Star Wars_ Darksaber - Kevin J. Anderson [0]
Callista stood behind Han, gripping the back of his chair. “The Jedi academy is under attack,” she said. “We have to help. We need to do whatever we can.”
“All right,” Han said. “Chewie, full forward shields. Punch it. We’re gonna make a straight line.”
The Millennium Falcon soared beneath the immense Knight Hammer. A flurry of TIE fighters blocked their way, flying in a tight formation as they shot a constant pattern of blasts. Han streaked toward them at full speed. Chewbacca roared in alarm.
“Oh, but, sir—” Threepio cried.
“I see ’em,” Han said. “They’ll move.”
The TIE fighters held their position, still firing. The Falcon’s forward shield began to weaken, but Han plunged onward, right down their throats.…
DARKSABER
A Bantam Spectra Book
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Bantam hardcover edition / November 1995
Bantam trade paperback edition / November 1996
SPECTRA and the portrayal of a boxed “s” are trademarks of Bantam Books, a division of Random House. Inc.
®, TM, and © 1995 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
All rights reserved. Used under authorization.
Cover art by Drew Struzan. © 1995 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 95-30906.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information address: Bantam Books.
eISBN: 978-0-307-79641-7
Bantam Books are published by Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Its trademark, consisting of the words “Bantam Books” and the portrayal of a rooster, is Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Marca Registrada. Bantam Books, 1745 Broadway, New York, New York, 10019.
v3.1
To Lillie E. Mitchell
who does so much of the invisible work on
these books, allowing me the freedom and the
energy to tell my stories as fast as they want
to come out of my head
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to pass along my very special thanks to Barbara Hambly, for helping me with Callista and for giving me such a perfect springboard for Darksaber.
I am especially indebted to the imagination and artwork of Ralph McQuarrie. Much of this novel is tied closely to work we developed during the creation of The Illustrated Star Wars Universe, which provided much inspiration.
Nar Shaddaa and Nal Hutta just wouldn’t be the same without the work done by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy in their Dark Empire graphic novels.
Kenneth C. Flint helped with the Tatooine portion of the story; Timothy Zahn gave me guidance with Pellaeon; Bill Smith and West End Games provided detailed background material on the Hutts and on Crix Madine. The Usual Suspects—Tom Dupree, Lucy Wilson, Sue Rostoni, Allan Kausch—made this project possible in the first place and assisted along the way.
And my wife, Rebecca Moesta, helped far more—in ways both obvious and not so obvious—than I could possibly describe on the rest of this page. I love you.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
About the Author
Also by this Author
Introduction to the Star Wars Expanded Universe
Excerpt from Star Wars: Planet of Twilight
Introduction to the Old Republic Era
Introduction to the Rise of the Empire