Tales from Jabba's Palace is a Star Wars Legends anthology book edited by Kevin J. Anderson that features twenty short stories set in and around Jabba's Palace. It is the second volume of the Tales series, and it was first published by Bantam Spectra in December 1995. The book was followed by Tales of the Bounty Hunters (1996) and was reprinted in Star Wars: Tales (1997).
Publisher's summary[]
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....
Contents[]
Plot summary[]
"A Boy and His Monster: The Rancor Keeper's Tale"[]
In 0 BBY[4] a large freighter starship crashes[5] into the surface of the Outer Rim[6] planet of Tatooine.[5] The planet's native scavengers, Jawas,[6] happen upon the wreckage immediately following the crash. 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.[5]
A Human Corellian named Malakili is brought to Tatooine to be the keeper of Jabba's rancor. Malakili's unparalleled record as a beast handler makes him the prime choice for the job. Over the next few years Malakili watches with pride as the rancor devours many of the enemies of Jabba whom are sent by the Hutt to the rancor's pit.[5]
"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.[7]
"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.[8]
"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 Tatooine 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.[9]
"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 one last chance to eliminate Jabba.[10]
"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.[11]
"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 by which he draws his final conclusion is somewhat erroneous, but nonetheless it is accurate.[12]
"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.[13]
"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.[14]
"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.[15]
"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.[16]
"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.[17]
"A Bad Feeling: The Tale of EV-9D9"[]
EV-9D9 is 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 some things that droids are not meant to know.[18]
"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 Tatooine. 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.[19]
"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.[20]
"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.[21]
"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 threw 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.[22]
"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.[23]
"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. 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 landspeeder. 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.[24]
"Epilogue: Whatever Became Of...?"[]
This epilogue provides information on what happened to some characters beyond the stories in this anthology.[25]
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 agreed to the idea and commissioned Bill Smith to create the back stories for what would become Tales from Jabba's Palace.[26]
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, 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.[27] Kevin J. Anderson had approved of and was "thrilled" by Moran's original draft.[28]
Continuity[]
"Out of the Closet: The Assassin's Tale" states that Doallyn rescues Yarna d'al' Gargan from Dannik Jerriko;[21] 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.[24]
Media[]
Editions[]
- ISBN 9780553568158; December 1995; Bantam Spectra; US paperback[1]
- ISBN 9780307796257; June 28, 2011; Del Rey; US eBook[29]
Cover gallery[]
Sources[]
"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 (as Tales of Jabba's Palace)
- The Essential Reader's Companion
- "Rewind of the Jedi" — Star Wars Insider 218
- "Hit it, Max" — Star Wars Insider 224
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tales from Jabba's Palace: Star Wars Legends on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link) (Paperback)
- ↑ The Essential Reader's Companion
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- ↑ The New Essential Guide to Characters
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "A Boy and His Monster: The Rancor Keeper's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Essential Atlas
- ↑ "Taster's Choice: The Tale of Jabba's Chef" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "That's Entertainment: The Tale of Salacious Crumb" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "A Time to Mourn, a Time to Dance: Oola's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "Let Us Prey: The Whiphid's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "And Then There Were Some: The Gamorrean Guard's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "Old Friends: Ephant Mon's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "Goatgrass: The Tale of Ree-Yees" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "And the Band Played On: The Band's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "Of the Day's Annoyances: Bib Fortuna's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "The Great God Quay: The Tale of Barada and the Weequays" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "A Bad Feeling: The Tale of EV-9D9" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "A Free Quarren in the Palace: Tessek's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "Tongue-tied: Bubo's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Out of the Closet: The Assassin's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "Shaara and the Sarlacc: The Skiff Guard's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "A Barve Like That: The Tale of Boba Fett" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Skin Deep: The Fat Dancer's Tale" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ "Epilogue: Whatever Became Of...?" — Tales from Jabba's Palace
- ↑ Tales from Jabba's Palace acknowledgements
- ↑ Daniel Keys Moran — Protect the Innocent -- Star Wars -- Lawrence -- Lonesome Dove -- Knightriders on Blogspot (backup link)
- ↑ Interview with Kevin J. Anderson; conducted by Greyman
- ↑ Tales from Jabba's Palace: Star Wars Legends on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link) (eBook)
External links[]
- Tales from Jabba's Palace in the StarWars.com Cargo Bay (original site is defunct)
- Tales from Jabba's Palace: Star Wars Legends on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link) (Paperback)
- Tales from Jabba's Palace: Star Wars Legends on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link) (eBook)
