Advertisement

Things seem to finally be going well for the Jedi and the Galactic Alliance. With the appointment of an interim Chief, the removal of Natasi Daala, the return of Luke Skywalker and the apparent disappearance of the Lost Tribe of the Sith, events seem to be favoring the Light Side of the Force. Or so writer Christie Golden would have you believe with the eighth book in the Fate of the Jedi Expanded Universe series.

So far this massive story arc has touched on classic archetypes of exile, fear, loneliness, anger, revenge, love, allegiance and redemption. Everyone involved is trying to do what they think is best for the galaxy and themselves from their own point of view. The Jedi are trying to protect the Galactic Alliance from a tyrannical leader, Daala is trying to prevent the Jedi from becoming the controlling fist of the galaxy, the Lost Tribe is attempting to restore their place in the Universe, Abeloth is hunting those she feels responsible for her imprisonment, Luke Skywalker is hoping to find an answer to the darkness that plagued Jacen Solo and Ben is hoping to lead Vestara Khai into the Light Side.

However, as usual, events conspire against our heroes and the true darkness is closer than they think. Now that Luke has been restored to Grand Master and allowed to return to Coruscant, he finds it strange that all trace of the Lost Tribe has disappeared from the galaxy. This mixed with the vanishing and possible death (again) of the nefarious Abeloth seems to be a good thing at first.

Yet public opinion of the Jedi is falling rapidly all over Coruscant due to the sudden appearance of Senator Kameron Suldar who quickly infiltrates the conspiracy in the Galactic Senate, then takes it over and puts his own people in positions of power around the government. He arrests Leia Organa-Solo (making an immediate enemy of Han Solo) and imposes so many anti-Jedi laws that Luke withdraws the entire Jedi Order from their Temple and Coruscant! He then helps new and beloved Qarasian Senator Rokari Kem make her successful bid for Galactic Chief of State, though there's more to the media-friendly sweet-faced Kem than anyone realizes.

Meanwhile, Luke, Jaina Solo, Ben and Vestara begin searching old Sith worlds to find any clue to the Lost Tribe's whereabouts. This leads to a true test for Vestara on whether she's willing and able to give up her Sith heritage and embrace the Jedi way, or if it will forever dominate her destiny. The final book, Apocalypse, promises to be a major upset for the entire Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Science fiction enthusiast David Maddox has been Star Trek characters, the Riddler in a Batman stunt show and holds a degree in Cinema from San Francisco State University. He 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 while acting on stage, screen and television. He can sometimes be seen giving tours at Universal Studios Hollywood and playing Norman Bates.