The Black Fleet Crisis, also known as The Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy, is a trilogy of novels set in 16–17 ABY. The plot focuses on the New Republic's political crisis and military threats of the xenophobic Yevetha. At the same time, Luke Skywalker sets out to discover the truth behind his mother.
The Black Fleet Crisis trilogy consists of the novels Before the Storm, Shield of Lies, and Tyrant's Test.
This trilogy delves more deeply into traditional military science fiction than most Star Wars novels did prior to The New Jedi Order. A fair amount of each novel deals with fleet maneuvers and battles, as well as descriptions of warships and their crews.
A hardcover omnibus of all three books was published by the Science Fiction Book Club in 1997.
Publisher's summary[]
In the decade since they overthrew the Imperial yoke, the Yevetha have spurned nearly all contact with outside worlds. Now they have finally sent an envoy to meet with Princess Leia.
As viceroy of the Duskhan League, Nil Spaar represents more worlds, greater riches and more advanced technology than anyone who has come to Imperial City in the last twelve years. Leia knows the Duskhan League would be a valuable member of the New Republic.
But Spaar hasn't come to discuss membership. His species considers all others vermin—and he has come with a deadlier plan in mind....
As Leia deals with Spaar, a restless Luke meets an enigmatic Fallanassi woman who claims knowledge of his mother. In a desperate and dangerous quest, he journeys to the Fallanassi homeworld, where his every belief about the use of the Force is about to be challenged.
Includes Before the Storm, Shield of Lies and Tyrant's Test.
Author's synopsis[]
From Michael P. Kube-McDowell's FAQ:
- "THE BLACK FLEET CRISIS begins sixteen years after SW, in a time of peace for the New Republic--and with peace comes the first real chance for the weary warriors of the Rebellion, now in mid-life, to turn their attention to personal concerns which have taken a back seat to the duties and obligations of leadership. Han is placed on detached duty as he commits himself to parenting and protecting the children. Chewbacca goes home to Kashyyyk for his son's coming-of-age ceremonies and an extended visit as the returning hero. Luke builds a hermitage on Coruscant and disappears into it in pursuit of the deeper enlightenment's of the Jedi path--until a woman approaches him with the tantalizing promise of leading him to his mother's people. Lando, bored with both business and politics, comes to a New Republic covert ops chief in search of something interesting to occupy him--and is handed the puzzle of the Teljkon Vagabond, a mysterious "Flying Dutchman" starship which lurks in deep space and flees from all contact.
- The only person who can't put down her burdens is Leia, who--by virtue of her fame, the expectations of others, and her own sense of duty and obligation--has become a prisoner of the Presidency. But she's tired, stressed to her limits, emotionally fragile--two steps away from a profound personal crisis of confidence. And Nil Spaar, the canny, ruthlessly Machiavellian Viceroy of the Yevethan Protectorate, sees that as an opportunity he can exploit...an opportunity to shatter the New Republic from within."
