Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories

Title: Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories

Author: John Jackson Miller

Published in: 2012

Date read: 22nd October 2013

Score: 4/5

Genre: Science fiction, Fantasy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories" by John Jackson Miller is a significant entry in the Star Wars Expanded Universe (now known as Legends). Published in 2012, this collection gathers a series of interconnected e-book novellas and includes a new, previously unpublished finale, offering a comprehensive origin story for the "Lost Tribe" of Sith that later plays a crucial role in the Fate of the Jedi novel series.

The overarching premise of the collection is the fate of a group of Sith who are stranded on an uncharted, isolated planet called Kesh approximately 5,000 years before the events of A New Hope. Their journey begins during the tumultuous Great Hyperspace War (also known as the Sith War of Naga Sadow).

The first story, "Precipice," details how the Sith mining ship Omen, carrying vital war materials for Naga Sadow's forces, is ambushed by a lone Jedi. Heavily damaged, the Omen makes a desperate, uncontrolled hyperspace jump that throws it far off course into an unknown region of the galaxy. It eventually crash-lands on Kesh, a remote world with no known hyperlanes and no means of communication with the broader galaxy.

The crew of the Omen, led by Commander Yaru Korsin, finds themselves marooned. Being Sith, their immediate instinct is to dominate. They discover an indigenous, primitive, purple-skinned human-like species called the Keshiri, who have a prophecy about "Skyborn" coming from the stars. The stranded Sith cleverly exploit this prophecy, posing as gods to subjugate the Keshiri and establish their rule.

The collection then chronicles the fascinating and often brutal evolution of this isolated Sith society over the course of nearly 2,000 years, told through various short stories that jump through different time periods and perspectives:

Establishment of Rule: The early stories ("Precipice," "Skyborn," "Paragon," "Savior") focus on the immediate aftermath of the crash and how the Sith establish their dominance, grappling with internal power struggles (as is Sith nature) and the challenges of a new world. They are forced to adapt, building a civilization based on the limited resources of Kesh (e.g., using glass for tools due to lack of metals).

Cycles of Conflict and Unity: Subsequent stories ("Purgatory," "Sentinel," "Pantheon," "Secrets," "Pandemonium") show the cycles of the Lost Tribe's history. Being Sith, they are prone to endless scheming, betrayal, and civil war, often bringing their society to the brink of self-destruction. However, they also periodically unite under strong leaders, driven by the shared goal of survival and eventual return to galactic dominance.

The Nature of Sith Society: The collection provides a unique look at what happens when a group of Sith, cut off from external enemies, are left to define their own culture. It explores the constant tension between individual ambition and the need for a cohesive society, showcasing the various interpretations of the Dark Side and the pursuit of power. Characters emerge who are not always simply cartoonishly evil, but complex individuals driven by pride, fear, and a twisted sense of destiny.

Key Figures: While the stories span millennia, certain archetypes and recurring themes emerge. We see the ruthless leaders, the schemers, the historians who try to preserve their past, and even the occasional non-Sith or former Jedi who becomes entangled in their world.

The collected stories serve as a vital piece of the Legends continuity, explaining how this "Lost Tribe" managed to survive and develop an entirely separate Sith culture in isolation for millennia, only to re-emerge in the main galactic narrative thousands of years later, posing a new threat to Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order. It's a deep dive into Sith philosophy and the self-destructive nature of the Dark Side, illustrating how a society built on ambition and fear can still endure.

Comments:
Great stories that are really well thought out and written. I just needed to point out that I already have the first 6 books on here separately but I bought this collection so that I could finish them (I know, I wish that I had seen this collection first). Very well rounded up.

Books that we've read by John Jackson Miller (8):
Skyborn (Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith, #2) (2009), Precipice (Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith, #1) (2009), Paragon (Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith, #3) (2010), Purgatory (Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith, #5) (2010), Savior (Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith, #4) (2010), Knight Errant (Star Wars) (2011), Sentinel (Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith, #6) (2011), Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories (2012)