Darth Bane: Rule of Two
Title: Darth Bane: Rule of Two
Author: Drew Karpyshyn
Copyright: 2008 (Del Rey); 320 pgs.
ISBN: 978-0-345-47749-1
Series: Star Wars Expanded Universe
Sensuality: None
Genre: Science Fiction
ERA: Sith/Republic – 1,020 years before the Battle of Yavin (Star Wars: A New Hope)
Spoilers for Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
Rule of Two picks up where Path of Destruction left off. The Brotherhood of Darkness is no more, completely destroyed by a thought bomb. The Army of Light has suffered huge losses, including its general, Jedi Master Lord Hoth. They are under the impression that no Sith survived. However, there is a lone survivor, Darth Bane, and he wants the Jedi to keep believing the Sith are extinct.
The book started off slow for me. Bane and Zannah, his newly acquired apprentice, spend much of the first nine chapters still on Ruusan, or trying to get off it. To be fair, the author had to set both Johun Othone — Hoth’s former padawan — and Tomcat — Rain’s cousin — on their respective paths before the main story could move forward. Johun is convinced that at least one Sith survived. He wants to pursue this, but the new leader of the Jedi — Jedi Master Farfalla — finds no credible evidence to suggest there were survivors. Instead, he gives Johun a different mission. As for Tomcat, having failed both as a Jedi and a Sith, he has no idea what to do with himself. He survives a run-in with Zannah and Bane and is left to make his own way on Ruusan. Both young men will encounter the Sith years later, with tragic results.
The story jumps ahead ten years. Bane has Zannah carrying out missions while he works on creating a Sith Holocron. On his orders, Zannah infiltrates separatist groups and convince them to strike out against the Republic before they are ready, thereby ensuring that they fail, but still draw the attention of the Senate and the Jedi. Zannah’s current mission is on Serenno, a planet known for its radical separatist groups. Though she carries out her tasks, Zannah questions the logic behind them. Bane has assured her that the time isn’t right:
“The Republic keeps the Jedi in check. It maintains control and imposes order across thousands of worlds. But if the Republic falls, a score of new interstellar governments and galactic organizations will rise. It is far easier to manipulate and control a single enemy than twenty.
That is why we must seek out radical separatist groups, identify the ones that have the potential to become true threats, then encourage them to strike before they are ready. We must exploit them, playing them off against the Republic. We must let our enemies weaken one another while we stay hidden and grow strong.
“One day the Republic will fall and the Jedi will be wiped out,” he assured her. “But it will not happen until we are ready to seize that power for ourselves.”
Even so, Zannah is still concerned. Ten years ago, when Bane first set out to learn the mysteries of the Sith Holocron, he became infested with a parasite. The orbalisk, as they are called, seemed to be a boon initially, giving Bane enhanced healing abilities and strength, and a body armor that blocks even lightsabers. But Zannah feels that the long exposure to them is taking its toll on Bane’s judgment. He’s failed several times to create a Holocron and he’s gone into destructive rages. Bane has much yet to teach her, and if dies before she’s reach her full potential, the Sith may truly be lost. Eventually, Bane agrees with her and Zannah’s new mission is to find a way to remove the parasites without killing the host.
I really enjoyed the story once it made the ten-year jump; it really pick up for me. Zannah is smart, but not overconfident as her future “descendants” (Maul, Dooku, Anakin). In fact, it was kind of refreshing to read about a Sith apprentice that knows she has a lot to learn, isn’t arrogant to the point of stupidity, and is patient. She can think on her feet — a couple of times she finds herself in less-than-ideal situations that she has to turn to her advantage and hope that Bane doesn’t think she’s betraying him. Her final dealings with her cousin are chilling. Even so, I actually liked her — but not as much as I liked Bane in the first book.
Started: 25 March 2010
Finished: 10 April 2010
Rating:
Enjoyed it!
Disclaimer: I purchased this book.
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Allegiance
Author: Timothy Zahn
Copyright: 2007 (Del Rey); pgs. 400
Series: Star Wars Expanded Universe
Sensuality: N/A
ERA: Empire – Shortly after the Battle of Yavin (Star Wars: A New Hope)
Summary: The destruction of the Death Star by the Rebel Alliance was a decisive blow against the Empire, but Palpatine and his monstrous enforcer, Darth Vader, are no less of a threat. Among those standing against them are Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia Organa. The three have been sent to mediate a dispute between Rebel Alliance factions in Shelsha Sector. At the time, Mara Jade — all of eighteen and years away from her fateful meeting with her future husband, Luke — is serving her evil master, Palpatine, tracking suspected treachery in the Empire. And then a once-loyal Imperial stormtrooper, Daric LaRone, commits a sudden and violent act of defiance. Each of these actions, whether sanctioned or secret, will expose brutality and corruption, spur upheavals destined to shake the Empire to its core, and shape momentous events yet to come.
Comments: Like with Outbound Flight, I never thought I’d be rooting for characters that are normally viewed as the bad guys in the Star Wars universe. The five stormtroopers, ordinary young men who joined the Empire because they wanted to keep the peace and protect the citizenry, get a rude awakening when they are ordered to kill innocent, and unarmed, civilians. One, Daric LaRone, kills an Imperial officer in self-defense and he is forced to flee. His four friends choose to go with him. Before the reluctant deserters can make any long-term plans, they prevent a pirate gang from stealing equipment from an unarmed farmer. They continue to get involved wherever they go and can’t seem to let go of their sense of duty, even to save their own lives.
Meanwhile, we get to see a different side of Mara Jade: young, somewhat idealistic, compassionate. Her mission is to investigate a moff who is suspected of embezzling from the Empire. The trail leads to Shelsha Sector. She crosses paths with Captain Ozzle, who thinks she’s hunting his missing stormtroopers, and Darth Vader, who thinks she’s hunting for Princess Leia. It’s ironic that Ozzle, who shouldn’t be afraid of her if he’s loyal to the Emperor and up front about the deserters, tries to kill her; yet the stormtroopers come to her aid even when it was in their best interest not to help her. I liked this Mara, and I wish we could see more of her.
I had no problem following the multiple story lines. The blurb implies that Luke, Han, and Leia are all on the same mission. They are not. Leia’s mission, though in the same sector, is separate from Han and Luke’s. Eventually, the lines converge, and Mara just misses meeting Luke and the others.
I enjoyed this book, even with all the wincing and grimacing going on. Oh, and the total lack of R2-D2 and C-3PO. Not one R2/C-3PO or Han/C-3PO quip in the whole book. Thank goodness for Han and Leia. 
Favorite Quotes:
“Is this before or after I take you to this Grand Royal Elite Privileged Ball”
– Han to Leia
“What? You mean I had the Falcon fumigated for nothing?”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure it needed it.”
“I ordered new carpets, too.”
– Han, Leia
Started: 6 July 2008
Finished: 21 July 2008
LOVED IT !!
Rating:
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
Author: James Luceno
Copyright: 2005, Del Rey (338 pages)
Series: Star Wars Expanded Universe
Sensuality: Er, no.
Violence: Comparable to what was seen in the movies.
Era: Empire, 19 years Before the Battle of Yavin (A New Hope)
Summary: Several Jedi, survivors of Order 66, band together to find others like themselves as they elude Imperial agents, including the mysterious Lord Vader.
Comments: Overall, I enjoyed this book. I read it rather quickly. In fact, I was surprised a few times when I saw the number of pages I had covered in what felt like no time at all.
Like his previous prequel novels, Luceno does a great job with Palpatine/Sidious. I’ve always liked how Luceno handles the master manipulator. Unfortunately, Sidious wasn’t in the book as much as I would have liked. As for Darth Vader, we see him trying to adjust to his new role. He’s coming to realize that his Sith apprenticeship isn’t going the way he’d thought it would, and he doesn’t like being seen as nothing more than the Emperor’s errand boy. We’re used to a Vader who is feared, even at the mere mentioning of his name. It was interesting to see reactions that were akin to “Who?” and blank looks.
However, Vader’s not really the main character. Instead, the novel focuses on a group of Jedi, led by Roan Shryne, who survive Order 66. While it was interesting to see how ordinary, in-the-field Jedi coped with what happened back on Coruscant — and what they were going to do with themselves now that they are all fugitives — I really wasn’t that interested in the characters themselves.
Besides Sidious and Vader’s parts in the book, I was still able to enjoy it because we do spend time with other familiar faces. Bail Organa, who knows a great deal more than the movie implies, must tread carefully now that he is guardian to such an important child. Mon Mothma is pressing for immediate action, while things are still in transition, but Bail knows that the time isn’t right. We take a trip to Alderaan, too. Baby Leia and the droids make an appearance and, as usual, R2-D2 and C-3PO provide some comic relief. We also get to spend some time with Chewbacca and the Wookies.
Favorite Quotes:
“I love the new look.”
“I got tired of wearing brown.”
— Cash Garrulan, Roan Shryne
“A librarian with the Force. . . Very dangerous combination.”
— Gayn, regarding Olee Starstone
“Never a good feeling when you’re tricked by an appliance.”
— Archyr, regarding R2-D2
Started: 5 November 2007
Finished: 12 November 2007
Enjoyed it!
Rating:
