This is the legendary story of Anakin Skywalker as it's never been told before - through his eyes…
From rise to fall, from light to dark, and back again.
Born a slave.
Raised a Jedi.
Feared by a Galaxy.
The book begins with Darth Vader dreaming for the first time in years while aboard the Executor shortly before it departs for the second Death Star. Vader thinks about his son and his master and wonders if he is having a premonition of the future. He dreams of the experiences he had as Anakin Skywalker, reminiscing about his life.
He and Shmi Skywalker are aboard a freighter being taken to Gardulla Besadii the Elder as slaves. Watto sees Anakin busy repairing a podracer and he says that he taught himself how to fix it. Watto is intrigued by this and takes Anakin and Shmi as payment for a lost bet.
The story continues with Anakin's life on Tatooine, his participation in the Battle of Naboo, his life as a Padawan and his motives for turning to the dark side.
Eventually, events end with his death during the Battle of Endor and his passing into the netherworld of the Force.
Numerous passages from the book involving Obi-Wan would be lifted directly into The Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi, a similar biography of the Jedi master released the following year.
Although most of the book references the six films, there are references to other works of Star Wars literature. These references include:
- Anakin's Fate
- Jedi Quest: Path to Truth
- Rogue Planet
- Jedi Quest: The Dangerous Games
- Jedi Quest: The Final Showdown
- Star Wars: Racer Revenge
- Star Wars: Clone Wars
- Republic 71
- Star Wars: Obsession
- Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
- Star Wars: Purge
- "First Impressions" — Star Wars Tales 15
- Star Wars: A New Hope Radio Drama
- Vader's Quest
- Planet of Kadril
- Star Wars: Dark Forces
- Darth Vader Strikes
- The Return of Ben Kenobi
- Race for Survival
- Splinter of the Mind's Eye
- "Thank the Maker" — Star Wars Tales 6
- Star Wars (1977) 61
- Star Wars (1977) 63
- Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
In the first printing of this book, Mos Espa is misspelled "Mos Epsa" on page 19.
In Japan, the book was entitled 「ダース・ヴェイダー 光と影」, translating to "Darth Vader: Light and Shadow".