Galaxy of Fear: Eaten Alive
Authored by John Whitman, Galaxy of Fear: Eaten Alive is a junior novel belonging to the Star Wars Legends continuity. As the initial entry in the Star Wars: Galaxy of Fear series, it saw its initial release in January of 1997 courtesy of Bantam Skylark. Subsequently, Galaxy of Fear: City of the Dead, its sequel, was made available later in the same year.
Summary Provided by the Publisher
Disappeared?
At first glance, D'vouran appears to be a perfectly ordinary planet. The inhabitants are very welcoming to Tash, Zak, and their uncle Hoole.
However, Tash has a sense of unease about the place.
A crazy person is running around yelling about people vanishing. He claims they are simply disappearing into nothing.
Tash is skeptical, but she knows something is not right on D'vouran. Will she be brave enough to trust her instincts before it's too late?
Detailed Plot Synopsis
Following the destruction of their home planet, Alderaan, by the Galactic Empire, siblings Tash and Zak Arranda, both preteens, find themselves orphaned. They begin traveling alongside their Uncle Hoole, a Shi'ido with the ability to shapeshift, who is dedicated to studying diverse species across various planets. They reside with him aboard his starship, the Lightrunner, and receive guidance from their newly acquired caretaker droid, DV-9. Their journey takes them to the enigmatic planet D'vouran, where they are prematurely pulled from hyperspace due to the planet's gravitational pull, resulting in a crash landing at the spaceport. Despite Tash's apprehension about the planet, the Enzeen, the native alien race, extend a warm welcome and offer assistance. D'vouran is marketed as a tourist destination, and the Enzeen are trying to attract more permanent residents. Chood, the Enzeen assigned to assist the family, escorts them to an inn to seek help with repairing their engine. However, they are ambushed, and the children are taken hostage by Smada the Hutt's forces, who demand Hoole's services. With the intervention of Rebels investigating the planet, Smada's forces release the children. Outside the inn, they encounter Kevreb Bebo, a disgraced pilot who attempts to warn the visitors about the disappearances. While Hoole is away studying, Tash witnesses an alien figure looming over a sleeping Zak. After waking Zak, they rush to town to warn the others, but find that no one is pursuing them. After a conversation with Hoole, Tash stops worrying about the planet and who is chasing them.
The following day, Zak is ambushed by Smada's forces while alone. Bebo appears and skillfully evades their laser fire. Hoole eventually intervenes and stops Smada, but Tash persuades him to allow her to speak with Bebo. Accompanied by DV-9, she is led to a cave where Bebo reveals a long-abandoned laboratory. He shows her a seemingly bottomless pit, which she senses is ominous, and displays his medallion, which he claims protects him from the disappearances. Trusting him, she attempts to return to town. He gives her his medallion, but, after she has gone, he is killed by one of Smada's guards. As she returns to town, she is attacked by the Enzeen, who have transformed into parasitic monsters, but manages to escape when an earthquake shakes the ground. Back at town, however, everyone is missing, and she goes to Smada's fortress, thinking he has done something. There she finds Zak in captivity. With DV-9's help, they escape Smada's fortress, but are recaptured easily. However, now outside the fortress, Smada, his guards, and the children are attacked by the Enzeen and the planet, as holes begin to open up and take people into the planet. Smada, on his repulsor sled, and the children, protected by the medallion, are kept safe, but are brought by the Enzeen to the heart of the planet, the pit Bebo showed Tash. There it is revealed that the planet is alive and needs nourishment, and the Enzeen get their own nourishment from the planet while attracting more people to come. The medallion created a forcefield around the wearers that the planet couldn't absorb. When Hoole, who was disguised as an Enzeen, gets the medallion, he throws it into the pit, causing the planet to begin to erupt. Able to escape the pit, even as Smada falls in and is absorbed, they finally reach their ship. The ship, however, is unable to take off, as the planet has grabbed hold of it. Losing hope, the Millennium Falcon comes to their rescue and, with deft flying by Han Solo, is finally able to escape the planet, which collapses on itself behind them.
Production Notes
Galaxy of Fear: Eaten Alive was conceived with the intention of emulating the style of Goosebumps, a well-known series of horror novels for young readers by R. L. Stine, and it was released as a paperback edition by Bantam Skylark. The novel featured a holographic cover and was promoted as a "Limited Collector's Edition" available for a limited time only.
Canonical Information
According to The Essential Reader's Companion, a reference book published in 2012, the events depicted in Galaxy of Fear: Eaten Alive are set in 0 ABY. This places the novel's timeline after the short story "Fair Prey" (2000) but before the events of Galaxy of Fear: City of the Dead (1997).
Available Media
Publication Details
- ISBN 9780553484502 ; Released in January of 1997 ; Published by Bantam Skylark ; US paperback format [1]