Star Wars: The New Jedi Order (or New Jedi Order or NJO) is a series of 19 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, following 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 related stories were published, some as e-book novellas (as recently as 2006) and others as comic books (as recent as 2010/2011); these increase the total number of published NJO-related stories to 26. The authors that contributed to the series include R.A. Salvatore, Michael Stackpole, James Luceno, Michael Jan Friedman, Troy Denning, Matthew Stover, Kathy Tyers, Greg Keyes, Elaine Cunningham, Aaron Allston, Walter Jon Williams, and Sean Williams & Shane Dix.
Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, in 2014, most existing Star Wars spin-off works—including those related to The New Jedi Order—were declared non-canon and rebranded as 'Legends'. Plot 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, 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.
Character arcs As the longest continuous series of novels in the Expanded Universe, 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. Ganner Rhysode: Rhysode began the series as an arrogant young Jedi, a trait best shown when, on assignment with Corran Horn, he mocked Horn’s inability to use telekinesis, claiming that this made him a lesser Jedi. Rhysode gradually became more humble over the course of the series, especially after watching many of his friends die on the mission to Myrkr. After Jacen Solo was captured during this mission, Rhysode went searching for him, even though, in Jacen’s words, "we weren't even friends"; Rhysode died fighting thousands of Yuuzhan Vong warriors so that Jacen and Vergere could escape. It was foreseen that in the future, the Yuuzhan Vong would eventually worship a new god called “the Ganner”, who guarded the entrance of the Yuuzhan Vong realm of the dead, referring admiringly, to Rhysode’s last stand. Tahiri Veila: Not fully developed in her original role—Anakin Solo's friend from Junior Jedi Knights—Tahiri was pushed to a starring role in the NJO. When the Yuuzhan Vong captured Yavin 4, a new Jedi training base, she was taken prisoner and subjected to experiments designed to create a Vong-human hybrid. Anakin eventually rescued her, which stirred the romantic feelings they had had for years;. When Anakin died above Myrkr, Tahiri was devastated. At this time, the Yuuzhan Vong personality implanted in her began to periodically take control, and Tahiri would wrestle with this for the duration of the series. Unlike most of the other Jedi, she had a peculiar empathy with the Yuuzhan Vong. At the end of the series, she chose to stay on Zonama Sekot to continue learning about the Yuuzhan Vong and help them build a better society. Jacen Solo: Jacen underwent perhaps the most complete and controversial arc of the NJO. He began the series as someone who actively questioned whether it was right to use the Force as a weapon. After being captured by the Yuuzhan Vong he withstood weeks of torture at the hands of Vergere, an Old Republic Jedi and Vong familiar. He emerged with a new view of the Force, including a willingness to use it offensively. During the battle to retake Coruscant, Jacen achieved a state of oneness with the Force that gave him a “perfect mastery.”
Many major characters die within the series. In several New Jedi Order books, the characters who die seem to be important 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. In Vector Prime, Chewbacca dies saving Anakin on the planet Sernpidal, which causes some friction between Anakin and his father Han.
Development 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. "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." said Luceno, "We are mindful that we're playing in George Lucas' backyard, but everyone who has written for the franchise has contributed something."
The Yuuzhan Vong species was based on the character Nom Anor, introduced in the Dark Horse Comics series Crimson Empire; he subsequently appeared in several New Jedi Order titles.
Vector Prime, the first book in the series, received much controversy for the death of Chewbacca (the first and only time a major film character has been killed off in the now non-canon Star Wars Expanded Universe), despite George Lucas's approval. The concept of killing such a character was the decision of the book editors (said to include Randy Stradley, then an editor at Dark Horse Comics), who sent a list of characters they would like to kill to Lucas, with Luke Skywalker at the top of the list. The response was what characters they could not kill, and Chewbacca was not on the list, hence his selection. Opinion was sharply divided as to whether this death of a beloved character was an effort to boost sales and interest in the new series, or if it served the dramatic purpose of declaring that not even the core characters were necessarily "safe" anymore.The Unifying Force round-table discussion (CD-ROM). Either way, it was this book with this plot point that was a key factor in Disney's decision to revoke the canonical status of the Expanded Universe.
Mark Hamill reprised his role as Luke Skywalker in a commercial for Vector Prime. He had a speaking role in which he, as Luke, recalled his previous struggles and talks of how he was unsure he could defeat this new threat, the Yuuzhan Vong.
In January 2025, Variety reported that a film entitled "Star Wars: New Jedi Order" starring Daisy Ridley and directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, was in development.
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Year Name Author Notes1999Vector Prime R. A. Salvatore2000Dark Tide I: OnslaughtMichael Stackpole – Dark Tide: Siege Michael Stackpolecanceled2000Dark Tide II: RuinMichael Stackpole2000Agents of Chaos I: Hero’s TrialJames Luceno2000Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse James Luceno2000Balance PointKathy Tyers2002Emissary of the VoidGreg Keyesshort story – Knightfall I: Jedi Storm Michael Jan Friedmancanceled – Knightfall II: Jedi Blood Michael Jan Friedmancanceled – Knightfall III: Jedi Fire Michael Jan Friedmancanceled2001Recovery (set during Edge of Victory I: Conquest) Troy Denninge-book novella2001Edge of Victory I: ConquestGreg Keyes2001Edge of Victory II: RebirthGreg Keyes2001Star by StarTroy Denning2002Dark JourneyElaine Cunningham2002The Apprentice (set during Dark Journey)Elaine Cunninghamshort story2002Enemy Lines I: Rebel DreamAaron Allston2002Enemy Lines II: Rebel StandAaron Allston2002TraitorMatthew Stover2002Destiny's WayWalter Jon Williams2002Ylesia (set during Destiny's Way)Walter Jon Williamse-book novella2003Force Heretic I: RemnantSean Williams & Shane Dix2003Force Heretic II: RefugeeSean Williams & Shane Dix2003Or Die TryingSean Williams & Shane Dixshort story2003Force Heretic III: ReunionSean Williams & Shane Dix2003The Final ProphecyGreg Keyes2003The Unifying ForceJames Luceno
Vector Prime Star Wars: The New Jedi Order – Vector Prime was written by American writer R. A. Salvatore and published in 1999. Upon its release, the book was featured on the New York Times Hardcover Bestseller List.October 2010 New York Times Times Bestseller list.
The alien race known as the Yuuzhan Vong are preparing for their invasion on the Star Wars galaxy by covertly disrupting the fragile peace established by the fledgling New Republic. The Praetorite Vong establish a base on the frozen backwater world of Helska IV. They are noticed by the ExGal-4 base on the nearby world of Belkaden, which is infiltrated by a Yuuzhan Vong agent named Yomin Carr who is readying the planet for Vong habitation by poisoning the world. The Skywalker-Solo family, unaware of the Yuuzhan Vong threat, visit Lando Calrissian at his industrious planet of Dubrillion. Lando asks Luke Skywalker and his wife Mara Jade to investigate what is happening on the world of Belkaden with R2-D2. When they go, Mara fights Yomin Carr and kills him, despite the sickness the Yuuzhan Vong gave her through their agent, Nom Anor.
Meanwhile, Han Solo, his son Anakin Solo, and Chewbacca go to the planet Sernpidal to pick up some cargo. When they arrive, they find that the Praetorite Vong plan to destroy the planet by pulling its moon Dobido into it. Han, Chewbacca, and Anakin save as many people as they can aboard the Millennium Falcon, but Chewbacca is accidentally left behind and dies as Dobido crashes into Sernpidal.
The final battle against the Praetorite Vong occurs when Jacen Solo senses a call in the Force from scientist Danni Quee. He takes his sister, Jaina, with him to rescue her, aided with forces from the New Republic. Once Jacen and Danni return, the New Republic destroys Helska IV and the majority of the Praetorite Vong are destroyed in this explosion; the New Republic has beaten this alien menace. However, the main Yuuzhan Vong invasion force has not yet even appeared in the galaxy. The novel ends with the Skywalker-Solos returning to Sernpidal so that Han can give Chewbacca's eulogy in the wake of his sacrifice.
Dark Tide I: Onslaught Dark Tide: Onslaught (also released as Dark Tide I: Onslaught) is the first novel in a two-part story by Michael A. Stackpole, published in 2000.
The novel begins right after the Second Battle of Helska. With the help of the New Republic military Leia Solo, her daughter Jaina, and Danni Quee all help forces around the Outer Rim territories unite against the Yuuzhan Vong. Luke Skywalker takes Jacen Solo with him to Belkaden to find the Yuuzhan Vong. While they are there Jacen has a vision of himself saving many people by killing various Vong warriors. He interprets the vision as a sign that he needs to free the Yuuzhan Vong's slaves, but he is captured. Luke rescues Jacen and they go to Dantooine, where Anakin Solo, Jacen's brother, and Mara are searching for a cure for the Vong disease.
Meanwhile, two Jedi Knights Corran Horn and Ganner Rhysode are sent on a mission to Bimmiel to find missing university students that were taken by the Yuuzhan Vong. Corran and Ganner save the students but Corran is severely wounded by Yuuzhan Vong warriors. The novel culminates in the Battle of Dantooine. Luke kills the Vong War Coordinator and releases the slaves. New Republic fleets started to evacuate the remaining Dantooine refugees. On Bimmiel, the Yuuzhan Vong, who are led by Commander Shedao Shai, discover the two dead Yuuzhn Vong warriors that Corran killed and he vows to kill the Jedi who killed his warriors.
Dark Tide II: Ruin Dark Tide: Ruin (also released as Dark Tide II: Ruin) is the second novel of Stackpole's two-part story, published in 2000.
Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial