Dark Force Rising - Thrawn Trilogy - Book 2 - Novel - New Republic

The number-one New York Times bestselling Heir to the Empire was the publishing event of the year, the first novel to continue the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo, beyond the events of the most popular trilogy in movie history. Now comes Dark Force Rising, the second volume of a three-book cycle authorized by Lucasfilm Ltd. and written by Hugo Award-winning author Timothy Zahn.


Five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, the fragile Republic that was born with the defeat of Darth Vader, the Emperor, and the infamous Death Star stands threatened from within and without. The dying Empire's most cunning and ruthless warlord Grand Admiral Thrawn has taken command of the remnants of the Imperial fleet and launched a massive campaign aimed at the Republic's destruction. With the aid of unimaginable weapons long hidden away by the Emperor on a backwater planet, Thrawn plans to turn the tide of the battle, overwhelm the New Republic, and impose his iron rule throughout the galaxy.

Meanwhile, dissension and personal ambition threaten to tear the Republic apart. As Princess Leia pregnant with Jedi twins risks her life to bring a proud and lethal alien race into alliance with the Republic, Han and Lando Calrissian race against time to find proof of treason inside the highest Republic Council only to discover instead a ghostly fleet of warships that could bring doom to their friends and victory to their enemies.

But most dangerous of all is a new Dark Jedi, risen from the ashes of a shrouded past, consumed by bitterness and thoroughly, utterly insane. Now he schemes to use his awesome mastery of the Force to summon young Skywalker, allay his misgivings, cunningly enthrall him, and ultimately corrupt him to the Dark Side.

A tale of brilliant spectacle, startling revelations, and tumultuous action, Dark Force Rising moves with the speed of light across a dazzling epic landscape of galactic proportions, from world to world, from adventure to adventure, as Good and Evil clash across the vastness of space "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away."

Dark Force Rising delivered for me where the original fell short. Zahn kept me very interested, from the political hidden agenda's of the Bothan (right) Borsk Fey'lya's imprisonment of Admiral Ackbar, the discovery of Admiral Thrawn's new clones for the Empire and more deception that was planted by Empire to turn more worlds against the rebels and the new republic, this novel does not leave you unfulfilled.

I think one of my favorite new relationships was Leia's with the Noghri (left). Referred to as Lady Vader, she was an iconic part of their society, the Mal'ary'ush, meaning daughter of the savior. The savior in question was Darth Vader, whom the Noghri people revered. Years earlier, a starship carrying noxious chemicals crashed on Honoghr and threatened to destroy the entire planet. They believed Emperor Palpatine sent Vader to the planet to help them, but in reality Palpatine was responsible for the devastation of Honoghr, as a way to bend their allegiance to the Galactic Empire.

The book was primarily revolving around the capture of the Katana Fleet, or what is referred to as the Dark Force. It ends in a dramatic climatic battle for what could change the war in either direction for the capturer. I would highly recommend not listening to this in audio book format (27 hours) but picking it up and reading it. Still not a fan of Admiral Thrawn but he is a worth predecessor of the Empire

Until next adventure, the brightest lights, cast the darkest shadow.

Star Wars Hitchhiker