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Jedi vs. Sith: Star Wars: The Essential Guide to the Force (Star Wars: Essential Guides) Kindle Edition

by Ryder Windham (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.7 507 ratings

Part of: Star Wars: Essential Guides (5 books)

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THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE ABSOLUTE POWER AT THE HEART OF THE STAR WARS GALAXY

The Force, in the immortal words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, “surrounds us, it penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together.” The fortunate few who are able to tap into this extraordinary power have studied and cultivated the full spectrum of its potential–either embracing its virtuous qualities or succumbing to its evil temptations. The Jedi seek to bring peace and enlightenment to the galaxy, while the Sith hunger only for conquest and control.

This comprehensive one-of-a-kind overview chronicles the known history of the Force and its wielders down through the ages, from the founding tenets of Jedi and Sith teachings to the landmark events and legendary figures who have shaped the struggle between the light and dark sides. In first-hand accounts by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo, Darth Bane, Darth Vader, Count Dooku, Emperor Palpatine, and a host of other Jedi Masters, Sith Lords, scholars, and sages, Star Wars: Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force spans the breadth of available knowledge, including

• the first recorded discovery of the Force
• significant battles affected by the Force throughout galactic history
• the purpose, construction, and importance of Holocrons
• the evolution of the Jedi and Sith orders
• Force-sensitive abilities–including battle meditation, telekinesis, and “mind tricks”
• noteworthy Jedi and Sith lightsabers, and the seven forms of lightsaber combat
• a vivid portrait of the Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker
PLUS–More than one hundred brand new full-color illustrations!

No Star Wars library is complete without this definitive guide to understanding the Force. Remember: the Force will be with you . . . always!

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

PART ONE
HISTORY AND HOLOCRONS
RECORDED 40 A.B.Y.
AUTHOR: TIONNE SOLUSAR

The Jedi Order was founded more than twenty-five thousand standard years ago, at the same time as the formation of the Galactic Republic. Although the origins of the early Jedi remain mysterious, ancient texts indicate that they not only shared abilities to manipulate the energy field we call the Force, but were also compelled to use their powers selflessly to help others. This practice became a key foundation of the Jedi Order.

However, as long as there have been Jedi, there have been those who have been tempted to use the Force for selfish and even nefarious purposes; Jedi drawn into the negative side of the Force known as the dark side became referred to as Dark Jedi. Approximately seven thousand years ago, a conflict between Jedi and Dark Jedi led to the latter fleeing to the far reaches of space. Shortly afterward, a few of these Dark Jedi—known as the Exiles—managed to return to Republic space in an attempt to destroy the Jedi. The effort failed, and the Jedi learned that the surviving Exiles had conquered the people of the Sith system and proclaimed themselves Sith Lords.

For nearly two thousand years, the location of the Sith system remained unknown to the Jedi, while the Sith Lords were unable to find their way back to Republic space. The Sith’s eventual return initiated what became known as the Great Hyperspace War. It was during a subsequent conflict—the Sith War, which occurred more than four thousand years ago—that the Sith triggered the explosion of ten suns, causing a shock wave that ravaged the original Jedi Temple and the Great Jedi Library on Ossus. Research has revealed that the Jedi rescued only a fraction of the materials from the Great Jedi Library, and that these items were brought to Exis Station before they were eventually transferred to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

Fortunately, all was not lost on Ossus, as the planet’s remote location, dry atmosphere, and native Ysanna—descendants of the Jedi who remained on Ossus after the cataclysmic disaster—helped preserve many ancient scrolls and books that remained in the ruins of the library. These texts, along with all known Jedi-related data that survived the Clone Wars, are now held at the new Jedi library on Ossus.

Contemporary Jedi also have two very unusual resources on the history of the Sith: The Lundi Series, recorded lectures of Professor Murk Lundi, who was by most accounts a better teacher than researcher; and the Wavlud Manuscript, which was recovered from the personal effects of Ingo Wavlud, a suspected Sith sympathizer from the world of Byss. Although The Lundi Series frequently fails to cite specific sources and some data appears to have been invented by Lundi to boost his academic reputation, the heavily annotated Wavlud Manuscript not only corroborates many of Lundi’s findings but also provides previously unknown information regarding the Darth title and the Sith Lord Darth Sidious.

THE HOLOCRONS

The most precious and significant sources of Jedi history are held in Jedi Holocrons. Both compact repositories of knowledge and interactive learning devices, Holocrons employ patterns of organic crystals and hologrammic technology to simulate conversation with long-dead Jedi “gatekeepers,” whose teachings infuse particular Holocrons. With few exceptions, Jedi Holocrons are cubes that can easily be held in one’s hand. Evidently, Holocrons are partially powered by the Force, as only Force-users can activate them; once activated, anyone—even non-Force-users—can communicate with the gatekeepers. However, not all data is readily accessible, because Holocrons are engineered to detect students’ abilities in order to hold back elements they are not prepared to know.

In addition to the exotic Holocrons, Jedi utilized standard data tapes for some educational aspects. Data tapes lack the archival qualities of books, scrolls, and Holocrons, but it is most fortunate that some have survived, as they’ve provided many details about the training of Jedi during the Old Republic era. Nearly all of the existing tapes were recovered from a single source: the wreck of the Chu’unthor, a mobile training academy for groups of Jedi apprentices, which crashed more than three centuries ago on Dathomir.

Records also indicate that the Jedi Archives on Coruscant once held a collection of Sith Holocrons, most of which were pyramidical and—because they housed information that was dangerous in the wrong hands—off limits to the majority of Jedi. Like Jedi Holocrons, Sith Holocrons implement restrictive mechanisms to detect whether a student is prepared to receive certain knowledge. The Sith’s hologrammic simulacra can exert only verbal influence, but allegedly attempted to corrupt otherwise innocent beings and draw “students” down the path to the dark side. The Jedi Order’s earliest known awareness of Sith Holocrons dates back to the end of the Great Hyperspace War, when one was recovered from an abandoned Sith ship by the Jedi Odan-Urr. Odan-Urr kept this Sith Holocron for nearly a millennium before it was stolen by the Jedi Exar Kun, who used it to learn many secrets of the Sith. It is also highly probable that at least one Jedi with the knowledge of Holocron construction was among the Exiles who proclaimed themselves the first Sith Lords.

Although the Jedi once regarded Sith Holocrons as tools and not evil entities, the devices are embodiments of temptation to those who hope to achieve power by way of arcane knowledge. During the Clone Wars, the former Jedi Count Dooku—at the time, one of only twenty Jedi Masters known to have renounced the Jedi Order—stole at least one Sith Holocron from the Archives on Coruscant and also acquired the Sith Holocron of Darth Andeddu. Like Exar Kun, Count Dooku became a Sith Lord; while it is conceivable that the respective experiences and personality traits of both individuals guided their paths to the dark side, the possession of Sith Holocrons certainly directed their courses as well. Records do not reveal the fate of the Sith Holocrons used by Exar Kun and Count Dooku.

Various databases and eyewitnesses testify that the Jedi Archives on Coruscant held scores of Jedi Holocrons. Unfortunately, the ancient technology of the Holocrons, as well as the majority of the devices themselves, may be lost to time. Because Holocrons have been such a significant resource in the creation of this record, descriptions of noteworthy Holocrons precede a detailed time line of events in Jedi and Sith history.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BH0VTOS
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Worlds (April 30, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 30, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 38389 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #256,394 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #145 in Star Wars Series
- #2,008 in War & Military Action Fiction (Books)
- #2,594 in Space Opera Science Fiction (Kindle Store)

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4.7 507 ratings

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Ryder Windham
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Ryder Windham has written over 80 books, including titles for LEGO Bionicle, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Transformers. An avid blood donor, he has worked with members of the Star Wars costumer clubs—the 501st Legion, Rebel Legion, and Mandalorian Mercs—to help promote voluntary blood donations all over the world.
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Chris Trevas
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Chris Trevas has been creating Star Wars artwork for over 15 years. He's worked with numerous licensees to create art for books, games, trading cards and packaging. His books include Jedi vs. Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force, The Essential Atlas, Star Wars Blueprints: The Ultimate Collection, and Millennium Falcon - A 3-D Owner's Guide. Chris works from his home studio in Michigan where he lives with his wife and daughter.
www.christrevas.com
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Brian Sanders

Rediscover Pre-Disney Star Wars Lore: A Captivating Journey!

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2023

Verified Purchase

As an avid Star Wars fan, I recently purchased the "Jedi versus Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force" book, and let me tell you, it's a nostalgic trip back to the original Star Wars lore. While it has become a bit challenging to fully embrace this book due to the significant changes in the Star Wars canon after Disney took over, it still holds a special place in my heart.

Before Disney's acquisition, the Star Wars universe had a rich and intricate history, and this book encapsulates all that beautifully. It serves as a comprehensive guide to the Force, shedding light on the epic battles between Jedi and Sith, and exploring the depth of their abilities and philosophies.

What I appreciate most about this book is its ability to transport readers back to a time when Star Wars followed a different direction. It takes me on a journey through the pages, reminiscing about the captivating characters and storylines that were later omitted or transformed by Disney's new vision for the franchise.

If you're someone who's unfamiliar with the pre-Disney Star Wars lore, this book is an absolute treasure trove. It serves as the ultimate resource, providing detailed insights into the origins and evolution of the Force, Jedi, and Sith. It's a window into the rich tapestry of a universe that has undergone significant changes but remains an integral part of the Star Wars legacy.

Although I must admit that reading this book is tinged with a hint of melancholy, knowing that some of the elements explored here no longer align with the official canon, I still highly recommend it for its historical significance and its ability to immerse readers in a bygone era of Star Wars storytelling.

In conclusion, "Jedi versus Sith: The Essential Guide to the Force" is a valuable addition to any Star Wars fan's collection, especially for those interested in exploring the franchise's pre-Disney days. Dive into the pages and rediscover the beauty of a universe that once was, and let your imagination soar amidst the tales of the Jedi and the Sith.

2 people found this helpful

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Roberto

The ultimate guide on Star Wars lore...

Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2019

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I’ve always been a fan of Star Wars (as cliched as that sounds, especially given the current state of the franchise), I’ve loved the franchise for as long as I can remember, and I find it’s mythos particularly interesting.... having said that, I am overall not pleased with the way the franchise has evolved under Disney at all (don’t dismiss me just yet, I promise I not going to start ranting or trashing the new films or anything like that, I’m just establishing my current perception) so once I realized that I wasn’t on-board with the current Star Wars, I started looking for my fix on other sources, and in the end, I have to be grateful to Disney because otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten so much into the Extended Universe (aka Legends) as I have now.

Before the sequel trilogy, I had just read some excerpts on a few books here and there, then a lot of things happened with the franchise and I started looking somewhere else, so to I go into this used book store, and I find an old copy of “Heir to the Jedi” (Star Wars at its finest btw), I read it, and that’s when The EU really got me good.

Now then, Jedi vs Sith, unlike Heir to the Jedi, is not so much a Novel, but more of a treaty on the larger Star Wars mythos. Here they discuss multiple traits, customs and traditions of both the Jedi and the Sith Lords, but they also take a peek at various very interesting characteristics of other force sensitive beings and societies. This book is, in my opinion, a absolute “must-read” for anyone that wants to know more about the lore of the galaxy far far away.

It doesn’t matter if you love or hate the current Star Wars, whether you think TLJ is a masterpiece, or you dream of (figuratively) slapping Rian Johnson for murdering you favourite franchise, Jedi vs Sith goes great lengths to shed some light on many obscure details surrounding the millennial battle between the light and dark side.

Even if this is not considered canon anymore, I seriously doubt that Disney will ever go as much into detail as to delve into the nature of the living force, especially from the perspective of different cults and religions both known and unheard of even in the Lucas era, so if you want to take a dive into the deeper lore of Star Wars, this is an great place to start.

8 people found this helpful

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Jedi AC

A great book for Masters and Younglings alike

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2023

Verified Purchase

Very simple read. A simple guide to the Jedi way. Types of Jedi, fighting styles and how to live on the Jedi path. Great book.

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2012

Verified Purchase

Star Wars woke up in me a desire to study this stuff, since Lucas took mostly Chinese ideas for this, including particularly the Tao Te Ching. The Rhyming Tao Te Ching is my favorite approach. Sun Tzu's Art of War is also worth reading. I also found: Urban Shaman , Secrets of Shamanism: Tapping the Spirit Power Within You , Amazing Secrets of Psychic Healing , You the Healer: The World-Famous Silva Method on How to Heal Yourself and Others , Shadow Strategies of an American Ninja Master , The Art of Chi Kung: Making the Most of Your Vital Energy , Redneck Shaman , The Future Is Yours: Do Something About It!Matrix Energetics: The Science and Art of Transformation , and Theta Healing: Introducing an Extraordinary Energy Healing Modality . Why do I mention all these books? Because each has a piece of the pie, to following abilities. I'd mention more, except Amazon has a limit of 10. I mention books like this to see what other people will cite; I have found some real gems, by seeing what books people compare a book to. This is a good book, with what I thought was useful material. I bought it for a Star Wars freak I know, and he liked it a lot.

3 people found this helpful

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Nick Imber

Great Guide to the Galaxy

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2023

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The book is written as an in-universe collection of Jedi knowledge. It's really neat as it is kind of immersive to read the information told to you as if you were in the Star Wars universe.

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Luiz Antônio da Silva Santos

Perfeito de tão maravilhoso

Reviewed in Brazil on February 1, 2022

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Veio perfeitamente, produto excelente

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K. D.

4 1/2 stars

Reviewed in Canada on March 7, 2021

Verified Purchase

The legends history of the Jedi and the Sith and all other types of force users

IlSolitoRedz

Monumentale e imprescindibile

Reviewed in Italy on April 12, 2022

Verified Purchase

Volume ormai Legends, in lingua inglese (non eccessivamente complessa) e riccamente illustrato. Il formato è la copertina flessibile.

PRO:
- Il non plus ultra della lore legata ai Jedi e ai Sith.
- Illustrazioni inedite realizzate ad hoc da artisti di primissimo livello.
- Enciclopedia da leggere a sprazzi, ovunque si cerchi si troveranno succose informazioni e curiosità.

CONTRO:
- Nulla da segnalare.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Excelente

Reviewed in Mexico on September 2, 2019

Verified Purchase

El pedido llego a tiempo y sin problemas

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XO

DAS Buch über die Jedi und Sith!

Reviewed in Germany on June 23, 2011

Verified Purchase

Wenn man gerne in die Star Wars Welt tiefer eintaucht und vor allem, wenn man die Geschichte der Jedi und der Sith interessant findet, dann ist dieses Buch die benötigte Quelle um nahezu alles zu erfahren. Sämtliche Beweggründe und Philosophien der beiden Parteien finden sich in diesem Buch. Erzählt wird alles von einer Jedi Historikerin (Tionne Solusar) und die Sith Quellen stammen aus Aufzeichnungen von Imperator Palpatine. Abgedeckt wird dabei eine Zeitspanne von der Enstehung der Jedi (und damit auch der Sith) bis in die Zeitalter nach dem neuen Jedi Orden (Darth Krayt hat die Regel der Zwei gebrochen...)
Beim lesen will man gerne zwischenzeitlich ein Gespräch mit einem Jedi oder Sith Meister führen um zusätzlich noch weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Fragen zu stellen ;)
Ausserdem ist die Erzählung begleitet von unglaublich guten Bildern der Künstler Edwards und Trevas.
Ich kann das Buch nur jedem Star Wars Fan empfehlen (Mann muss nur etwas Englisch können (und auch ab und zu unbekannte Wörter nachschlagen die man nicht aus dem Zusammenhang schließen kann))

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Jedi vs. Sith: Star Wars: The Essential Guide to the Force (Star Wars: Essential Guides) Kindle Edition

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Product details

Videos

About the authors

Ryder Windham

Chris Trevas

Customer reviews

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Top reviews from the United States

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Top reviews from other countries