She was once known as the Emperor's Hand -- a highly-skilled assassin and operative who could hear Emperor Palpatine's bidding from across the galaxy. She learned self-sufficiency, piloting, marksmanship, and talents in the Force while serving her dark master. Her world crumbled apart when Palpatine died.
For years, she blamed Luke Skywalker for Palpatine's death, and for the loss of her purpose. Mara floated along the fringe of galactic society in the years after the Empire's collapse at Endor. She eventually found herself as a pilot and operative in Talon Karrde's smuggling organization.
During the events of Grand Admiral Thrawn's campaign against the New Republic, Mara came face to face with Luke. The two had to cooperate to survive the wilderness of the planet Myrkr. They settled on an uneasy peace -- and Luke explained that it was not he who killed Palpatine, but rather it was Vader.
Over the years, Mara continued to help the New Republic. She served as a leader in the Smugglers Alliance. She briefly attended Skywalker's Jedi Academy. She helped put down a number of insurrectionist plots that threatened the New Republic. All the while, her relationship with Skywalker grew, as did her affinity for the Force.
Finally, at the time of the New Republic's peace treaty with the Imperial Remnant, Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker wed.
Mara Jade first appeared in Timothy Zahn's best-selling novel Heir to the Empire, in 1991. She has since been featured in a number of short stories and a comic series of her own. In 1999, Mara came to "life" when Shannon Baksa posed as Mara for Decipher Inc.'s Star Wars collectible card game.