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- "If I told you half the things I've heard about this Jabba the Hutt, you'd probably short-circuit!"
- ―C-3PO, to R2-D2. The introductory quote to Tales from Jabba's Palace.
Tales from Jabba's Palace is the second anthology of short stories in the thematic Tales series. As with the first and third installments to the series, Tales from Jabba's Palace gives background stories of some of the minor characters glimpsed in the original trilogy. This specific anthology covers stories of the characters that were within Jabba's Palace during the events of Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi.
Tales from Jabba's Palace contains nineteen original short stories edited by Kevin J. Anderson and written by twenty-one different authors with cover art by Stephen Youll. The stories take place beginning around 0 BBY. However, all the short stories within the anthology, at some point, narrate certain events that came to pass during 4 ABY.
Jabba Desilijic Tiure, or more commonly, Jabba the Hutt, was a Hutt crime lord who abode in an ancient palace on the edge of the northern Dune Sea on the Outer Rim planet of Tatooine. Many individuals were drawn to Jabba's palace due to his great wealth and power. Some of those characters came to indulge in Jabba's might and fortune, others to steal it. Still others, whether by good intention or not, were swept up in the whirlwind of plots and dealings that surrounded the Bloated One. The stories of all such characters are recorded within Tales from Jabba's Palace.
Publisher's summary
Front cover tag line
Enter the lair of the galaxy's most notorious criminal—in nineteen stories from today's masters of science fiction
Back-cover blurb
In the dusty heat of twin-sunned Tatooine lives the wealthiest gangster in a hundred worlds, master of a vast crime empire and keeper of a vicious, flesh-eating monster for entertainment (and disposal of his enemies). Bloated and sinister, Jabba the Hutt might have made a good joke—if he weren’t so dangerous. A cast of soldiers, spies, assassins, scoundrels, bounty hunters, and pleasure seekers have come to his palace, and every visitor to Jabba’s grand abode has a story. Some of them may even live to tell it.…
Plot Summary
A Boy and His Monster: The Rancor Keeper's Tale
Main article: In 0 BBY[6] a large freighter starship crashes[7] into the surface of the Outer Rim[8] planet of Tatooine.[7] The planet's native scavengers, Jawas,[8] happen upon the wreckage immediately following the crash.[9] When the leader of the Jawa clan discovers that the sole survivor of the crash is a carnivorous beast known as a rancor, he begins to make arrangements to sell the find to the only individual in all the Dune Sea who could find entertainment with such a creature, the Hutt crime lord, Jabba Desilijic Tiure.[10]
A Human Corellian named Malakili is brought to Tatoonie to be the keeper of the rancor. Malakili's unparalleled record as a beast handler makes him the prime choice for the job.[10] Over the next few years Malakili watches with pride as the rancor devoures many of the enemies of Jabba whom are sent by the Hutt to the rancor's pit.[11][12]
Taster's Choice: The Tale of Jabba's Chef
Porcellus is the head chef in Jabba's Palace. Wisely, he avoids displeasing Jabba with food. He attempts maintain a low profile and humble kitchen. But he becomes distracted when he discovers two murders, including that of his assistant Phlegmin. Less focused on cooking, Porcellus makes a mistake that leads to his imprisonment.[13]
That's Entertainment: The Tale of Salacious Crumb
When Melvosh Bloor came to Jabba's Palace, he was expecting to write study of the thoughts and ideas that caused Jabba Desilijic Tiure to establish his criminal empire. Little did Bloor know that he was actually involved in a extensive joke created by Salacious Crumb. It was already too late when Bloor realized that his role would be fatal.[14]
A Time to Mourn, a Time to Dance: Oola's Tale
Oola came to Tatooine with Sienn'rha. They were told that they would be dancers in Jabba Desilijic Tiure's court. Oola had been told that Jabba was the most powerful criminal on Tatoonie who lived in a towering palace. Although it was true, Oola got the wrong image in her mind. She was expecting to live in luxury while in the presence of the handsome and powerful Jabba. Oola is disappointed when she meets Jabba and now hates herself for being so foolish.[15]
Let Us Prey: The Whiphid's Tale
J'Quille is an assassin and spy within Jabba's Palace. His slow plot to kill Jabba is proceeding exactly as he planned. He is bribing Phlegmin the kitchen boy to poison Jabba's food. All is good until J'Quille begins to get blackmailed. Someone knows about his plan and J'Quille has already paid 
10,000 credits to keep them silent. Now he must speed up his plan while trying to find the blackmailer. J'Quille's plot completely crumbles when Phlegmin is murdered. J'Quille is left with only one last chance to eliminate Jabba.[16]
Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade
Mara Jade has infiltrated Jabba's Palace on a mission for Emperor Palpatine. The Emperor is worried that Luke Skywalker will join forces with Lord Vader to overthrow the Emperor. Therefore, Mara Jade plans either to kill Skywalker, or to guarantee that Jabba will. However, both Jade's and Jabba's attempts are blocked by the young Jedi.[17]
And Then There Were Some: The Gamorrean Guard's Tale
Gartogg is a Gamorrean guard in Jabba's Palace. He is disappointed because he is always assigned to patrol the dark, back hallways. Gartogg is continuously looking for something important that will promote his status among the other guards. Now he has his chance. Gartogg has happened upon three separate murders and sets out to find the killers. The method to which he draws his final conclusion is somewhat erroneous, but nonetheless it is accurate.[18]
Old Friends: Ephant Mon's Tale
Ephant Mon owes a life debt to Jabba the Hutt. To pay back the debt, Mon has formed an allegiance with Jabba by ratting out any plots against Jabba. Mon also gathers information and advises Jabba on certain matters. Such is the case when Mon gets an quirking feeling about the Rebel Alliance members Jabba is holding prisoner. Mon warns Jabba not to execute the prisoners, but Jabba refuses. Knowing that Jabba is making a fatal mistake, Ephant Mon declares his debt paid and breaks his allegiance with Jabba.[19]
Goatgrass: The Tale of Ree-Yees
Ree-Yees plans to kill Jabba the Hutt by destroying Jabba's sail barge. Ree-Yees has worked with the Galactic Empire to plan the attack. The Empire has provided Ree-Yees with the bomb and detonation link. However, his only was of communicating with the Empire has been through Ree-Yees new accomplice. This supposed ally ends up being more than Ree-Yees bargained for.[20]
And the Band Played On: The Band's Tale
Evar Orbus and His Galactic Jizz-Wailers came to Tatooine expecting to perform in Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina. However, on their way to the cantina, they are attacked by Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes. Orbus is killed in the fight allowing Max Rebo to take over the band. After the cantina job busted, the new Max Rebo Band is desperate for a job. Rebo soon accepts a lifetime contract to play in Jabba's Palace. To the dismay of fellow band member, Sy Snootles, the only payment for the job is simply unlimited food.[21]
Of the Day's Annoyances: Bib Fortuna's Tale
The fact that Jabba Desilijic Tiure still lives is an annoyance to Bib Fortuna. To solve this problem, Bib Fortuna is somehow involved in every plot against Jabba. As Jabba's majordomo, Fortuna has everything set for him to take over Jabba's Empire, no matter who kills the hutt. However, because the transition of power will be rougher if another plot succeeds, Fortuna tries to keep his plot one step ahead. In order to gain this advantage, Bib Fortuna has allied himself with the B'omarr monks. Unknown to Fortuna, the monks have their own plan and Jabba is not the only target.[22]
The Great God Quay: The Tale of Barada and the Weequays
When their leader, Ak-Buz is killed, the remaining five Weequays in Jabba's Palace attempt to find the killer. They consult their god, Quay, to discover the killer. The Quay does not reveal the killer but informs the Weequays that a bomb has been planted on the sail barge. With the barge departing for the Great Pit of Carkoon, the Weequays only have a few hours to find the bomb and disable it.[23]
A Bad Feeling: The Tale of EV-9D9
EV-9D9 the droid foreman in Jabba the Hutt's Palace. With this position she is able to perform "experiments" on service droids without drawing unwanted attention. The ultimate goal of her experiments is to discover the state between the operational and nonoperational status: between "on" and "off." However, EV-9D9 will soon learn that there are somethings that droids are not meant to know.[24]
A Free Quarren in the Palace: Tessek's Tale
Tessek has plans to take over Tatooine. He has bribed two Imperial officers to kill both Jabba the Hutt and Imperial Prefect Eugene Talmont during a raid on one of Jabba's warehouses. Afterwards, Tessek will install one of the officers as the new Prefect, giving Tessek the strings controlling the Galactic Empire on Tatoonie. Meanwhile, Tessek would sell the criminal aspects of Jabba's Empire to his rival, Lady Valarian. Unfortunately for Tessek, his vast plan utterly collapsed at the last possible moment.[25]
Tongue-tied: Bubo's Tale
Buboicullaar, like several others, is enlightened by the B'omarr monks after Jabba's death. Soon after his enlightenment, Buboicullaar recounts the story of how he got his revenge on Rees-Yees to his long time mentor, Evilo Nailati.[26]
Out of the Closet: The Assassin's Tale
Dannik Jerriko is behind the mysterious deaths of Ak-Buz and Phlegmin. But these deaths are just to abide his vampire hunger until he is able to gorge on Han Solo's "soup." But Jerriko misses out on his opportunity when Jabba take Solo to the Great Pit of Carkoon. Neither returned to the palace from the trip.[27]
Shaara and the Sarlacc: The Skiff Guard's Tale
Shaara is the sister of a skiff guard. While on a trip to the sarlacc, this guard recounts a story to Boba Fett about how Shaara once was being chased by a group of Imperials when she fell into the Great Pit of Carkoon. However, his sister survives when she is thrown out of the Pit. The skiff guard is not sure why the Sarlacc trew her back, but he thinks it might be that the Sarlacc will not eat anyone who does not deserve it. After more thought the skiff guard realizes that if this it the case then everyone should be Sarlacc food.[28]
A Barve Like That: The Tale of Boba Fett
Boba Fett is being eaten by the Sarlacc. During the Battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon, Boba Fett fell victim to the Sarlacc and is now being slowly digested. Susejo a previous victim of the Sarlacc talks to Fett in his head, telling him stories of a Jedi that the Sarlacc had once eaten. But Fett is not interested. Boba Fett focuses on surviving. He focuses on becoming the first individual to ever escape from the belly of a Sarlacc.[29]
Skin Deep: The Fat Dancer's Tale
Yarna d'al' Gargan is a dancer in Jabba's Palace during the Galactic Civil War. When Tessek returns to the Palace after Jabba's death, he informs Yarna and Sergeant Doallyn of the news.[25][30] Yarna see this as an opportunity to travel to Mos Eisley and free her cubs from slavery. Yarna is also petrified to remain in the Palace any longer because she knows that she is likely to be the next victim of Dannik Jerriko. Sergeant Doallyn pledges to protect Yarna as she prepares for the journey and to travel with her to Mos Eisley to free her cubs. While only fifty kilometers from Mos Eisley, a krayt dragon attacks their landpeeder. Doallyn manages to kill the legendary beast but is injured in the fight. Since their landspeeder is also destroyed, Yarna is forced to carry Doallyn the remaining fifty kilometers of desert to Mos Eisley.[30]
Main Characters
Jabba Desilijic Tiure
Jabba Desilijic Tiure, more commonly known as Jabba the Hutt, lives in a towering palace on the northern edge of the Dune Sea.[31][10] Lord of a vast galactic criminal empire, the Hutt crime lord is the symbol of wealth and power on the Outer Rim[8] planet of Tatooine.[1]
Malakili
Malakili, a Human male Corellian, was the keeper of vicious creatures for the Circus Horrificus. However, when a rancor was to be presented as a birthday present to Jabba the Hutt by his lieutenants, Bib Fortuna and Bidlo Kwerve, Malakili is transferred to Tatooine. Malakili immediately becomes fond and proud of the rancor. However, when he learns that Jabba is planning to pit the rancor in a duel to the death, Malakili knows he will have to take matters into his own hands to save the rancor from Jabba's gladiator-style entertainment.[12]
Porcellus
Porcellus is a human male and the head chef of Jabba the Hutt's kitchen. Porcellus lives in constant fear that Jabba will grow tired of Porcellus' cooking and, as a result, feed him to the rancor. Porcellus' fears diminish when the rancor is killed but he soon finds himself imprisoned by Jabba to await a certain death.[13]
Bib Fortuna
Bib Fortuna is Jabba's new majordomo, but no one has nurtured more plots to overthrow Jabba than the Twi-lek male. Besides his own plans, Fortuna knows of and guides others' plans against Jabba. Although he prefers his own to be the one that is ultimately successful, it does not matter to him if another scheme succeeds first, as long as the timing is right. Fortuna's plans are complex and involve many individuals. However, perhaps he has underestimated some of those accomplices working with him to overthrow Jabba the Hutt.[22]
EV-9D9
EV-9D9 is an EV-series supervisor droid with feminine programing who has the ability to see into a higher dimension than all other droids due to a manufacturing defect. Since 9D9 is in charge of all the droids in Jabba the Hutt's palace, she is able to perform experiments on service droids uninterrupted. The ultimate goal of her experiments is to discover the state between the operational and nonoperational status: between "on" and "off." However, EV-9D9 will soon learn that there are some things that droids are not meant to know.[24]
Salacious B. Crumb
Salacious Crumb is a Kowakian monkey-lizard whose job it is to make Jabba the Hutt laugh at least once every day. Crumb must be careful not to tell Jabba the same joke twice, for such an act is not considered wise. To accomplish the tedious task, Crumb often goes to great lengths to create an original joke.[14]
Oola
Oola is the daughter of a clan chieftain on Ryloth. But she leaves Ryloth and her family when she is tricked by Bib Fortuna to become a dancer in the court of the most powerful criminal on Tatooine. She is disappointed to find this criminal to be the slug-like Jabba the Hutt. Oola is forced to be a slave girl and to dance for Jabba and his court. Defiled, starved, and beaten, Oola chooses to defy Jabba by refusing to dance for him. Unfortunately for Oola, she carries out this rebellion atop a certain trapdoor that led to the Rancor pit.[15]
J'Quille
J'Quille, a Whipid male, is in the employment of the Lady Valarian as a spy and assassin in Jabba's palace. As an assassin, J'Quille is bribing Phlegmin to slowly poison Jabba. As a spy, J'Quille gathers information for Valarian, Jabba's chief rival. J'Quille is also good friends with Malakili and frequently exchanges information him. After Jabba's death, J'Quille joins the B'omarr monks by becoming enlightened.[16]
Tessek
Tessek is an accountant for Jabba the Hutt, but Tessek, like many others, has plans to kill Jabba and take over his criminal empire. However, Tessek wants to turn it into a "clean" operation by throwing out all of the illegal aspects. Tessek's plans fare well up to the day of the planned assassination of Jabba. When the plans crumble, Tessek begins plotting furiously, trying to figure out what to do. Meanwhile, he is forced to accompany Jabba to the Great Pit of Carkoon to witness some executions. After the executions take a turn for the worse, Tessek narrowly escapes the destruction of Jabba's sail barge. Tessek returns to the palace only to find the unexpected.[25]
Ree-Yees
Always under the influence of alcohol, Ree-Yees purposely acts as a drunken fool so as to not draw any unwanted suspicion upon himself, because deep down he has just as much ill will against Jabba as others who hate the Hutt. However, Ree-Yees also has an assassination plot, but his plans are wiped out by his unlikely and supposed accomplice. Trying to discern his next move, Ree-Yees boards Jabba's sail barge on a seemingly normal trip to the Great Pit of Carkoon.[20]
Ephant Mon
Ephant Mon, a Chevin male, is perhaps the only individual in Jabba's palace without a vendetta against Jabba. In fact, he owes a life debt to Jabba. To pay for this debt, Ephant Mon rats out all the plots against Jabba that he can uncover. However, when he tries to warn Jabba to not execute some Rebel prisoners, Jabba refuses to listen. Ephant Mon refuses to go with Jabba to the Great Pit of Carkoon (for he knows it will be the last trip by Jabba) and announces to Jabba that his debt is settled. Ephant Mon then returns to his homeworld of Vinsoth.[19]
Sy Snootles
Sy Snootles, a Pa'lowick female, was the lead singer for the Evar Orbus and His Galactic Jizz-Wailers band. Following the death of Evar Orbus, Sy Snootles used fellow band member Max Rebo by allowing him to be the figurehead of the new Max Rebo Band while she truly runs the operation. But Sy gives Rebo too much power and accidentally allows him to agree to a lifetime contract to play for Jabba the Hutt. Unfortunately, their only pay was a life's worth of free food. Sy Snootles quickly learns, though, that there are other ways to make money in the palace.[21]
Dannik Jerriko
Dannik Jerriko is an Anzat assassin and spy within Jabba's palace. Jerriko spies for both of Jabba's chief rivals, Eugene Talmont and the Lady Valarian.[32] However, as an Anzati assassin, Dannik Jerriko has plans of drinking Han Solo's "soup." Since Han Solo is Jabba's most prized prisoner of Jabba and encased in carbonite, Jerriko must wait for the opportune moment to strike. In the meantime, he feeds his vampire hunger by killing other minions in the palace such as Phlegmin and Ak-Buz.[27]
Yarna d'al' Gargan
Yarna d'al' Gargan is an Askajian dancer for Jabba the Hutt. After Jabba is killed, Yarna plans to travel to Mos Eisley and free her cubs from slavery. She teams up with Sergeant Doallyn, who vows to protect her from Dannik Jerriko. On their way to Mos Eisley, Doallyn and Yarna encounter a krayt dragon. Doallyn kills the dragon but is injured to the point that Yarna must carry him through the remaining fifty kilometers of desert to the spaceport.[30]
Development
After Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina, Kevin J. Anderson developed the idea to create another anthology, this time focusing on characters seen within Jabba's Palace in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. Lucy Wilson of Lucasfilm Ltd. agreed to the idea and commissioned Bill Smith to create the back stories for what would become Tales from Jabba's Palace.[1]
And Then There Were Some: The Gamorrean Guard's Tale is play on the title of Agatha Christie's best-selling 1939 mystery novel, And Then There Were None. Similarly, the title of the short story A Time to Mourn, a Time to Dance: Oola's Tale is a reference to Ecclesiastes 3:4.[33]
J.D. Montgomery was a pseudonym used by Daniel Keys Moran for A Barve Like That: The Tale of Boba Fett. In Moran's original plan, Boba Fett remains in the Great Pit of Carkoon for years while sharing memories with the sentient Sarlacc before escaping. This outline was approved by Lucasfilm Ltd., but Moran was forced to change the time frame of the story to just a few days. At this point, Moran refused to put his name on the story, and the final draft was published under the pseudonym J.D. Montgomery, with even more changes that further divorced the publication from Moran's original.[34] Kevin J. Anderson approved of and was "thrilled" with Moran's original draft, but even as the editor of Tales from Jabba's Palace, Anderson couldn't overrule Lucasfilm's final say.[35]
Authors
Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson has written numerous Star Wars novels, graphic novels, and short stories. Along with editing Tales from Jabba's Palace, Anderson also wrote the tale A Boy and His Monster: The Rancor Keeper's Tale.
M. Shayne Bell
M. Shayne Bell has contributed to Star Wars canon by authoring a short story for each of the first three anthologies in the Tales series. Of the Day's Annoyances: Bib Fortuna's Tale is his work within Tales from Jabba's Palace.
John Gregory Betancourt
John Gregory Betancourt is an author of science fiction, fantasy, and mystery novels. His only Star Wars work was And the Band Played On: The Band's Tale.
Mark Budz and Marina Fitch
Husband and wife Mark Budz and Marina Fitch wrote Let Us Prey: The Whiphid's Tale; more specifically, the tale of J'Quille.
A. C. Crispin
Ann C. Crispin was a science-fiction author who was most famous within the Star Wars universe for The Han Solo Trilogy. Skin Deep: The Fat Dancer's Tale was her short story that appeared in Tales from Jabba's Palace.
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes
Dan'l Danehy-Oakes is a science-fiction writer who entered the Star Wars universe with his short story Shaara and the Scarlacc: The Skiff Guard's Tale.
George Alec Effinger
George Alec Effinger was an American writer who won both the Nebula and Hugo awards for his novelette "Schrödinger's Kitten" (1988). His only Star Wars work was The Great God Quay: The Tale of Barada and the Weequays.
Kenneth C. Flint
Kenneth C. Flint is a Star Wars writer who wrote two short stories for the Tales series. He is also the author of the canceled The Heart of the Jedi novel. Old Friends: Ephant Mon's Tale is his work in Tales from Jabba's Palace.
Esther M. Friesner
Esther M. Friesner is a science-fiction author who wrote That's Entertainment: The Tale of Salacious Crumb.
Barbara Hambly
Barbara Hambly is a Star Wars author who wrote two of the three novels in the unofficially titled Callista trilogy. She is also the author of several short stories including Taster's Choice: The Tale of Jabba's Chef for Tales from Jabba's Palace.
Daryl F. Mallett
Daryl F. Mallett is the author of Tongue-tied: Bubo's Tale, a short story appearing in Tales from Jabba's Palace that gives a look into the mind of Buboicullaar, Jabba's Frog-dog.
Daniel Keys Moran
Under the pseudonym of J. D. Montgomery, Daniel Keys Moran wrote A Barve Like That: The Tale of Boba Fett. Unhappy with changes made by editors, Moran decided not to have his name attached to the final version.[34] However, Moran is credited for his other two works, Empire Blues: The Devaronian's Tale and The Last One Standing: The Tale of Boba Fett.
Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens
Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens co-authored One Last Night in the Mos Eisley Cantina: The Tale of the Wolfman and the Lamproid for Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina and A Bad Feeling: The Tale of EV-9D9 for Tales from Jabba's Palace.
Jennifer Roberson
Jennifer Roberson wrote two short stories about the Anzat character named Dannik Jerriko. The one which appeared in Tales from Jabba's Palace was Out of the Closet: The Assassin's Tale.
Kathy Tyers
Kathy Tyers is the author of two Star Wars novels and many short stories. A Time to Mourn, a Time to Dance: Oola's Tale was the second of three such short stories written for the Tales series.
Deborah Wheeler
Goatgrass: The Tale of Ree-Yees is the only Star Wars work authored by Deborah Wheeler.
Dave Wolverton
Dave Wolverton is a prolific Star Wars author whose works include The Courtship of Princess Leia and many of the Star Wars Missions. He also wrote a story for each of the first three anthologies in the Tales series, including A Free Quarren in the Palace: Tessek's Tale.
William F. Wu
William F. Wu is a Chinese-American science-fiction author who wrote And Then There Were Some: The Gamorrean Guard's Tale.
Timothy Zahn
Timothy Zahn has written many Star Wars novels, short stories, and graphic novels. He is most well known for the Thrawn Trilogy, which revitalized the Star Wars franchise. Some of his short stories include Mist Encounter, Side Trip, Hammertong: The Tale of the "Tonnika Sisters", and, for Tales of Jabba's Palace, Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade.
Continuity
Out of the Closet: The Assassin's Tale states that Doallyn rescues Yarna d'al' Gargan from Dannik Jerriko; however, in Skin Deep: The Fat Dancer's Tale, Ortugg is named the rescuer and there is no mention that Doallyn and Yarna had previously met. There is no official statement on which of the stories is accurate. Likewise, since And the Band Played On: The Band's Tale was written before the Special Edition release of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the story does not include the nine added band members. The canonicity of And the Band Played On: The Band's Tale is therefore unknown. The remaining short stories in Tales from Jabba's Palace are official Star Wars Legends.
Media
Bibliography
"Star Wars Publications Timeline" — Star Wars Insider 23- The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
- Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Essential Guide to Characters (Incorrectly titled as Tales of Jabba's Palace)
- The Essential Reader's Companion
Notes and references
External links
- from Jabba's Palace Tales from Jabba's Palace on Penguin Random House's official website (from Jabba's Palace backup link (Tales from Jabba's Palace) not verified!)
- Tales from Jabba's Palace on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
