Star Wars: Darth Plagueis
Darth Plagueis: one of the most brilliant Sith Lords who ever lived. Possessing power is all he desires. Losing it is the only thing he fears. As an apprentice, he embraces the ruthless ways of the Sith. And when the time is right, he destroys his Master – but vows never to suffer the same fate. For like no other disciple of the dark side, Darth Plagueis learns to command the ultimate power…over life and death.
Darth Sidious: Plagueis’s chosen apprentice. Under the guidance of his Master, he secretly studies the ways of the Sith, while publicly rising to power in the galactic government, first as Senator, then as Chancellor, and eventually as Emperor.
Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious, Master and acolyte, target the galaxy for domination – and the Jedi Order for annihilation. But can they defy the merciless Sith tradition? Or will the desire of one to rule supreme, and the dream of another to live forever, sow the seeds of their destruction?
Author: James Luceno
Cover artist: Qistina Khalidah
Publisher: Del Rey
Release date: April 5, 2022
Pages: 480
ISBN: 9780593358801
What’s it’s about?
Darth Plagueis starts 35 years before the events of The Phantom Menace and charts the rise and fall of Sith Lord Darth Plagueis as he brings the Sith’s grand plan to destroy the Jedi into it’s final phase. Working with his apprentice, Darth Sidious, they plot from the highest levels to poison and corrupt the Republic and manipulate Chancellors, Kings and the Force itself. It’s a story that spans decades and acts as an incredibly complete and violent origin for Palpatine following him from an alienated youth on Naboo to the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.
Should I read this book?
What did you like?
I’ve seen some fans criticise Luceno’s books as impenetrable and the prose deliberately flowery to the point of pretentiousness. Whilst harsh I can understand the sentiment. Here though it’s justified and elevates the complex and labyrinthine plotting that spans decades into something more fitting with the scope of the events transpiring. It’s a magnum opus of the grandest scale, more alike to a macabre fantasy version of Dickens than most other genre works. It also feels like Star Wars‘ spin on The Godfather hitting a lot of the same themes and character beats with Palpatine as Coruscant’s resident Michael Corleone. Luceno pulls the meat of politics and trade disputes out of mundanity with his prose in a way that Lucas never managed. Arguably the worst parts of the Prequels are made vital in these pages. The highest praise I can give Darth Plagueis is that it seems so complete and considered that at times it feels like this is the source material that everything else has sprung from.
What did you not like?
Canon readers should note that there’s some small contradictions with the current canon but nothing too jarring. The most glaring would be the Naboo royal line and Dooku’s history but they’re minor details in the grand scheme of things.
What’s next?
It acts as a spiritual sequel of sorts to the Darth Bane trilogy. If that trilogy tells the beginning of the “Rule of Two” then this is most definitely the ending. They work extremely well when read together as Darth Plagueis references events from those books and even some tantalising teases into some of Banes successors in the intervening years. It’s not too far out of the realm of possibility to hope that they explore those years further is it? There’s nothing to say it couldn’t happen in canon.
Anything else to add?
I realise this review may read as a tad hyperbolic and while that might be true I hope my clear astonishment on how good this book truly is comes through. Luceno’s style might not be for everyone and I’m sure some of you will struggle to connect with it, but it’s most definitely worth your time because if you manage to engage it’s an unforgettable experience.
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