Adventures in Hyperspace: The Last Blade Master, planned as the concluding fourth installment of the Star Wars: Adventures in Hyperspace Legends series for young readers, centered on the exploits of smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca working for Jabba the Hutt before the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Ryder Windham was slated to write the book, with illustrations by Jeffery Carlisle, and publication handled by Scholastic Inc..
Despite Lucasfilm giving its approval to Windham's synopsis for The Last Blade Master, the book's production was halted, coinciding with the cancellation of the series' third book, The Big Switch. The approved synopsis can be found on Joseph Bongiorno's fan website, The Star Wars Expanded Universe Timeline.
While transporting CZ-4, an antique business droid gifted from Boonda the Hutt to Jabba, Han and Chewie encounter a hyperdrive malfunction. This forces them to land the Millennium Falcon on a planet inhabited by the Numm, a race of humanoid aliens with limited technology. Unfortunately, the Numm are unable to provide the necessary parts to repair the Falcon's hyperdrive. Adding to their troubles, the Numm become uneasy at the sight of CZ-4, revealing their fear of droids. As Han and Chewie contemplate their next course of action, CZ-4 disappears. This presents a major problem, as the droid represents Boonda's gift to Jabba. To maintain any future business prospects with the Hutts, they must retrieve the droid.
Initially, Han and Chewie suspect the Numm of taking the droid, but they soon learn that the moon is also home to a group of war droids. These droids have been terrorizing the Numm ever since their ship crashed centuries ago. These war droids once served the Krath, a secret society forgotten to time that once posed a threat to the galaxy.
CZ-4 has been abducted by the war droids, whose leader is known as the Blade Master (equipped with retractable metal swords in his arms). The Blade Master intends to dismantle CZ-4 for spare parts. Chewbacca engages in a contest against the Blade Master, while Han attempts to rescue CZ-4 from being disassembled. Chewie emerges victorious against the Blade Master, and Han successfully rescues CZ-4 and deactivates the remaining droids.
Working together, CZ-4 and Chewie quickly reprogram the remaining Krath droids to assist the Numm. Relieved and grateful, the Numm guide Han and Chewie to the wreckage of a crashed freighter (potentially the same one that brought the war droids to the planet). Chewie manages to salvage parts from the freighter's remains, using them to repair the Falcon. With CZ-4 in tow, Han and Chewie resume their journey to Tatooine, where they deliver the droid to Jabba. Jabba informs them that he has another job waiting for them.
- Star Wars Adventures in Hyperspace Book 3 The Big Switch — The Star Wars Expanded Universe Timeline (backup link)