The New Jedi Order
Encyclopedia
The New Jedi Order is a series of nineteen science fiction
novels, published from 1999 to 2003, set in the Star Wars
Expanded Universe
. The series revolves around the Yuuzhan Vong
invasion of the galaxy
21–26 years after the events depicted in Return of the Jedi
. Additional stories, generally published as e-book novellas (some published as recently as 2006) and comic books (as recent as 2010/2011), take the total number of published NJO-related stories to twenty-six.
destroyed the second Death Star
. The New Republic
is facing internal conflict while trying to maintain peace. A new, powerful enemy, known as the Yuuzhan Vong, emerges from the outer galaxy, beginning what will be known as the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. The Jedi
, along with the New Republic, struggle to resist this new alien race while it steadily pushes forward, annihilating or occupying different parts of the galaxy.
reprised his role as Luke Skywalker
in a brief speaking role for the series. Hamill spoke as Luke in a TV commercial for the first novel in the series, Vector Prime. In the commercial, Luke recalls the state that the galaxy is in at the present, compared to the times of the Empire.
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...
novels, published from 1999 to 2003, 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...
Expanded Universe
Star Wars Expanded Universe
The Star Wars Expanded Universe encompasses all of the officially licensed, fictional background of the Star Wars universe, outside of the six feature films produced by George Lucas. The expanded universe includes books, comic books, video games, spin-off films like Star Wars: The Clone Wars,...
. The series revolves around the Yuuzhan Vong
Yuuzhan Vong
The Yuuzhan Vong are a group of fictional characters from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. They rise as a threat to the New Republic in the New Jedi Order series of novels....
invasion of the 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...
21–26 years after the events depicted in Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...
. Additional stories, generally published as e-book novellas (some published as recently as 2006) and comic books (as recent as 2010/2011), take the total number of published NJO-related stories to twenty-six.
Plot
The series begins twenty-one years after the Rebel AllianceRebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
destroyed the second 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:...
. The New Republic
New Republic (Star Wars)
The New Republic is a government in the fictional Star Wars universe.When the Rebel Alliance re-established the Old Galactic Republic after the downfall of the Galactic Empire, it became known as the New Republic, just as the original Galactic Republic had become known as the Old Republic by that...
is facing internal conflict while trying to maintain peace. A new, powerful enemy, known as the Yuuzhan Vong, emerges from the outer galaxy, beginning what will be known as the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. The Jedi
Jedi
The Jedi are characters in the Star Wars universe and the series's main protagonists. The Jedi use a power called the Force and weapons called lightsabers, which emit a controlled energy flow in the shape of a sword, in order to serve and protect the Republic and the galaxy at large from conflict...
, along with the New Republic, struggle to resist this new alien race while it steadily pushes forward, annihilating or occupying different parts of the galaxy.
Character arcs
As the longest continuous series of novels in the Expanded Universe, the NJO was able to establish several long-term character arcs. Many new or previously underused characters were put into the spotlight and were developed extensively over the course of the series. Among the most prominent character arcs:- Ganner Rhysode: Rhysode began the series as an arrogant young Jedi, a trait best shown when, on assignment with Corran Horn, he mocked Horn’s inability to use telekinesis, claiming that this made him a lesser Jedi. Rhysode gradually became more humble over the course of the series, especially after watching many of his friends die on the mission to Myrkr. After Jacen SoloJacen SoloJacen Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo and the nephew of Luke Skywalker, he is a major character in several Star Wars novels, particularly the Legacy of the Force series. He replaced Lumiya as the main antagonist of the...
was captured during this mission, Rhysode went searching for him, even though, in Jacen’s words, “we weren’t even friends”; Rhysode died fighting thousands of Yuuzhan Vong warriors so that Jacen and Vergere could escape. It was foreseen that in the future, the Yuuzhan Vong would eventually worship a new god called “the Ganner”, who guarded the entrance of the Yuuzhan Vong realm of the dead, referring admiringly, to Rhysode’s last stand. - Tahiri Veila: Not fully developed in her original role—Anakin Solo’s friend from Junior Jedi Knights—Tahiri was pushed to a starring role in the NJO. When the Yuuzhan Vong captured Yavin 4, she was taken prisoner and subjected to experiments designed to create a Vong-human hybrid. Anakin eventually rescued her, which stirred the romantic feelings they had had for years; when Anakin died above Myrkr, Tahiri was devastated. At this time, the Yuuzhan Vong personality implanted in her began to periodically take control, and Tahiri would wrestle with this for the duration of the series. Unlike most of the other Jedi, she had a peculiar empathy with the Yuuzhan Vong; at the end of the series, she chose to stay on Zonoma Sekot in order to continue learning about the Yuuzhan Vong and to help them build a better society.
- Jacen SoloJacen SoloJacen Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo and the nephew of Luke Skywalker, he is a major character in several Star Wars novels, particularly the Legacy of the Force series. He replaced Lumiya as the main antagonist of the...
: Jacen underwent perhaps the most complete and controversial arc of the NJO. He began the series as someone who actively questioned whether it was right to use the Force as a weapon. After being captured by the Yuuzhan Vong he withstood weeks of tortureTortureTorture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
at the hands of Vergere, an Old Republic Jedi and Vong familiar. He emerged with a new view of the Force, including a willingness to use it offensively. During the battle to retake CoruscantCoruscantCoruscant is a planet in the fictional Star Wars universe. It first appeared onscreen in the 1997 Special Edition of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, but was first mentioned in Timothy Zahn's 1991 novel Heir to the Empire...
, Jacen achieved a state of oneness with the Force that gave him a “perfect mastery.”
Character deaths
Many major characters die within the New Jedi Order series. In a number of New Jedi Order books the characters who die seemed to be of key importance in the novels. The books also revealed the death of some major characters in the Star Wars universe that were not introduced in the movie trilogies.Media
In 1999, Mark HamillMark Hamill
Mark Richard Hamill is an American actor, voice artist, producer, director, and writer, best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy of Star Wars. More recently, he has received acclaim for his voice work, in such roles as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, Firelord...
reprised his role as Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke 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...
in a brief speaking role for the series. Hamill spoke as Luke in a TV commercial for the first novel in the series, Vector Prime. In the commercial, Luke recalls the state that the galaxy is in at the present, compared to the times of the Empire.
| Year | Name | Author | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Vector Prime Vector Prime Vector Prime is a science fiction novel by American writer R. A. Salvatore and published in 1999. It is the first installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars universe.-Summary:... |
R.A. Salvatore | |
| 2006 | Boba Fett: A Practical Man Boba Fett: A Practical Man Boba Fett: A Practical Man is an e-novella by Karen Traviss, which was published online in August 2006 by Del Rey Books. It focuses on what led Boba Fett and the Mandalorians to fend off the Yuuzhan Vong invaders during the devastating Yuuzhan Vong War... |
Karen Traviss Karen Traviss Karen Traviss is a science fiction author, and full-time novelist from Wiltshire, England. Originally from the Portsmouth area, Traviss worked as both a journalist and defence correspondent before turning her attention to writing fiction. She also served in both the Territorial Army and the Royal... |
e-book novella |
| 2000 | Dark Tide I: Onslaught Dark Tide: Onslaught Dark Tide: Onslaught is the first novel in a two-part story by Michael A. Stackpole. Published and released in 2000, it is the second installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars universe.-Summary:In the aftermath of the Second Battle of Helska, the New Republic believes that the... |
Michael Stackpole | |
| – | Dark Tide: Siege Dark Tide: Siege Dark Tide II: Siege was originally to be the second in a proposed trilogy in the New Jedi Order series of novels. It was to be written by Michael A. Stackpole and published in 2000. The book was to take place between the two books of what became the Dark Tide duology: Onslaught and Ruin... |
Michael Stackpole | canceled |
| 2000 | Dark Tide II: Ruin Dark Tide: Ruin Dark Tide: Ruin is the second novel in a two-part story by Michael A. Stackpole. Published and released in 2000, it is the third installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars galaxy.... |
Michael Stackpole | |
| 2000 | Agents of Chaos I: Hero’s Trial Agents of Chaos: Hero's Trial Agents of Chaos: Hero's Trial is the first novel in a two-part story by James Luceno... |
James Luceno James Luceno James Luceno is The New York Times bestselling author of three Star Wars: The New Jedi Order novels, Agents of Chaos: Hero's Trial, Agents of Chaos: Jedi Eclipse and The Unifying Force.... |
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| 2000 | Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse Agents of Chaos: Jedi Eclipse Agents of Chaos: Jedi Eclipse is the second novel in a two-part story by James Luceno. Published and released in 2000, it is the fifth installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars galaxy.-Summary:The novel focuses around several stories that eventually intertwine in the climax... |
James Luceno | |
| 2000 | Balance Point Balance Point Balance Point is the sixth installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars universe. It is a science fiction novel written by Kathy Tyers and published in 2000.-Summary:... |
Kathy Tyers Kathy Tyers Kathy Tyers is an American author and musician currently living in Bozeman, Montana.-Biography:Kathy Tyers was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She obtained a degree in microbiology from Montana State University, where she met her future husband Mark Tyers... |
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| 2002 | Emissary of the Void Emissary of the Void Emissaries of the Void is the tenth novel in the New Jedi Order science fiction series set in the Star Wars galaxy. It is a six-part magazine serial by Greg Keyes that was originally published in issues 8 through 10 of Star Wars Gamer and continued in issues 62 through 64 of Star Wars... |
Greg Keyes | short story |
| – | Knightfall I: Jedi Storm The Knightfall Trilogy The Knightfall Trilogy was to be a trilogy of novels, set in the Star Wars galaxy, and a part of The New Jedi Order series. The trilogy was to be written by Michael Jan Friedman, but was cancelled after he had finished the first book, Jedi Storm.-Entries:*Knightfall I: Jedi Storm by Michael Jan... |
Michael Jan Friedman Michael Jan Friedman Michael Jan Friedman is an author of nearly sixty books of fiction and nonfiction, more than half of which are in the Star Trek universe. Ten of his titles have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list... |
canceled |
| – | Knightfall II: Jedi Blood The Knightfall Trilogy The Knightfall Trilogy was to be a trilogy of novels, set in the Star Wars galaxy, and a part of The New Jedi Order series. The trilogy was to be written by Michael Jan Friedman, but was cancelled after he had finished the first book, Jedi Storm.-Entries:*Knightfall I: Jedi Storm by Michael Jan... |
Michael Jan Friedman | canceled |
| – | Knightfall III: Jedi Fire The Knightfall Trilogy The Knightfall Trilogy was to be a trilogy of novels, set in the Star Wars galaxy, and a part of The New Jedi Order series. The trilogy was to be written by Michael Jan Friedman, but was cancelled after he had finished the first book, Jedi Storm.-Entries:*Knightfall I: Jedi Storm by Michael Jan... |
Michael Jan Friedman | canceled |
| 2001 | Recovery Recovery (novel) Recovery is the first e-book and seventh installment of The New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars galaxy. This short story by Troy Denning sets the stage for much of the novel Star by Star and shows a slow reconciliation between Han Solo and his wife Leia Organa Solo... (set during Edge of Victory I: Conquest) |
Troy Denning Troy Denning Troy Denning is a fantasy and science fiction author and game designer.-Career:Denning joined TSR as a game designer in 1981, and was promoted a year later to Manager of Designers, before he moved to the book department... |
e-book novella |
| 2001 | Edge of Victory I: Conquest Edge of Victory: Conquest Edge of Victory: Conquest is the first novel in a two-part story by Greg Keyes. Published and released in 2001, it is the eighth installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars universe.-Summary:Following the events of Balance Point, the Yuuzhan Vong have agreed to halt their... |
Greg Keyes | |
| 2001 | Edge of Victory II: Rebirth Edge of Victory: Rebirth Edge of Victory: Rebirth is the second novel in a two-part story by Greg Keyes. Published and released in 2001, it is the ninth installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars galaxy.-Summary:The novel focuses on five separate stories.The first story concentrates on the adventure... |
Greg Keyes | |
| 2001 | Star by Star Star by Star Star by Star is the tenth installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars universe. It is a science fiction novel written by Troy Denning and published in 2001.-Summary:... |
Troy Denning | |
| 2002 | Dark Journey | Elaine Cunningham | |
| 2002 | The Apprentice The Apprentice (New Jedi Order) The Apprentice is the thirteenth installment of the New Jedi Order series set in the Star Wars universe. This short story and addendum to Dark Journey by Elaine Cunningham was published in the eighth issue of Star Wars Gamer in 2002... (set during Dark Journey) |
Elaine Cunningham | short story |
| 2002 | Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream Enemy Lines: Rebel Dream Enemy Lines: Rebel Dream is the twelfth installment of the New Jedi Order series, set in the Star Wars universe. It is the first novel in a two-part story by Aaron Allston; the sequel is Enemy Lines: Rebel Stand... |
Aaron Allston Aaron Allston Aaron Allston is an American game designer and novelist of many science fiction books, notably Star Wars novels. His works as a game designer include game supplements for several role-playing games, several of which served to establish the basis for products and subsequent development of TSR's... |
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| 2002 | Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand Enemy Lines: Rebel Stand Enemy Lines: Rebel Stand is the thirteenth installment of the New Jedi Order series, set in the Star Wars universe. It is the second novel in a two-part story by Aaron Allston; the prequel is Enemy Lines: Rebel Dream... |
Aaron Allston | |
| 2002 | Traitor Traitor (Star Wars novel) Traitor is a 2002 novel by Matthew Stover in the New Jedi Order series, which is set in the Star Wars universe. It is the fourteenth installment of the series.-Summary:... |
Matthew Stover Matthew Stover Matthew Woodring Stover is an American fantasy and science fiction novelist. He is perhaps best known for his four Star Wars novels, including the novelization of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. He has also written several fantasy novels, including Iron Dawn and Jericho Moon... |
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| 2002 | Destiny's Way Destiny's Way Destiny's Way is the fifteenth installment of the New Jedi Order series of Star Wars novels. It was written by Walter Jon Williams and published in 2002 by Del Rey Books .-Synopsis:... |
Walter Jon Williams Walter Jon Williams Walter Jon Williams is an American writer, primarily of science fiction.Several of Williams' novels have a distinct cyberpunk feel to them, notably Hardwired , Voice of the Whirlwind and Angel Stationn... |
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| 2002 | Ylesia Ylesia (novel) Ylesia is the sixteenth installment of the Star Wars novel series the New Jedi Order. It was published in ebook form on 3 September 2002, and was later published in print with The Joiner King... (set during Destiny's Way) |
Walter Jon Williams | e-book novella |
| 2003 | Force Heretic I: Remnant Force Heretic: Remnant Force Heretic: Remnant is the first novel in a three-part story by Sean Williams and Shane Dix... |
Sean Williams & Shane Dix Shane Dix Shane Dix is an Australian science fiction author best known for his collaborative work with Sean Williams in the Star Wars: New Jedi Order series.His daughter Katelin Dix is also an author, with promising work in both teenage and fantasy fiction.... |
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| 2004 | Equals and Opposites | Nathan Butler Nathan Butler Nathan Patrick Butler is the author of the Star Wars Tales story , and co-writer of the entry in the . He will also have a short article on Star Wars continuity in Todd Carlton's Star Wars Super Collector's Wish Book, 4th Edition in 2007.His fan works include the chronological reference, Star... |
comic book |
| 2003 | Force Heretic II: Refugee Force Heretic: Refugee Force Heretic: Refugee is the second novel in a three-part story by Sean Williams and Shane Dix, the other two being Remnant , and Reunion... |
Sean Williams & Shane Dix | |
| 2003 | Or Die Trying Or Die Trying Or Die Trying is a short story set in the Star Wars galaxy. It was written by Sean Williams and Shane Dix for Star Wars Insider 75. The story takes place between The New Jedi Order books Force Heretic: Refugee and Reunion, 29 years after the Battle of Yavin.-Summary:Following the events of Force... |
Sean Williams & Shane Dix | short story |
| 2003 | Force Heretic III: Reunion Force Heretic: Reunion Force Heretic: Reunion is the third novel in a three-part story by Sean Williams and Shane Dix... |
Sean Williams & Shane Dix | |
| 2003 | The Final Prophecy The Final Prophecy The Final Prophecy is a novel in the New Jedi Order series, written by Greg Keyes. Published and released in 2003, it is the twentieth installment of the series, which is set in the Star Wars universe.-Summary:... |
Greg Keyes | |
| 2003 | The Unifying Force The Unifying Force The Unifying Force is the nineteenth and final installment of the New Jedi Order series of books in the fictional Star Wars Expanded Universe written by James Luceno.... |
James Luceno | |