Dark Forces : Jedi Knight Dark Forces : Jedi Knight was the third and final volume in the " Dark Forces " trilogy of novellas written by William C . Dietz . It was originally released on October 14 , 1998 by Dark Horse Comics and Boulevard . Both the hardcover and trade paperback include twenty - five full - color illustrations by Dave Dorman . Publisher ' s summary . Hardcover . Back cover . " Kyle Katarn , Rebel agent and novice Jedi , has just returned from his covert operation to find the location of the Valley of the Jedi . But he knows that the evil Jerec , a dark Jedi with designs on the Empire ' s throne , knows where the Valley is too . Upon returning to the Alliance , and with the support of Luke Skywalker himself , Kyle offers to find the Valley and stop the oncoming Imperial invasion — and , at last , fulfill his destiny as a Jedi . " " Based on the popular " " and " " interactive games , " Jedi Knight " is part three of a trilogy written by acclaimed author William C . Dietz ( " Steelheart " ) and illustrated by award - winning " Star Wars " cover artist Dave Dorman . " Inside flap . " The dark Jedi Jerec continues his search for the legendary Valley of the Jedi and sends his Imperial minions to invade the remote planet on which it is hidden . But the Valley ' s location is also known to Kyle Katarn , who has returned with Jan Ors and Luke Skywalker from their secret mission . Kyle proposes that he and Jan sneak onto the planet and stop the Empire themselves , which leads to his most dangerous — and important — mission yet . " " This brand - new adventure trilogy provides background to , and incorporates elements of , the LucasArts " DARK FORCES " and " JEDI KNIGHT " interactive games . " Jedi Knight " completes the trilogy begun in " " and continued in " " . " Trade paperback . Now available in trade paperback , this graphic - story album — a prose novella with twenty - five full - page painted illustrations — concludes the sweeping trilogy based on characters and events introduced in the popular " " interactive games . " Jedi Knight " chronicles the adventures of Rebel agent Kyle Katarn as he seeks to prevent the legendary Valley of the Jedi from falling into the hands of the Empire ' s Jerec , a dark Jedi who plans to harness the unbelievable power of the Valley for his own ends . " Kyle Katarn , Rebel Agent and novice Jedi , has discovered the location of the legendary Valley of the Jedi . But Jerec , a dark Jedi seeking to dethrone the Emperor , orders an Imperial invasion against the world where the Valley is hidden . " " With the support of Luke Skywalker , Kyle volunteers to sneak onto the planet and stop the Empire before they can find the Valley in his most dangerous — and important — mission yet . " " A mission that presents the opportunity , at long last , for Kyle to fulfill his destiny as a Jedi . " Behind the scenes . The account of the Seventh Battle of Ruusan in this book differs somewhat from the more detailed account told in the 2006 novel " " , though Dark Forces : Jedi Knight was published several years earlier . It is difficult to tell which account is canon ; the account in this book takes place through a dream vision given to Kyle Katarn as he is knocked unconscious . He sees the events from the perspective of the human Jedi Tal , who was close to General Hoth . Tal is not mentioned in " Path of Destruction " , which details the events of the battle in its present day . Notably , in this book the thought bomb is prepared by Kaan ' s Brotherhood in advance of the Army of Light ' s arrival , and the scene takes place in a valley . In the other , it takes place deep in a cave and the bomb was simultaneously created and detonated . The Jedi happen to enter the cave just as the bomb is about to be detonated . Cover gallery . This is a gallery of the different cover variations of " Dark Forces : Jedi Knight " .