Star Wars: it’s a easy story of Good versus Evil, isn’t it?
Nicely, sure. At its primary degree, it’s an area opera concerning the Insurgent Alliance defeating the would possibly of the Imperial forces, as informed within the authentic trilogy of films.
Nonetheless, as in all examples of warfare, the scenario is extra advanced, extra nuanced, extra of a gray space. And so it’s with this novel. Dying Star is the story of the constructing of the Dying Star, from its origins to its demise as informed in Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV).
For these accustomed to the Star Wars story, we’ve various key figures: Grand Moff Tarquin, the administrator and commander of the planet-sized battle station, who’s working for Emperor Palpatine, in addition to Darth Vader, Palpatine’s second-in-command and henchman, who has a posh previous as having as soon as been Anakin Skywalker, father of Luke. There’s additionally an look from Princess Leia Organa, held captive on the station, in addition to uncredited appearances from many of the different foremost forged of the primary movie.
Right here the story delves slightly deeper into these tropes. In consequence, we’ve what could also be a widely known a part of the Star Wars story however seen as different model. Along with the background of how the Dying Star was constructed, we’ve the story it’s possible you’ll recognise however as seen by new characters.
On the Imperial facet we’ve Villian Dance, a TIE fighter pilot, Uli Divini, a physician reluctantly working for the Empire, Tenn Graneet, an Imperial gunner being skilled to make use of the Dying Star’s planet-busting weapon, Atour Riten, a navy librarian on the Dying Star, and Sergeant Nova Stihl, an Imperial stormtrooper.
Along with this we’ve various non-combatants. There’s Memeh Roothes and Rodo, the proprietor and doorman of a brand new cantina on the Dying Star. Teela Kaarz is a prisoner whose freedom is reliant upon her architectural expertise, that are used within the development of the Dying Star. Celot Ratua Dil is a smuggler initially incarcerated on a jail planet who finds himself hidden away on the battle station.
All of those disparate components run as completely different plot traces within the first half of the e-book. Consequently, the primary a part of the e-book reveals us the number of folks and locations within the Star Wars universe, earlier than specializing in occasions on the Dying Star within the final half of the e-book. The final quarter of the e-book provides us the story of Episode IV, typically with direct quotes of the dialogue from the film, built-in with occasions round these new characters. We might know the way the story ends, however that is one the place the extra particulars give a fuller image. It’s by no means going to be a wildly authentic story, however it’s eminently readable.
Summing up, I used to be stunned by the main points given right here. The assorted characters permit us to see elements of the Star Wars universe away from the standard and present us (if we didn’t know already!) that it’s a large place with a prolonged historical past. It’s an accessible learn and a fast learn however one with extra depth than I used to be anticipating.
Extra importantly, Dying Star reveals us that the universe will not be a easy case of ‘good versus evil’. As an alternative, it tells us that not all of these killed in battle are evil, nor are they responsible of any crime apart from being within the flawed place on the flawed time. As effectively as ‘the dangerous guys’, lots of these engaged on the battle station are simply doing a job or conscripted into work. engaged on the Dying Star on the time of its demise.
The brand new characters present us extra overtly that not everybody within the Empire is dangerous, however typically an individual simply making an attempt to get on with life and survive in tough circumstances. You could due to this fact end up rooting for many who you’ll have beforehand thought to be a part of ‘the evil enemy’.
Is Dying Star a vital learn? No, however it’s a good one, that fills in a number of the particulars behind the films and offers the Star Wars universe extra depth. I believe that followers will find it irresistible, and like me, be stunned on the particulars it reveals us.
© 2025 Mark Yon
Hardback | Lucasbooks
STAR WARS: DEATH STAR by Michael Reeves and Steve Perry
A part of the Star Wars Legends collection
October 2007 | 353 pages
ISBN: 978-034 5477 422
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