• Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

  • By: James Luceno
  • Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
  • Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (5,918 ratings)

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Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader  By  cover art

Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

By: James Luceno
Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
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Publisher's summary

Throughout the galaxy, it was believed that Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, had died on Coruscant during the siege of the Jedi Temple. And, to some extent, that was true. Anakin was dead.

From the site of Anakin Skywalker's last stand, on the molten surface of the planet Mustafar, where he sought to destroy his friend and former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, a fearsome specter in black has risen. Once the most powerful Knight ever known to the Jedi Order, he is now a disciple of the dark side, a lord of the dreaded Sith, and the avenging right hand of the galaxy's ruthless new Emperor. Seduced, deranged, and destroyed by the machinations of the Dark Lord Sidious, Anakin Skywalker is dead, and Darth Vader lives.

Word of the events that created him, the Jedi Council's failed mutiny against Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the self-crowned Emperor's retaliatory command to exterminate the Jedi Order, and Anakin's massacre of his comrades and Masters in the Jedi Temple, has yet to reach all quarters. On the Outer Rim world of Murkhana, Jedi Masters Roan Shryne and Bol Chatak and Padawan Olee Starstone are leading a charge on a Separatist stronghold, unaware that the tide, red with Jedi blood, has turned suddenly against them.

For the handful of scattered Jedi, survival is imperative if the light side of the Force is to be protected and the galaxy somehow, someday reclaimed. Yet more important still is the well-being of the twin infants, Leia and Luke Skywalker, the children of Anakin and his doomed bride, Padme Amidala. Separated after Padme's death, they must be made safe at all costs, lest the hope they represent for the future be turned to horror by the new Sith regime, and the unspeakable power of the dark side.

©2005 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM; Random House Audio, a divsion of Random House, Inc. (P)2005 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM; Random House Audio, a divsion of Random House, Inc.

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What listeners say about Star Wars: Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    3,910
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Why abridge this story

Why abridge so many of these books grrrrrrrre I hate that they do that bah bah bah bah bah at bah

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110 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Force Lives!

As one of the premier authors of the Star Wars series, James Luceno is known for the depth of his insights and the skill of his storytelling. In "Dark Lord" he demonstrates his skills at their finest. The story brings the Star Wars fan into new revelations about the development of critical characters and the abridged story moves smoothly, holding the listeners interest throughout. The production value of the story is a treat, providing plenty of "extras" to enhance the listeners enjoyment of the audio and nothing to get in the way.

"Dark Lord" is a true triumph in the Star Wars pantheon.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The story needed to be told

For all the star wars fans who were left with an empty feeling after Revenge of the Sith. Dark Lord gives you an inside look at Darth Vader! His Feeling his towards his new self and the jedi. Includes sound effects, a must for all star wars fans.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Novel

I have read numerous Star Wars novels and this was my first audible book. I enjoyed it very much, it was almost like watching a movie in my head. The content and storyline kept me wanting for more every minute. I hope they continue this storyline with more novels because I would buy them in a heartbeat. Wonderful Narration!

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable

I downloaded this book as a casual Star Wars fan simply wanting to be entertained while I exercised. I thought the story line sounded pretty interesting and this book certainly delivered in that respect. For me, the sound effects and "radio-play" feel of the reading worked. It helped me escape and lose myself in the SW universe.

I would recommend this for someone who simply wants to be entertained, pure and simple. No deep thinking necessary. Just sit back and enjoy it.

By the way, it seriously whetted my appetite for the next book in the series, if there is to be one. Something to fill the gap between the end of Dark Lord and the beginning of A New Hope would be great.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Only for the hardcore Star Wars fan.

All of these tales set in the Star Wars universe follow the same format. They share the familiar sound effects, and the classic John Williams music. Yet these classic elements are not near enough to make up for the lack of story. This book is sold as Darth Vadar's journey after Episode III, yet Vadar is barely explored during the story, the narriative moving with a few Jedis on the run. At least the reader is decent. So unless you're a big fan of the Lucasverse save your bucks!

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This should have been unabridged.

I am really enjoying Jonathan Davis's narration of the Star Wars galaxy. This should have been included in the official Star Wars Cannon.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The bridge between Anakin and Vader

I know some didn't like how whinny Vader was in this story and to be honest at first I didn't either, however, Vader has only existed a short time when this story starts and this story shows Vader going from the whinny Anakin Skywalker to the infamous Darth Vader many have come to fear and love over the years.

I do like the bridge stories because they fill in the gaps when cannon throws a wrench into everything many authors wrote and I am sure The Force Unleashed will throw even more wrenches into things we have all come to accept as fact within the star wars universe. Expect more bridges. To date my favorite bridge books are the Darth Bane trilogy.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

It's about time!!!

For years, I yearned for Star Wars audio to be added to Audible and noticed that finally, they are. The narrator is clear and conscise; sound effects are as always, "Lucas approved perfection" and James Luceno has written another great addition to the saga. For those listeners who are not avid Star Wars readers, this book is a great listen. However, people like me who have read just about every book, the abridged addition is a bit of a disappointment. The numerous characters, weapons and "other stuff" in this book can be confusing to some, since there are many but it is a definite must listen especially with the cool sound effects.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Greatly enriched Darth Vader!!

A well told story, well voice acted, accompanied nicely by sound effects, vocal effects, and music. Very easy to understand even despite its amazing wording and awe inspiring vocabulary. Luceno's done it again. Far less a political intrigue than other books such as Plagueis, this goes straight into what happens just after the fall of the Republic, and describes how the rest of the galaxy was manipulated and lied to about the happenings of Order 66 and why it was executed in the first place.

Loved listening to Vader, loved hearing about his armor, his suspicions and his doubts. So lost in the dark side. Also, I found myself really enjoying the protagonist Jedi! Great dynamics!

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4 people found this helpful