Talon Karrde is a character in the Expanded Star Wars universe.

A smuggler in the novels, he began his work as an underling to Jorj Car'das, who left the business after a strange event on Dagobah. Karrde and Booster Terrik took over Car'das' operations, though Booster was caught, and sent to Kessel. Karrde took over much of his organization as well.

While Karrde does deal with the smuggling of goods, his primary concern is information, and he aids the New Republic in several cases by providing intelligence that his organization has collected.

While on a safari, he encounters Mara Jade, and recruits her into his organization as an advisor. She later becomes his second in command.

Karrde's goal was to stay neutral in the Galactic Civil War, but due to Grand Admiral Thrawn's activites on his base of operations, Myrkr, he ended up all but siding with the New Republic, thought he continued to adamantly state his neutrality.

The Empire, however decided that he was a threat, and took him captive. Luke Skywalker, who had been saved by Karrde when found in a crippled X-Wing, worked with Mara Jade to rescue him.

Karrde, wanting to repay the debt, provided the locations of the Katana fleet, a lost battle group of mechanized warships, to the New Republic.

In the years that followed, Mara left his organization for personal reasons of her own, regarding Luke, their relationship, and her Jedi training.

During the New Jedi Order series , Karrde worked closely with Lando Calrissian to form the Smuggler's Alliance , which aids the New Republic in several important battles.

Talon Karrde enjoys giving his starships pun names, such as the Wild Karrde , the Etherway , the Uwana Buyer , and the Starry Ice .

External link

• Talon Karrde's File at Star Wars.com