Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
Author	James Luceno
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Canon C
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Del Rey
Publication date	Hardcover:; November 22, 2005; Paperback:; June 27, 2006
Media type	Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
Pages	Hardcover: 336; Paperback: 368
ISBN	0-345-47733-2
Preceded by	Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Followed by	Jedi Twilight

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader is a novel set in the non-canonical Star Wars Legends continuity, written by James Luceno, that was published by Del Rey on November 22, 2005. Dark Lord takes place in the immediate aftermath of the events in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and focuses on Darth Vader and his rise to power in the newly inaugurated Galactic Empire.

The Novel is dedicated to tell the story of the iconic Sith Lord.

Plot[]

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader begins in the final hours of the Clone Wars, just before the implementation of Order 66 as depicted in Revenge of the Sith. When a contingent of clone troopers on the planet refuses to open fire on Jedi Masters Roan Shryne and Bol Chatak, along with Padawan Olee Starstone, the Jedi with whom it has fought alongside during the war, Emperor Palpatine orders Vader to investigate the matter. Vader's query soon becomes a hunt for the fugitive Jedi, and takes him back to Coruscant, and from there on to Alderaan and Kashyyyk. During the course of Vader's search the whereabouts of several characters from Episode III, including Bail Organa, R2-D2 and C-3PO, Chewbacca, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, are revealed. The beginnings of Vader's partnership with Grand Moff Tarkin are also shown.

Luceno devotes much of Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader to the internal conflict that Darth Vader undergoes as he tries to shed his former identity of Anakin Skywalker and relearn to master the Force. Palpatine intends for these early missions that he sends Vader on to be as much about learning what it means to be a Sith as they are about consolidating the rule of the nascent Empire.

The final chapters of Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader depict the beginning of the Imperial enslavement of the Wookiees of Kashyyyk, an act that will eventually lead to the partnership between Han Solo and Chewbacca.

The novel ends with Obi-Wan Kenobi learning of Vader's survival after their duel on Mustafar (depicted in Revenge of the Sith). Fearing for safety of the infant Luke Skywalker whom he is watching over, he communes with the spirit of his late master Qui-Gon Jinn, who tells him that Luke will grow to confront his father when the time is right and that Darth Vader will never return to Tatooine; as Qui-Gon explains, the planet is the whole of everything that was Anakin Skywalker, someone Vader wants to forget forever.

It is revealed that the general public of the galaxy believes that Anakin Skywalker perished in the attack on the Jedi Temple (which Skywalker led as Darth Vader).

Reception[]

The novel received largely positive reviews among the Star Wars fan communities, and was described as a successful narration of Vader's emotions and perspectives.

Behind the scenes[]

Luceno told the magazine Star Wars Insider about a discussion he had with Ryan Kaufman, formerly of LucasArts, who had worn a Darth Vader costume during the production of a number of LucasArts Star Wars video games. Kaufman's description of what it was like to wear the suit led Luceno to dedicate a substantial amount of the novel toward Vader's struggling with the discomfort of his new prosthetics and armor.

External links[]

Amazon.com Listing
Official CargoBay Listing
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki

show v t Star Wars Legends novels (1976–2014)
Film novelizations	From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker (1976) The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Return of the Jedi (1983) Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) The Clone Wars (2008)
Series	Han Solo The Han Solo Adventures (1979–1980) The Han Solo Trilogy (1997–1998) Scoundrels (2013) The Lando Calrissian Adventures (1983) Thrawn (1991–1998) Jedi Academy (1994) Callista trilogy (1995–1997) Young Jedi Knights (1995–1998) The Black Fleet Crisis (1996–1998) X-wing (1996–2012) Galaxy of Fear (1997–1998) Boba Fett (1998–2006) Darth Maul (2001–2014) Jedi Quest (2001–2004) Dark Nest (2004) The Last of the Jedi (2005–2007) Legacy of the Force (2006–2008) Coruscant Nights (2008–2009) The Force Unleashed (2008–2010) Fate of the Jedi (2009–2012)
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 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)
Clone Wars series	Shatterpoint (2003) The Cestus Deception (2004) The Hive (2004) MedStar duology (2004) Jedi Trial (2004) Yoda: Dark Rendezvous (2004)
Republic Commando	Hard Contact (2004) Triple Zero (2006) True Colors (2007) Order 66 (2008) 501st (2009)
Darth Bane series	Path of Destruction (2006) Rule of Two (2007) Dynasty of Evil (2009)
The Old Republic series	The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance (2010) The Old Republic: Revan (2011) The Old Republic: Annihilation (2012)
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) The Approaching Storm (2002) A Forest Apart (2003) Tatooine Ghost (2003) Survivor's Quest (2004) Labyrinth of Evil (2005) Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (2005) Allegiance (2007) Death Star (2007) Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor (2008) Millennium Falcon (2008) Death Troopers (2009) Gambit: Stealth (2010) Crosscurrent (2010) Knight Errant (2011) Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void (2013) Crucible (2013)
Full list of Star Wars books

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Contents

Plot[]

Reception[]

Behind the scenes[]

Further reading[]

External links[]