Darksaber (novel)

Timothy Zahn initially rekindled the magic of George Lucas's incredible Star Wars movies in his trilogy that topped the New York Times bestseller list. The journeys of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia Organa have been further explored in books from authors like Barbara Hambly, Roger MacBride Allen, and Vonda N. McIntyre. Now, Kevin J. Anderson, the writer behind the New York Times bestselling Star Wars Jedi Academy trilogy, completes the circle, guiding us back to Luke's home world, where everything started....

Concealed by the Force and accompanied by the hostile Sand People, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo have gone back to the desert planet Tatooine's dunes, hoping to discover what Luke is desperately looking for: communication with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke hopes that the late Jedi Knight's spirit will guide him on how to assist his love, Callista, in regaining her lost connection to the Force. Haunted and troubled, Luke cannot find peace until Callista fully becomes a Jedi, as only then will their mental and spiritual connection be restored. However, unsettling news is developing on Tatooine, which will shock Luke and Han and jeopardize everything they hold dear.

The alarming revelation is that the nefarious Hutts, the galaxy's criminal overlords, are secretly constructing a superweapon: a replica of the original Death Star, which they intend to call Darksaber. This planet-destroying weapon will be under the control of Durga the Hutt—a creature without morals or compassion.

Yet, there is even worse news: the Empire still exists. The stunning Admiral Daala, still alive and more determined than ever to eliminate the Jedi, has allied herself with the defeated Pellaeon, who previously served as Grand Admiral Thrawn's second-in-command. Together, they are rallying Imperial forces to eradicate the New Republic.

As Luke, Han, Leia, Chewbacca, Artoo, and Threepio reunite to confront these threats, they are joined by new Jedi Knights and Callista. Together, they must wage war on two fronts, using their skills and intelligence to overcome the galaxy's most formidable adversaries. In Darksaber, the Jedi face the ultimate test of their abilities—a test where the dark side's allure is strong. Luke Skywalker must rely on his deepest reserves to fight for a world where he can not only survive but also embrace love.

While searching Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo uncover a scheme by the Hutts to construct another superweapon. Concurrently, in the Hoth Asteroid Belt, Durga the Hutt is orchestrating a covert diplomatic mission to Coruscant. There, he intends to secretly acquire the blueprints for the Death Star superlaser from Bevel Lemelisk, the original Death Star's architect. Skywalker and Solo reveal their findings, but not before Durga's underlings manage to steal the plans from the Imperial Palace. In response, the New Republic initiates a clandestine operation to Nal Hutta, disguised as a diplomatic summit, to pinpoint the superweapon's location. Meanwhile, back in the Hoth asteroid belt, Lemelisk begins building the cylindrical superlaser, naming it "Darksaber" due to its resemblance to a lightsaber hilt.

Luke and Callista embark on a quest to help Callista regain her connection to the Force. They discover that Callista can only access the Dark Side of the Force after they are attacked by mysterious flying creatures on Dagobah. Their journey takes them to the Hoth system, where they encounter a group of stranded refugees. This group is attacked by a pack of wampas, led by the same wampa that Luke dismembered years prior. The refugees perish in the assault, and Luke and Callista attempt to flee, only to find their ship damaged. They manage to take off, but with limited power, leaving them stranded in the asteroid belt surrounding Hoth. Han and Leia Organa Solo, returning from their successful mission on Nal Hutta, rescue them. However, the rescue is primarily due to the Republic fleet, which arrives to deploy Crix Madine and his team to locate the Darksaber, reported to be under construction in the area. Madine successfully relays the location to the fleet but is captured and killed by Durga. Durga's victory is short-lived, as the Republic fleet spots the Darksaber and initiates pursuit. The Darksaber attempts to fire its superlaser to escape, but the weapon malfunctions, and the ship is destroyed by two large asteroids.

Elsewhere, Admiral Daala successfully unites the remnants of the Empire in the core systems by eliminating the feuding Warlords during a conference. With Pellaeon's assistance, she plans an assault on several New Republic targets, including the Jedi academy on Yavin 4. They also attack Khomm after Jedi trainees Kyp Durron and Dorsk 81 are discovered infiltrating an Imperial summit and escape to Khomm. The Jedi pair manages to warn the Republic and the academy about the impending attack. Using the combined Force powers of the Jedi trainees at Yavin 4, Dorsk 81 physically propels Pellaeon and his fleet out of the Yavin system, sacrificing his own life in the process. Daala is forced to retreat when her Super Star Destroyer, the Knight Hammer, is destroyed. Following the failed attack, Daala relinquishes control of the Imperial forces to Pellaeon. Meanwhile, Callista decides to temporarily leave Luke to embark on a journey to regain her powers. Heartbroken, Luke decides to move forward and continue developing the Jedi academy.

In a 2014 interview, Kevin J. Anderson, the author of Darksaber, mentioned that the novel serves as an allegory for the real-world spread of nuclear weapons.

The Essential Reader's Companion, a 2012 reference book, places the events of Darksaber in 12 ABY, positioning it between the novels Children of the Jedi (1995) and X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar (1999).

• ISBN 9780553099744 ; October 1995; Bantam Spectra ; US hardcover [1]
• ISBN 9780553576115 ; October 1996 ; Bantam Spectra; US paperback [2]
• ISBN 9780307796417 ; June 28 , 2011 ; Del Rey ; US eBook [3]