Galaxy of Fear
A 12-book young adult horror series set in the Star Wars galaxy.
Galaxy of Fear is a young adult science fiction horror book series set in the Star Wars universe. It takes place six months after the events of *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope*. John Whitman wrote all twelve novels, which were published between February 1997 and October 1998. Each book is between 100 and 200 pages in large print.
The story follows three characters and a droid: Tash Arranda, her brother Zak, their Shi'ido uncle Mammon Hoole, and his droid DV-9. Tash and Zak are survivors of Alderaan's destruction. Both are Force-sensitive children hiding from the Galactic Empire while searching for lost Jedi history.
The first six books form a single story arc. In these, the protagonists uncover pieces of a large Imperial biological weapons experiment called Project Starscream. Each component they find is dangerous on its own. The final six books do not share a central arc. By this point, the main characters are wanted fugitives moving from planet to planet to avoid Imperial authorities.
The twelve titles are: *Eaten Alive* (February 1997), *City of the Dead* (February 1997), *Planet Plague* (April 1997), *The Nightmare Machine* (June 1997), *Ghost of the Jedi* (August 1997), *Army of Terror* (October 1997), *The Brain Spiders* (December 1997), *The Swarm* (February 1998), *Spore* (April 1998), *The Doomsday Ship* (June 1998), *Clones* (August 1998), and *The Hunger* (August 1998).
Devin Rose of the *Chicago Tribune* reviewed the series, calling *Eaten Alive* "star-rific" despite finding "all this Star Wars' mania" tiresome. Natalie Zutter at *Reactormag* described the series as containing "slimy bump monsters, boneworms that sucked you dry, brain-swapping spider robot monks, cute li’l babies that could turn people into goo and suck them up."
See also: Goosebumps. External links: Plot summaries at the Star Wars Cargo Bay Page.
- Author
- John Whitman
- Genre
- Young adult science fiction horror
- Number of books
- 12
- Publication dates
- February 1997 to October 1998
- Setting
- Star Wars galaxy, six months after A New Hope
- Page range
- 100 to 200 pages in large print
Lore & Background
The series follows three people and a droid: Tash Arranda, Zak Arranda, their Shi'ido uncle Mammon Hoole, and his droid DV-9. Tash and Zak are survivors of the destruction of Alderaan, two Force-sensitive children trying to hide from the Galactic Empire while investigating the lost histories of the Jedi. The first six books form an arc in which the protagonists discover pieces of a large Imperial experiment in biological weapons, codenamed Project Starscream. Each of these books deals with the heroes discovering various components of Project Starscream, each dangerous in its own right. The next six books lack a central arc; the protagonists, now wanted fugitives, travel from planet to planet attempting to avoid Imperial authorities.
Reader's Guide
Galaxy of Fear is notable as a young adult horror series that expands the Star Wars universe shortly after the events of A New Hope. It introduces original characters—Tash and Zak Arranda, their uncle Mammon Hoole, and droid DV-9—who are not part of the main film saga. The series is divided into two halves: the first six books form a connected story about Project Starscream, an Imperial biological weapons experiment, while the second six books are episodic adventures of fugitives. The books were published over a 20-month period from 1997 to 1998. Reviews from the Chicago Tribune and Reactormag highlight the series' horror elements, with one reviewer calling it 'the stuff of your deepest, darkest fears.' The series is sometimes compared to Goosebumps, indicating its place in the young adult horror genre.
Did You Know?
- The series is set six months after Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
- The first six books form an arc about an Imperial biological weapons experiment called Project Starscream.
- The protagonists include two Force-sensitive children who survived the destruction of Alderaan.
- The books range from 100 to 200 pages in large print.
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