Ferus Olin was a Jedi Padawan of Master Siri Tachi during the time before the Battle of Geonosis. Olin was well respected in the order and was quite dedicated to it. He had a rival through Anakin Skywalker who was apprenticed to Obi-Wan Kenobi. Skywalker didn’t care for how strict the Jedi were. He and Olin often went on several missions together as their masters were often together. Their goal was to capture Zan Arbor who had murdered the Jedi master Yaddle.
A short while before the Clone Wars Olin had decided to leave the order due to the guilt he felt due to the death of Darra Thel-Tanis. He befriended Roan Lands on Bellassa and they formed a business simply called Olin and Lands. Their business would create new identities for anyone wanting to escape the Empire.
After Order 66, Olin was found by Kenobi, one of the last Jedi to survive the purge. Kenobi convinced Olin to relearn the ways of the Force. Olin would create a safehouse for fugitive Jedi. Thanks to Olin, the Rebel Alliance was beginning its early stages. While searching for Jedi survivors with his new comrade Trevor Flume he eventually came to the attention of Emperor Palpatine.
Palpatine wanted Ferus to be a spy which he did agree to do, however, Ferus would be a double agent looking to harm the Empire from within. Ferus would ultimately realize that Darth Vader was in fact Anakin Skywalker. They confronted each other which ultimately lead Ferus to decide to (on advice from Kenobi) travel to Alderann to watch over Anakin’s daughter Leia as Fess Illee.
When Princess Leia was captured by Vader of Tatooine in 0 B.B.Y, Bail Organa, who knew of Ferus’ presence, sent him to try and find her, which was why Ferus was off planet when the Empire destroyed Alderann.
Eventually, Olin caught up again with the Rebellion and ended up working with Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. To allow Leia to escape a battle on a moon, Olin engaged Vader in a lightsaber duel. After taunting the Dark Lord, Olin was stabbed in the heart by Vader. Leia eventually found Olin’s body and through this sacrifice, he helped the Rebels escape to defeat the Emperor three years later.
I discovered Ferus when I first read the Jedi Quest novels where he was introduced as a rival to Anakin Skywalker. I found it exciting to see him return in the Last of the Jedi novels. It was enjoyable seeing a familiar character be introduced since Obi-Wan had to stay on Tatooine to watch over Luke.
Ferus was a character that I liked. I don’t hear many people talk about him as much as they do other characters, like Kyp Durron, for instance. Personally, I liked his storyline--his frustrations with the Jedi and his eventual return to the Force.
Ferus is a character that deserved more. There was at one time a rumor he would appear in the Force Unleashed, however this was obviously not true. Looking back, I’m happy with what he got, but the rival of Anakin Skywalker deserved more time in the spotlight.
Appearances
Jedi Quest: The Way of the Apprentice (First appearance)
Jedi Quest: The Dangerous Games
Jedi Quest: The Master of Disguise
Jedi Quest: The School of Fear
Jedi Quest: The Shadow Trap (Mentioned only)
Jedi Quest: The Moment of Truth
Jedi Quest: The Changing of the Guard
Jedi Quest: The False Peace
Jedi Quest: The Final Showdown
SkyeWalkers: A Clone Wars Story (Mentioned only)
Secrets of the Jedi (Mentioned only)
The Last of the Jedi: The Desperate Mission
The Last of the Jedi: Dark Warning
Ghosts of the Sith—Star Wars Insider 88
The Last of the Jedi: Underworld
The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
The Last of the Jedi: A Tangled Web
The Last of the Jedi: Return of the Dark Side
The Last of the Jedi: Secret Weapon
The Last of the Jedi: Against the Empire
The Last of the Jedi: Master of Deception
The Last of the Jedi: Reckoning
Rebel Force: Hostage
Rebel Force: Renegade
Rebel Force: Trapped
Rebel Force: Uprising
The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader (Indirect mention only)
Matt Wilkins on the first appearance of Ferus Olin