Death Star (novel)

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For other uses, see Death Star (disambiguation).
Death Star
Author Michael Reaves
Steve Perry
Country U.S.
Language English
Canon C
Subject(s) Star Wars
Genre(s) Science Fiction
Publisher Del Rey
Released October 16, 2007
Media Type Hardcover
Pages 336
ISBN ISBN 0-345-47742-1

Death Star is a 2007 science fiction novel by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry that is set in the Star Wars galaxy. It deals with the construction of the Death Star, which first appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

[edit] Synopsis

The Death Star is an enormous space station capable of destroying an entire planet, constructed under the orders of the ruler of the then new Empire, Emperor Palpatine. Aware of the possibility of rebellion, Palpatine knew that the Death Star would instill fear throughout the galaxy, as well as give him an invaluable weapon in destroying his enemies. The architect of the project was Wilhuff Tarkin. The novel depicts the many politics and hidden agendas behind the massive project, from its construction up until its final destruction.

[edit] Dramatis Personae

  • Atour Riten: (Human male) Imperial Navy commander, Chief Librarian

Atour has a deep passion for knowledge, and uses the knowledge he gains keeping libraries to keep his enemies in check; or out of his way. He hatches a plan to escape the Death Star with Ratua, Uli, Memah, Stihl, Rodo, Teela, and Vil after the tragedy of Alderaan. He has a certain respect for Stihl for his knowledge of philosophy.

  • Celot Ratua Dil: (Zelosian male) convicted smuggler

Ratua was a smuggler that got caught up in a pirate round-up and was convicted to life on the prison planet Despayre. He escaped to the Death Star and hid there under the alias Teh Roxxor. He fell in love with Memah while in the Hard Heart cantina, and it's implied that he may be Force-sensitive. It is believed he's force-sensitive because during battle he can suddenly become super fast.

Motti is best known in the Star Wars universe as the man Darth Vader chokes near the beginning of Episode IV. Motti recruits Memah Roothes and Rodo after the Soft Heart cantina is burned down.

In this novel, she visits Grand Moff Tarkin for a "personal visit" and gets a major head wound during a battle against the Rebel Alliance. Dr. Divini is one of the three doctors who perform her surgery.

Darth Vader arrives to inspect the progress of the Death Star project, and eventually stays for a while after capturing Princess Leia.

  • Kornell "Uli" Divini: (Human male) Imperial Surgical Corps captain

Uli appears in this novel after being transferred to the under-staffed Death Star. He gets into a little trouble after looking up info on midi-chlorians for Sergeant Stihl, but he still makes it out alive when he and others escape. He is one of the three doctors to do surgery on Admiral Daala.

  • Memah Roothes: (Twi'lek female) pub tender

In the beginning of the story, Memah starts out tending her own pub in the Southern Underground of the Imperial City (formerly [Coruscant]), when her pub and every store on the block is mysteriously burnt down, assumedly for insurance benefits. She gets a job on the Death Star, meets Ratua, and goes on to escape with the rest of the crew.

  • Nova Stihl: (Human male) Imperial Marines guard sergeant

Stihl studies various philosophies and Teräs Käsi, the latter of which he teaches to prisoners on Despayre and, after being transferred to the Death Star, to the people living there. His ability to use the Force is explored more than Ratua's because the results of a blood test he took shows that he has twice the midi-chlorian count of a normal person. Nova and Rodo are killed on the death star while trying to stall stormtroopers to let the others escape.

Rodo is the bouncer at both of Memah's bars. He also studies several martial arts despite his huge stature. Rodo befriends Nova Stihl because of their skill with martial arts. He also aids the escape from the Death Star. Rodo and Nova die stalling the stormtroopers to let the others escape.

  • Teela Kaarz: (Mirialan female) architect; convict

Teela was convicted of treason for being on the wrong side of a political argument. She was brought to work on the Death Star because before her incarceration, she was a galaxy-class architect. Ironically, she found the fault that the Rebel Alliance exploited, and tried to get it covered, but protocol didn't allow her to make that change to the plans.

  • Tenn Graneet: (Human male) Imperial Navy master chief gunnery officer

He is the man in charge of the firing sequence of the Death Star's giant laser. He starts out eager and confident, but after destroying Alderaan, he feels desperately guilty. Tenn tries to stall shooting the super lazer on Yavin 4 at the Battle Of Yavin.

  • Villian Dance: (human male) Imperial Navy lieutenant

Vil is a top-notch TIE pilot, recruited to the Death Star. After a battle against the Rebel Alliance that was more of a suicide run for them, Vil begins to doubt the workings of the Galactic Empire. After Alderaan is used to test the super-laser, he decides that the Empire is evil, and escapes. It is possible that he may be sensitive to the Force, because he out-maneuvers Darth Vader.

Grand Moff Tarkin is the man in charge of the Death Star project and, when it's completed, the Death Star itself. He answers to no-one but the The Emperor himself, and believes that the Death Star is the ultimate power in the universe, making him, by association, the most powerful man in the universe.