Obi-Wan Kenobi

Origin

Obi-Wan Kenobi started out as a simple farm boy, before his parents discovered that he seemed to have “unnatural powers”. So they brought him to a Jedi Knight. The Knight realized that Obi-Wan had a strong connection to the Force, and he had a high amount of midi-chlorine’s. Obi-Wan went to the Jedi Temple-where he was a star. He displayed amazing skill and potential, and he graduated at the very top of his class. When the Jedi Knights came, looking for apprentices, Obi-Wan was snapped up by the most prolific one: Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Qui-Gon taught his apprentice well. He nourished and enhanced Obi-Wan’s connection to the Force, and soon a strong bond developed between the two. They became more than apprentice and master-they became friends.

Things got hectic, though, when Qui-Gon was assigned to see what was happening in the Trade Federation ship with the Viceroy and his assistant. They threatened the Queen, and the two had to protect her. Meanwhile, the evil Darth Sidious was after the two, and he sent his apprentice Darth Maul to capture and kill the Knights. They rescued Queen Padme Amidala on Naboo, but they were running out of fuel. So they stopped in Tatooine a rocky, desert planet where Hutts, Pod Racing, and slaves were the thing. While there, they met a young boy who would change the entire galaxy-Anakin Skywalker.

Anakin was a young slave boy, whose only future seemed to be working his life away for Watto-a Toydarian junk dealer that sold ship parts. But when Qui-Gon saw him, he immediately recognized that Anakin had the strongest potential for the Force of anyone. He could be The Chosen One. The One who would finally destroy the Sith. Anakin won his freedom in a Pod Race, but he had to leave his mother as he went with the Knight, Obi-Wan, and the princess. The spying Darth Maul, a Sith who had potential equal to Obi-Wan’s, caught up to them-but they barely escaped. Obi-Wan then traveled to Corusant with Qui-Gon and the boy where the Jedi Council interviewed Anakin. After Qui-Gon decided to train the boy, they decided to go back to Naboo to take back the city of Theed from the Trade Federation. They fought their way into the Theed Palace until they were intercepted by the evil Darth Maul.

Darth Maul was one of the most powerful apprentices the Sith had seen in a long time thanks primarily due to the large amount of time his master-Darth Sidious- had invested in him. He was only an apprentice at this stage and had accessed a fraction of his available power. If things had gone differently, he might have become a Sith Lord nearly equal to Lord Sidious. To make things worse, he wielded a double-bladed lightsaber. The two Jedi engaged the Sith in battle around the Palace, and both sides seemed to be holding their own. Unfortunately the security fields separated Obi-Wan from the other two. When they fought alone, Maul was too good-he distracted Qui-Gon Jinn and stabbed him through the abdomen.

Obi-Wan was devastated-and Darth Maul fought him alone. Maul beat on him and knocked him to the edge of a pit. As Obi-Wan clung for dear life at the edge- the Sith apprentice kicked Ob-Wan’s lightsaber into the pit. Obi-Wan was seemingly defenseless but using the force leaped over Maul and commanded his former master’s lightsaber to fly to his hand. By the time Darth Maul realized what was going on, it was too late. Obi-Wan had sliced the Sith in two and watched as both sides plummeted into the abyss. Qui-Gon was barely alive, but his last words were for Obi-Wan to become Anakin’s master. “Train the boy. Train him” Obi-Wan listened as Qui-Gon died.

Obi-Wan went back to Anakin and explained what happened. At first Yoda was skeptical- granting him the rank of Jedi Knight but not as the boy’s master. Yoda reluctantly concedes upon learning that Obi-Wan gave Qui-Gon his word to train Anakin. Obi-Wan later solemnly attends the funeral pyre of his master and friend; feeling more comfortable knowing that he fulfilled Qui-Gon’s dying wish.

Creation

Obi-Wan Kenobi was created by George Lucas and first appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. His first comic appearance was Star Wars #1.

Character Evolution

Throughout his time as a Jedi Obi Wan has undergone complete changes in his character, personality and traits, primarily due to his increasing maturity, but also in part due to the grief and sorrow surrounding him.

In his first appearance in the Phantom Menace Obi Wan is still a Padawan to the great Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. He is quite similar to Anakin Skywalker when he was a padawan, as they both share traits such as their arrogance, confidence, audacity, tenacity, jealousy and passion. Obi Wan displays his first outward sign of jealousy towards Anakin as he feels as though his master is giving the boy more attention than to himself.

Following the death of his master at the end of the first episode, Obi Wan is forced to mature and deal with the grief and anguish thrust upon him, as he loses the only fatherly figure in his life. This is the first and the biggest of the changes that Obi Wan undergoes. His dead master has left him with the last request to train the boy whom he was envious of and against the council’s wishes. This turns him into a far more mature and responsible character as he now has to set an example to his padawan and lead by example, and display all the virtues of a good master in order to do Qui-Gon Jinn proud. Through his development as a master to Anakin he begins to become more embroiled with politics and becomes somewhat of a diplomat, and earning the respect and admiration of many Senators and Rulers.

After the fall of his only padawan (Anakin) to the Dark Side Obi Wan experiences his another serious change. He is shaken to the core by the actions of his padawan and their repercussions, and feels as though the execution of Order 66 and the death of the Jedi and the rise of the sith is all his fault. He like Yoda in shame places a self-imposed exile on himself on Tatooine, which will serve a dual purpose of also teaching of his padawan’s son.

His solitude and age leads to the waning of his power and he decides to teach Luke and confront Darth Vader before he is too weak. During his short time training Luke he imparts all of the Jedi rules, codes morals and aims and teaches him proper values and the true Jedi ways. It is thanks to the teachings of Obi Wan and Yoda that Luke becomes the Jedi he was born to be and overthrows the Sith an restores the Jedi. In Luke is his greatest success.

Major Story Arcs

As a Master

Anakin got older, and a bond developed between them. They were almost like brothers in fact. It was similar to the bond that had once grown between Obi-Wan and his Master: Qui-Gon Jinn. They went on missions together, and Anakin proved to be invaluable in saving Obi-Wan’s life. However, Anakin also grew reckless and didn’t think before he acted so Obi-Wan often had to keep him in check. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan was growing stronger in his connection to the Force and in his skill as a fighter and lightsaber wielder. He was nearing his prime- so to speak, but still visited Yoda and other high, old Masters for advice. He became a fully-fledged Jedi Knight and a Jedi Master in the Council. However, he soon realized that the Separatists were about to launch a new plot to take down the good system that ruled the universe-so he and Anakin went back into action.

Count Dooku (also known as Darth Tyrannus) was another powerful Sith unbeknownst to the Jedi. He had been the student of Yoda who turned away from the Jedi Order and joined the rising force known as the Separatists, and he joined the Separatist movement as the leader. Dooku’s new master was none other then the Dark Lord Sidious himself, who had recovered quickly from the loss of Darth Maul- now sporting a new apprentice to do his bidding. Obi-Wan and Anakin kept their tight bond, but Anakin had problems with the Dark Side-which you will read about later.

Obi-Wan saw that new soldiers were being “recruited” for the Republic- clones of the renowned Mandalorian bounty hunter: Jango Fett from the planet Kamino. This bounty hunter, Obi wan guessed, was one who planned the assassination on the former queen of Naboo; Senator Amidala. Fett and Obi-Wan battled soon after meeting each other on Kamino. They fought a ferocious battle in which Obi-Wan was also fired upon by Jango’s son Boba. Fett’s skill and weapons were not enough to kill the Jedi and he attempted to escape, however, Obi-Wan threw a tracking device onto the hull of Jango’s ship-the Slave I.

After realizing the Jedi was still on his tail. Jango and Obi wan engaged in an intense space battle through an asteroid field. Jango had shown that he was winning very early in the fight. Obi-Wan was under constant fire and Jango had many tricks up his sleeve such as the explosive charges that he ejected from his ship. Jango soon decided to end the fight an fired two homing missiles at Obi-Wan’s ship. Luckily, Obi-Wan ejected projectiles from his ship just in time to intercept them; making it look like he had been hit and deceiving the bounty hunter. This is one of the finest displays of Obi-Wan’s flying abilities and is a real testament to his character as he achieved this feat despite constantly bemoaning about how he “hates flying”.

Obi-Wan followed the Slave I to Geonosis were many Separatist ships had gathered. He soon spotted Count Dooku and several Separatist leaders. He quickly sent the Council a report on the situation but was taken hostage by the Separatists. Count Dooku met him in his holding chamber and asked hm why he was there. Obi told him most of his story cautiously while Count Dooku told him that a “Sith Lord named Darth Sidious” was in control of the Republic. This statement would prove to have an unexpected and terrible truth to it later on.

Unfortunately Obi-Wan was brought to an arena where he was put in a horrific position; tied to a pole where he was met by his apprentice, Anakin, and Padme who had disobeyed orders to try and and help him. They were trapped as a Nexu a Reek and an acklay came out to eat them in the gladiator style arena. With the skill of the two Jedi and surprisingly battle ready Padame, they were able to free themselves and fight off the arena monsters. Numerous soldiers, clones, Jedi Knights, and droids busted in-and a full-scale war let loose. Mace Windu was among the Jedi there, and Count Dooku was at the battle. Many Jedi died that day, but they won. Obi-Wan and Anakin escaped back into a temple-where they found Count Dooku waiting for them. It was during this confrontation where Jango Fett who skirmished with Obi-Wan earlier ultimately met his demise.

Following this, Obi-Wan and Anakin caught sight of Dooku fleeing on a speeder. In the ensuing pursuit Padme and a few clones fell off. Anakin demanded the ship turn around, however Obi-Wan reasoned with his student and they continued. Upon reaching the hangar, Obi-Wan warned Anakin not to be too headstrong. Anakin ignored this and was nearly killed with a blast of Force Lightning from Count Dooku. Obi-Wan had met his match with Dooku who had just overpowered Obi-Wan and Anakin when Grand Master Yoda appeared to save the Jedi.

Legend of the Clone Wars

During the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan gained the rank of Jedi Master on the Jedi High Council and general in the Grand Army of the Republic. Obi-Wan would also watch the grown his apprentice as Anakin took a padawan of his own. Obi-Wan would also endure hardships during the war, from battling the bounty hunter Durge, dealing with the Mandalorian Death Watch, and once more facing his old enemy, Darth Maul.

Anakin’s Fall to the Dark Side

Throughout this period of time, though, Obi-Wan’s apprentice Anakin was getting closer to the Dark Side. He cared deeply about those he loved-and he feared losing them so much that it put him on the path to the Dark Side. The most obvious example being Padme whom he married in secret and who was the cause of much fear and anxiety for Anakin which Obi-Wan unfortunately didn’t realise fast enough.. While Obi-Wan was at the cloning factory and fighting the bounty hunter Jango Fett, Anakin had gone on an independent mission to see Tatooine for he wanted to see his mother. When he arrived at his home he was informed his mother had been kidnapped. Sand People had savagely beaten her-she was near death. She died in her son’s arms. Anakin flipped, so to speak. In a blind rage, he murdered the entire Sand People: tribe-men, women, and children. Obi-Wan felt this disturbance in the Force with Anakin, and he tried to control it, however did not entirely succeed.

Near the end of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan and Anakin went on a mission to find General Grievous- the new leader of the Separatist movement and Emperor’s apprentice. He had taken Chancellor Palpatine (a high-ranking politician who was secretly the Emperor) hostage. While there, they found their old nemesis-Count Dooku. They fought Dooku, and he knocked out Obi-Wan. Anakin fought him savagely, and got him in a death pose. At Palpatine’s urging; he killed his nemesis. Anakin fostered a friendship with Palpatine, while talking to the Jedi Council. They allowed him a place on the Jedi Council-but did not grant him the rank of Master. Anakin was livid, and nothing Obi-Wan did could cool him down. Eventually, Anakin got on the path to the Dark Side, as the Chancellor told him that Sith could bring people back to life. Anakin then found out that Palpatine was a Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. He alerted Mace Windu, and the Jedi Master defeated Palpatine after a grueling battle. But at the last second, Anakin’s allegiance to Emperor and ties to the Dark Side won. He severed Mace Windu’s sword arm and with it, his ties to the Jedi Order. Giving himself to the Dark Side of the Force, he became Darth Vader.

During this time Obi-Wan had been dispatched to Utapau to find and kill General Grievous, and disrupt the Separitist movement. After a tough battle, Obi-Wan in a similar situation to his fight against Darth Maul, used the force to summon Grievous’ pistol and shot him dead with it. This is considered one of his greatest triumphs. He was here when Order 66 came in, and narrowly escaped with his life.

Obi-Wan simply noticed that Anakin was growing darker. But he saw tapes of Darth Vader helping Palpatine and being on the Dark Side-killing younglings in the Jedi Temple. Vader traveled to Mustafar-and Obi-Wan was sent there. Vader attacked Obi-Wan-but in a huge battle, but Obi-Wan defeated him and severed his left arm and legs. Had he not severely wounded his former padawan like he did, the galaxy would have had to face a much more powerful Vader in the future. Vader nearly burned to death there, but Obi-Wan let him live however not before taking his lightsaber. He was found by Palpatine, who encased him in a black obsidian-based suit. Obi-Wan went back with Padme, who was now Anakin’s pregnant wife. She had two babies; Luke and Leia. She then died in childbirth, so Obi-Wan delivered Luke to Anakin’s stepbrother Owen Lars and his wife, who were farmers in the Tatooine desert.

There Obi-Wan stayed-growing stronger in the Force while growing old. He lived alone, as Ben Kenobi on Tatooine- an old man. This lasted for over twenty years…until our story of Obi-Wan picks up again.

A Wound is Mended

While he lived in exile, Kenobi ran into a young aspiring Jedi, Ezra Bridger. The old master rescued the lost boy and sent him on his way to a rebellion that needed him. That is before he ran into an old nemesis, Darth Maul. Lost and broken, and yet stronger than ever, Maul threatened Luke, forcing the master to reluctantly agree to a final duel. Kenobi struck Maul down, freeing him from a lifetime of hatred, and giving them the hope that a chosen one will avenge him.

Return and Death

Obi-Wan lived in solitude as Ben Kenobi in Tatooine for so long. But suddenly, he felt a great change in the Force-like something was about to happen, and he heard the Sand People making a disturbance outside. When he went out, he found a young teen, Luke Skywalker, being attacked by Sand People. He drove them off, and went with the boy back to his house. However, when he got there, storm troopers had destroyed Luke’s home and killed his uncle and aunt, who had raised him. Luke was devastated-but he decided to go with Ben to avenge his foster parents and father and fulfill his role as a Jedi. They went into a bar, and Ben demonstrated his power as a Jedi-he cut off the hand of an unruly patron. There they met Han Solo a renegade pilot who needed money and had many people after him. Ben explained to Luke that he could be a Jedi like him-and that he needed to be the hero to bring down the Empire. The evil Empire ruled the galaxy, and it’s leader Darth Vader was the evil tyrant who led it. And Ben told Luke, that Vader killed his father.

The four left, and they found the Death Star in space-a huge space station the size of a small planet. It could obliterate planets-and it killed Leia’s home planet, Alderaan. The Death Star pulled the Millennium Falcon in using a tractor beam , and they escaped from the storm troopers. They split up. Ben went alone to disable the tractor beams and shields-while the other three went to find away to destroy the Death Star or escape and rescue Leia. While they were escaping, Ben had shut down the shields, where he ran into none other than Anakin Skywalker, his old apprentice who later became Darth Vader, the apprentice of the Emperor. They fought evenly, and they had both grown in skill since their ferocious fight on Mustafar. As they fought, Luke suddenly found them fighting. Obi-Wan Kenobi wanted Luke to hate evil and push him away from the Dark Side. So he set down his lightsaber and became one with the force momentarily before Darth attacked him.

Obi-Wan Kenobi was dead. He had sacrificed his life to save Luke from evil, and Luke was devastated. Vader, confident, strode off, and Luke escaped-while filled with anger. Kenobi was successful-Luke was now repelled by the Dark Side and the Empire. And Darth Vader, who he would later learn was his father.

But Obi-Wan was a powerful Jedi, and he possessed the most powerful ability-his spirit could live on when his body was dead. He became what is known as a Force ghost. And so the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi did not end with his death-it merely marked a new chapter in his life.

After death of Obi-Wan

After his death and rebirth, Obi-Wan did not appear nearly so much as he had in life. The first time he showed himself beyond the grave was when Luke was flying his ship through the tunnel of the Death Star. Luke needed to shoot two bombs directly into two holes in the Death Star. The holes would lead down to the core of the Death Star, and the bombs would explode it, destroying the entire Death Star. Luke had his aiming mechanism on, but he missed twice. He then heard Ben Kenobi’s distinct voice in his ear, telling him “Use the Force, Luke.” He put down the aiming mechanism and used the Force-and the bombs went in. He didn’t hear or see Kenobi’s spirit again until later.

After that, Luke and the other Rebels were holed up in a base on the ice planet Hoth. He was stranded on the ice, having fended off a wampa and Kenobi appeared to him as a ghost, and told him how to survive, and helped him use the Force to fight off a creature that was attacking him. He then told Luke to go to the swamp planet Dagobah, where a great Jedi Master lived. He told him that the Master’s name was Yoda, and he was the Grand Master of the jedi. Luke went to Dagobah and found Yoda-and Yoda’s training was instrumental in Luke eventually bringing down the Empire.

After that, Kenobi would appear to Luke in times of need, or when he needed help. He tried to discourage Luke from traveling to Cloud City to fight Vader, to bring Han and Leia back. Kenobi appears on Dagobah to explain to a heartbroken Luke why he did not tell him the truth about his father, and to confess that Leia was his sister. Kenobi admits that his own pride had been partly to blame for Anakin Skywalker’s fall from grace: “I thought I could instruct him just as well as Yoda. I was wrong.” He then tries to explain to Luke that killing Vader is the only way to destroy the Empire and save the galaxy- even if it meant killing his own father. This, however, did not come to pass. Instead of Luke killing his father-Darth Vader decided to become Anakin once more and sacrifice himself, fulfilling his destiny. Obi-Wan had not failed Anakin after all.

Obi-Wan Kenobi was a well respected and eloquent diplomat, a wise teacher, a good swordsman, an influential general, and a powerful Jedi.

Powers and Abilities

Obi-Wan Kenobi’s power level has fluctuated over the years, but you can basically divide it into four stages of his life. These stages are when he had different levels of power.

Apprentice

When Obi-Wan was only Qui-Gon Jinn’s padawan, his power level was at it’s lowest. He was still young and not yet in his physical prime, although he was in extremely good shape. His lightsaber skills were also lower as he was still developing as a fighter. He was a great fighter with his saber still, as he defeated Darth Maul. As for Force powers, they were low, his connection to the Force was weaker and he didn’t use many Force moves. He did show use of the Force push during this period.

Young Master

After Qui Gon’s death he became a Jedi knight and trained Anakin. Obi-Wan was at a pretty high level here. This period lasts from when he becomes Anakin’s master to his escapade with Count Dooku on General Grievous’ ship. Obi-Wan was now in his physical prime-his leaping and hand-to-hand skills were amazing. He had a full arsenal of powerful Force moves, like Force Heal, the Jedi Mind Trick, and the impressive ability to absorb Force lightning into his lightsaber. However, he wasn’t quite at his peak with the lightsaber, and same with the Force. He had room to grow on both counts. He also used his environment better and was more resourceful later.

Master

Obi-Wan was at his strongest here. He was still in his physical prime, as you can see from his lightsaber fights during this period. His skill over the Force had grown, and he was widely revered as one of the greatest lightsaber combatant of his time. Obi-Wan could effortlessly use the force to launch and drop huge projectiles upon his foes. He was extremely resourceful and used everything he could in battle. His duel with Anakin Skywalker on Mustafar was possibly the greatest lightsaber duel ever, showing amazing lightsaber skill, physical power, and resourcefulness. He was nearly unmatched during this period.

Old Man

This was Obi-Wan as an old man after he went into exile. His body had deteriorated a great deal, and he was no longer the lightsaber fighter or athlete he used to be. But this Obi-Wan had grown significantly in his mastery over the Force. He was proficient in use of the Jedi Mind Trick and got himself and Luke out of many a jam with this power. He could win most fights with his Force power alone, and he had grown in Force strength beyond his past self.

Known masters

• Yoda
• Qui-Gon Jinn

Known students

• Anakin Skywalker
• Luke Skywalker

Other Media

Film

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

This was Obi-Wan’s first appearance and death. He was portrayed by Alec Guinness.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Alec Guinness reprises his role as Obi-Wan, as a Force ghost.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Alec Guinness portrays Obi-Wan for the last time.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Ewan McGregor takes over the role of Obi-Wan as a padawan under Qui-Gon Jinn. During rehearsals, Ewan had to learn to replicate a lot of the movements made by Alec Guinness so as to give the part authenticity.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Ewan McGregor returns to play Obi-Wan. This time as a Jedi Master.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Ewan McGregor plays Obi-Wan for the last time. Obi-Wan travels to Tatooine at the end of the film ready for A New Hope.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

James Arnold Taylor is the voice actor for Obi-Wan in the animated movie.

Television

Star Wars: Clone Wars

The first Clone Wars animated TV series. Obi-Wan’s voice was provided by James Arnold Taylor and Philipp Moog.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

A continuation of the film, James Arnold Taylor continued to provide the voice acting.

Video Games

Star Wars: Battlefront II

Obi-Wan was a playable hero for the Light side.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

In the Tatooine DLC, Obi-Wan was the final boss.

LEGO Star Wars

Obi-Wan is playable in story and free-play mode in all the LEGO Star Wars games. In the Original Trilogy he is playable as a ghost.

Novels

Star Wars: Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter

Darth Maul, merciless apprentice of evil and one of the legendary Sith, a twisted order given over to the dark side of the Force…Darth Maul, champion of the nefarious Sith Lord, Darth Sidious…Darth Maul, a legend sprung to life from the nightmares of history, about to be unleashed…In an all-new tale of intrigue and mystery set just before the events of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace.

After years of waiting in the shadows, Darth Sidious is taking the first step in his master plan to bring the Republic to its knees. He meets secretly with his Neimoidian contacts in the Trade Federation to plan the blockade of the planet Naboo. But one member of the delegation is missing, and Sidious does not need his Force-honed instincts to suspect betrayal. He orders his apprentice, Darth Maul, to hunt the traitor down.

On Coruscant, capital city of the Republic, the Neimoidian moves quickly to sell what he knows to the highest bidder. For Lorn Pavan, an information broker, the deal is too good to pass up. He grabs it, unaware that he has now earned a place on Darth Maul’s hit list, right behind the Neimoidian defector himself.

Meanwhile, a young Jedi Padawan by the name of Darsha Assant stands on the verge of ascension to Jedi Knighthood. A single mission will be her test. But a greater test awaits her. For in the labyrinthine alleyways and sewers of Coruscant’s own dark side, she will cross paths with Lorn, who is fleeing from the Sith stalker, carrying with him crucial information that must reach the Jedi Council at all costs.

The future of the Republic depends on Darsha and Lorn. But how can an untried Jedi and an ordinary man, stranger to the powerful ways of the Force, hope to triumph over one of the deadliest killers in the galaxy?

• Written By: Michael Reaves
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: Darth Plagueis

Darth Plagueis: one of the most brilliant Sith Lords who ever lived. Possessing power is all he desires. Losing it is the only thing he fears. As an apprentice, he embraces the ruthless ways of the Sith. And when the time is right, he destroys his Master—but vows never to suffer the same fate. For like no other disciple of the dark side, Darth Plagueis learns to command the ultimate power . . . over life and death.

Darth Sidious: Plagueis’s chosen apprentice. Under the guidance of his Master, he secretly studies the ways of the Sith, while publicly rising to power in the galactic government, first as Senator, then as Chancellor, and eventually as Emperor.

Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious, Master and acolyte, target the galaxy for domination—and the Jedi Order for annihilation. But can they defy the merciless Sith tradition? Or will the desire of one to rule supreme, and the dream of the other to live forever, sow the seeds of their destruction?”

• Written By: James Luceno
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an evil legacy long believed dead is stirring. Even the Jedi are caught by surprise, their attentions focused on the political unrest between the Trade Federation and the Republic. Now the dark side of the Force threatens to overwhelm the light, and only an ancient Jedi prophecy stands between hope and doom for the entire galaxy.

On the desert world of Tatooine, far from the concerns for the Republic, a slave boy works by day and dreams by night—of being a Jedi Knight and one day traveling the stars to worlds he’s only heard of in stories… of finding a way to win freedom from enslavement for himself and his beloved mother. His only hope lies in his extraordinary instincts and his strange gift for understanding the “rightness” of things, talents that allow him to be one of the best Podracers on the planet.

In another part of the galaxy, the Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, young Obi-Wan Kenobi, are charged with the protection of the Amidala, the young Queen of Naboo, as she seeks to end the siege of her planet by Trade Federation warships. It is this quest that brings Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and the Queen’s beautiful young handmaiden to the sand-swept streets of Tatooine and the shop where the slave boy Anakin Skywalker toils and dreams. And it is this unexpected meeting that marks the beginning of the drama that will become legend…

• Written By: Terry Brooks
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: Rogue Planet

MASTER AND APPRENTICE.
You’ve seen the movie The Phantom Menace. You’ve read the #1 New York Times bestselling book based on George Lucas’s masterpiece. Now, before the eagerly awaited release of Episode II, comes a stunning new Star Wars novel from one of science fiction’s greatest talents, a writer universally acclaimed for his keen grasp of cutting-edge science and the brilliance of his page-turning plots: multiple Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Greg Bear. The result is pure adrenaline—an unforgettable journey stretching from the farthest reaches of known space to the battlefield of a young boy’s heart, where a secret struggle is being waged that will decide the fate of billions.

That boy is twelve-year-old Anakin Skywalker. The Force is strong in Anakin…so strong that the Jedi Council, despite misgivings, entrusted the young Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi with the mission of training him to become a Jedi Knight. Obi-Wan—like his slain Master, Qui-Gon—believes Anakin may be the chosen one, the Jedi destined to bring balance to the Force. But first Obi-Wan must help his undisciplined, idealistic apprentice, who still bears the scars of slavery, find his own balance.

Dispatched to the mysterious planet of Zonama Sekot, source of the fastest ships in the galaxy, Obi-Wan and Anakin are swept up in a swirl of deadly intrigue and betrayal. For there are others who covet the power such superfast ships could bring. Raith Sienar, a brilliant but unscrupulous weapons and ship designer, has the brains to decipher the Zonama Sekot ship design. Commander Wilhuff Tarkin has at his disposal the forces of the mighty Trade Federation with which to extract the secret. Together, they make a formidable foe, one a small and undeveloped planet can hardly hope to stand against.

But as Tarkin’s fleet strikes with all its brutal power, Obi-Wan and Anakin sense a disturbance in the Force unlike any they have encountered before. It seems there are more secrets on Zonama Sekot than meet the eye.

The search for those secrets will threaten the bond between Obi-Wan and Anakin…and bring the troubled young apprentice face-to-face with his deepest fears—and his darkest destiny.

• Written By: Greg Bear
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: Outbound Flight

It began as the ultimate voyage of discovery—only to become the stuff of lost Republic legend…and a dark chapter in Jedi history. Now, at last, acclaimed author Timothy Zahn returns to tell the whole extraordinary story of the remarkable—and doomed—Outbound Flight Project.

The Clone Wars have yet to erupt when Jedi Master Jorus C’baoth petitions the Senate for support of a singularly ambitious undertaking. Six Jedi Masters, twelve Jedi Knights, and fifty thousand men, women, and children will embark—aboard a gargantuan vessel, equipped for years of travel—on a mission to contact intelligent life and colonize undiscovered worlds beyond the known galaxy. The government bureaucracy threatens to scuttle the expedition before it can even start—until Master C’baoth foils a murderous conspiracy plot, winning him the political capital he needs to set in motion the dream of Outbound Flight.

Or so it would seem. For unknown to the famed Jedi Master, the successful launch of the mission is secretly being orchestrated by an unlikely ally: the evil Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, who has his own reasons for wanting Outbound Flight to move forward… and, ultimately, to fail.

Yet Darth Sidious is not the mission’s most dangerous challenge. Once underway, the starship crosses paths at the edge of Unknown Space with the forces of the alien Chiss Ascendancy and the brilliant mastermind best known as “Thrawn.” Even Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, aboard Outbound Flight with his young Padawan student, Anakin Skywalker, cannot help avert disaster. Thus what begins as a peaceful Jedi mission is violently transformed into an all-out war for survival against staggering odds—and the most diabolical of adversaries.

Timothy Zahn’s unique mix of espionage, political gamesmanship, and deadly interstellar combat breathes electrifying life into a Star Wars legend.

• Written By: Timothy Zahn
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: The Approaching Storm

In the years since the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, the Republic has continued to crumble, and more and more, the Jedi are needed to help the galactic government maintain order. As Star Wars: Attack of the Clones opens, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker have just returned from a mission on a world called Ansion. Written by beloved Star Wars veteran Alan Dean Foster, and starring a new character from the upcoming movie, The Approaching Storm tells the story of that daring mission.

The Republic is decaying, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who was elected to save the galaxy from collapsing under the forces of discontent. On the tiny but strategic planet of Ansion, a powerful faction is on the verge of joining the growing secessionist movement. The urban dwellers wish to expand into the prairies outside their cities—the ancestral territory of the fierce, independent Ansion nomads. If their demands are not met, they will secede—an act that could jump-start a chain reaction of withdrawal and rebellion by other worlds of the Republic.

At the Chancellor’s request, the Jedi Council sends two Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli, to resolve the conflict and negotiate with the elusive nomads. Undaunted, Obi-Wan and Luminara, along with their Padawans Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee, set out across the wilderness. Many perils lie waiting to trap them. The Jedi will have to fulfill near-impossible tasks, befriend wary strangers, and influence two great armies to complete their quest, stalked all the while by an enemy sworn to see the negotiations collapse and the mission fail…

• Written By: Alan Dean Foster
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

There is a great disturbance in the Force…. From the sleek ships of the glimmering Coruscant skyscape to the lush gardens of pastoral Naboo, dissent is roiling. The Republic is failing, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, elected ten years earlier to save the crumbling government. Separatists threaten war, and the Senate is hopelessly divided, unable to determine whether to raise an army for battle or keep the fragile peace. It is a stalemate that, once broken, could lead to galactic chaos.

Mischievous and resolved, courageous to the point of recklessness, Anakin Skywalker has come of age in a time of great upheaval. The nineteen-year-old apprentice to Obi-Wan Kenobi is an enigma to the Jedi Council, and a challenge to his Jedi Master. Time has not dulled Anakin’s ambition, nor has his Jedi training tamed his independent streak. When an attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala’s life brings them together for the first time in ten years, it is clear that time also has not dulled Anakin’s intense feelings for the beautiful diplomat.

The attack on Senator Amidala just before a crucial vote thrusts the Republic even closer to the edge of disaster. Masters Yoda and Mace Windu sense enormous unease. The dark side is growing, clouding the Jedi’s perception of the events. Unbeknownst to the Jedi, a slow rumble is building into the roar of thousands of soldiers readying for battle. But even as the Republic falters around them, Anakin and Padmé find a connection so intense that all else begins to fall away. Anakin will lose himself—and his way—in emotions a Jedi, sworn to hold allegiance only to the Order, is forbidden to have.

• Written By: R. A. Salvatore
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: The Cestus Deception

Ord Cestus, a planet mostly barren and inhospitable to life, was first colonized as a prison world—until a handful of hardy pioneers discovered its rich ore deposits and managed to build up a successful droid-manufacturing industry. But when the Clone Wars erupted, bringing severe rationing of imported resources and a Republic ban on the production of battle droids, Ord Cestus was threatened with imminent economic collapse.

Enter the Confederacy of Independent Systems—the Separatists—with a life-saving offer to purchase a generous quantity of the planet’s most lucrative export: bio-droids. Possessed of tactical capabilities that rival the fighting abilities of even the most advanced Jedi, these sophisticated, techno-organic hybrid units would prove a most formidable weapon if ever deployed for military use. And now the Confederacy’s intention to invest in what amounts to an army of bio-droids has sent ripples of alarm through the highest echelons of the Republic government.

Determined to halt the bio-droid sale—but fearing a show of force will result in a political backlash—Supreme Chancellor Palpatine dispatches a team of envoys, led by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Their mission: persuade Ord Cestus’s government to abandon its dealings with the Confederacy…while secretly stirring up revolution among the planet’s struggling underclass. Diplomacy is paramount. But if all else fails, the Republic will not hesitate to launch a full-scale attack—and wipe out not only the means of bio-droid production, but countless lives as well, to demonstrate the consequences of disloyalty.

For Obi-Wan, the prospect of such wholesale slaughter only serves to fuel his growing suspicions about the sinister path the Republic seems to be taking. But the brash Jedi Master Kit Fisto and the detachment of clone soldiers assigned to the mission are ready and willing to do the Supreme Chancellor’s bidding. As the leaders of Ord Cestus refuse to capitulate and Palpatine rapidly loses patience, Obi-Wan’s hopes of a peaceful resolution are dwindling. Now, facing a crisis of conscience, Obi-Wan must find the wisdom and strength to prevent a bloodbath and safeguard the Republic—while abiding by the ancient code to which he has pledged his life.

• Written By: Steven Barnes
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Across the galaxy, the Clone Wars are raging. The Separatists, led by Count Dooku, the onetime Jedi and now secret Sith Lord, continue to press forward, and more and more worlds are either falling, or seceding and joining the cause. Under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the Republic heroically battles on, championed by its huge army of cloned soldiers and their Jedi generals.

Anakin Skywalker, believed by some to be the prophesied “Chosen One” destined to bring balance to the Force, is now a Jedi Knight under the tutelage of his Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Death is a constant possibility—and his chances of survival aren’t improved by the unexpected arrival of an apprentice: Ahsoka, a brash inexperienced fourteen-year-old Padawan. But there’s no time for Anakin to question his latest orders. He and Obi-Wan have been assigned a new mission, and failure is not an option.

Jabba the Hutt’s precious infant son has been kidnapped, and when the frantic parent applies to the Jedi for help, it falls to Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and their clone troops to track down the evidence and retrieve the missing Huttlet. And more is at stake: For a grateful Jabba just might allow the Republic access to the Hutt-controlled space lanes that the Grand Army desperately needs in order to beat the Separatists into submission.

But the Republic is not the only power that craves access to those space lanes. Count Dooku, determined to win the prize for the Separatists, has set a trap for the Jedi. When they find the Huttlet, they will also find Dooku’s master assassin, Asajj Ventress, and countless legions of battle droids waiting to spring a trap.

The blazing new animated feature film Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes place in the years preceding Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and sets the stage for the groundbreaking TV series. Both contain all original material—direct from the brilliant imagination of legendary Star Wars creator George Lucas. And these exciting new adventures and characters are being brought to life in book form by none other than #1 New York Times bestselling Star Wars author Karen Traviss.

• Written By: Karen Traviss
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Wild Space

The Clone Wars have exploded across the galaxy as Republic forces and Separatists struggle to gain the upper hand. But while the Jedi generals work tirelessly to defeat Count Dooku and his rebels, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is hatching his own dark plans.

The Separatists have launched a sneak attack on Coruscant. Obi-Wan Kenobi, wounded in battle, insists that Anakin Skywalker and his rookie Padawan Ahsoka leave on a risky mission against General Grievous. But when Senator Bail Organa reveals explosive intelligence that could turn the tide of war in the Republic’s favor, the Jedi Master agrees to accompany him to an obscure planet in the Outer Rim to verify the facts. What Obi-Wan and Bail don’t realize is that they’re walking into a deadly trap concocted by Palpatine… and escape may not be an option.

Inspired by the full-length animated feature film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and brand new TV series, this thrilling adventure is filled with provocative, never-before-revealed insights into the characters of Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padmé, Yoda, Count Dooku and many other Star Wars favorites.

• Written By: Karen Miller
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth

Planet by planet, darkness creeps across the galaxy. Among warriors and generals, among ordinary beings living in far-flung worlds, the fear will not go away: We are losing this war. . . .

Anakin Skywalker feels it, too. The Separatist Alliance, with ruthlessness and treachery, is beating the Republic to every strategic target. But after a costly clash with General Grievous for the planet Kothlis, Anakin has a mission that will focus his anxious mind. Alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi, he is posing as a long-lost native of Lanteeb, an impoverished world on the Outer Rim. This seemingly unimportant planet has drawn the interest of the Seps—and Anakin and Obi-Wan soon discover the disturbing reason: A scientist enslaved by General Lok Durd is drawing on Lanteeb’s one natural resource for a devastating bioweapon. Now Anakin and Obi-Wan have entered the eye of a storm. Their presence has been exposed, Lok Durd’s plans unveiled, and a fight has begun for survival behind enemy lines—and a chance of winning a war that must be fought at any cost.

• Written By: Karen Miller
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: Clone Wars Gambit: Siege

On the Outer Rim, the planet Lanteeb has no strategic value, no political power, and one enormous problem: it has been invaded by an emboldened Separatist Alliance. To find out why, Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have snuck onto Lanteeb – and now look oblivion in the eye…

Hiding their lightsabers beneath their dusty disguises, Anakin and Obi-Wan draw on their Jedi skills to stay one step ahead of Lok Durd’s droid army on Lanteeb. The Jedi know that a captive scientist has given Durd the keys to a terrifying bioweapon. Durd knows that the Jedi are on his planet. With Yoda calling on the powers of the Jedi Council, with a new Separatist technology jamming the Guardians’ communications, and a traitor at the heart of the Republic’s government, the wheels of war are turning. But the Separatists have blockaded Lanteeb. The finishing touches are being put on a weapon to destroy whole worlds. And it will be up to the two Jedi Knights and their most trusted comrades to liberate Lanteeb or forever suffer the consequences.

• Written By: Karen Miller
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: Jedi Trial

“Within twenty-four standard hours we will sit firmly astride the communications link that connects the worlds of the Republic…. Our control will be a dagger thrust directly at Coruscant. This is the move that will win the war for us.”

With these ominous words, Pors Tonith, ruthless minion of Count Dooku, declares the fate of the Republic sealed. Commanding a Separatist invasion force more than one million strong, the cunning financier-turned-warrior lays siege to the planet Praesitlyn, home of the strategic intergalactic communications center that is key to the Republic’s survival in the Clone Wars. Left unchallenged, this decisive strike could indeed pave the way for the toppling of more Republic worlds…and ultimate victory for the Separatists. Retaliation must be swift and certain.

But engaging the enemy throughout the galaxy has already stretched Supreme Chancellor Palpatine’s armies to the limit. There is no choice but to move against the surging waves of invading battle-droids on Praesitlyn with only a small contingent of clone soldiers. Commanding them will be Jedi Master Nejaa Halcyon — hand-picked by the Council for the do-or-die mission. And at his side, skilled young starfighter pilot Anakin Skywalker, a promising young Jedi Padawan eager to be freed of the bonds of apprenticeship — and to be awarded the title of Jedi Knight.

Shoulder to shoulder with a rogue Republic army officer and his battle-hardened crew, a hulking Rodian mercenary with an insatiable taste for combat, and a duo of ready-for-anything soldiers, the Jedi generals take to the skies and the punishing desert terrain of occupied Praesitlyn — to gain back a vital position in the Republic. Already outnumbered and outgunned, when confronted with an enemy ultimatum that could lead to the massacre of innocents, they may also be out of options. Unless Anakin Skywalker can strike a crucial balance between the wisdom born of the Force…and the instincts of a born warrior.

• Written By: David Sherman and Dan Cragg
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: Yoda: Dark Rendezvous

As the Clone Wars rage, Jedi Master Yoda must once again face one of his greatest adversaries—Count Dooku….

The savage Clone Wars have forced the Republic to the edge of collapse. During the height of battle, one Jedi Knight escapes the carnage to deliver a message to Yoda on Coruscant. It appears Dooku wants peace and demands a rendezvous. Chances are slim that the treacherous Count is sincere, but with a million lives at stake, Yoda has no choice.

The meeting will take place on Vjun, a planet steeped in evil. The challenge could not be more difficult. Can Yoda win back his once promising pupil from the dark side, or will Count Dooku unleash his sinister forces against his former mentor? Either way, Yoda is sure of one thing: This battle will be one of the fiercest he’ll ever face.

• Written By: Sean Stewart
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil

Embark upon a breathtaking adventure that pairs Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker on a deadly hunt for the lord of evil who has torn the galaxy asunder….

The war that erupted in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is nearing its boiling point, as the dauntless Separatist forces continue their assault on the teetering Republic—and the diabolical triumvirate of Count Dooku, General Grievous, and their Master, Darth Sidious, fine-tune their strategy for conquest. In Episode III: Revenge of the Sith the fates of key players on both sides of the conflict will be sealed. But first, crucial events that pave the way to that time of reckoning unfold in a labyrinth of evil…

Capturing Trade Federation Viceroy and Separatist Council Member Nute Gunray is the mission that brings Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, with a squad of clones in tow, to Cato Neimoidia. But the treacherous ally of the Sith proves as slippery as ever, evading his Jedi pursuers even as they narrowly avoid deadly disaster. Still, their daring efforts yield an unexpected prize: a unique holotransceiver that bears intelligence capable of leading the Republic forces to their ultimate quarry, the ever-elusive Darth Sidious.

Swiftly taking up the chase, Anakin and Obi-Wan follow clues from the droid factories of Charros IV to the far-flung worlds of the Outer Rim… every step bringing them closer to pinpointing the location of the Sith Lord—whom they suspect has been manipulating every aspect of the Separatist rebellion. Yet somehow, in the escalating galaxy-wide chess game of strikes, counterstrikes, ambushes, sabotage, and retaliations, Sidious stays constantly one move ahead.

Then the trail takes a shocking turn. For Sidious and his minions have set in motion a ruthlessly orchestrated campaign to divide and overwhelm the Jedi forces—and bring the Republic to its knees.

• Written By: James Luceno
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

The turning point for the entire Star Wars saga is at hand…

After years of civil war, the Separatists have battered the already faltering Republic nearly to the point of collapse. On Coruscant, the Senate watches anxiously as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine aggressively strips away more and more constitutional liberties in the name of safeguarding the Republic. Yoda, Mace Windu, and their fellow Masters grapple with the Chancellor’s disturbing move to assume control of the Jedi Council. And Anakin Skywalker, the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring balance to the Force, is increasingly consumed by his fear that his secret love, Senator Padmé Amidala, will die.

As the combat escalates across the galaxy, the stage is set for an explosive endgame: Obi-Wan undertakes a perilous mission to destroy the dreaded Separatist military leader General Grievous. Palpatine, eager to secure even greater control, subtly influences public opinion to turn against the Jedi. And a conflicted Anakin—tormented by unspeakable visions—edges dangerously closer to the brink of a galaxy-shaping decision. It remains only for Darth Sidious, whose shadow looms ever larger, to strike the final staggering blow against the Republic…and to ordain a fearsome new Sith Lord: Darth Vader.

• Written By: Matthew Stover
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Throughout the galaxy, it was believed that Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker—the Chosen One—had died on Coruscant during the siege of the Jedi Temple. And, to some extent, that was true. Anakin was dead.

From the site of Anakin Skywalker’s last stand—on the molten surface of the planet Mustafar, where he sought to destroy his friend and former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi—a fearsome specter in black has risen. Once the most powerful Knight ever known to the Jedi Order, he is now a disciple of the dark side, a lord of the dreaded Sith, and the avenging right hand of the galaxy’s ruthless new Emperor. Seduced, deranged, and destroyed by the machinations of the Dark Lord Sidious, Anakin Skywalker is dead… and Darth Vader lives.

Word of the events that created him—the Jedi Council’s failed mutiny against Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the self-crowned Emperor’s retaliatory command to exterminate the Jedi Order, and Anakin’s massacre of his comrades and Masters in the Jedi Temple—have yet to reach all quarters. On the Outer Rim world of Murkhana, Jedi Masters Roan Shryne and Bol Chatak and Padawan Olee Starstone are leading a charge on a Separatist stronghold, unaware that the tide, red with Jedi blood, has turned suddenly against them.

When the three narrowly elude execution—and become the desperate prey in a hunt across space—it’s neither clone soldiers, nor the newly deployed stormtroopers, nor even the wrath of the power-hungry Emperor himself they must fear most. The deadliest threat rests in the hideously swift and lethal crimson lightsaber of Darth Vader—behind whose brooding mask lies a shattered heart, a poisoned soul, and a cunning, twisted mind hell-bent on vengeance.

For the handful of scattered Jedi, survival is imperative if the light side of the Force is to be protected and the galaxy somehow, someday reclaimed. Yet more important still is the well-being of the twin infants, Leia and Luke Skywalker, the children of Anakin and his doomed bride, Padmé Amidala. Separated after Padmé’s death, they must be made safe at all costs, lest the hope they represent for the future be turned to horror by the new Sith regime—and the unspeakable power of the dark side.

• Written By: James Luceno
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy: Rebel Dawn

The Millennium Falcon is “the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” So when Han Solo wins it in a game of sabacc, he and Chewbacca become kings of the smugglers—uncatchable and unstoppable. But with the Empire clamping down, Han knows his luck can’t last. Still, when an old girlfriend who is now the leader of an insurgent Rebel group offers him a shot at an incredible fortune, Han can’t resist. The plan seems a sure thing. The resistance will be light and the take enormous. Han and his friends will divide it equally with the Rebels. Too bad for Han that the planet of Ylesia is far from a pushover, that the Rebels have an agenda of their own, and that smuggler friends can often turn into enemies…quicker than lightspeed.

• Written By: A. C. Crispin
• Published By: Bantam Spectra

Star Wars: Death Star

The untold story of the ultimate weapon—created to annihilate worlds…and enslave a galaxy!

The Death Star’s name says it all, with bone-chilling accuracy. It is a virtual world unto itself—equipped with uncanny power for a singularly brutal purpose: to obliterate entire planets in the blink of an eye. Its annihilation of the planet Alderaan lives in infamy. And its own ultimate destruction, at the hands of Luke Skywalker, is the stuff of legend. But what is the whole story, and who are the players, behind the creation of this world-killing satellite of doom?

The near extermination of the Jedi Order cleared the way for Palpatine—power-hungry Senator and Sith Lord—to seize control of the Republic, declare himself Emperor, and usher in a fearsome, totalitarian regime. But even with the dreaded Darth Vader to enforce his sinister will, the threat of rebellion still looms. And the Emperor knows that only abject fear—and the ability to punish dissent with devastating consequences—can ensure his unchallenged control of the galaxy. Enter ambitious and ruthless government official Wilhuff Tarkin, architect of the Emperor’s terrifying dream come true.

But from inception to completion, construction of the unprecedented Death Star is awash in the intrigues, hidden agendas, unexpected revelations, and daring gambits of those involved on every level. The brightest minds and boldest egos, the most ambitious and corrupt, the desperate and the devious, all have a stake in the Death Star and its potential to control the fate of the galaxy.

Soldiers and slaves, loyalists and Rebels, spies and avengers, the innocent and the evil—all their paths and fates will cross and intertwine as the Death Star moves from its maiden voyage to its final showdown and a shadowy chapter of Star Wars history is stunningly illuminated in a thrilling, unforgettable adventure.

• Written By: Michael Reaves and Steve Perry
• Published By: Del Rey

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Luke Skywalker Challenged the Stormtroopers of a Distant Galaxy on a Daring Mission—Where a Force of Life Became the Power of Death!

Farm chores sure could be dull, and Luke Skywalker was bored beyond belief. He yearned for adventures out among the stars—adventures that would take him beyond the furthest galaxies to distant and alien worlds.

But Luke got more than he bargained for when he intercepted a cryptic message from a beautiful princess held captive by a dark and powerful warlord. Luke didn’t know who she was, but he knew he had to save her—and soon, because time was running out.

Armed only with courage and with the light saber that had been his father’s, Luke was catapulted into the middle of the most savage space war ever…and he was headed straight for a desperate encounter on the enemy battle station known as the Death Star!

• Written By: George Lucas and Alan Dean Foster
• Published By: Ballantine Books