Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader, penned by James Luceno, was brought to readers by Del Rey. This narrative, Dark Lord, is set directly after the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, with its core being the evolution of Darth Vader and his ascent within the newly formed Galactic Empire.

Luceno dedicates a significant portion of Dark Lord to exploring the internal struggles of Darth Vader as he grapples with shedding his previous persona as Anakin Skywalker. The missions Palpatine assigns to Vader early on are intended to serve a dual purpose: solidifying the Empire's power and instructing Vader in the ways of the Sith.

Jonathan Davis lent his voice to the narration of the abridged audiobook.

Publisher's summary

Across the expanse of the galaxy, the prevailing belief was that Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker—the prophesied Chosen One—met his end on Coruscant during the assault on the Jedi Temple. And, in a sense, this held a degree of truth. The Anakin they knew was no more.

From the very ground where Anakin Skywalker made his final stand—the fiery landscape of Mustafar, where he attempted to vanquish his former master and friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi—a terrifying figure clad in black emerged. Once hailed as the Jedi Order's most formidable Knight, he now stands as a dark side disciple, a Sith Lord of immense power, and the avenging enforcer for the galaxy's new, merciless Emperor. Seduced, driven mad, and ultimately destroyed by the schemes of the Dark Lord Sidious, Anakin Skywalker has ceased to exist… and Darth Vader has taken his place.

News of the events that birthed this new entity—the Jedi Council's failed attempt to overthrow Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the Emperor's retaliatory decree to eradicate the Jedi Order, and Anakin's slaughter of his fellow Jedi within the Temple—has yet to reach every corner of the galaxy. On the Outer Rim planet of Murkhana, Jedi Masters Roan Shryne and Bol Chatak, along with Padawan Olee Starstone, are leading an assault on a Separatist stronghold, oblivious to the fact that the tide has turned against them with the blood of the Jedi.

After narrowly escaping execution—and becoming the hunted in a desperate chase across the stars—they find that their greatest fear should not be the clone troopers, the newly formed stormtroopers, or even the Emperor's insatiable hunger for power. The most lethal threat lies in the terrifyingly swift and deadly crimson lightsaber wielded by Darth Vader—a figure whose mask conceals a broken heart, a tainted soul, and a cunning mind consumed by vengeance.

For the few remaining Jedi scattered across the galaxy, survival is paramount if the light side of the Force is to be preserved and the galaxy is to be reclaimed one day. Yet, even more crucial is the safety of the twin infants, Leia and Luke Skywalker, the offspring of Anakin and his tragically deceased wife, Padmé Amidala. Separated following Padmé's passing, their protection is of utmost importance, lest the hope they represent for the future be twisted into a nightmare by the new Sith regime—and the unimaginable power of the dark side.

Synopsis

Part I: The Outer Rim Sieges

Jedi Masters Roan Shryne, Bol Chatak, and Padawan Olee Starstone arrive on Murkhana accompanied by a detachment of clone troopers. Acting on intelligence obtained from a captured mercenary, Shryne spearheads a precise strike against Murkhana City, much to the displeasure of Commander Salvo, who favored an attack from the Star Destroyer Gallant. Joined by clone commando Climber and his Ion Team, Shryne leads the assault on the Separatist's shield generator, successfully achieving their objective.

As preparations are underway to link up with the remaining Republic forces, Climber receives orders from Salvo to eliminate the Jedi. Torn between his duty and his loyalty to his comrades, Climber directs Ion Team to sabotage the planned ambush on the Jedi. Following a brief confrontation, Climber allows Shryne, Chatak, and Starstone to escape before initiating the pursuit. Salvo's trust in Climber and his team diminishes significantly, and he maintains a close watch on them.

Shryne and his companions decide to discard their Jedi attire and equipment in an attempt to flee the planet, but they are ultimately captured by the troopers.

Part II: The Emperor's Emissary

A period of four standard weeks has elapsed since the implementation of Order 66, marking the fall of the Jedi Order and the establishment of the Galactic Empire in place of the Old Republic. Darth Vader, the apprentice of the newly crowned Emperor Palpatine, also known as Darth Sidious, and second-in-command of the Empire, is dispatched to Murkhana by Palpatine himself to investigate allegations of disloyalty among clones who failed to execute Order 66. Vader conducts an investigation and engages Bol Chatak in a lightsaber duel, which the Sith Lord wins by decapitating Chatak. Shryne and Olee evade Vader's fury, seeking transportation off-world. Shryne and Olee secure passage aboard the Drunk Dancer, a freighter, and the former Jedi is reunited with his mother, Jula.

Part III: Imperial Center

Olee and Shryne separate: Shryne chooses to remain with his mother, while Olee sets out to find other Jedi survivors with the remaining Jedi. In the meantime, Skeck, Archyr, Jula, and Shryne—having left Fili to assist Olee in locating Jedi—travel to Alderaan to rescue Senator Fang Zar of Sern Prime. Darth Vader, dispatched by Palpatine to apprehend the dissenting senator, confronts Shryne as they are on the verge of escaping. Zar and Jula are struck by Vader's lightsaber, resulting in Zar's death. Fortunately, Jula is rescued despite her injuries.

Part IV: Kashyyyk

On Kashyyyk, Shryne and Starstone, alongside the native Wookiees, engage in combat against the Empire's stormtroopers as an assault on the planet commences. Two of the Jedi are killed, and Darth Vader battles Starstone. Shryne intervenes and confronts Vader, urging Starstone to flee. Chewbacca pilots the remaining Jedi to the Drunk Dancer as Vader reveals his identity to Shryne and delivers a fatal blow through the dark side of the Force. Kashyyyk falls under Imperial control.

Epilogue

The epilogue depicts Obi-Wan Kenobi, now known as Ben Kenobi, living in seclusion on Tatooine to keep a watchful eye on the infant Luke Skywalker from afar. Kenobi is shocked to learn that Darth Vader, whom he believed he had killed during their duel on Mustafar, is still alive. He is then contacted by the spirit of his deceased Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, who assures him that Luke will grow up to confront his father at the appropriate time and that Vader will never set foot on Tatooine again, fearing the resurgence of painful memories. However, Luke must not learn that Vader is his father until the opportune moment arrives.

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