However, by 1992, having published many supplements and adventures,[3] West End Games was finding it increasingly difficult to create original material out of the original trilogy of movies; they decided to release a second edition of the game called The New Republic, based on the Thrawn trilogy of novels by Timothy Zahn.

[4] Dark Force Rising Sourcebook is a 144-page softcover book written by Bill Slavicsek, with graphics and illustrations by Stephen Crane, Mike Nielsen, Dana Knutson, Rob Caswell, John Paul Lona, and Mike Vilardi, with cover art by Tom Jung.

However, roleplayers who enjoyed the novel and wish to enhance their gaems with Zahn's imagination will find the sourcebook worthwhile.

"[5] In the November 1993 edition of Dragon (Issue #199), Rick Swan found that although the biographical "background summaries are informative and enlightening," the book was otherwise remarkably light on substantive content.

Swan gave Dark Force Rising Sourcebook an average rating of 3.5 stars out of 6, saying that "players on a budget" could probably get along without it.