Dark Lord - The Rise of Darth Vader
James Luceno
Del Rey, Nov 2005, $25.95
ISBN: 0345477324

After turning his back to the light, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker devastated his former compatriots Jedi Knights, but "died" during his confrontation with his friend and teacher Obi-Wan Kenobi. Out of Anakin's "death" arose Darth Vader, whose loyalty is to the Dark Lord Sidious, as the former heir apparent has become the Emperor Palatine's prime executioner.

While the Imperial forces destroy what is left of the failed Jedi insurgency, Vader goes after the three surviving Jedi Roan Shryne, Bol Chatak and Padawan Olee Starstone. As the trio flees, they know that when their former friend catches them, they will die. Still they elude the clone soldiers and stormtroopers as they search for a "safe house" to hide the twin infants, Leia and Luke Skywalker, from their father in hope of improving the odds when the inevitable confrontation between light and dark occurs.

DARK LORD - THE RISE OF DARTH VADER is a terrific follow-up to the novelization of the third movie. The key to the storyline is the deep look inside Darth Vader, who comes across as a tragic figure struggling between what is left of his ever darkening soul, and the seemingly unrestricted power of the force that tightens its addictive control over him. While the Jedi look to the future with protecting the next generation, the dark threesome wants to eradicate all resistance now. Fans of Star Wars will treasure James Luceno's latest entry, as one of the best in the long running multiple series.