Star Wars: The New Jedi Order (or New Jedi Order or NJO) 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 21-25 years after the events depicted in Return of the Jedi. The New Jedi Order was the restored and reformed Jedi organization, in the wake of the Great Jedi Purge and subsequent fall of the Galactic Empire. The Jedi Knights, reduced in number to only a handful, were slowly restored, primarily under the leadership of Luke Skywalker. 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.
With the reboot of the franchise after Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, the whole New Jedi Order was reclassified as non-canon.
The series begins twenty-one years after the Rebel Alliance 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.
As the longest continuous series of novels in the Expanded Universe,[1] 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:
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. Chewbacca dies saving Anakin on the planet Sernpidal, which causes some friction between Anakin and his father Han.
In 1998, Sue Rostoni, managing editor for Lucas Licensing, and Shelly Shapiro, editorial director for Del Rey Books, joined with novelist James Luceno to plot The New Jedi Order series. Spanning 19 novels, it became the longest-running Star Wars book series. Luceno said, "We created a series bible that coordinated the story arcs, a database for new characters and continuity that was passed out to writers who were hired to do the work. We are mindful that we're playing in George Lucas' backyard, but everyone who has written for the franchise has contributed something."[2]
Year | Name | Author | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Vector Prime[a] | R. A. Salvatore | |
2000 | Dark Tide I: Onslaught | Michael Stackpole | |
- | Dark Tide: Siege | Michael Stackpole | canceled |
2000 | Dark Tide II: Ruin | Michael Stackpole | |
2000 | Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial | James Luceno | |
2000 | Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse | James Luceno | |
2000 | Balance Point | Kathy Tyers | |
2002 | Emissary of the Void | Greg Keyes | short story |
- | Knightfall I: Jedi Storm | Michael Jan Friedman | canceled |
- | Knightfall II: Jedi Blood | Michael Jan Friedman | canceled |
- | Knightfall III: Jedi Fire | Michael Jan Friedman | canceled |
2001 | Recovery (set during Edge of Victory I: Conquest) | Troy Denning | e-book novella |
2001 | Edge of Victory I: Conquest | Greg Keyes | |
2001 | Edge of Victory II: Rebirth | Greg Keyes | |
2001 | Star by Star | Troy Denning | |
2002 | Dark Journey | Elaine Cunningham | |
2002 | The Apprentice (set during Dark Journey) | Elaine Cunningham | short story |
2002 | Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream | Aaron Allston | |
2002 | Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand | Aaron Allston | |
2002 | Traitor | Matthew Stover | |
2002 | Destiny's Way | Walter Jon Williams | |
2002 | Ylesia (set during Destiny's Way) | Walter Jon Williams | e-book novella |
2003 | Force Heretic I: Remnant | Sean Williams & Shane Dix | |
2003 | Force Heretic II: Refugee | Sean Williams & Shane Dix | |
2003 | Or Die Trying | Sean Williams & Shane Dix | short story |
2003 | Force Heretic III: Reunion | Sean Williams & Shane Dix | |
2003 | The Final Prophecy | Greg Keyes | |
2003 | The Unifying Force | James Luceno |
Footnotes
Citations