In Yoda Dark Rendezvous by Sean Stewart, during the Clone Wars, a Jedi returns to the temple with a message for Yoda. Dooku claims to want peace. Unlikely as the prospect is, Yoda must set out to find the truth, with 2 Jedi and their padawans. The meeting is on a dark side world of Vjun, and even getting there on this secret mission is fraught with peril.
One of the most interesting things about Yoda Dark Rendezvous I find in this is the rare look at the inside of the temple dynamics. In fact, it’s the only time we really see it in the adult novels. You have to dive into Jedi Apprentice and its related series to see the life of padawans and relationship to the Masters otherwise.
We have a nice contrast between the old former Jedi, now Sith, Count Dooku and his remembrance of being temple student with Yoda, against the younger ones like Whie and Scout. Whie is in Revenge of the Sith and his nightmareish visions in this novel foreshadow that. Scout is an all new character and a big contrast as we usually hear about strong Jedi, rather than the ones weak in the force and struggling.
We also have Jai Maruk and a gran Jedi, Master Leem. One is full of battle fever, the other, suffering as a peace keeper Jedi who see the terrible damage done on even those Jedi not directly in combat. These both face challenges in Yoda Dark Rendezvous and must learn from not only their padawans but each other.
Having Anakin and Obi-Wan in the mix confused me a bit because at first it implied that Anakin was still a padawan. Also I wasn’t sure the point of having the two in there. It took awhile to realize that Anakin was there primarily to goad Dooku to jealousy, proving Sidious’s astute read of the situation.
These characters carry through a fascinating story to meet with Count Dook and discuss peace, as unlikely as it may seem, led by the venerable Master Yoda. But the Master Sith knows all that goes on, and won’t take any chances on their success. And Asajj Ventress has too little knowledge and too much initiative to not interfere.
Yoda Dark Rendezvous Continuity and Lore
In Yoda Dark Rendezvous, he is a reflection of the ancient Jedi we meet on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back as seen through Luke Skywalker’s eyes. Mischievious, tricky, and very observant.
While he seemed rather hard on both Luke (in The Empire Strikes Back) and Anakin (in the Phantom Menace) his attitude toward young Scout is the opposite. Possibly as he’s recognizing that her struggles being weaker in the force have made her stronger in ways other than force sensitivity than those that are more gifted with natural ability.
Asajj Ventress appeared in the Clone Wars microseries by Tartovsky and in the Clone Wars comics. She is also in Cestus Deception and a bit in Jedi Trial. But I’d say the animation and comics are the closest to this book, in that it explores her relatonship with Dooku more.
Whie Malreaux is in Revenge of the Sith and … well we know how that ends for all on screen Jedi except Yoda, Kenobi and Skywalker.
Jai and Leem are not mentioned outside this story.
Scout actually briefly appears in the last Republic Commando story: Imperial Commando by Karen Traviss, briefly.
She would’ve appeared in the cancelled Imperial Commando 2, according to Karen Traviss.
That’s on Traviss’s site as archived here.
Anakin Skywalker’s appearance and reaction to Vjun is notable simply because the planet Vjun first appeared as Darth Vader’s castle in Dark Empire 2. It’s revisited in Junior Jedi Knights #5 Vader’s Fortress and Jedi Academy the video game. In Jedi Academy, Kyle Katarn appears as a non player character and his behavior is a bit manic, something that makes more sense after reading Yoda: Dark Rendezvous.
Yoda also is featured in Jedi Quest 5: The Shadow Trap, Jedi: Yoda (the comic), Clone Wars microseries by Genndy Tartovsky, Luke Skywalker and the Treasures of the Dragonsnakes graphic novel, and the Clone Wars Adventures digests. He does frequently show up in both the Jedi Apprentice and Jedi Quest series.
Dooku also is featured in Star Wars Legacy of the Jedi by Jude Watson and Bounty Hunter video game.
