August 18th 2009.  That is the date that Star Wars Fate of the Jedi Abyss was released.  Fast forward to this Tuesday, March 9th of 2010, and we finally have the newest  chapter of the Fate of the Jedi saga on the shelves of our local bookstores.  Now it’s been awhile since we saw Luke and the gang and their adventures, after the break you can get a refresher on what has happened so far in the series.

Aaron Allston’s Outcast opened the series with a bang Luke Skywalker, hero of the galaxy, has been exiled from Coruscant for ten years or until he can prove what made Jacen fall to the Dark Side.  If that wasn’t enough Jedi are starting to go crazy, showing off abilities only Jacen himself knew.

The first victim was Seff Hellin in James Luceno’s Millennium Falcon.  Not only could he paralyze people with the Force like Jacen could but you Amelia Solo noticed that he felt like Jacen did in the Force.  The next victim was Valin Horn, the son of the famous Rogue Squadron pilot and Jedi Master Corran Horn.  If that wasn’t enough Valin was taken into custody by the Galactic Alliance government under orders from Chief of State Natasi Daala.

In order to quell the storm that was brewing Luke and Ben Skywalker took off in the hopes of retracing Jacen’s path.  Their journey brought them to Kel Dor, where Luke and Ben were taught by the Baran Do Sages.  Their journey offered some insights into Jacen’s quest but didn’t illuminate the path with a definitive answer of when he fell.

Back on Coruscant things were getting rough for the Jedi, under the supervision of government observers the Jedi couldn’t go anywhere without them knowing about it.  In typical fashion Han and Leia as well as their adopted daughter Amelia took off to help their old friend Lando on Kessel.  It was here that we learned things haven’t been going to well since the descrution of Centerpoint Station, and young Amelia heard an eerie voice calling out to her while she was playing outside.

By the end of the novel most of the plot lines were sewn up with enough room to build upon for the rest of the series.  The Jedi observers had been removed from the Jedi, Luke and Ben helped the Baran Do Sages and Han and Leia helped Lando to the best of their abilities, with the help of a rag tag team of pilots.

In Christie Golden’s entry into the Star Wars Universe Fate of the Jedi Omen introduces us to the Lost Tribe of the Sith, especially Vestara Khai.  We learn how the heirarchy works within the Lost Tribe and that they have been stranded on Keth for millennia.  Vestara’s fate becomes intermingled with that of Ship, the Sith Meditation Sphere that Ben found on Xiost.  Ship teaches the Lost Tribe that the Sith do not rule the galaxy, instead the Sith have been destroyed my Luke Skywalker and his Jedi Order.  Under Ship’s tutelage the Lost Tribe sets out to build a fleet, starting with repairs to their own crashed ship, the Omen.  Before the Lost Tribe can launch their attack Ship takes off after sensing something more powerful in the galaxy.

On Coruscant the latest victim of the Jedi madness is Jysella Horn, who now has the ability to see the future in a form of flow walking.  Jysella’s sudden madness was another blow to the Horn family, who have lost both children to the effects of this disease.  Master Cighal informs Luke and Ben of what happened and they choose to head out to the Kathol Rift in search of the Aing-Tii, the group that taught Jacen how to flow-walk.

Once there Luke and Ben meet Tadar’Ro.  In order to continue on to the Aing-Tii homeworld the Skywalkers have to use the Force to communicate with the Aing-Tii.  The encounter forces Ben to give up, but Luke maintains contact with the Aing-Tii and learns his name.  At this point the Skywalkers are given the coordinates to the Aing-Tii homeworld.

Tadar’Ro informs the Skywalkers that the Aing-Tii society is being torn in two.  A prophet who made many correct predictions warned that Those Who Dwell Beyond the Veil would return in his lifetime, then he died.  This led to much controversy in amongst the Aing-Tii.  Tadar’Ro agrees to tell Luke and Ben about Jacen’s journey if they agree to find relics, sacred artifacts that were ordained by Those Who Dwell Beyond the Veil, for the Aing-Tii.  Tadar’Ro believed that if Luke and Ben touched the right artifact it would reveal a way to help the Aing-Tii.

Back on Coruscant Han and Leia, along with Jedi Knights Radd Minker and Natua Wan, take Allana to the Livestock Exchange and Exhibition to find a pet.  In true Solo fashion the tamer animals do not capture the imagination of young Allana.  While looking at the more dangerous animals of the galaxy Jedi Knight Natua Wan begins to suffer from the same madness allicting her friends.  After escaping Jedi Wan’s traps the Solos attempts to stop Jedi Wan are captured on video by the reporter Javis Tyrr.  Tyrr was also able to record Seff Hellin within the Jedi Temple and broadcast it on the Holonet.  This prompted Admiral Daala to call a meeting with the Jedi Order.  The Jedi allow the Galactic Alliance to the two Jedi so a cure can be found.  In exchange the Jedi must turnover the names of the Darkmeld members and agree to be interviewed by the media.  Jaina does not reveal Tahiri Veila’s role in Darkmeld since she has resigned from the Jedi Order.  After the tumultous events Jaina returns to her quarters to a waiting Jagged Fel.  Fel, the defacto leader of the Galactic Empire, proposes to Jaina.

Back on the Aing-Tii homeworld it is decided that Luke and Ben must enter the Embrace, a system of caves that holds the Aing-Tii’s artifacts.  During their time within the Embrace Luke and Ben discover the Codex.  During Luke’s time with the Codex his powers were greatly enhanced and he had the sudden sensation of a disturbance in the Maw.  Luke knew that that was where they would have to head to next.  When Luke and Ben emerged they informed the Aing-Tii that while they had learned much they didn’t have an answer for their current problem.  Luke said that they must decide on their own whether to believe the prophet or not, accept the new beliefs that time was pre-ordained or return to the old ways.  Before Luke and Ben leave Tadar’Ro shows Ben how to flow-walk, he goes back to when Jacen spent time among the Aing-Tii and saw that Jacen wasn’t corrupted by the Dark Side at this point in his journey.  The Skywalkers are warned of the Mind Drinkers that await them in the Maw and they take off into uncertainty.

At the moment that Luke touched the codex, Master Rhea of the Lost Tribe senses Luke’s power and it is decided that the Lost Tribe will send a strike force to kill Luke Skywalker.

Back on Coruscant Allana admits that she would like the young nexu cub whose mother was killed during the melee caused by Jedi Wan.  As the novel closes Tahiri Veila is arrested by the Galactic Alliance.

Things continue to pick up on all fronts in Troy Denning’s Fate of the Jedi Abyss.  On Coruscant things continue to escalate between the Jedi and Admiral Daala.  The Jedi want to protect the ones who have been afflicted with sudden madness and the Galactic Alliance wants the Jedi to surrender the sick Jedi. 

Meanwhile in the Maw Luke and Ben make their way to Sinkhole Station, a space station similiar to Centerpoint.  Once there they meet the Mind Walkers, following Jacen’s path Luke transcends his body to travel beyond the shadows to learn what caused Jacen’s fall.

Ship, under the control of Abeloth, brought the Lost Tribe of the Sith to her planet within the Maw in order to kill Luke Skywalker.  Abeloth, who appears as a human female says she has been stranded their for thirty years and wants to leave.  Although she continually sabotages the Lost Tribe’s attempts to get free of the planet.  It is during one such attack that Vestara starts to see Abeloth in her true form. 

Back on Coruscant things have come to a head between the GA and the Jedi as Mandalorians are sent in to retrieve the sick Jedi.  Han and Leia, with the help of Jaden Korr transport the sick off of Coruscant and take them to Shedu Maad in the Hapes Cluster.

As Luke’s journey beyond the shadows continues Ben sets out on his own path to bring his father back to the Jade Shadow, knowing his father is running out of time.  Together Luke and Ben travel through the Lake of Apparitions.  Across the lakes is Abeloth in the Mists of Forgetfulness, the Mind Walkers refer to her as the Lady in the Mists.  It is here in the Lake of Apparitions that Luke and Ben visit with three very familiar characters.  The first is Anakin Solo, who warns them that the Jedi shouldn’t put all their hopes in one sole Jedi.  The second is Mara Jade Skywalker, she explains that she has a lot to answer for.  Worried that it has something to do with her service to Emperor Palpatine, Mara explains the actions behind her confrontation with Jacen weren’t all that Jedi.  Luke and Ben continue on and they meet the final of three old friends, Jacen Solo.  In true fashion to what he became Jacen’s appearance was an enigma.  He told Luke and Ben to let Jaina know that he forgave her.  Luke then questioned him about who he saw on the Throne of Balance, Jacen wanted to know what Luke saw first.  Luke responded that he saw Allana by a white throne surrounded by friends.  Jacen, clearly relieved, said that it wasn’t Luke that he saw on the throne.  Before Jacen disappeared Ben forgave Jacen for his actions, Jacen then told Luke and Ben they had all the time in the galaxy.  At that point they knew they had to get back to the Jade Shadow instead of continuing to try and reach the Lady in the mists.

After Luke’s refusal to talk to Abeloth, she allows Ship to take the Lost Tribe to Sinkhole Station to confront the Skywalkers.  An epic duel between Jedi and Sith ensues, with Luke and Ben taking on the Sith assassin strike force.  As the battle rages on Luke squares off with Lady Rhea, Vestara’s master, and slices her into four pieces.  Vestara, the lone Sith survivor, manages to cut Luke across the face and Luke uses a blood trail to track the young Sith across the galaxy.

Now the adventure continues this Tuesday with Aaron Allston’s Star Wars Fate of the Jedi Backlash!!

Special thanks to our own Jaina Solo for the use of the Horn family and Allana sketch cards!