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Death Star (novel)
Encyclopedia
Death Star is a 2007 science fiction
novel by Michael Reaves
and Steve Perry
that is set in the Star Wars
galaxy
. It deals with the construction of the Death Star
, a massive weaponized space station which first appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
.
The book was originally published in New York by LucasBooks/Del Rey/Ballantine Books, in 2007, with the title Star Wars: Death Star. It is held in 860 WorldCat libraries. It was reprinted in London by Century in 2008 as Death Star.
. The novel depicts the many politics and hidden agendas behind the massive project, from its construction up until its final destruction.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel by Michael Reaves
Michael Reaves
James Michael Reaves is an American writer, known for his contributions as producer and story editor to a number of 1990s animated television series, including Disney's Gargoyles and Batman: The Animated Series. He has also written media tie-in novels, children's books, and original fiction...
and Steve Perry
Steve Perry (author)
Steve Perry is an American television writer and science fiction author.-Biography:Perry is a native of the Deep South. His residences have included Louisiana, California, Washington and Oregon...
that is set in the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
galaxy
Star Wars Galaxy
Star Wars Galaxy may mean:* Star Wars Galaxies, a Star Wars themed MMORPG platform for Microsoft Windows* Star Wars galaxy, the fictional galaxy where the setting of the Star Wars saga occurs...
. It deals with the construction of the Death Star
Death Star
The Death Star is a fictional moon-sized space station and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive super charged energy beam.-Origin and design:...
, a massive weaponized space station which first appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
.
The book was originally published in New York by LucasBooks/Del Rey/Ballantine Books, in 2007, with the title Star Wars: Death Star. It is held in 860 WorldCat libraries. It was reprinted in London by Century in 2008 as Death Star.
Synopsis
The Death Star is an enormous space station capable of destroying an entire planet, constructed under the orders of the ruler of the then new Empire, Emperor Palpatine. Aware of the possibility of rebellion, Palpatine knew that the Death Star would instill fear throughout the galaxy, as well as give him an invaluable weapon in destroying his enemies. The architect of the project was Wilhuff TarkinGrand Moff Tarkin
Governor Wilhuff Tarkin or Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing as the main antagonist of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, played by British actor Peter Cushing. A younger version of the character makes a brief cameo in the prequel film Star Wars...
. The novel depicts the many politics and hidden agendas behind the massive project, from its construction up until its final destruction.
Dramatis personæ
- Atour Riten: (Human male) Imperial Navy commander, Chief Librarian, who uses the knowledge he gains keeping libraries to keep his enemies in check; or out of his way. He hatches a plan to escape the Death Star with Ratua, Uli, Memah, Stihl, Rodo, Teela, and Vil after the tragedy of Alderaan. He has a certain respect for Stihl for his knowledge of philosophy. He dies in the Death Star, allowing the others to escape.
- Celot Ratua Dil: convicted smuggler, caught up in a pirate round-up and was convicted to life on the prison planet Despayre. He escaped to the Death Star and hid there under the alias Teh Roxxor. He fell in love with Memah while in the Hard Heart cantina, and it's implied that he may be ForceForce (Star Wars)The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. Mentioned in the first film in the series, it is integral to all subsequent incarnations of Star Wars, including the expanded universe of comic books, novels, and...
-sensitive, due to his ability to suddenly gain incredibly fast reflexes during combat. Although he got into the smuggling life for excitement, his family is actually rich.
- Conan Antonio Motti: (Human male) Imperial Navy Admiral, known in the Star Wars universe as the man Darth VaderDarth VaderDarth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
chokes near the beginning of Episode IVStar Wars Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
.
- Admiral Daala: (Human female) Imperial Navy admiral; in this novel, she visits Grand Moff TarkinGrand Moff TarkinGovernor Wilhuff Tarkin or Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing as the main antagonist of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, played by British actor Peter Cushing. A younger version of the character makes a brief cameo in the prequel film Star Wars...
for a "personal visit" and gets a major head wound during a battle against the Rebel AllianceRebel AllianceThe Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
. Dr. Divini is one of the three doctors who perform her surgery. It is stated that her injuries are sufficient to cause permanent brain damage, but no evidence of this is seen in her later appearances.
- Darth VaderDarth VaderDarth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
: (Human male) Dark Lord of the Sith. Darth Vader arrives to inspect the progress of the Death Star project, and eventually stays for a while after capturing Princess Leia.
- Kornell "Uli" Divini: (Human male) Imperial Surgical Corps captain, in this novel transferred to the under-staffed Death Star. He gets into a little trouble after looking up info on midi-chlorians for Sergeant Stihl, but is being escorted to detention when a rebel hit during the Battle of Yavin causes the corridor wall to explode, killing his guards. He then makes his way to the others and escapes. After the destruction of the Death Star, he decides to join the rebellion. He is one of the three doctors to do surgery on Admiral Daala.
- Memah Roothes: (Twi'lek female) pub tender of her own pub in the Southern Underground of the Imperial City (formerly [Coruscant]), when her pub and every store on the block is mysteriously burnt down, assumedly for insurance benefits. She gets a job on the Death Star, meets Ratua, and goes on to escape with the rest of the group.
- Nova Stihl: (Human male) Imperial Marines guard sergeant, a student of various philosophies and Teräs Käsi, the latter of which he teaches to prisoners on Despayre and, after being transferred to the Death Star, to the people living there. He is a Force Sensitive, plagued by visions of his own death and of the death of the people on Despayre and Alderaan. His ability to use the ForceForce (Star Wars)The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. Mentioned in the first film in the series, it is integral to all subsequent incarnations of Star Wars, including the expanded universe of comic books, novels, and...
is explored more than Ratua's because the results of a blood test he took shows that he has twice the midi-chlorian count of a normal person. Nova and Rodo are killed on the Death Star while stalling a group of stormtroopers, allowing the others to escape.
- Rodo: male bouncer at both of Memah's bars. He also studies several martial arts despite his huge stature. Rodo befriends Nova Stihl because of their skill with martial arts. He also aids the escape from the Death Star. Rodo and Nova die stalling the stormtroopers to let the others escape.
- Teela Kaarz: (Mirialan female) architect, convicted of treason for being on the wrong side of a political argument. She was brought to work on the Death Star because before her incarceration, she was a galaxy-class architect. Ironically, she found the fault that the Rebel AllianceRebel AllianceThe Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
exploited, and tried to have it corrected, but protocol didn't allow her to make that change to the plans. She falls in love with Dance, and after the station's destruction they defect to the rebellion together.
- Tenn Graneet: (Human male) Imperial Navy master chief gunnery officer, the man in charge of the firing sequence of the Death Star's superlaser. He starts out eager and confident, but after destroying Alderaan, he feels desperately guilty. Tenn tries to stall shooting the superlaser on Yavin 4 at the Battle Of Yavin, which allows Luke SkywalkerLuke SkywalkerLuke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
the extra seconds he needs to destroy the station.
- Villian Dance: (human male) Imperial Navy lieutenant, a top-notch TIETIE fighterTIE fighters are fictional starfighters in the Star Wars universe. Propelled by Twin Ion Engines , TIE fighters are depicted as fast, fragile starfighters produced by Sienar Fleet Systems for the Galactic Empire...
pilot, recruited to the Death Star. After a battle against the Rebel AllianceRebel AllianceThe Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
that was more of a suicide run for them, Vil begins to doubt the workings of the Galactic EmpireGalactic Empire (Star Wars)The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...
. After Alderaan is used to test the superlaser, he realizes that the Empire is evil, and escapes. It is possible that he may be sensitive to the ForceForce (Star Wars)The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. Mentioned in the first film in the series, it is integral to all subsequent incarnations of Star Wars, including the expanded universe of comic books, novels, and...
, because he out-maneuvers Darth Vader. He is in love with Teela Kaarz, and in the end they defect to the rebellion together.
- Wilhuff Tarkin: (human male) Imperial Navy Grand Moff, the man in charge of the Death Star project and, when it's completed, the Death Star itself. He answers to no one but The EmperorPalpatinePalpatine is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Star Wars saga, portrayed by Ian McDiarmid in the feature films.Palpatine first appeared as the unnamed Emperor of the Galactic Empire in the 1980 film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back...
himself, and believes that the Death Star is the ultimate power in the universe, making him, by association, the most powerful man in the universe. His extreme over-confidence in the indestructibility of the station causes him to refuse to launch fighter cover at Yavin, allowing the rebels to destroy the station.