Star Wars: Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight

Star Wars
Coruscant Nights I
Jedi Twilight
by Michael Reaves


This was a book I was looking forward to reading as it takes place not long after the Jedi Purge via Order 66. Also it's written by an Author who's books I've also enjoyed reading. Now while it was still enjoyable to read it just seemed as if something was missing from his writing. It was almost like the whole thing was rushed instead of being flushed out more. Or maybe it was not re-written/edited in the same manner as normal.

Of all his books only one other that I've read is by him alone, Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, the other 3 books, Medstar duology and Death Star, were written with Steve Perry. Now I enjoyed the writing in all these other books so maybe it was just an off book for him.

This book brings back the reporter Den Dhur and his Droid compatriot I-5YQ, also known as I-Five, from the Medstar Duology. While they are not the main driving force behind this story they do have a big part to play. I-Five is looking for his old partner's son who was given to the Jedi, Jax Pavan, soon after he was born as he promised he would. However, I-Five and Den aren't the only one's looking for Jax. His old Master Even Piell is also looking for him along with the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader. Everyone has their own reasons for locating Jax.

Jax now a Jedi fugitive on the run is trying to fit in any way he can down-level on Coruscant without drawing any attention to his true abilities. He's sent on a mission, by Master Piell, to retrieve information from a droid for the new underground resistance that is starting up. However, he's not the only one looking for this droid as both the crime syndicate, Black Sun, and the Empire are looking as well. Through the mission he meets up with Laranth Tarak, a Jedi Paladin, Nick Rostu, an ex-Republic Army Major now on the run, Den and I-Five.

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Master Piell is caught by some Empire Stormtroopers and is dieing when Nick Rostu enters to drive off the Stormtroopers. Before he departs Piell informs Nick of the mission he has and asks him to seek out Jax for him. Jax meanwhile gets exposed as a Jedi by some henchmen for a local Hutt crime lord, Rokko. When troopers show up to arrest him he and Nick, who shows up just in time to follow the troopers into the building, fight their way free. After explaining the mission to Jax they part ways. This is where the Paladin, Laranth, comes into play as Jax tracks her down. Together they go to to Rokko to work out a deal with him to look for the droid together.

Meanwhile, Den and I-Five are searching for Jax as well. Through some dead ends like finding Jax last known whereabouts deserted and news of a fight with troopers in the area they decide to follow Den's reporter methods. In searching the records they find a video of Jax having a meeting with Rokko and his bully boys. Following this lead they "sell" I-Five to Rokko and interestingly enough his first assignement for the Hutt is to retrieve his guests to come before him. Hmm someone's Karma is working overtime here. Yep I-Five finally meets his old partners son face to face for the first time. Jax's reaction is to just dismiss the droid as he has no use for him. However, fate intervenes as Rokko feel uneasy about his newly aquired droid knows his new partner and hold them all at gun point. I-Five gets them out of that situation and a few more. As time goes on he starts to think differntly of I-Five, but that does take some time, like most of the book.

Meanwhile, Vader has his aide, Haninum Tyk Rhinann, looking for Jax as well. In looking for Jax he tracks down the fight in Jax's building and identifies Nick as a fugitive. Thinking it would be easier to find an ex-soldier versus a Jedi with a very common name he tracks down Nick and has him brought in before Vader. Vader basically blackmails Nick by saying he would wipe out his entire Clan if he didn't turn Jax over to Vader. With no choice but to comply Nick takes off after Jax.

From the Black Son front Prince Xizor is set to find the droid with the data that everyone wants. Also, a second mission is given to the Prince's main rival for an open Vigo spot, Kaird. That mission is to assasinate the Prince and if possible retrieve the droid. Kaird botches the attempt and ends up being the prisoner of Xizor who has already found the droid.

At about this same time Jax and his group, which now also includes Nick, enter the same area just as Xizor is interrogating Kaird. During a firefight Xizor, Kaird and the robot take off for the other side of the planet. Jax and company in hot pursuit. The enter an abandoned section of the planet that is populated with wild species as well as feral droids. This is the lair of Xizor's secret labratory. As Jax and co show up they get attacked by some feral droids. Nick meanwhile moves off to communicate with Vader but ends up running into Xizor. Nick leads them back to the other group. A big fight ensues where Xizor and Jax battle it out.

Even though Nick never made the call to Vader he noticed the traker they put in Nick had moved to the other side of the planet so decided to start heading over.

Xizor end up escaping form Jax and leaves the area. Jax meanwhile senses Vader approaching so he has I-Five use his lightsaber to set a chain reaction off in a reactor below them. With limited time to get out of there they barely make it out of the area before the whole place blows. Vader also barely escapes via an escape bod from his ship.

Next Up: Forest Mage: Book Two of the Soldier Son Trilogy