The protagonist is Lorian Nod, and starts when he and Dooku are boys in the temple. Legacy of the Jedi jumps to Dooku as a Master with Qui-Gon, then on to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and finally Obi-Wan and Anakin during the Clone Wars. It’s got some rare background on Dooku from before he left the Jedi and became a Sith. Each generation finds themself dealing with Lorian Nod, whose life path takes twist he never dreamed as a child.
Legacy of the Jedi is tied to the Jedi Apprentice and Jedi Quest series. Four generations of Jedi masters and apprentices, with one tie, a former Jedi padawan Lorian Nod. This is one of only two books to give a view and Dooku’s youth and the only one to have an adventure with him and Qui-Gon Jinn.
It reveals a great deal about Dooku, starting with his final days as a padawn and the impact of Lorian Nod. Dooku had been chosen. Lorian still had not. When Lorian takes a rash action and panics,, the relationship shatters. Lorian’s mistake also reveals Dooku’s weakness, pride.
From this point on, Lorian’s life is a central theme of the book. Each Master apprentice relationship’s encounter with him is exposed a bit more to the light.
Dooku with Qui-Gon’s relationship is explored through this lens, and while brief it shows that while there is respect, there is no affection and that Qui-Gon is quite plain spoken about his disagreements. Dooku’s in three out of four of the legacy eras.
The part with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is a follow-up to JA Day of Reckoning. It does help to have read those, although Qui-Gon’s musings do fill in the basics of what happened there. Their relationship is just patch a rough patch and now is just beginning to heal. This adventure, not assigned by the Council, will help that.
Legacy of the Jedi Review
As a young adult book it’s pretty good. The terminology is a bit off (airspace in outer space where there is no air). It also confuses itself in that the worlds Junction 5 and Delaluna are called a planet with its moon in one chapter and 2 separate planets in the next.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are in keeping with where you’d expect at this point in their relationship, given the other stories. Dooku and Qui-Gon were an odd mix, there differences clear even in this short story.
Anakin and Obi-Wan is a bit rougher. It’s hard to say because later stories reveal they have grown much closer than this book indicates. On the other hand, this is still quite early in the war and Anakin is still reeling with the loss of his mother and arm. Anakin has an understanding of the heart Obi-Wan seems to lack. But he still has a temper and impatience that is understandably worrisome to Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan’s caring for his apprentice is very clear in this. Of course, given what went on during and post the Raxus Prime mission that is mentioned, may also be affecting Anakin still.
All told it’s a fun if short read.
Legacy of the Jedi by Jude Watson was originally printed in hardcover and is reprinted in a softcover omnibus with Secrets of the Jedi and the Last One Standing, also by Jude Watson.
Legacy of the Jedi Continuity and Lore
As I said, it helps to have read Jedi Apprentice up to the Day of Reckoning for the part with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, as it does bring up Obi-Wan’s circumstances and their present relationship.
The part with Anakin and Obi-Wan is set after the Jedi Quest series, in the first year of the Clone Wars, after Raxus Prime, which is detailed in the Clone Wars 2003 video game.
Yoda Dark Rendezvous mentions Dooku at this point in time, as he is about to leave the temple as a padawan.
Null, visited in the last era of the book, is a planet shown briefly in Republic Clone Wars comics
The characters Floria and Dane in Legacy of the Jedi are first seen in Jedi Quest 2, the Trail of the Jedi.
