * Leia Organa Solo
 * Han Solo
 * Sulamar
 * Durga Besadii Tai
 * Taurill Overmind
 * Winter
 * Chewbacca
 * R2-D2
 * Admiral Ackbar
 * Qwi Xux
 * Wedge Antilles
 * Mara Jade Skywalker
 * Tionne Solusar
 * Kam Solusar
 * Dorsk 81 †
 * Kirana Ti
 * Streen
 * Kyp Durron
 * Cray Mingla
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Yoda
 * Joruus C'baoth
 * Grand Admiral Thrawn
 * Crix Madine †
 * Admiral Daala
 * Colonel Cronus †
 * Vice Admiral Gilad Pellaeon
 * High Admiral Harrsk †
 * Superior General Delvardus †
 * High Admiral Teradoc †

Locations

 * Tatooine
 * Ben Kenobi's hut
 * Dune Sea
 * Jabba's Palace
 * Coruscant
 * Imperial Palace
 * Yavin 4
 * Temple of the Blueleaf Cluster
 * Jedi Praxeum
 * Hoth asteroid belt
 * Hoth
 * Echo Base
 * Dagobah
 * Nal Hutta
 * Nar Shaddaa
 * Khomm
 * Tsoss Beacon

Cover gallery
This is a gallery of the different cover variations of Darksaber.