Jedi Prince series
A young-reader series set in the Star Wars universe.
The Jedi Prince series is a young-reader science fiction trilogy set in the Star Wars galaxy, authored by Paul and Hollace Davids. Bantam Skylark released the books from 1992 to 1993. The story occurs roughly one year after *Return of the Jedi*, fitting chronologically between *The Truce at Bakura* (1993) and *Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor* (2008). The plot centers on the ascent of the false Emperor Trioculus, the hidden Lost City of the Jedi, and a twelve-year-old boy named Ken, who is known as the "Jedi Prince."
In *The Glove of Darth Vader*, the Empire lacks a leader after the Emperor's death. The Supreme Prophet Kadann foretells that the next ruler will wear Darth Vader's indestructible right glove. Senator Timothy Barclay dispatches Captain Dunwell to find it, while the Rebel Alliance and the Planetary Intelligence Network send C-3PO and R2-D2 to Kessel for intelligence. There, Grand Moff Hissa presents Trioculus, who claims to be Palpatine's son, as the heir. Trioculus fakes Force lightning to deceive followers but demands the glove to secure power. Captain Dunwell, head of the Mon Calamari Whaladon Processing Center, contacts Trioculus after finding the glove underwater. Luke Skywalker and Admiral Ackbar, having retrieved the droids from Kessel, arrive on Mon Calamari to download R2-D2's data. Despite the destruction of the whaling ship and Dunwell's death, Luke cannot prevent Trioculus from claiming the glove and becoming emperor. Trioculus vows to destroy Luke.
*The Lost City of the Jedi* begins with an assassination attempt on Luke's X-wing. Luke has a vision of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who tells him about the Lost City of the Jedi hidden beneath Yavin 4's rainforests. Unbeknownst to Luke, the city houses twelve-year-old Ken, the "Jedi Prince," who learns Jedi and Rebellion history from caretaker droids. While searching the forests, Luke meets a healer named Baji and encounters Ken, who flees after his droid Dee-Jay makes him vanish. Luke returns for Rebel help. Meanwhile, Emperor Trioculus learns from Kadann that he is not Palpatine's true son, though Kadann still blesses him. Kadann warns of the Jedi Prince, who could end Trioculus's reign. Trioculus infiltrates a Rebel meeting with a bomb, demanding the city's location. When they refuse, he prepares to detonate it but is distracted by Princess Leia.
Quick Facts
- Italic Title
- no
- Cover Artist
- Drew Struzan
- Genre
- Science Fiction
- Exclude Cover
- yes
- Author
- Paul and Hollis Davids
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series begins with The Glove of Darth Vader, where after the Emperor's death, the Supreme Prophet Kadann prophesies that the next Imperial leader will wear Darth Vader's indestructible glove. Imperial senator Timothy Barclay sends Captain Dunwell to find it, while the Rebels send C-3PO and R2-D2 to Kessel. There they encounter Grand Moff Hissa introducing Trioculus, who claims to be Palpatine's son. Trioculus obtains the glove and becomes emperor. In The Lost City of the Jedi, Luke has a vision of Obi-Wan Kenobi and learns of a hidden city beneath Yavin 4, where a 12-year-old boy named Ken, the 'Jedi Prince,' lives with caretaker droids. Trioculus, now blind from using the glove, fails to find the city, and Ken leaves with Luke. Zorba the Hutt's Revenge sees Zorba, Jabba's father, seeking revenge for his son's death. He captures Leia and Ken, but Ken escapes using a Jedi mind trick. Trioculus is frozen in carbonite by Zorba. In Mission from Mount Yoda, the Prophets learn Trioculus is still alive, and the Rebels encounter Triclops, Palpatine's true son, on Duro. Queen of the Empire involves Han and Leia's elopement plans at Hologram Fun World, interrupted by Zorba and Trioculus. Leia is rescued and replaced with a Human Replica Droid at the wedding.
Reader's Guide
The Jedi Prince series occupies a niche in Star Wars expanded universe history as a young-reader series published during the early 1990s. It introduced original characters such as Trioculus, a false son of Palpatine, and Ken, the 'Jedi Prince,' who is raised in a hidden city on Yavin 4. The series is notable for its inclusion of elements like the Glove of Darth Vader, the Supreme Prophet Kadann, and the Hutt Zorba, Jabba's father. While the series is not considered part of the main Star Wars canon, it contributed to the lore of the post-Return of the Jedi period, bridging events between The Truce at Bakura and Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor. Its significance lies in its target audience of young readers and its expansion of the Star Wars narrative during a time when the franchise was exploring new stories beyond the films.
Did You Know?
- The series was written by Paul and Hollace Davids and published by Bantam Skylark between 1992 and 1993.
- Trioculus claims to be Palpatine's son and becomes emperor after obtaining Darth Vader's glove.
- The Lost City of the Jedi on Yavin 4 is home to a 12-year-old boy named Ken, called the 'Jedi Prince.'
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