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The New Jedi Order: the story on HearLore | HearLore
— Ch. 1 · Series Genesis And Development —
The New Jedi Order.
~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
In 1998, Sue Rostoni and Shelly Shapiro joined forces with novelist James Luceno to plot a massive new saga. They created a series bible that coordinated nineteen novels spanning from 1999 to 2003. This document served as a database for new characters and continuity passed out to hired writers. The project became the longest-running Star Wars book series ever produced. Authors like R.A. Salvatore, Michael Stackpole, and Troy Denning contributed to the effort. George Lucas approved the concept of killing major film characters to raise stakes. Editors sent him a list of potential casualties including Luke Skywalker at the top. He replied with a list of who could not be killed. Chewbacca was not on his restricted list so he was selected for death. Mark Hamill reprised his role as Luke in a commercial for Vector Prime. He spoke about being unsure if he could defeat this new threat. The decision to kill such a beloved character caused sharp division among fans. Some thought it was an effort to boost sales while others saw dramatic purpose. This specific plot point later influenced Disney's decision to revoke canonical status.
The Yuuzhan Vong Invasion Plot
Twenty-one years after the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Second Death Star, a new enemy emerged from the outer galaxy. The Praetorite Vong established a base on the frozen backwater world of Helska IV. A Yuuzhan Vong agent named Yomin Carr infiltrated the nearby ExGal-4 base on Belkaden. He poisoned the planet to ready it for Vong habitation. Mara Jade fought Yomin Carr and killed him despite contracting a sickness from Nom Anor. Han Solo, Anakin Solo, and Chewbacca traveled to Sernpidal to pick up cargo. They found the Praetorite Vong plan to destroy the planet by pulling its moon Dobido into it. The trio saved people aboard the Millennium Falcon but Chewbacca was accidentally left behind. Dobido crashed into Sernpidal killing the Wookiee hero. Jacen Solo sensed a call in the Force from scientist Danni Quee. He took his sister Jaina to rescue her with New Republic forces. The final battle against the Praetorite Vong occurred when the New Republic destroyed Helska IV. The main invasion force had not yet appeared in the galaxy. The novel ended with Han giving Chewbacca's eulogy on Sernpidal.
Character Arcs And Sacrifices
Ganner Rhysode began as an arrogant young Jedi who mocked Corran Horn's inability to use telekinesis. He gradually became more humble after watching friends die on the mission to Myrkr. When Jacen Solo was captured during this mission, Rhysode searched for him even though they were not friends. Rhysode died fighting thousands of Yuuzhan Vong warriors so that Jacen and Vergere could escape. Tahiri Veila was pushed to a starring role after being taken prisoner at Yavin 4. She underwent experiments designed to create a Vong-human hybrid. Anakin rescued her which stirred romantic feelings they had held for years. When Anakin died above Myrkr, Tahiri was devastated. A Yuuzhan Vong personality implanted in her periodically took control throughout the series. Unlike other Jedi she possessed peculiar empathy with the Yuuzhan Vong. At the end she chose to stay on Zonama Sekot to help them build a better society. Jacen Solo underwent perhaps the most complete arc of the entire series. He began questioning whether it was right to use the Force as a weapon. After weeks of torture by Vergere he emerged with a willingness to use it offensively.
Vector Prime And Early Conflict
R.A. Salvatore wrote Vector Prime which was published in 1999. The book reached the New York Times Hardcover Bestseller List upon release. The alien race known as the Yuuzhan Vong prepared for invasion by covertly disrupting peace established by the New Republic. Han Solo, his son Anakin Solo, and Chewbacca went to Sernpidal to pick up cargo. They found the Praetorite Vong plan to destroy the planet by pulling its moon Dobido into it. Han, Chewbacca, and Anakin saved people aboard the Millennium Falcon but Chewbacca was accidentally left behind. Dobido crashed into Sernpidal killing the Wookiee hero. The final battle against the Praetorite Vong occurred when Jacen Solo sensed a call from scientist Danni Quee. He took Jaina to rescue her aided by New Republic forces. The New Republic destroyed Helska IV and the majority of the Praetorite Vong were destroyed in this explosion. However the main Yuuzhan Vong invasion force had not yet appeared in the galaxy. The novel ended with Han giving Chewbacca's eulogy on Sernpidal.
Fall Of Coruscant And Myrkr Mission
The Yuuzhan Vong warfleet attacked Coruscant from the OboRin Comet Cluster after assembling at Borleias. They used refugee ships containing prisoners to shield their fleet. Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya ordered Admiral Sovv to command the battle before a full Senate session. New Republic forces had no effective overall strategy as discipline broke down. Iblis ignored orders to hold fire and operated solely under his own command attacking head-on. The refugee ships piloted by Yuuzhan Vong smashed into Coruscant's shields to weaken them. Whole shield-grids failed and surface generators exploded. The skyline burned with crashing vessels and plasma fire from above. Orbital Defense Headquarters was crippled and fell out of orbit to the surface. Tsavong Lah's aide Romm Zqar tried to force Fey'lya to surrender. When he refused, Zqar killed him but Fey'lya planted a bomb triggered by his heartbeat. The explosion killed 25,000 Yuuzhan Vong warriors and destroyed part of the Imperial Palace. The Yuuzhan Vong eventually captured Coruscant and renamed it Yuuzhan'tar. Meanwhile Anakin Solo led a strike team to destroy the voxyn cloning facility on Myrkr. The group included Jaina, Jacen, Tenel Ka Djo, Zekk, Tahiri Veila, and Alema Rar. Anakin died fighting off many Yuuzhan Vong while destroying all voxyn samples. He bought time for his comrades to escape before succumbing to injuries.
Zonama Sekot And The Living World
Vergere revealed she had spent fifty years with the Yuuzhan Vong to save the living world of Zonama Sekot. She gathered intelligence on the species while protecting the planet. Luke Skywalker led a Jedi mission to find this lost world in the Unknown Regions. The team searched the Chiss capital world of Csilla for information in its library. They found evidence that Zonama Sekot was hiding disguised as a moon near Mobus. Nom Anor posed as Yu'shaa prophet of the heretical Jeedai cult beneath Yuuzhan'tar. He found turncoat priestess Ngaaluh who agreed to help topple Supreme Overlord Shimrra. Ngaaluh revealed rumors about a living world destined to be the downfall of the species. Nom Anor sabotaged Zonama Sekot's hyperdrive cores to kill it. He believed killing the feared world would get him back into the elite. Nen Yim discovered biological similarities between the Sekotan ship and Yuuzhan Vong DNA. The living world jumped into hyperspace taking the form of Nen Yim. It returned to known space to fight the Yuuzhan Vong. Alpha Red virus targeted anything sharing Yuuzhan Vong DNA including their creations.
Final Battle And Series Conclusion
Zonama Sekot appeared in the skies above Yuuzhan'tar causing disasters and opposition from heretics. Nas Choka took part of his fleet to destroy the living world using an Alpha Red-infected Slayer ship. Defending the planet were the majority of the New Jedi Order, Smugglers' Alliance, and Hapes Consortium fleet. Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, Jaina Solo, Jacen Solo, Tahiri Veila, and Kenth Hamner joined Captain Judder Page's commandos. They stormed Shimrra's Citadel to kill the Supreme Overlord. The battle ended the Yuuzhan Vong War once and for all. Nom Anor decided to forsake Shimrra's order seeing how deranged he had become. He realigned with the Shamed Ones against those loyal to Shimrra. Heretics were reinforced by Galactic Alliance soldiers who passed through space defenses. Space fleets of both the Alliance and the Vong duelled over the contested capital Muscave. The living world offered a distraction while the Jedi and Alliance gathered forces for one last showdown. The final confrontation occurred on Yuuzhan'tar where Shimrra was defeated. The galaxy began to heal after years of invasion and suffering.
Who created The New Jedi Order series bible in 1998?
Sue Rostoni and Shelly Shapiro joined forces with novelist James Luceno to plot a massive new saga. They created a series bible that coordinated nineteen novels spanning from 1999 to 2003.
When did Chewbacca die during the Yuuzhan Vong War?
Chewbacca died when his moon Dobido crashed into Sernpidal after being accidentally left behind by Han Solo, Anakin Solo, and himself while saving people aboard the Millennium Falcon. Han Solo gave Chewbacca's eulogy on Sernpidal at the end of Vector Prime which was published in 1999.
What happened to Coruscant during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion?
The Yuuzhan Vong eventually captured Coruscant and renamed it Yuuzhan'tar after refugee ships piloted by Yuuzhan Vong smashed into its shields. Orbital Defense Headquarters fell out of orbit to the surface and the skyline burned with crashing vessels and plasma fire from above.
How many years did Vergere spend with the Yuuzhan Vong before returning to known space?
Vergere revealed she had spent fifty years with the Yuuzhan Vong to save the living world of Zonama Sekot. She gathered intelligence on the species while protecting the planet and later returned to known space to fight the Yuuzhan Vong.
Who defeated Supreme Overlord Shimrra at the final battle of The New Jedi Order?
Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, Jaina Solo, Jacen Solo, Tahiri Veila, and Kenth Hamner joined Captain Judder Page's commandos to storm Shimrra's Citadel and kill the Supreme Overlord. The battle ended the Yuuzhan Vong War once and for all when the final confrontation occurred on Yuuzhan'tar.