Darth Plagueis (Star Wars)

Title: Darth Plagueis (Star Wars)

Author: James Luceno

Published in: 2012

Date read: 8th December 2014

Score: 4/5

Genre: Science fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Darth Plagueis" by James Luceno is a Star Wars Legends novel that expands upon the enigmatic Sith Lord mentioned by Palpatine in *Revenge of the Sith*. It tells the detailed story of Darth Plagueis the Wise, his obsession with manipulating the Force to cheat death and create life, and his pivotal role in setting the stage for the Galactic Empire.

The narrative spans decades, leading up to and even overlapping with the events of *The Phantom Menace*. It begins with Plagueis, born Hego Damask, as an apprentice to the Bith Sith Lord Darth Tenebrous. Plagueis, a powerful Muun with a unique understanding of the Force, eventually betrays and kills his master, fulfilling the Sith Rule of Two.

Obsessed with absolute power and immortality, Plagueis dedicates his life to understanding and manipulating midi-chlorians – the microscopic lifeforms that connect all living things to the Force. He believes he can unlock the ultimate secret of life and death, preventing any Sith Lord from ever truly dying.

While pursuing his scientific and dark side experiments, Plagueis also operates in the public sphere under his alter ego, Hego Damask, a powerful banking magnate. This allows him to subtly influence galactic politics and undermine the Galactic Republic from within.

A crucial part of the story is Plagueis's discovery and recruitment of a young, ambitious, and deeply disturbed Nabooian, Sheev Palpatine. Plagueis recognises Palpatine's immense potential in the dark side and takes him on as his apprentice, christening him Darth Sidious. The novel meticulously details their master-apprentice relationship, with Plagueis training Sidious in the ways of the Sith, in political manipulation, and in the grand scheme to dismantle the Jedi Order and establish Sith control over the galaxy.

As Palpatine rises through the political ranks, first as a Senator and later as Supreme Chancellor, Plagueis continues his research into immortality. However, the inherent treachery of the Rule of Two dictates that the apprentice must eventually usurp the master. Sidious, ever ambitious and manipulative, patiently waits for the opportune moment, learning all he can from Plagueis while simultaneously consolidating his own power and secretly training his own apprentice, Darth Maul.

The novel culminates on the eve of the events of "The Phantom Menace", as Palpatine is on the cusp of achieving ultimate power. Plagueis, believing his mastery over life and death is complete and that the Sith have finally transcended the limitations of the Rule of Two, is betrayed and murdered in his sleep by his ambitious apprentice, Darth Sidious. This final act solidifies Sidious's ascension as the sole Dark Lord of the Sith, ready to unleash his Grand Plan upon the galaxy.

Comments:
Brilliantly written and as well as tying up lots of loose ends about how Palpatine came to be, there is lots of exciting new stories weave the intricate web of what made the Sith so interesting.

Books that we've read by James Luceno (1):
Darth Plagueis (Star Wars) (2012)