Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars: The Dark Lord Trilogy #3)

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 2,918 ratings · 149 reviews

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...more 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.

When the three narrowly elude execution–and become the desperate prey in a hunt across space–it’s neither clone soldiers, nor the newly deployed stormtroopers, nor even the wrath of the power-hungry Emperor himself they must fear most. The deadliest threat rests in the hideously swift and lethal crimson lightsaber of Darth Vader–behind 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, 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, Padmé Amidala. Separated after Padmé’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.

From the Hardcover edition.(less)

Audio CD, Abridged, 0 pages

Published November 22nd 2005 by Random House Audio

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Apr 18, 2012 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, movies

REVISED: 4/19/12

When you think about Darth Vader, many things come to mind. Dark Lord of the Sith. Bane of the Jedi. Throat-Crusher Supreme.

Emo?

No.

Of all my complaints about the new trilogy – and there are many – the biggest one has to do with how Anakin Skywalker was handled. I grew up loving Darth Vader. He was a vicious bastard, but by gods he was awesome about it. He was a hard-ass who inspired terror wherever he went, and he was a man who overcame insurmountable evils to ultimately redeem h...more

8 likes · like · see review

Oct 28, 2011 Michael rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So far, I am not impressed with this book. I'm about a third of the way through the book; so far we've had an introduction of a variety of uninteresting characters [most of whom we can assume will die by the end of the book, and thus will have no impact on the greater Star Wars story], and Darth Vader being emo. To be fair to Mr. Luceno, Anakin Skywalker was portrayed as painfully emo in the films.

I am hoping that, by the end, we'll see actual character growth out of Anakin - *something* has to...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 07, 2009 Ron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Ron by: Wendell Andrea

Shelves: fantasy, science-fiction, star-wars

A necessary chapter in the expanded history of the Star Wars universe. While focused on Darth Vader's growing into his role as Sidious' apprentice and hatchet man, it also opened themes which will blossom into Episode Four.

Well-written, if pedestrian. I believe this is the first four chapter long epilogue I've encountered.

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 19, 2013 Richard B rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This novel takes place in what is probably the most interesting time period in the saga -- at the beginning of the interwar period, as Palpatine begins to consolidate the Empire. Vader here has been a cyborg for only a few weeks -- yes, the novel takes place only weeks after "order 66" leads the clones to kill all the Jedi -- and we find him struggling to get comfortable in his armour, on several levels.

What Luceno does most admirably is to personalize Vader, to show some internal conflict -- t...more This novel takes place in what is probably the most interesting time period in the saga -- at the beginning of the interwar period, as Palpatine begins to consolidate the Empire. Vader here has been a cyborg for only a few weeks -- yes, the novel takes place only weeks after "order 66" leads the clones to kill all the Jedi -- and we find him struggling to get comfortable in his armour, on several levels.

What Luceno does most admirably is to personalize Vader, to show some internal conflict -- to really make the reader understand what it is like inside all that life-support gear. It ain't just a suit -- Vader has chest tubes, the works. He can't see. He can barely move. The prosthetic limbs are unresponsive.

Some of it feels a bit rote and easy. Much of the world we see in Episode IV: A New Hope -- the original film -- is set up here. It's as if Palpatine flips a switch and we go from the prequels world to the world of the original films -- rife with smugglers and cruelty and anti-imperialist sentiment. It doesn't just evolve over the -- what, eighteen years? -- of the period between the end of the Clone Wars and Luke Skywalker's coming-of-age.

Then, that world is much more resonant and satisfying than that of the prequels. It's scrappy and American, rather than gallant and European.

We also gain a very interesting ambivalence about the Jedi. The Sith see them as corrupt -- and, really, they're right.

The less interesting part is the subplot -- which parallels as a co-main-plot -- about a few ordinary Jedi who have managed to survive, and how they deal with the aftermath of the destruction of their order. I never care about them -- not a whit. That's because they are mere foils to play off of Vader.

As a side note, there are two interesting discrepancies, plotwise, with the Clone Wars series.

One is the ongoing problem of Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's apprentice, who seems to exist only in the CGI Clone Wars series. One of the Jedi survivors here, Olee Starstone, is in the same mold -- a feisty young Padawan. This should trigger something in Vader. But it does not (because this novel predates the CGI series). Also -- here's a spoiler -- Vader meets Tarkin here, and we hear that it's for the second time. But in the Clone Wars series, Anakin and Tarkin meet. Oh, well. Picky, picky.

On the larger scale, this is how mythologies work -- they don't necessarily all align, as different versions of different stories are spun, spun out into different contexts, and sometimes re-constituted. Genesis, for example, which contains two totally different and contradictory beginnings, side by side.

This speaks for, rather than against, the lushness of the Star Wars universe. These stories are being told by scores of writers, in all media formats -- theatrical films, TV/DVD, novels, video games, comic books, fan fiction -- and in the oral tradition passed down from GenX parent to 21st century child. It's multidimensional storytelling.

Very interesting.
(less)

like · see review

Feb 23, 2013 Linda Jaejoong rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ein sehr gutes Buch, man bekommt ein Einblick in die Welt des Darth Vader. Man verachtet ihn, leidet mit ihm und kann ihn am Ende nur noch bedauern!! Seine Geschichte vermittelt zerstörte Träume und Wünsche und zeigt aber dafür neue Wege,um das was er ist zu überstehen. Die Figur des Anakin Skywalker ist eine sehr facetten reiche Figur, die niemanden kalt lässt. Zum einen tut er verabscheuungswürdig Dinge, zum anderen kann er seine Gedanken und Gefühle für Padmé nicht einfach so abstellen, ihr "...more

like · see review

Feb 02, 2013 Ian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a cool book. It was based around a lot of non-major or completely made up characters as the "good guys" and you get a taste for them. The Darth vader part doesn't even really mean that much until the end, and you realize that this is essentially the story leading up to Darth Vader's first real kill. Well worth reading.

As for the trilogy as a whole, I've realized that this is the real new trilogy. Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones can't really compete story wise, they just serve a...more

like · see review

Jan 19, 2012 Dustin Gaughran rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This will be a fan boy rant, but I don't care.
For a book that's supposed to be solely about Darth Vader's rise to prominence and power after becoming the towering figure in black he's most known for, he hardly plays any role in this book. Disappointing is easily the best word to describe this book. I was expecting brutal exploits that bridge the gap from the last crappy prequel to the first original, and there were none. Hell, the entirety of this book basically covers a few month span shortly a...more

like · see review

Jan 03, 2011 Brian Williams rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 th...more 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 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
(less)

like · see review

Jul 19, 2010 Crystal Starr Light rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: star-wars

Several Jedi, including Roan Shryne and Olee Starstone, are fighting a fierce battle on Murkhana when Order 66 arrives. Commander Climber, the clone leader amongst the Jedi, defies orders and allows the Jedi to leave. The three Jedi must then leave the planet and flee to safety, avoiding Darth Vader and his wrath.
NOTE: Based on novel and audiobook.

I Liked:
I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed this novel. If you've read my review for [[ASIN:0345442970 Cloak of Deception]], you learned how d...more Several Jedi, including Roan Shryne and Olee Starstone, are fighting a fierce battle on Murkhana when Order 66 arrives. Commander Climber, the clone leader amongst the Jedi, defies orders and allows the Jedi to leave. The three Jedi must then leave the planet and flee to safety, avoiding Darth Vader and his wrath.
NOTE: Based on novel and audiobook.

I Liked:
I was surprised how much I actually enjoyed this novel. If you've read my review for [[ASIN:0345442970 Cloak of Deception]], you learned how disappointed I was, how I didn't like all the info-dumping and over-describing, and how I just wasn't very engaged. This book is completely different.
The primary characters really stand out, namely Roan and Olee. Roan feels a little like Arwen Cohl from CoD, a little like Lorn Pavan, a little like Han, and a little of something else. He's a Jedi who has lost two apprentices during the war. He's not a super Jedi, but he's decent. Only problem is, he really struggles with what the Jedi should do next. I adored how he met his mother, how they imply Jedi stealing babies (Roan's mother did not want to give him up), and how awkward it was.
Olee Starstone is completely different. She's a strong-willed woman, who wants to find other Jedi and regroup. She used to be a librarian, under the tutelage of Jocasta Nu before the war. Now, she's lost her master and is the unofficial Padawan of Roan.
Darth Vader also appears quite prominently, though not as prominently as you would figure from a novel with his picture splashed on it. I really liked how Luceno tightened the gap from Anakin in the prequels to Vader in the sequels. Vader is lacking confidence, upset with his new body, and questioning everything. Also, his single-minded goal of exterminating the Jedi keeps interfering with his missions, making Palpatine wonder if Vader is such a good apprentice after all.
The story is unique, as (especially at this time, before the Coruscant Nights books) we don't know what has happened to the few Jedi who escape Order 66. What many hoped to see in Karen Traviss' eponymous novel, we actually get to see here: Clones defying orders and saving Jedi, and what happens to them afterwards. It's touching and very neglected.
And, being this is a Luceno novel, we get tons of EU references, from Garm Bel Iblis, to the outcome of Fang Zhar, to Tarkin, and more. If there is one thing Luceno can get, it's tying in EU and making it seem like it was meant to be that way.

I Didn't Like:
There are a billion other Jedi in this book and I couldn't keep their names straight or remember them for the life of me. There are six total on Murkhana, but I could only remember Olee, Roan, and the one Vader killed (and I can't even remember her name!). Then Olee and Roan meet a bunch more Jedi on a ship, and none of them are memorable. This may be in part because I am listening to an audiobook, but it's hard to be invested in characters when they pass through so transparently.
For a book about Vader, there is stunningly little Vader. This was disappointing, even if Vader's development overall was good.
I went directly from listening to Revenge of the Sith to reading this, and there is a distinct difference in writing style, one that comes as quite a shock. After the intimate, dark, and tortured writing style from RotS, Dark Lord comes off as bland, uninspired and emotionless.

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Little to none.
One smuggler makes eyes at Olee.
Several Jedi die. Order 66 is enacted. Vader lightsaber duels several Jedi. There is a big, final battle on Kashyyyk that results in the Wookiees imprisonment.

Overall:
While not seeing more of Vader was a disappointment and the writing style a drastic change from RotS, this is a decent final novel to the unofficial trilogy (Labyrinth of Evil, Revenge of the Sith, and Dark Lord). We get to see the effects of Order 66 on two vastly different Jedi, Roan (pessimist) and Olee (optimist). We get to see Darth Vader overcome his confidence issues and get adjusted to his body. And we learn what happened to Fang Zhar, how the Wookiees are imprisoned, and if there are other Jedi. A more than decent novel, very enjoyable and recommended.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 13, 2010 Chad Warner rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Star Wars fans

Shelves: fiction, science-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 24, 2012 Alex rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: star-wars

What was shaping up to be a really nice triolgy drops the ball with this final entry which seriously lacks any kind of scope or ambition. Rather than getting a sweeping, epic story of what happened to the Jedi post Revenge of the Sith and the seeds of the formation of the rebellion, instead we get a slight story about a rag tag band of Jedi who meet Darth Vader a couple of times and then run away.

Darth vader is a central character in this story, as heought to be, but I found myself wishing that...more

like · see review

Mar 10, 2010 Richard rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

OK, I like The Dark Lord despite the fact that it was not a great novel, but a very good and enjoyable novel. In some ways The Dark Lord reads more like a TV show, which is not a bad thing. The novel follow events that take place after The Revenge of the Sith (And, we all know that Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader, The Dark Lord of the Sith) and the execution of Order 66. Although it is called The Dark Lord, Darth Vader is a secondary character during the first half of the novel which focuse...more

like · see review

Jul 08, 2012 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book from the standpoint of a transition from Anakin to full on Vader is accomplished and entertaining. But the Jedi featured in the book seem to be either impetitious or in flee mode. The main Jedi, Feris Orin (I think) seems to instinctively feel the need to go underground but his Padawan doesn't. The only cricitism of the book is that it has too many characters so the characters never really get flushed out. And having "Mom" appear for Feris I thought was totally unneccesary. What purpose...more

like · see review

Feb 23, 2009 Andrew rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literature

I love Darth Vader. He's probably my favorite character in the original trilogy. Had it not been for Hayden Christensen and, to some extent George Lucas, the character could have been much more dark and much more evil in the prequel trilogy. I was hoping to find that image of Darth Vader in the original trilogy in this novel. I never read any of the "Extended Universe" books before, but wandering though the library, this one caught my attention.

I only made it 100 pages in. It was so poorly writt...more

like · see review

May 12, 2012 Geoffrey Cubbage rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed reading Star Wars novels when I was in middle school, and this seemed like as good a way as any to see if I still like them.

I was surprised by how decent it was. I feel for authors working with the whole of the Expanded Universe and the prequel trilogy -- that's a lot more baggage of crap to shoulder than Timothy Zahn had back in the day -- but Luceno actually did a pretty good job capturing the old-time adventure spirit without getting bogged down in details for the frothing fanatic c...more

like · see review

Jan 08, 2013 Dean Mayes rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Being a Star Wars tragic, I have stuck with the franchise through the *challenges* of the prequel trilogy, remaining loyal to my fandom, despite the many and varied disappointments of the prequel story telling.

That said, I have always regarded Anakin Skywalker's journey as one of the more fascinating ones and have championed his journey even in the face of the criticisms of its execution on screen. With James Luceno's entry into the saga, we are given a visceral and, at times rivetting account...more

like · see review

Nov 08, 2012 Suraj rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

James Luceno tells a very interesting and unusual story about Darth Vader, the villain we all know, and the truth behind his actual transformation into Darth Vader. Luceno starts the story off from the end of Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith, where the ultimate battle between the Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi took place on the volcanic planet of Mustafar and the new role Darth Vader played as Darth Sidious’s (Emperor Palpatine) apprentice was revealed. Vader also has to face some clone...more James Luceno tells a very interesting and unusual story about Darth Vader, the villain we all know, and the truth behind his actual transformation into Darth Vader. Luceno starts the story off from the end of Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith, where the ultimate battle between the Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi took place on the volcanic planet of Mustafar and the new role Darth Vader played as Darth Sidious’s (Emperor Palpatine) apprentice was revealed. Vader also has to face some clones that somehow escaped the Emperor’s order, which could have happened because Obi Wan was changing the Jedi Archives. Luceno brings up many points that I never would have thought of until I read this book. Does Anakin really enjoy being Darth Vader? Is he really adapted and fit to being Darth Vader after a single battle on Mustafar which changed his whole life in a day? Just because Emperor Palpatine accepted him, does he think he will be accepted by the whole Empire? Why does he suddenly accept the truth from Palpatine that he killed Padme from his betrayl to the Rebels? Wasn’t saving Padme’s life the entire point of even joining the darkside? Now that Padme died, learning the unknown sides of the force is completely usless, so why does he still stay on the dark side? Luceno also describes a moment not seen at the end of Revenge of the Sith where Organa is scared to death when Anakin lands on Alderaan and goes to meet Organa’s wife. The fact that Organa’s wife is walking around with Leia doesn’t make the moment any better. Is baby Leia even safe with Vader around? Does Vader even know that Leia is his daughter? In the book, it doesn’t really explain that Vader had found out at that moment that Leia was his daughter. Luceno also describes Obi Wan returning to Tatooine and watching the Holonet and finds out to his surprise that Anakin somehow survived the fight on Mustafar and now realizes that Luke and Leia are not as safe anymore on the other side of the galaxy. Then Qui Gon from episode one gives Obi Wan some advice on what to do for the safety of Luke and Leia. These portions were never explained nor mentioned in the movie and it is really interesting to find out what actually happened in the Star Wars saga from Episode 3 to Episode 4 where Luke’s childhood was supposed have been explained.(less)

like · see review

Feb 14, 2013 Andrew rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Generally I am not a fan of "the world outside the movie" fiction, but because I've always really liked the Star Wars movies (yes, all of them), I thought I'd give this a try. This book is set in between the two trilogies and covers the rise of Darth Vader. It was a fun and quick read. Definitely not great literature, but perfect escapism for a few hours, which was all I was looking for. The author did a nice job of weaving in a few "cameos" by Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2. I'll probably try anoth...more

like · see review

Aug 10, 2011 Sonny rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: star-wars

Quick and overall enjoyable read. Didn't have the emotional attachment to the main characters as I did with previous Star Wars novels. Starstone annoyed me to no end, felt like her character was full of hot air- all talk and no action. Shyrne's internal conflicts and loss of faith in the future of the Jedi order felt rushed and not portrayed deep enough to give him such an epiphany in his last stand with Vader. Chewbacca's involvement in the story felt too construed, and Vader's "Rise" felt more...more

like · see review

May 24, 2012 Jeremy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book takes place BETWEEN episode II and episode III... I read it before episode III came out, and it had me VERY excited for the film.

I had hoped, incorrectly, that Lucas, by episode III, had got his act together, and was finally going to deliver the prequel that Star Wars fans had been waiting for... (having learned, hopefully, from the awful films of Phantom Menace and the Clone Wars)....

Anyway, James Luceno does a great job building a Star Wars plot that is fun and exciting, like the o...more

like · see review

Jun 17, 2009 Greg rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-fantasy-and-other-dorky-shit

As a punishment I had to read this book. It is the only Star Wars novel I've ever read. It's possible that this book makes those crimes against my childhood that Lucas calls Episodes 1 through 3 look like masterpieces compared to this.

The saving bit that earned this book a star?

The author felt it was necessary to explain in detail how Darth Vader urinates and defecates. Yup, if you ever wondered how he does then this book will teach you that most secret of all Jedi tricks. If you are like me an...more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 25, 2012 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader" was good but not great. In chronicling the transformation of the insufferably whiny Anakin Skywalker into the Sith killing machine Darth Vader was fairly predictable. The addition of the refugee Jedi was a nice sub-plot but only to highlight how the Jedi order was so easily deceived and used by Sidious. I like Star Wars books that give your information that you did not get from the movies and "The Rise of Darth Vader" did some of that just not enou...more

like · see review

Jun 14, 2013 Jose Luis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: star-wars

For a book that is titled Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader its more about the story of the one of the few Jedi Knights that survived order 66 and how they struggle to survive while the new empire is determined to kill them.

I think this book is very entertaining and James Luceno does a good job describing some scenarios, like the the hunt of the remaining Jedi Knights across the galaxy, but fails on delving deeper into the whole transition that Anakin suffer from Jedi to Sith, and the struggle...more

like · see review

Jul 15, 2012 Julian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have not read much of the expanded Star Wars Universe...down that path lies madness. What this book does however, is bridge some of the gap between the Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. It particularly emphasizes the path down which Vader treads to become the evil Dark Lord that we know and love by the original trilogy.

Now, this being a kickass storyarc to follow, I would devoutly recommend its readership be increased by a number somewhat equaling the number of people who can accurately name...more

like · see review

Jan 19, 2011 Trinity Lizalde rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A must read for any star wars fan. Goes over the time when Anakin Skywalker was just turned into Darth Vader. At one point he shows what kind of mechanical monstrosity he has become and actually instills fear in the hearts of the few remaining Jedi. Then later on you actually feel sorry for him because you learn that he still Anakin and full of regret and heartache because of all the pain and suffering that he helped cause. GO READ IT NOW MY FELLOW STAR WARS GEEKS!

P.S. To better understand watc...more

like · see review

Mar 28, 2012 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Since his creation, Darth Vader has made a footprint and rightfully received his place as one of the greatest villains of all time. However as the years have gone on writers and even video game creators have turned this once imposing Dark Lord of the Sith into a joke. And it's not fair. This book however made me believe in Vader's power once more. His overcoming of his handicap and truly earning his place as the second most powerful being in the galaxy was a great load off of me, a dedicated Sta...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 05, 2011 Daniel Kukwa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: star-wars

If it wasn't for some of the dull-ish B-stories taking place away from the main plot, this would be one of THE best Star Wars novels in recent years. It's a fabulous exploration of the early days of Vader: his emotional struggle to become the ultimate Sith Lord, discard all vestiges of Anakin Skywalker, and deal with the complications of his suit and prosthetics. Full of rich detail, and with a potent writing style, "Dark Lord" makes for an exceptional read...which is surprising, as it comes fro...more

like · see review

Aug 24, 2012 Marshall rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, fiction

A really good book that helps bridge the gap between Star Wars III and IV. I always felt another movie was necessary to complete the story, though I knew it would be overly dark. The original three were about the rise of a hero, Luke. The three prequels were about the fall of a hero, Anikan. Yet the one mysterious character that tied them all together--Darth Vader, the rise of the anti-hero--has never had his story told.

This book gets inside his mind, explores his tentative relationship with the...more

like · see review

Jan 30, 2013 Meagan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: star-wars, movie-tie-in, read-in-2013

I really didn't buy Darth Vader as being Emo. I'm pretty sure when you get burnt to a crisp that most of your memories aren't going to stick around and bug you because of the evil awful person that you were before you fully turned to the 'dark side' Oh Vader. The book could've been handled much better if we had an outsiders look at Vader's rise to power and not his inside look. Because really, I don't care what Darth Vader thinks, especially when he still sounds like a whiny teenager. That was m...more

like · see review

Feb 08, 2013 Shara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The premise: ganked from BN.com: 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 i...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Disapointed and Good	2	32	Nov 22, 2011 12:29pm

combine
Other Editions (9)

More editions...

Genres

Media Tie In > Star Wars

425 users

Science Fiction

90 users

Fantasy

12 users

Science Fiction Fantasy

9 users

Adventure

9 users

Space

6 users

Novels

6 users

Science Fiction > Space Opera

3 users

See top shelves...

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Dark Lord: The Ri...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
avg rating	preview: Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Goodreads rating: 3.79 (2918 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1376357.Star_Wars?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320561889l/1376357.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1376357.Star_Wars?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno[/url]

Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars: The Dark Lord Trilogy #3)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (9)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About James Luceno

Books by James Luceno

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Dark Lord: The Ri...