Darksaber

Darksaber

Author	Kevin J. Anderson
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Callista Trilogy Canon C
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Bantam Spectra
Publication date	Hardcover: November 1, 1995 Paperback: November 1, 1996
Media type	Hardcover & Paperback
Pages	Hardcover: 399 Paperback: 464
ISBN	0-553-09974-4
Preceded by	Children of the Jedi
Followed by	Planet of Twilight

Darksaber is a 1995 bestselling Star Wars novel written by Kevin J. Anderson. The novel is set immediately after Children of the Jedi and one year before Planet of Twilight in the Star Wars expanded universe timeline.

Story

Background and setting

In the Jedi Academy trilogy, Admiral Daala is forced to retreat to the Core Worlds, where some of the remaining Imperial warlords bicker over the Empire's remaining forces in the region. Immediately thereafter, Luke Skywalker encounters Callista, a former Jedi who was trapped in the Eye of Palpatine. After being rescued, Callista is forced to take the form of one of Luke's former students. Luke and Callista immediately fall in love and work on building the Jedi Academy, though Callista still cannot use the Force. Meanwhile, Bevel Lemelisk is searching for a new assignment, which is given to him by Durga the Hutt.

Darksaber is set eight years after Return of the Jedi, a time in which Grand Admiral Thrawn and the resurrected Emperor have been defeated, and the New Republic is experiencing a brief lull in conflict after the events in Children of the Jedi.

Synopsis

While searching Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo learn that the Hutts are planning to build another superweapon. Meanwhile, in the Hoth Asteroid Belt, Durga the Hutt is planning a diplomatic mission to Coruscant, where he will secretly obtain the plans for the Death Star superlaser for Bevel Lemelisk, the Death Star's designer. Skywalker and Solo reveal their discoveries, but not before Durga's subordinates steal the plans from the Imperial Palace. In order to find out the location of the superweapon, the New Republic launches a covert operation to Nal Hutta, disguised as a diplomatic summit. Back at the Hoth asteroid belt, Lemelisk starts construction on the cylindrical superlaser, which he calls the "Darksaber" for its shape is similar to the hilt of a lightsaber.

Luke and Callista embark on a vacation that eventually leaves them stranded near the Hoth asteroid belt. They are rescued by Han and Leia Organa Solo, who just returned from the successful mission on Nal Hutta. However, Luke and Callista's rescue is mainly thanks to the Republic fleet, who arrived to launch Crix Madine and his squad to locate the Darksaber reported to be under construction in the region. While Madine succeeds in relaying the location to the fleet, he is captured and killed by Durga. However, Durga's triumph is short-lived when the Republic fleet spots the Darksaber and begins pursuit. The Darksaber attempts to fire its superlaser and make an escape, but the weapon fails and the ship is destroyed by two large asteroids.

Meanwhile, Admiral Daala succeeds in uniting the remains of the Empire in the core systems. With the help of Pellaeon, she plans a strike force against a series of New Republic targets, including the Jedi academy on Yavin IV. They also attack Khomm, where Jedi trainees Kyp Durron and Dorsk 81 are visiting. Furious, the pair of Jedi spy on Daala's fleet and succeed in warning the academy of the attack. Using the powers of the Force, the Jedi trainees back at Yavin IV manage to hold off Daala's forces until New Republic reinforcements arrive. Daala is forced to retreat when her Super Star Destroyer, the Knight Hammer, is destroyed. After the failed attack, Daala transfers control over the Imperial forces to Pellaeon. Meanwhile, Callista decides to temporarily leave Luke and venture on a journey to regain her powers. Luke is heartbroken, but decides to move on and continue to build the Jedi academy.

Reception

German cover of Darksaber. Like most Star Wars novels, Darksaber was published globally

Darksaber was published worldwide in November 1995, a time in which Bantam Spectra was releasing several bestselling Star Wars novels a year. Although it was not as successful as the Jedi Academy trilogy, Darksaber peaked at number three on the New York Times Bestseller list. The novel that preceded it, Children of the Jedi by Barbara Hambly, was also a bestseller.

On back cover of Darksaber, Starlog claimed that "Anderson has all but assumed the title of chancellor of the Star Wars University."

Notes

^ Interview with Kevin J. Anderson. URL accessed on March 4, 2006.
^ Blindreaders: Star Wars. URL accessed on March 4, 2006.
^ Kevin J. Anderson, Darksaber (1995). ISBN 0-553-57611-9

References

Barbara Hambly, Children of the Jedi (1995). ISBN 0-553-57293-8
Kevin J. Anderson, Darksaber (1995). ISBN 0-553-57611-9

External links

Kevin J. Anderson's web site
JediNet.com - Timeline
Darksaber on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki

Star Wars Legends novels

The Adventures of Lando Calrissian	Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu (1983) Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon (1983) Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of ThonBoka (1983)

Thrawn trilogy	Heir to the Empire (1991) Dark Force Rising (1992) The Last Command (1993)

Jedi Prince series	The Glove of Darth Vader (1992) The Lost City of the Jedi (1992) Zorba the Hutt's Revenge (1992) Mission from Mount Yoda (1993) Queen of the Empire (1993) Prophets of the Dark Side (1993)

Jedi Academy trilogy	Jedi Search (1994) Dark Apprentice (1994) Champions of the Force (1994)

Callista trilogy	Children of the Jedi (1995) Darksaber (1995) Planet of Twilight (1997)

X-wing	Rogue Squadron (1996) Wedge's Gamble (1996) The Krytos Trap (1996) The Bacta War (1997) Wraith Squadron (1998) Iron Fist (1998) Solo Command (1999) Isard's Revenge (1999) Starfighters of Adumar (1999) Mercy Kill (2012)

The Hand of Thrawn	Specter of the Past (1997) Vision of the Future (1998)

Galaxy of Fear	Eaten Alive (1997) City of the Dead (1997) Planet Plague (1997) The Nightmare Machine (1997) Ghost of the Jedi (1997) Army of Terror (1997) The Brain Spiders (1997) The Swarm (1998) Spore (1998) The Doomsday Ship (1998) Clones (1998) The Hunger (1998)

The Bounty Hunter Wars	The Mandalorian Armor (1998) Slave Ship (1998) Hard Merchandise (1999)

Jedi Apprentice	The Rising Force (1999) The Dark Rival (1999) The Hidden Past (1999) The Mark of the Crown (1999) The Defenders of the Dead (1999) The Uncertain Path (2000) The Captive Temple (2000) The Day of Reckoning (2000) The Fight for Truth (2000) The Shattered Peace (2000) The Deadly Hunter (2000) The Evil Experiment (2001) The Dangerous Rescue (2001) The Ties That Bind (2001) The Death of Hope (2001) The Call to Vengeance (2001) The Only Witness (2002) The Threat Within (2002) Special Edition #1: Deceptions (2001) Special Edition #2: The Followers (2002)

The New Jedi Order	Vector Prime (1999) Dark Tide I: Onslaught (2000) Dark Tide II: Ruin (2000) Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial (2000) Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse (2000) Balance Point (2000) Recovery (2001) Edge of Victory I: Conquest (2001) Edge of Victory II: Rebirth (2001) Star by Star (2001) Dark Journey (2002) Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream (2002) Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand (2002) Traitor (2002) Destiny's Way (2002) Ylesia (2002) Force Heretic I: Remnant (2003) Force Heretic II: Refugee (2003) Force Heretic III: Reunion (2003) The Final Prophecy (2003) The Unifying Force (2003)

Jedi Quest	Path to Truth (2001) The Way of the Apprentice (2002) The Trail of the Jedi (2002) The Dangerous Games (2002) The Master of Disguise (2002) The School of Fear (2003) The Shadow Trap (2003) The Moment of Truth (2003) The Changing of the Guard (2004) The False Peace (2004) The Final Showdown (2004)

Boba Fett series	The Fight to Survive (2003) Crossfire (2003) Maze of Deception (2003) Hunted (2003) A New Threat (2004) Pursuit (2004)

Clone Wars series	Shatterpoint (2003) The Cestus Deception (2004) The Hive (2004) MedStar I: Battle Surgeons (2004) MedStar II: Jedi Healer (2004) Jedi Trial (2004) Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (2004)

Republic Commando	Hard Contact (2004) Triple Zero (2006) True Colors (2007) Order 66 (2008) 501st (2009)

The Last of the Jedi	The Desperate Mission (2005) Dark Warning (2005) Underworld (2005) Death on Naboo (2006) A Tangled Web (2006) Return of the Dark Side (2006) Secret Weapon (2007) Against The Empire (2007) Master of Deception (2008) Reckoning (2008)

Darth Bane series	Path of Destruction (2006) Rule of Two (2007) Dynasty of Evil (2009)

The Force Unleashed	The Force Unleashed (2008) The Force Unleashed II (2010)

Coruscant Nights	Jedi Twilight (2008) Street of Shadows (2008) Patterns of Force (2009)

The Old Republic series	The Old Republic: Revan (2011) The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance (2010) The Old Republic: Annihilation (2012)

The Dark Nest trilogy	The Joiner King (2005) The Unseen Queen (2005) The Swarm War (2005)

Legacy of the Force	Betrayal (2006) Bloodlines (2006) Tempest (2006) Exile (2007) Sacrifice (2007) Inferno (2007) Fury (2007) Revelation (2008) Invincible (2008)

Fate of the Jedi	Outcast (2009) Omen (2009) Abyss (2009) Backlash (2010) Allies (2010) Vortex (2010) Conviction (2011) Ascension (2011) Apocalypse (2012)

Other trilogies and series	The Han Solo Adventures (1979–80) Young Jedi Knights (1995–98) The Black Fleet Crisis (1996–98) The Han Solo trilogy (1997–98)

Standalone	Splinter of the Mind's Eye (1978) The Truce at Bakura (1993) The Courtship of Princess Leia (1994) The Crystal Star (1994) The New Rebellion (1996) Shadows of the Empire (1996) I, Jedi (1998) Rogue Planet (2000) Cloak of Deception (2001) Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter (2001) "Darth Maul: Saboteur" (2001) The Approaching Storm (2002) Legacy of the Jedi (2003) Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine (2003) A Forest Apart (2003) Tatooine Ghost (2003) Survivor's Quest (2004) Secrets of the Jedi (2005) Labyrinth of Evil (2005) Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (2005) Outbound Flight (2006) Boba Fett: A Practical Man (2006) Allegiance (2007) The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader (2007) Death Star (2007) Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor (2008) Millennium Falcon (2008) The Clone Wars (2008) Death Troopers (2009) Gambit: Stealth (2010) Crosscurrent (2010) Knight Errant (2011) Darth Plagueis (2012) Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void (2013) Crucible (2013)

Full list of Star Wars books by in-universe timeline

Kevin J. Anderson

Star Wars expanded universe

Jedi Academy trilogy	Jedi Search (1994) Dark Apprentice (1994) Champions of the Force (1994)

Other novels	Darksaber (1995) Young Jedi Knights series with Rebecca Moesta (1995–1998)

Short story anthologies	Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina (1995) Tales from Jabba's Palace (1996) Tales of the Bounty Hunters (1996)

Dune franchise
with Brian Herbert

Prequels	Dune: House Atreides (1999) Dune: House Harkonnen (2000) Dune: House Corrino (2001) Dune: The Butlerian Jihad (2002) Dune: The Machine Crusade (2003) Dune: The Battle of Corrin (2004) Paul of Dune (2008) The Winds of Dune (2009) Sisterhood of Dune (2012) Mentats of Dune (2014) Navigators of Dune (2016)

Sequels	Hunters of Dune (2006) Sandworms of Dune (2007)

Other	The Road to Dune (2005) Short stories (2001–2011)

Other science fiction

The Saga of Seven Suns series (2002–2008)
The Saga of Shadows trilogy (2014–2016)
Hellhole trilogy with Brian Herbert (2011–2014)

Miscellaneous fiction

Gamearth trilogy (1989–1990)
Captain Nemo: The Fantastic History of a Dark Genius (2002)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003 film novelization)
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004 film novelization)
Enemies & Allies (2009)

With Doug Beason

The Trinity Paradox (1991)
Assemblers of Infinity (1993)

As Gabriel Mesta

The Martian War (2005)

Anthology

War of the Worlds: Global Dispatches (1996)

Full Kevin J. Anderson bibliography

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