A fun book for Star Wars fans. A little weekend popcorn reading. ( )

See my note on it on my blog:

http://gypsylibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/01/booknote-star-wars-dark-lord.html ( )

3 1/2 stars: Good

From the back cover: From the site of Anakin Skywalker's last stand, where he sought to destroy his friend and former Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, a fearsome specter in black has risen. Once the most powerful Knight ever known to the Jedi Order, he is now a disciple of the dark side, a lord of the dreaded Sith, and the avenging right hand of the galaxy's new Emperor. Meanwhile on the Outer Rim world of Murkhana, Jedi Masters Roan Shryne and Bol Chatak and Padawan Olee Starstone are leading a charge on a Separatist stronghold, unaware that the tide has turned against them. Although the three narrowly elude execution, the deadliest threat still rests in the hideously swift and lethal crimson lightsaber of Darth Vader- behind whose brooding mask lies a shattered heart, a poisoned soul, and a cunning, twisted mind hell bent on vengeance. For the handful of scattered Jedi hunted across space, survival is imperative if the light side of the Force is to be protected and the galaxy reclaimed.

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This book covers the time immediately after Anakin becomes Darth Vader, as he travels to wipe out the last of the Jedi under Order 66. Its a good read, as we read about some other "less famous" Jedi and their fight for survival and their own struggles with vengeance as they see their friends and family in the Order wiped out. I appreciated at the beginning, the one Clone who let the three escape instead of enacting the Order, saying he won't give them another chance.

A few quotes I liked:

Anakin hadn't been born into the dark side, but had arrived there because of what he had experienced in his short life, instances of suffering, fear, anger, and hatred. Had Anakin been discovered early enough by the Jedi, those emotional states would never have surfaced. More important, Yoda appeared to have had a change of heart regarding the Temple as providing the best crucible for Force-sensitive beings. The steadfast embrace of a loving family would provide as good, if not better. (Bail Organa)

"Jen sounds like he was a Jedi without the title."
"How so?"
"Because he understood that you have to accept what destiny sets in front of you. That you have to pick and choose your battles."
"What does that make me, Roan?"
"A victim of attachment."
"You know what? I can live with that."

The ideals of democracy hadn't been stamped out by Palpatine. The Jedi had carried out missions of dubious merit for any number of Supreme Chancellors, but always in the name of safeguarding peace and justice. What they failed to understand was that the Senate, the Coruscanti, the citizens of countless world and star systems, grown weary of the old system had *allowed* democracy to die. And in a galaxy where the goal was single minded control from the top, and wherein the end justified the means, the Jedi had no place. That had been the final revenge of the Sith. (Obi-Wan). ( )

A fun book for Star Wars fans. A little weekend popcorn reading. ( )

Taking place largely in the aftermath of the events of Episode 3, Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader lets the reader tag along and get inside the head of a very broken (physically, emotionally, psychologically) Anakin Skywalker sorting things out in the early days of what will be the rest of his life as Darth Vader.

It's surprising to see how one of the chief complaints many reviewers have about this book is that we are reading about an "emo" Vader. What many perceive to be a flaw of the book, I say is what makes it special. Anakin/Vader has been in the suit for a matter of weeks when the first POV chapter appears. After everything the guy has been through in the 6-8 weeks, I think one could forgive him for coming across as what folks are calling "emo". I guess these same reviewers think that returning soldiers with PTSD issues are "emo" too? Most people's first glimpse of Darth Vader (the opening scenes of ep 4) comes at a time when he's been in the suit & serving Palpatine for 19-20 years. He's had two decades to get used to his new "life" & grow callous about his circumstances. He's a very different person in Episode 4 than he is in this novel (taking place in the immediate aftermath of Episode 3).

Enough with my rant against the haters - I really enjoyed Dark Lord. It provided a nice followup to the closing of Episode 3. I also enjoyed the alternate POV from the Jedi who survived the extermination order, as well as the Bail Organa POV chapters.

I've read a lot of Star Wars fiction, and not all of it is good. THIS is good though. Luceno does a fine job of writing the "dark" side (pardon the pun) of Star Wars. After reading this I intend to eventually track down [b:Darth Plagueis|11099729|Darth Plagueis (Star Wars)|James Luceno|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1310159548s/11099729.jpg|15371735] for another dose of the lost chapters of the greater story. ( )