Jedi Readers: Episode I: Anakin's Pit Droid

Anakin's Pit Droid

Authors: Justine and Ron Fontes

Illustrator: Christopher Moroney

Medium: Picture book

Publication Date: March 2000

Timeline Placement: 32 BBY

 

The Boonta Eve Podrace is about to begin, but Anakin Skywalker's Podracer is mysteriously missing a vital component: the butt I mean power plug! Anakin sends his pit droid DUM-4 to find a replacement part. DUM-4 goes to Gasgano, who will give him the plug in exchange for a thrust cone. DUM-4 goes to Sebulba, who will give him the thrust cone in exchange for delivering a message to Jabba the Hutt. He delivers the message, and Jabba gives him a reply to deliver in return, then throws the droid off the balcony of his private box. DUM-4 grabs onto a passing Podracer that is running around the track even though the race hasn't started yet and hitches a ride back to Sebulba, who gives him the thrust cone, which he delivers to Gasgano, who gives him the part Anakin needs. Anakin is able to repair his Pod just in the nick of time, and when he ultimately wins the race, DUM-4 jumps up and down in elation for doing his best and helping Anakin achieve his victory. Then he folds himself up to take a well-deserved rest, whereupon Anakin will never think of him again and he will vanish from Star Wars canon forever.

This is a cute children's story about a funny robot having wacky misadventures in between scenes from The Phantom Menace. It's never stated in the book, probably because neither author was aware of the other's work, but it's entirely possible that DUM-4 is the same droid from Watto's shop who caused all that mischief for Anakin in Catch That Pit Droid! It makes no difference whatsoever and this character doesn't appear in anything else, so in my headcanon it's the same robot in both books.

(Weirdly, though, he’s also apparently capable of speaking fluent Basic, while the pit droids in the movie communicate only in incomprehensible electronic buzzes and whistles. Maybe Anakin modified him using his technical expertise.)

Wookieepedia says that DUM-4 is also the pit droid who gets sucked into Ody Mandrell's Podracer engine when he pulls over for repairs during the race, but that droid was a completely different color and also part of Mandrell's pit crew, not Anakin's. So I'm afraid I have to call bullshit on that one, Wookieepedia, you unbelievable hacks.

"I've got my thrust cone right here, baby."