The New Jedi Order (commonly abbreviated NJO) is a series of 27 stories (primarily 19 novels) that take place from 25 to 29 ABY.[1] The primary plotline follows the invasion of the Star Wars galaxy by the extragalactic Yuuzhan Vong, who through the course of their war deal previously unseen damage. The series also deals with the war's proceeding after effects, along with showing the changing lives of the characters on both sides in the conflict. Across the series, institutions like Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order, the New Republic and the relationships of the Star Wars heroes are stretched, changed and tested.
The series was planned by Sue Rostoni and Lucy Wilson of Lucas Licensing, Shelly Shapiro of Del Rey Books and James Luceno in 1998. The group sketched out the general storyline, created a "series bible" and began contracting authors to write each book. Published from 1999-2003, the series was a collaboration by the following authors: R.A. Salvatore, Michael A. Stackpole, James Luceno, Kathy Tyers, Troy Denning, Greg Keyes, Elaine Cunningham, Aaron Allston, Matthew Stover, Walter Jon Williams, Shane Dix, and Sean Williams. Various parts of the series have been published in novel, comic, magazine and e-book format. However, the core of the series is made up of 19 novels, and a further four were cancelled.
The series was followed by the Dark Nest trilogy in 2005 by Troy Denning, who also wrote Star by Star for the original series.
Contents |
Further details of The New Jedi Order storyline may be gained by accessing the entries below:
| Year | Name | Author | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1999) | Vector Prime | R.A. Salvatore | novel |
| (2006) | Boba Fett: A Practical Man | Karen Traviss | ebook novella |
| (2000) | Dark Tide I: Onslaught | Michael Stackpole | novel |
| – | Dark Tide: Siege | Michael Stackpole | cancelled novel |
| (2000) | Dark Tide II: Ruin | Michael Stackpole | novel |
| (2000) | Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial | James Luceno | novel |
| (2000) | Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse | James Luceno | novel |
| (2000) | Balance Point | Kathy Tyers | novel |
| (2002) | "Emissary of the Void" | Greg Keyes | short story |
| – | Knightfall I: Jedi Storm | Michael Jan Friedman | cancelled novel |
| – | Knightfall II: Jedi Fire | Michael Jan Friedman | cancelled novel |
| – | Knightfall III: Jedi Blood | Michael Jan Friedman | cancelled novel |
| (2001) | "Recovery" (during Edge of Victory I: Conquest) | Troy Denning | ebook novella |
| (2001) | Edge of Victory I: Conquest | Greg Keyes | novel |
| (2001) | Edge of Victory II: Rebirth | Greg Keyes | novel |
| (2001) | Star by Star | Troy Denning | novel |
| (2002) | Dark Journey | Elaine Cunningham | novel |
| (2002) | "The Apprentice" (during Dark Journey) | Elaine Cunningham | short story |
| (2002) | Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream | Aaron Allston | novel |
| (2002) | Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand | Aaron Allston | novel |
| (2002) | Traitor | Matthew Stover | novel |
| (2002) | Destiny's Way | Walter Jon Williams | novel |
| (2002) | "Ylesia" (during Destiny's Way) | Walter Jon Williams | ebook novella |
| (2003) | Force Heretic I: Remnant | Sean Williams & Shane Dix | novel |
| (2004) | "Equals and Opposites" | Nathan Butler | comic book |
| (2003) | Force Heretic II: Refugee | Sean Williams & Shane Dix | novel |
| (2003) | "Or Die Trying" | Sean Williams & Shane Dix | short story |
| (2003) | Force Heretic III: Reunion | Sean Williams & Shane Dix | novel |
| (2003) | The Final Prophecy | Greg Keyes | novel |
| (2003) | The Unifying Force | James Luceno | novel |
Alongside the main series, there were several direct spin-offs and tie-ins made to the series:
The series begins 21 years after the Rebel Alliance destroyed the second Death Star. The New Republic is facing internal conflict while trying to maintain peace. A new, unknown enemy called 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.
As the longest continuous series of novels in the EU, 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:
The Order itself is philosophically distinct from the Jedi Order of the Old Republic (thus the Old Jedi Order) by a new Jedi Code and broadened view of the Force. The Order's titular head is Luke Skywalker, but other senior Jedi such as Kyle Katarn, Mara Jade and Kyp Durron have significant say in the Order's activities. The Order during the Yuuzhan Vong incursion polarizes into two major factions: that of Luke Skywalker, who feels that the Force should be used peacefully, like the Old Republic-era Jedi; and the faction of Kyp Durron, who holds that the Jedi should take a proactive, aggressive stance against enemies, hoping that in that way to live up to the Jedi's roles as "protectors" of the galaxy.
Several major characters die within the New Jedi Order series, an unusual departure from earlier Star Wars stories, and a source of criticism. The most controversial deaths among fans were Chewbacca and Anakin Solo. 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 even introduced in the series.
It should be noted that while Mon Mothma did not die in the New Jedi Order series, she died directly prior to Vector Prime; her death was first revealed in the series.
Similarly, while Nom Anor is indicated to have died during the events of The Unifying Force, many fans believe he is still alive as his off-screen death allows for uncertainty as to whether he did in fact die.
| Character | Introduction | Death |
|---|---|---|
| Yomin Carr | Vector Prime | Vector Prime |
| Da'Gara | Vector Prime | Vector Prime |
| Bolpuhr | Vector Prime | Dark Tide I: Onslaught |
| Krag Val | Dark Tide I: Onslaught | Dark Tide II: Ruin |
| Shedao Shai | Dark Tide I: Onslaught | Dark Tide II: Ruin |
| Deign Lian | Dark Tide II: Ruin | Dark Tide II: Ruin |
| Reck Desh | Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial | Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial |
| Elan | Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial | Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial |
| Olmahk | Dark Tide II: Ruin | Balance Point |
| Randa Besadii Diori | Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse | Balance Point |
| Mezhan Kwaad | Edge of Victory I: Conquest | Edge of Victory I: Conquest |
| Vua Rapuung | Edge of Victory I: Conquest | Edge of Victory I: Conquest |
| Ulaha Kore | Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse | Star by Star |
| Eryl Besa | Star by Star | Star by Star |
| Jovan Drark | Star by Star | Star by Star |
| Bela Hara | Recovery | Star by Star |
| Krasov Hara | Recovery | Star by Star |
| Adarakh | Edge of Victory II: Rebirth | Star by Star |
| Viqi Shesh | Dark Tide I: Onslaught | Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand |
| Tsavong Lah | Dark Tide II: Ruin | Destiny's Way |
| Nen Yim | Edge of Victory I: Conquest | The Final Prophecy |
| Malik Carr | Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial | The Unifying Force |
| Drathul | Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial | The Unifying Force |
| Shimrra Jamaane | Edge of Victory II: Rebirth | The Unifying Force |
| Onimi | Edge of Victory II: Rebirth | The Unifying Force |
Although there were many deaths in the New Jedi Order series, several were only mentioned and had occurred before or during the series. These include Dynba Tesc, Lwyll, Eelysa, Lusa, Lyric, Roganda Ismaren and more notably Mon Mothma and Ackbar.
| Character | Introduction | Death |
|---|---|---|
| Chewbacca | Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) | Vector Prime (1999) |
| Elegos A'Kla | I, Jedi (1998) | Dark Tide II: Ruin (2000) |
| Dynba Tesc | Missed Chance (1995) | Dark Tide II: Ruin (2000) |
| Lwyll | Han Solo's Revenge (1979) | Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial (2000) |
| Dorsk 82 | Darksaber (1995) | Edge of Victory I: Conquest (2001) |
| Ikrit | Junior Jedi Knights: The Golden Globe (1995) | Edge of Victory I: Conquest (2001) |
| Eelysa | The New Rebellion (1996) | Star by Star (2001) |
| Lusa | The Crystal Star (1994) | Star by Star (2001) |
| Lyric | Junior Jedi Knights: Lyric's World (1996) | Star by Star (2001) |
| Anakin Solo | Dark Empire II (1994) | Star by Star (2001) |
| Borsk Fey'lya | Heir to the Empire (1991) | Star by Star (2001) |
| Teneniel Djo | The Courtship of Princess Leia (1994) | Dark Journey (2002) |
| Roganda Ismaren | Children of the Jedi (1995) | Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand (2002) |
| Irek Ismaren | Children of the Jedi (1995) | Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand (2002) |
| Ganner Rhysode | Union (1999) | Traitor (2002) |
| Vergere | Rogue Planet (2000) | Destiny's Way (2002) |
| Blaine Harris | The Truce at Bakura (1993) | Force Heretic II: Refugee (2003) |
| Molierre Cundertol | Shield of Lies (1996) | Force Heretic II: Refugee (2003) |
| Ackbar | Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) | The Unifying Force (2003) |
| Nom Anor | Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood (1998) | The Unifying Force (2003) |
Timothy Zahn felt the series was too dark and straying from the "feel" of Star Wars.[2] Randy Stradley, alleged that Del Rey used an invasion idea originating with Dark Horse and took it in directions they did not intend. Michael Stackpole, just after the publication of his NJO Dark Tide books, when asked what his new BattleTech books would involve, responded, "An alien invasion? No, a thousand times, no." However, author John Ostrander read and enjoyed the series.
In an interview published in The Unifying Force, Shelly Shapiro, the Editorial Director of Del Rey, expressed some regret over the "grimmer" aspects of the series and the Yuuzhan Vong themselves, as well as the timing of the novel Star by Star, coming so soon after the September 11 attacks.
In 1999, Mark Hamill 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.
A project by a group of fans is underway to create an animated show based on the series. The link to this project can be found here.
Telling War Stories: An Interview with Shelly Shapiro on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org) Vector Prime on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org) The New Jedi Order on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org) The New Jedi Order in Order on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)|
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