Star Wars is finally providing the team-up that’s been decades in the making as Anakin and Luke Skywalker work together against Sith spirits on the Sith redoubt of Exegol. Luke Skywalker always hero-worshiped his father, dedicating himself to becoming a Jedi, like his father before him. That was why he reacted with such horror in The Empire Strikes Back when he learned Anakin Skywalker had in fact become Darth Vader.
But even this only left Luke shaken for a while. By the time of Return of the Jedi, he had concluded even Darth Vader could be redeemed. He was proven correct, with Anakin fulfilling his destiny as the Chosen One and betraying Palpatine. Anakin’s redemption was confirmed by the Force itself, with the final scenes of Return of the Jedi confirming he was at one with the Force as a Force Ghost. According to official tie-ins, Anakin’s Force Ghost would visit Luke many times over the next decade, offering him guidance and counsel as he reestablished the Jedi Order.
Lucasfilm has published an excerpt from Adam Christopher’s upcoming novel Shadow of the Sith, revealing Anakin was far more than just an adviser. The book is set shortly before the prequel trilogy, and in the excerpt, Luke is seeking out the Sith redoubt of Exegol – where he senses the power of the dark side is gathering. Luke heads to the ancient Jedi Temple of Tython, and when he meditates there, his spirit is transported to Exegol. Unfortunately, Exegol’s defenses are strong; Luke is confronted by nine Sith spirits, and although he manages to match them, his own power is insufficient to defeat them. Fortunately, Luke gets an unexpected assist when Anakin Skywalker’s Force Ghost manifests alongside him. The full excerpt can be read on Lucasfilm’s official Star Wars website.
Shadow of the Sith was already one of the most eagerly-anticipated Star Wars books of the year. It serves a crucial purpose, helping bridge the gulf between the original trilogy and the sequels. But the excerpt suggests there’s far more to it than that; it seems to also be an exploration of the Skywalker legacy, with Anakin Skywalker’s Force Ghost operating openly against Palpatine and his forces. Star Wars: The Last Jedi confirmed Force Ghosts can interact with the physical world, but it’s possible they are even more powerful on Exegol. The planet is a vergence in the Force where the veil between life and death is unusually thin, explaining why Palpatine could only be resurrected on Exegol in the first place.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker revealed Luke was aware the power of the dark side was growing, and even tried to find his way to Exegol. Adam Christopher’s novel takes this one step further, however, revealing just how close Luke was to discovering Palpatine had returned; the Force even allowed him to set foot on the ashy surface of Exegol. No wonder Palpatine feared Luke Skywalker in particular and went to such drastic lengths to get him out of the way. He knew the greatest hero of Star Wars had the potential to ruin all his plans, especially if he worked with Anakin Skywalker’s Force Ghost.
Source: Star Wars
Key Release Dates
- Rogue Squadron (2023)Release date: Dec 22, 2023
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