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.

Enjoyable

I downloaded this book as a casual Star Wars fan simply wanting to be entertained while I exercised. I thought the story line sounded pretty interesting and this book certainly delivered in that respect. For me, the sound effects and "radio-play" feel of the reading worked. It helped me escape and lose myself in the SW universe.

I would recommend this for someone who simply wants to be entertained, pure and simple. No deep thinking necessary. Just sit back and enjoy it.

By the way, it seriously whetted my appetite for the next book in the series, if there is to be one. Something to fill the gap between the end of Dark Lord and the beginning of A New Hope would be great.

More Vader books

I liked the insight into Lord Vader, the movies tended to leave that part out. Over all a good story and performance.

Fantastic

There are very few books I like to listen to more than once and this is one of them.

I hate abridged books.

the story was good, but why does audible read abridged books. wonder what I missing from the unabridged version. especially when it cost the same credit either way.

good book,but.....

If your one that trys to fallow along in the book(either soft back or kindle) the narration skips parts of the book. I found my self pausing the audio reading some paragraphs or a page to get the full story.

Vader is amazing and absolutely insane

Vader is absolutely insane and this book shows it . xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo xo

Fills in some empty space and gives Vader more shape

This is one of my favorite authors and favorite narrators. I wish they would refuse to do abridged versions. I appreciate the backstory of several of the characters and filling in of certain parts of the story.

its cooooool i guess

i was just expecting a little more focus on Vader when the title names him. otherwise luceno is the best star wars author out there.

Character Voices

I found it difficult at times to tell the difference between female and male characters.

What about the loose ends?

How does Obi-Wan know Anakin survived their last encounter? Why would Luke be hidden on a planet so familiar to Vader? What happened to the Jedi who survived order 66? This sequel to Revenge of the Sith ties up some of the loose ends which were left unresolved by the last of the prequel films. It also creates more continuity between the prequel trilogy and the original trilogy. It is easy for the reader to accept this story as cannon.
James Luceno is a skillful writer who emphasizes character development and descriptions which paint pictures in your imagination.