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The Courtship of Princess Leia, penned by Dave Wolverton, stands as a novel within the expansive Star Wars Legends continuity. Bantam Spectra initially released it in April of 1994. Taking place in 8 ABY, a period four years subsequent to the events chronicled in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, the narrative culminates in the wedding uniting Han Solo and Leia Organa.
Following the demise of Darth Vader and the Emperor, the Empire persists, compelling the Alliance to sustain its struggle amidst diminishing financial and material resources. Princess Leia, in pursuit of affluent and influential allies to bolster the Alliance, along with a new planetary haven for the displaced populace of Alderaan, contemplates a proposition that could potentially shift the balance of power against the malevolent Empire. The Hapes Consortium, comprised of sixty-three technologically advanced worlds, is governed by the Queen Mother, who desires Leia to wed her son, the charming and prosperous Prince Isolder.
Upon learning of Leia's impending marriage, Han Solo experiences profound shock. Despite his long-held aspiration to marry Leia, he harbors the belief that she perceives him merely as an unreliable rogue and Corellian pirate, unworthy of her affection. Consequently, he embarks on a desperate endeavor to regain her favor. Through deception, Han persuades Leia to accompany him, subsequently absconding with her to the idyllic and untamed planet of Dathomir, where he hopes to capture her heart.
Anticipating the imperious queen's reaction to Han's impulsive action, Luke Skywalker forges an unlikely alliance with Prince Isolder to locate the fugitives. Luke has been traversing the far reaches of the galaxy, seeking out the scattered knowledge of the Jedi Knights. However, as he, Artoo, and Isolder embark on their journey to Dathomir, Luke remains unaware that it marks the commencement of an adventure that will unveil an extraordinary treasure, a collective of Force-trained "witches," and a confrontation with an invincible adversary.
The Courtship of Princess Leia revisits the thrilling saga of the Star Wars film trilogy, as starcruisers clash for dominion over space, knights of a forbidden order resurface, and a pirate endeavors to win the heart of a maiden.
Han Solo, having been aboard the Mon Remonda in pursuit of the hidden fortress, wearily makes his way back to Coruscant, a recently captured world, anticipating an end to his protracted separation from Princess Leia, the esteemed leader of the New Republic. To his astonishment, as his vessel emerges from hyperspace within the Coruscant system, he encounters a formidable assembly of Imperial Star Destroyers, Hapan Battle Dragons, and a Nova-class battle cruiser. Han soon discovers that the Hapes Cluster has dispatched a delegation to the New Republic for a meeting with its representative. Upon entering the Imperial Palace, Han enlists the assistance of C-3PO to interpret and provide commentary on the formal diplomatic reception. While observing the proceedings, Han witnesses the Hapes delegation presenting Leia with a series of magnificent gifts from each world within the Hapes cluster, including the dozen Star Destroyers he had observed, a Hapan gun of command, a diminutive plant resembling a bonsai believed to promote longevity and intelligence, and, most surprisingly, the offer of Prince Isolder's hand in marriage, the son of Ta'a Chume, the current ruler of the Hapes cluster.
Upon witnessing Leia's near acceptance of this unexpected proposal, Han is overcome with fear and jealousy. Driven by his desperation, Han ventures into a seedy cantina in the lower levels of Coruscant, where he engages in a high-stakes sabacc game. During the game, one of Han's opponents exhausts their liquid assets and instead offers real estate in the form of a deed to an entire habitable planet, Dathomir. Believing he has discovered a gift that would demonstrate his worthiness to Leia and compare favorably with Isolder's offerings (while also providing a place to resettle the expatriates of Alderaan), he immediately rushes to her side to present his winnings. Upon examining his gift, Leia playfully points out that he has been swindled (as Dathomir lies within the territory controlled by Zsinj), leaving Han devastated. Adding insult to injury, Isolder belittles the Millennium Falcon and offers Han a Nova battle cruiser if he abandons his pursuit of Leia's affection. This final slight pushes Han over the edge; he abducts Leia using the Gun of Command, fleeing with her and Chewbacca aboard his recently refitted Millennium Falcon to Dathomir.
Upon discovering the abduction, Prince Isolder pursues Han with his Hapan Battle Dragon, arriving at Dathomir shortly after Solo despite his head start. Isolder was able to track Han with the assistance of the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker who had returned from his mission to Toola having found only a despoiled Jedi archive. Luke aided Isolder by using his Force powers to navigate a shorter (but still safe) path through hyperspace, shaving time off other conventional routes. Arriving on Dathomir, Luke and Isolder discover that Zsinj had truly laid claim to Dathomir by establishing in the planet's orbit the Iron Fist, a number of other capital ships, and the complete orbital shipyard Han had hunted for so long.
By this time, the Millennium Falcon has been forced to land on Dathomir itself, where it is captured by the Imperial garrison Zsinj had marooned on the surface years ago. Isolder immediately sets out in his Miy'til starfighter accompanied by Luke's X-wing while the Hapan fleet provide cover fire before leaving to inform the New Republic, Imperial Remnant, and the Hapes Consortium of the whereabouts of Zsinj (which had long been unknown).
On the surface, Isolder and Luke discover the remnants of the star-borne Jedi training academy, the Chu'unthor. Luke remembers having seen recordings of Yoda and a number of other Jedi knights failing to retrieve the library of the Chu'unthor due to interference by the Witches of Dathomir. Despite their intentions, the best the other Jedi had been able to do was seal the vessel thoroughly; so thoroughly that only centuries later the first intruder would need a lightsaber to break in. While attempting to gain access to the ship Luke is captured by a Dathomiri witch. Luke and Isolder, who was also captured only moments earlier, are taken back to her village.
Meanwhile, Zsinj, who has also learned about Han Solo's presence on the planet, offers both an ultimatum and exchange to the head of the Nightsisters, Gethzerion. If the sisters will release Han to him to torture and execute as he likes, he will reward them with an Imperial shuttle to leave the planet. If they do not comply, however, he will keep his "nightcloak" (an interconnected network of geostationary satellites, which reflect all solar emissions back into space) intact, which will slowly freeze Dathomir until no life can continue to survive.
Han and Leia soon infiltrate the Imperial garrison and steal the Falcon, piloting it out into the ongoing Battle of Dathomir. Han purposely allows the Iron Fist to acquire the Falcon with a tractor beam; once he is within the deflector shields, he breaks free of the beam lock and pilots his ship over the superstructure of the gigantic vessel. Once on the main bridge, he launches two concussion missiles which destroy the bridge, kill Zsinj, and knock out the ventral shields. With Iron Fist now completely exposed, the Hapan Battle Dragons move into position with their ion cannons, and disable the station. In the face of this catastrophic defeat, Zsinj's empire soon crumbles.
Shortly thereafter, Solo and Leia marry, having realized during their intrepid journey together that they do indeed love each other. Isolder also gets his happy ending as it is revealed that he has fallen in love with his captor, Teneniel Djo, and asks her to marry him.
The Courtship of Princess Leia represents the inaugural Star Wars novel authored by Dave Wolverton. According to Wolverton's account, his viewing of the 1954 musical film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers served as the catalyst for his inspiration to chronicle the marriage of Leia Organa and Han Solo, a union initially established within Timothy Zahn's 1991 novel, Heir to the Empire. Wolverton conceived the novel as a "romance," aiming to incorporate elements of humor and audacious concepts.
The Courtship of Princess Leia was initially released as a hardcover original by Bantam Spectra in April of 1994.
- ISBN 9780553089288 ; April 1994; Bantam Spectra; US hardcover [1]
- ISBN 9780553569377 ; April 1995 ; Bantam Spectra; US paperback [4]
- ISBN 9780307796288 ; June 28 , 2011 ; Del Rey ; US eBook [5]
- ISBN 9780593722190 ; October 24, 2023; Random House Worlds; Trade Paperback [6]