Path of Destruction, published in 2006, is the first book in a trilogy of novels written by Drew Karpyshyn detailing the Sith Lord Darth Bane's rise to power and the institution of the "rule of two," in which there would only be two Sith at a time, one master (to have power) and one apprentice (to crave power). Even though the book is one of the Legends novels, the rule of two is canon (though it is often violated), as it is referenced in various movies, video games, and animated series that are part of the canon. In the book, Bane starts out as a coal miner named Dessel in what is essentially a forced labor colony on a planet called Apatros. After a deadly encounter with another worker, he goes on the run from Republic authorities and winds up at a Sith academy where he is a standout student. He quickly realizes that the Sith, as they are currently constituted, will end up destroying themselves, and he manipulates events that allow him to institute the rule of two.
The hardcover version of the book is 324 pages. The story is very well-paced, intertwining action sequences with drama and intrigue, and the book reads pretty quickly. It is set well before the events of the prequel series (about 1000 years), so there are no "recognizable" characters in the novel, but it really does not suffer from that like some of the newer canon novels do. Even though this book has been relegated to Legends status after Disney's takeover of Lucasfilm, the character Darth Bane is canon in the Clone Wars series, and the rule of two was mentioned in The Phantom Menace. And because it is set so far in the past, it does not affect any of the canon material that has been released so far, and at least parts of it could be brought into canon through new movies or TV series.
Ultimately, it is a good book with a good story. In fact, I would say that this is one of the better stories outside of the Skywalker saga that has been released in either the Legends or canon material. Hopefully, the book will be brought back into canon sometime down the line (or a new book that incorporates some of what is in this novel, such as has been the case with the new canon novels set around the character Grand Admiral Thrawn). It is definitely worth the read.
The hardcover version of the book is 324 pages. The story is very well-paced, intertwining action sequences with drama and intrigue, and the book reads pretty quickly. It is set well before the events of the prequel series (about 1000 years), so there are no "recognizable" characters in the novel, but it really does not suffer from that like some of the newer canon novels do. Even though this book has been relegated to Legends status after Disney's takeover of Lucasfilm, the character Darth Bane is canon in the Clone Wars series, and the rule of two was mentioned in The Phantom Menace. And because it is set so far in the past, it does not affect any of the canon material that has been released so far, and at least parts of it could be brought into canon through new movies or TV series.
Ultimately, it is a good book with a good story. In fact, I would say that this is one of the better stories outside of the Skywalker saga that has been released in either the Legends or canon material. Hopefully, the book will be brought back into canon sometime down the line (or a new book that incorporates some of what is in this novel, such as has been the case with the new canon novels set around the character Grand Admiral Thrawn). It is definitely worth the read.
No comments:
Post a Comment