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The Yuuzhan Vong war is over, the vile race of ruthless conquerors driven away and the defeated New Republic has been reformed into the united Galactic Alliance. Jedi are plentiful, while politicians argue and make decisions for the masses. One would think Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia could take a moment to relax and catch their breath. No chance.

Fans of the films may think the story ended with the destruction of the second Death Star over Endor, but that was just the beginning. Over the years the Star Wars Expanded Universe has grown through officially licensed video games, comic books and novels. Aaron Allston's Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Betrayal is the latest entry to the ongoing adventures and an entirely new story arc for the Star Wars EU.

The Galaxy is still shaky as the Galactic Alliance attempts to maintain order. Luke Skywalker has pledged his Jedi Knights to protect the Alliance, but Corellia, Han Solo's home world wants to maintain their pioneer lifestyle.

Some bad military decisions are made and Coreillia, under the advice of Han's corrupt, malicious half-cousin Thracken Sal-Solo, takes up arms ála the Rebellion. As tempers rise, the Galactic Alliance seems very reminiscent of Palpatine's Empire. This puts the main characters at odds, Han is compelled to stand for his home system while Luke feels his place is with the Galactic Alliance.

The Star Wars of the films is ancient history to these versions of the characters, but there's enough back story that new readers won't get too lost. In fact it's not even necessary to read the New Jedi Order series to enjoy Legacy of the Force.

While the main cast of characters are prominent, they're much older. Luke is Supreme Jedi Master, Han and Leia have settled down out of the public eye and even pilot Wedge Antilles is retired. The focus of Betrayal is Jacen Solo, Han and Leia's Jedi Knight son and his young apprentice, Ben Skywalker, the offspring of Luke and Mara Jade. Wedge's daughter Syal is also a pivotal player. The story has a strong elements of "passing of the torch."

During the Yuuzahn Vong war, Jacen Solo was captured and tortured relentlessly, making him darker and somewhat cold and calculating. The reader follows Jacen's choices in this book as he begins a path very similar to his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker... a path that lead to Darth Vader.

The series is scheduled to be released as a collection of nine books, three hardcover and six mass market. Featuring lots of planet hopping, space battles, light saber duels, conspiracy plots and adventure on par with the prequel trilogy the first entry brings the Star Wars Saga full circle. Legacy of the Force is set up to be the next great epic in the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Science fiction enthusiast David Maddox has been many things, including Star Trek characters and the Riddler in a Batman stunt show. He holds a degree in Cinema from San Francisco State University, and has written several articles for various SF sites as well as the Star Wars Insider and the Star Trek Communicator. He spends his time working on screenplays and stories, acting on stage and screen and giving tours at Universal Studios Hollywood.