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| '''''Jedi Prince''''' is the informal name given to series of '']'' young reader ]s that "take up where '']'' left off." The title "] ]" refers to Ken, the twelve-year-old hero of the series who teams up with ] and the ] to fight ]. | '''''Jedi Prince''''' is the informal name given to series of '']'' young reader ]s that "take up where '']'' left off." The title "] ]" refers to Ken, the twelve-year-old hero of the series who teams up with ] and the ] to fight ]. | ||
| The Empire, led by Grand Moff Hissa and Supreme Prophet Kadann, attempt to install ] as ], claiming that he's ]'s son. Palpatine's real son, according to the series, is a |
The Empire, led by ] and ], attempt to install ] as ], claiming that he's ]'s son. Palpatine's real son, according to the series, is a lunatic named ]. It is for this reason that the series is also sometimes called the '''''Son of Palpatine''''' series or '''''The Trioculus Saga'''''. Both Trioculus and Triclops are mutants who have three eyes. | ||
| The books were written by a married couple, ] and ], and illustrated by ]. | The books were written by a married couple, ] and ], and illustrated by ]. | ||
Revision as of 07:45, 10 April 2006
Jedi Prince is the informal name given to series of Star Wars young reader novels that "take up where Return of the Jedi left off." The title "Jedi Prince" refers to Ken, the twelve-year-old hero of the series who teams up with Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance to fight the Empire.
The Empire, led by Grand Moff Hissa and Supreme Prophet Kadann, attempt to install Trioculus as Emperor, claiming that he's Palpatine's son. Palpatine's real son, according to the series, is a lunatic named Triclops. It is for this reason that the series is also sometimes called the Son of Palpatine series or The Trioculus Saga. Both Trioculus and Triclops are mutants who have three eyes.
The books were written by a married couple, Paul and Hollace Davids, and illustrated by Karl Kesel.
Entries
- The Glove of Darth Vader
- The Lost City of the Jedi
- Zorba the Hutt's Revenge
- Mission from Mount Yoda
- Queen of the Empire
- Prophets of the Dark Side
Characters
Ken
Template:SW character Ken is an overly enthusiastic youth, whose behavior is obviously meant to mirror Luke Skywalker. Raised in the Lost City of the Jedi for the first twelve years of his life, Ken joined the Alliance when he was discovered by Skywalker. Ken is the son of Triclops and, therefore, grandson of Palpatine.
Since the Jedi Prince series used Ken as its main hero, setting up Palpatine as his grandfather was obviously meant to mirror Luke Skywalker revelation that Darth Vader was his father. There is some ambiguity regarding his true origins, as all accounts of Palpatine fathering offspring have been discounted.
Many would argue, Ken is an example of a Mary Sue character, considering he upstages the canon characters and impresses them with his immense knowledge. He is also related to an important canonical character, owns an unusual pet, lacks a stated last name and is obviously meant to be the character the reader relates to.
Trioculus
Template:SW character
Chief Slavelord Trioculus and later His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Trioculus I of The Galactic Empire is the self-proclaimed son of Palpatine. As his moniker implies, he is in possession of a trio of visual sensing organs upon his face. He attempts to procure the glove worn on the hand that Darth Vader lost in his duel with Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi. This glove is rumored to bestow great power upon its holder.
The glove of Darth Vader
The Glove of Darth Vader (1992) is the first book of the Jedi Prince series by Paul and Hollace Davids.
In the book, Grand Moff Hissa sets up Trioculus as Palpatine's son and, therefore, heir to the Empire. However, Kadann, Supreme Prophet of the Dark Side, foretells the rightful heir will wear the glove of Darth Vader. Despite the efforts of Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance, Trioculus retrieves the glove from Calamari.
Triclops
Template:SW character Triclops is the real son of Palpatine and a mutant with three eyes, one being on the back of his head. His description suggests he was born in about 40 BBY, making him middle-aged by the time the series is set. When Palpatine died, rumors began to abound that Palpatine had a three-eyed son somewhere. Grand Moff Hissa took advantages of this and set up another three-eyed named Trioculus as Palpatine's son, since the Empire considered Triclops to be both insane and dangerous. He was moved to an asylum on Duro.
Triclops had produced an offspring named Ken, who was in cahoots with the Alliance; a pacifist, he opposed the Empire as much as the Rebels did. He joined the Alliance as well.
There is also a character in the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series named "Tri-Klops."
Grand Moff Hissa
Template:SW character
Grand Moff Hissa, whose alien origins, signified by his pointed teeth, seems to contradict with the Empire's supposed "anti-alien" politics, seems to be far more in control than Trioculus, whom he, it appears, manipulates to his advantage. The fact that Hissa explains everything to Trioculus (for the benefit of the reader) gives the impression Trioculus is an idiot and therefore helpless to Hissa's manipulation.
Supreme Prophet Kadann
Dreamer of Dark Dreams, Supreme Prophet of the Dark Side Kadann is notable is being one of few the characters from the series to be depicted in any other work of the Expanded Universe, along with Zorba the Hutt. Kadann is a bearded dwarf and prophesied that the next Emperor would wear the glove of Darth Vader, hence Trioculus' interest in it. In the Dark Side Sourcebook, it is revealed that this Kadann was a Jedi who was secretly turned to the dark side before the Great Jedi Purge. He pledged his loyalty to Palpatine, and was thus spared and became one of his chief advisors. Kadaan had remarkable talent with foreseeing the future (hence his title of Supreme Prophet); he had foreseen the Emperor's death at Endor and tried to warn him (a warning that went disregarded, of course.) Of course, this biography only applies to the original Kadann; the false Kadann, instated by Imperial Intelligence to head the Church of the Dark side was eventually slain aboard Scardia Station by Grand Admiral Afsheen Makati.
The Lost City of the Jedi
The Lost City of the Jedi (1992) is the second book of the Jedi Prince series by Paul and Hollace Davids.
In the book Trioculus is made leader of the Galactic Empire after finding the coveted glove of Darth Vader. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker and company discover a lost city on Yavin 4 which was once occupied by the ancient Jedi. The city is home to a twelve-year-old boy named Ken, who is the "Jedi Prince" that poses a threat to Trioculus and the Empire.
To find Ken, the Empire tries to burn down the rainforests of Yavin 4. However, their plans are thwarted and Ken joins the Rebel Alliance. The city of the title appears again in the series in Prophets of the Dark Side.
Fan reaction
The series is generally not popular with fans of the movies, who consider them to be silly. Fans have accused the series of being preachy and politically correct, with every book having a "save the environment" theme. Fans also believe the film characters don't appear very often and, when they do, act out of character. The books are also of arguably low literary quality with largely sophomoric dialogue:
"And stop kshhhing in my ear," Ken added. "You do that every morning, too. Just once I wish I could hear the bark of a dog, or the meow of cat, instead of the kshhhhh of a mooka."
...and the use of strange and obscure things such as "Hologram Fun World" and several different words beginning with "Moff" (Moffship, Mofference). In response to the negative critique, Paul Davids points to the popularity of the series among student readers and their sales of millions worldwide.
Continuity
Despite the unpopularity of the series, its places, situations, and technology are frequently referenced in other Expanded Universe sources, though its characters themselves seldom appear.
The series has been retconned in many ways. For example, according to Paul Davids, the series takes place over the course of five years, but the Star Wars timeline lists all the events as taking place within the same year and as being generally of little importance. The wedding of Han Solo and Leia Organa set to take place at the end of the series is never shown, and for some reason or other is postponed until the later novel The Courtship of Princess Leia. (The authors have explained that they planned to show Han and Leia's marriage in a later issue, but that the series was cancelled before they could actually show it.) Another retcon is that Kadann and the others were trying to steal power away from Ysanne Isard. Isard is never mentioned in the series--in fact, it's frequently implied there is no Imperial leader other than Trioculus--but this retcon was created to fit the series into the established timeline.