Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

By: James Luceno

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Throughout the galaxy, it was believed that Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, had died on Coruscant during the siege of the Jedi Temple. And, to some extent, that was true. Anakin was dead.

From the site of Anakin Skywalker's last stand, on the molten surface of the planet Mustafar, 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 ruthless new Emperor. Seduced, deranged, and destroyed by the machinations of the Dark Lord Sidious, Anakin Skywalker is dead, and Darth Vader lives.

Word of the events that created him, the Jedi Council's failed mutiny against Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the self-crowned Emperor's retaliatory command to exterminate the Jedi Order, and Anakin's massacre of his comrades and Masters in the Jedi Temple, has yet to reach all quarters. 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, red with Jedi blood, has turned suddenly against them.

For the handful of scattered Jedi, survival is imperative if the light side of the Force is to be protected and the galaxy somehow, someday reclaimed. Yet more important still is the well-being of the twin infants, Leia and Luke Skywalker, the children of Anakin and his doomed bride, Padme Amidala. Separated after Padme's death, they must be made safe at all costs, lest the hope they represent for the future be turned to horror by the new Sith regime, and the unspeakable power of the dark side.

©2005 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM; Random House Audio, a divsion of Random House, Inc. (P)2005 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM; Random House Audio, a divsion of Random House, Inc.

It makes you feel what Vader Can't

I loved the history, felt the sorrow and the sadness but on top of things made me conscious about the universe of a guy that went through hell and redemption to the very last end.

Great story! Sadly abridged.

Loved the story. I am a huge fan of the Star Wars universe and get whatever I can wherever I can get it. The performance bugged me a bit only because of bad pronunciation of known characters and ships and worlds. It was a little hard to get past at times but even though rather short, the story was a wonderful adventure!

Good story

Good story. I wish it wasn’t abridged. Good story though. It helps bridge the story.

Worth the buy

What made the experience of listening to Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader the most enjoyable?

The Darth Vader parts and action scenes where good and exciting. You get to see how he somewhat struggles with his new mechanical body. But he is still able to frighten and dual the remaining jedi.

Any additional comments?

Any Star Wars fan will enjoy this book.

Great story

This was a great book that provides an inside look at who Darth Vader really is. It’s worth the purchase

The perfect follow-up of Episode III

Absolutely fantastic audio book, nearly as good as Tarkin ! The battles are as dramatic and well-described as possible. So many missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle about the first weeks of the Empire are provided!

Jonathan Davis is an outstanding narrator, who can perform miracles with his voice but it is regrettable that he was not allocated a female narrator to help him.

The biggest issue with the audiobook is that it is abridged. The full story would have been so much better!

Great story

This was a great back story of Vader. It gave some insights to the character that you may not find elsewhere. The narrator did a good job speaking for all of the characters. All in all a good addition to Star Wars.

Great Story!!

Would you listen to Star Wars again? Why?

Yes definitely, I'm new to audible and the star wars books as well, and I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book, I've always been interested in Anakin's turn to the dark side and how it happened, and if you are the same I encourage you to get this book, you will not be disappointed.

What did you like best about this story?

The production was top notch, adding sound effects and a score really is a nice touch and the reader was good as well, keeping me engaged with his style. If you ever wanted to know the details of Anakin's turn to the dark side this is the book for you.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Davis – was your favorite?

Definitely Shryne, listening to how he wrestled with the force and himself ... I don't want to go too much into to it as I don't want to spoil anything for anyone.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No I just really enjoyed it.

Any additional comments?

If you are interested in the events between Episode 3 and Episode 4 of the Star Wars Saga then this is a book for you.

Luceno did it again

the man knows the star wars universe like no other so looking forward to catalyst and tarkin

Nice story

Nice story giving more detail about what Vader had do struggle with internally and other Jedi heros trying to flee the order 66 execution.