Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Taking place largely in the aftermath of the events of Episode 3, Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader lets the reader tag along and get inside the head of a very broken (physically, emotionally, psychologically) Anakin Skywalker sorting things out in the early days of what will be the rest of his life as Darth Vader.

It's surprising to see how one of the chief complaints many reviewers have about this book is that we are reading about an "emo" Vader. What many perceive to be a flaw of the book, I say is what makes it special. Anakin/Vader has been in the suit for a matter of weeks when the first POV chapter appears. After everything the guy has been through in the 6-8 weeks, I think one could forgive him for coming across as what folks show more are calling "emo". I guess these same reviewers think that returning soldiers with PTSD issues are "emo" too? Most people's first glimpse of Darth Vader (the opening scenes of ep 4) comes at a time when he's been in the suit & serving Palpatine for 19-20 years. He's had two decades to get used to his new "life" & grow callous about his circumstances. He's a very different person in Episode 4 than he is in this novel (taking place in the immediate aftermath of Episode 3).

Enough with my rant against the haters - I really enjoyed Dark Lord. It provided a nice followup to the closing of Episode 3. I also enjoyed the alternate POV from the Jedi who survived the extermination order, as well as the Bail Organa POV chapters.

I've read a lot of Star Wars fiction, and not all of it is good. THIS is good though. Luceno does a fine job of writing the "dark" side (pardon the pun) of Star Wars. After reading this I intend to eventually track down [b:Darth Plagueis|11099729|Darth Plagueis (Star Wars)|James Luceno|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1310159548s/11099729.jpg|15371735] for another dose of the lost chapters of the greater story. show less

Directly following the events of Revenge of the Sith, this novel alternates between following Jedi and padawans who survived the initial purge, Palpatine, Bail Organa, and Vader. The emperor begins to assert his dominance over the known galaxy even as he sends Vader on missions intended to tether him firmly to the dark side and remove the lingering traces of Anakin. At the same time, escaped Jedi are forced to determine their paths given the destruction of the Order, the rise of the Sith, and the assumed death of their Chosen One.
In my opinion, the characters are interesting, and minor appearances by Tarkin, Chewbacca, and Obi-Wan can be savored. At the same time, Padawan Starstone appears to be as childish, annoying, and blinded to show more reality as the smugglers find her. show less

Thank you, author James Luceno, for understanding the world and the characters. To explain how it felt wearing the suit of Lord Vader.

I find this novel better than Lords of the Sith. The relationship of Emperor Palpatine and Lord Vader feels so much real. And some of my favourite Vader quotes are in here.

This starts after the clone wars with a few Jedi that escaped order 66 but had to puzzle the pieces together of what had happened. Why did the troops turn on them in battle. And being chased by Lord Vader.

Four weeks into the new empire, Lord Vader has to come to terms with his new body. His thoughts were of anger and pain. And to kill the thoughts of Anakin Skywalker.

His master sent him on a quest, so to say to relinquish all thought of show more who he had been. By doing this, he will become a true apprentice of the sith.

I loved how all the key characters were in place and still how Emperor Palpatine is playing his little political game. We even got to visit Alderaan and how Lord Vader almost met his daughter. I felt Bail Organa's panick.

The devastation at Kasyyyk was brilliantly written, and lots of hints dropping about this big weapon and in need of slaves to build this. (Of course, we all know what it is.)

This was a very good tale about Vader's final descent into the dark side. This also delves into the start of the rebellion.

I am sorry, Disney, but the Dark Lord Legend trilogy will be my canon. show less

Did you know that Darth Vader is actually a whinging, emo sook? Neither did I until I read this book. I knew Anakin was pretty pathetic but I was hoping his transformation was the end of it. No it wasn't. He doesn't like his helmet or his prosthetic limbs or his gloves or sand. He thinks Palpatine is a big meanie. And so goes the first part of this book.

The other part revolves around Jedi Master Roan Shryne and his attempts to flee the Empire with a group of Padawans. It was interesting and served to keep the story moving (and not involve razor blades) but was fairly cliche and bland.

At the end, though, you finally got to see a glimpse of the original Vader. Dominating and unstoppable, he couldn't care what you called his mum. This was show more the Vader I wanted to see. Pity he arrived so late in the book.

Just don't mention sand to him... show less

3 1/2 stars: Good

From the back cover: From the site of Anakin Skywalker's last stand, where he sought to destroy his friend and former Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, a fearsome specter in black has risen. Once the most powerful Knight ever known to the Jedi Order, he is now a disciple of the dark side, a lord of the dreaded Sith, and the avenging right hand of the galaxy's new Emperor. Meanwhile on the Outer Rim world of Murkhana, Jedi Masters Roan Shryne and Bol Chatak and Padawan Olee Starstone are leading a charge on a Separatist stronghold, unaware that the tide has turned against them. Although the three narrowly elude execution, the deadliest threat still rests in the hideously swift and lethal crimson lightsaber of Darth Vader- behind show more whose brooding mask lies a shattered heart, a poisoned soul, and a cunning, twisted mind hell bent on vengeance. For the handful of scattered Jedi hunted across space, survival is imperative if the light side of the Force is to be protected and the galaxy reclaimed.

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This book covers the time immediately after Anakin becomes Darth Vader, as he travels to wipe out the last of the Jedi under Order 66. Its a good read, as we read about some other "less famous" Jedi and their fight for survival and their own struggles with vengeance as they see their friends and family in the Order wiped out. I appreciated at the beginning, the one Clone who let the three escape instead of enacting the Order, saying he won't give them another chance.

A few quotes I liked:

Anakin hadn't been born into the dark side, but had arrived there because of what he had experienced in his short life, instances of suffering, fear, anger, and hatred. Had Anakin been discovered early enough by the Jedi, those emotional states would never have surfaced. More important, Yoda appeared to have had a change of heart regarding the Temple as providing the best crucible for Force-sensitive beings. The steadfast embrace of a loving family would provide as good, if not better. (Bail Organa)

"Jen sounds like he was a Jedi without the title."
"How so?"
"Because he understood that you have to accept what destiny sets in front of you. That you have to pick and choose your battles."
"What does that make me, Roan?"
"A victim of attachment."
"You know what? I can live with that."

The ideals of democracy hadn't been stamped out by Palpatine. The Jedi had carried out missions of dubious merit for any number of Supreme Chancellors, but always in the name of safeguarding peace and justice. What they failed to understand was that the Senate, the Coruscanti, the citizens of countless world and star systems, grown weary of the old system had *allowed* democracy to die. And in a galaxy where the goal was single minded control from the top, and wherein the end justified the means, the Jedi had no place. That had been the final revenge of the Sith. (Obi-Wan). show less

STAR WARS: DARK LORD- THE RISE OF DARTH VADER was a book I had checked out of the library several times but something always jumped ahead of it to read. I started this book thinking it would be something I would read slowly while reading other books, maybe a when out at the beach read, but it got a hold on me and I just raced through it. I’m a pretty slow reader, it usually takes me a week or two to read a book with my attention span but I finished this in a few days.

I have to say off the bat that the vehicle and ship name dropping in description can get a bit were it slows down the story at times but if you are a fan of Star Wars you will probably get into that part of the story. Heaven knows Star Wars has a universe where every show more space ship and toothbrush has a name.

As it is always with tie-in books the writer has to be a slave to two masters, one the hardcore fans and the other causal fans. If you are not a fan at all let’s just face it, and I really think tie-in books are underrated, but let’s face it, they are not open to readers who have no idea about the subject matter. That’s not their monkey.

You will get plenty of mentions of places and characters and a few appearances to keep your Star Wars geek heart going. I myself really loved the first meeting in the book between Darth Vader and a character from Star Wars: New Hope who was portrayed by one of my all time favorite actors in the movie.

The highlight of the book and what maintained me reading early on was the insights you get into Darth Vader right after the actions of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. I think it was a nice touch for the writer to talk to someone who wore the costume to get a little insight into what it maybe like for Darth Vader in the first days of wearing his new armor.

This book has weak spots. I’ve always found Jedi in books or movies rather boring but this books strength is in how it explores the new life of Darth Vader and how his relationship with Darth Sidious was turning him completely into the strong arm of the Empire.

In the end after finishing this book even though it has many drop points of interest, mainly when it focused on the Jedi, I really wanted to read another book in the Star Wars universe; so the book got me there. The next book in timeline would be Jedi Twilight but my library system does not have it so I’m skipping ahead to The Force Unleashed books.

3 out of 5 stars
Review by, Brian C. Williams show less

James Luceno has picked up the creation of Darth Vader from the end of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith seamlessly. And my feeling of Vader being a whiny little weeny is confirmed. I don't know how Darth Sidious put up with him and got through the teenage years! Sheesh! "whaa, my suite sucks", "whaa, my wife died". What kind of evil being are you anyway? But James Luceno rocks it out in this novel.