Star Wars: The New Jedi Order

So…

I was talking to Betty about some very philosophical things (yeah…right) and the subject of Star Wars came up. I mentioned that the story of Luke, Han, and Leia actually continued beyond Episode VI in the form of George Lucas approved novels.

(Click on the images to see at the higher resolution.)

I really like these Japanese Covers because they show our heroes how much older and war weary they appear to be now, but they also give us a good glimpse of what their kids look like as well.

While not much on canon, (since these aren’t movies...and we shall not debate THAT here) I think it’s interesting to see what has happened to our cast of heroes following the events of “Return of the Jedi ” so I compiled a little summary here.

If Lucas ever get around to making the Sequel Trilogy, which will consist of Episodes VII, VIII, and IX, I have little doubt that he will actually use some of these characters, as many elements from other Star Wars Novels actually made their way into the Prequel Trilogy.

The Yuuzhan Vong War

One of the bigger events that occurred after the happenings that were depicted in “Return of the Jedi” was an extra-galactic alien invasion of a species that call themselves the Yuuzhan Vong.

These rather brutal people had been planning such an invasion for quite some time, but they knew they were no match for the forces of the Galactic Empire and actually had a fear of Emperor Palpatine himself. Once the Rebel Alliance defeated the Empire and the New Republic was established, that was when the Yuuzhan Vong decided to make their their savage move to establish a foothold in the galaxy.

It’s almost ironic that it was the death of the Emperor and the collapse of the Empire that caused this new problem to happen in the galaxy as it was those two very presences that kept  the Yuuzhan Vong in check. Throughout the series of the conflict, there were many that reminisced on the Galactic Civil War and actually thought to themselves that "they did not have it AS bad with the Emperor and Darth Vader and actually wished they were around to lend a hand..." 

This new conflict was not one of an internal conflict over economics and politics, but one of of survival to repel a hostile alien race.

Jacen Solo

Jacen is the first born son of Han and Leia Organa Solo and was one of the leading Jedi Knights who proved crucial in defeating the Yuuzhan Vong and protecting the galaxy during the Yuuzhan Vong War.

Jacen spent most of his early years as the target of various kidnapping plots and schemes against his famous parents. When he was thirteen, he and his twin sister Jaina began attending the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4, where their uncle Luke Skywalker taught them the ways of the Force. There he made several friends, among them the Hapan Princess Tenel Ka Djo, to whom he became strongly attracted. While training, he and his friends defeated numerous plots against the New Republic He and his younger brother Anakin were later apprenticed to Luke.

Jaina Solo

Jaina is the first born daughter of Han and Leia Organa Solo, and twin to her brother Jacen. She inherited her father's mechanical aptitude and her mother's Force Sensitivity, resulting in her eventual training at the Jedi Praxeum.

During her time there as a youth, she had many adventures, including helping to thwart the Second Imperium.

When the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the galaxy, Jaina joined the New Republic Military and distinguished herself as a Rogue Squadron Pilot. She was constantly on the front lines of battle during the Yuuzhan Vong War, earning the title of Sword of the Jedi from her uncle, Luke Skywalker, and becoming known as an avatar of the Trickster Goddess Yun-Harla to the Yuuzhan Vong. During the war, she also became romantically involved with fellow pilot Jagged Fel.

Anakin Solo

Anakin is the third child of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo. As a child Anakin often feared succumbing to the allure of the dark side and becoming a Sith himself. At the age of eleven, he attended the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4, where he became fast friends with Tahiri Veila. Together, they enjoyed numerous adventures, which included freeing the imprisoned souls of Massassi Children.

Originally Anakin was to be named Han Solo Jr., but Leia decided to name the boy after after his maternal grandfather, Anakin Skywalker. Leia wanted to redeem her father's name, as she also thought she could overcome her fear of Darth Vader by seeing what her father could have been through her son.

Anakin was one of the pivotal figures in the Yuuzhan Vong War, participating in several of the major battles and developing effective tactics against the Yuuzhan Vong.

Ben Skywalker

Ben is the son of former Emperor's Hand and Jedi Master Mara Jade Skywalker and legendary Rebel Hero and Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker. Ben was born amidst the turmoil of the devastating Yuuzhan Vong War, where an extra-galactic species known as the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the galaxy, laying waste to dozens of planets. As both of his parents were Jedi, they were unable to spend time with him as they fought in the war, so Ben was taken care of by his Aunt and Uncle, former New Republic Chief of State Leia Organa Solo and ex-smuggler and Rebel General Han Solo. He was subsequently moved to the Shelter in the Maw, where many other young Jedi stayed. The Yuuzhan Vong were eventually repelled and a ceasefire was negotiated, but young Ben felt the pain of war through the Force, overwhelming him and causing him to close himself off from the Force for several years.

Of course, all that is really  just the tip of the proverbial ice asteroid. There's a lot more that happened to the characters during and especially after the Yuuzhan Vong War, but I thought I would just start with this little nibble of information first before presenting what I think would be overwhelming data and perhaps even sensory overload.

Until I decide to follow up on this entry, I will leave you with this little teaser of information that is comprised of four syllables:

Darth Caedus


Yep...there is another.