Dark Apprentice (novel)

Dark Apprentice is a Star Wars Legends novel written by Kevin J. Anderson. It is the second volume of Star Wars: The Jedi Academy Trilogy, following Jedi Search and preceding Champions of the Force. It was first published in paperback by Bantam Spectra in June 1994.
==Publisher's summary==
As the New Republic takes devastating losses in the ongoing war with the scattered remnants of the Empire, the galaxy's future depends on three small children—among them the Jedi twins—born to incredible powers and perils, as an extraordinary new Star Wars saga unfolds….
While the New Republic struggles to decide what to do with the deadly Sun Crusher—a new doomsday weapon stolen from the Empire by Han Solo—the renegade Imperial Admiral Daala uses her fleet of Star Destroyers to conduct guerrilla warfare on peaceful planets. And now she threatens the watery homeworld of Admiral Ackbar. But as the battle for a planet rages, an even greater danger emerges at Luke Skywalker's Jedi academy. A brilliant student delves dangerously into the dark side of the Force and unleashes the spirit of an ancient master of the evil order that warped Darth Vader himself. Working together, they may become an enemy greater than any the New Republic has ever fought… more powerful than even a Jedi Master can face.
==Plot summary==
Leia Organa Solo and Admiral Ackbar narrowly avoid death in a crash-landing on Vortex, a failed assassination attempt by Imperial loyalist Furgan. Hundreds of innocents are killed in the disaster, and Ackbar—blaming himself for causing the crash—resigns his rank in disgrace.
When Kyp Durron arrives at the Jedi Praxeum, he starts learning the ways of the light side of the Force, astonishing all the other students with his extraordinary talent and his aptitude for Force training. However, he also starts learning of the dark side of the Force after Gantoris' death. (Gantoris had been corrupted by the spirit of Exar Kun but turned against him; in revenge, Exar Kun burned Gantoris alive.) Exar Kun's spirit begins tempting Durron. Durron's power increases considerably, and he is tainted by the dark side and the lies Kun tells him of the history of the Jedi Order. After a violent disagreement with Tionne Solusar over ancient history involving the fall of Exar Kun, Durron assaults Skywalker. With the dark aid of Kun, Durron rips Luke's soul from his body, placing him in a coma. With his strength in the Force, Durron reaches out and guides the Sun Crusher from the heart of the gas giant Yavin and sets out on a mission of vengeance against Admiral Daala and the Imperial Remnant. He knows that his brother, Zeth Durron, is still part of the Empire, and he sets course for Carida, intending to rescue him by force if need be.
==Continuity==
The 2012 book The Essential Reader's Companion dates the events of Dark Apprentice to 11 ABY, following Jedi Search and preceding Champions of the Force.
==Media==
===Editions===
*; June 1994; Bantam Spectra; US paperback
*; June 28, 2011; Bantam Spectra; US eBook 
===Cover gallery===
==Appearances==
==Collections==
*Star Wars: The Jedi Academy Trilogy omnibus
==Sources==
*
*The Essential Reader's Companion
==Notes and references==
==External links==
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Category:Legends novels