Path of Destruction (Star Wars: Darth Bane #1)

Title: Path of Destruction (Star Wars: Darth Bane #1)

Author: Drew Karpyshyn

Published in: 2006

Date read: 24th April 2012

Score: 5/5

Genre: Science fiction, Fantasy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Path of Destruction" by Drew Karpyshyn, published in 2006, is the first novel in the Star Wars: Darth Bane trilogy (part of the Legends continuity). It serves as an origin story for the iconic Sith Lord Darth Bane, who is credited with establishing the "Rule of Two" – a doctrine that reshaped the Sith Order. The story begins on the desolate, impoverished mining planet of Apatros, where Dessel, a human labourer, endures a brutal existence under the thumb of his abusive father and the cruel Republic overseers. Dessel secretly possesses a powerful connection to the Force, but it manifests as uncontrolled bursts of rage and destruction, earning him the nickname "Bane" (meaning "destroyer") from his father.

After inadvertently killing a Republic officer in a fit of rage, Dessel is forced to flee Apatros. He finds refuge among the Brotherhood of Darkness, a vast, fragmented Sith army led by the charismatic Lord Kaan, who believes in strength in numbers and a more democratic, less hierarchical Sith structure. Bane, with his raw power and natural aptitude for the Dark Side, quickly rises through their ranks.

However, Bane quickly grows disillusioned with the Brotherhood's chaotic, often suicidal tactics and its rejection of the ancient Sith teachings. He sees their large numbers as a weakness, diluting the true power of the Dark Side. He becomes convinced that the Sith have lost their way, having forgotten the true path to ultimate power laid out by their ancient predecessors.

Driven by an insatiable hunger for knowledge and power, Bane seeks out forbidden Sith lore, particularly the teachings of the long-dead Dark Lords. He journeys to the ancient Sith world of Lehon (Rakata Prime) and later to Korriban, studying forgotten holocrons and texts. Through this research, he formulates his radical philosophy: the Rule of Two. This doctrine dictates that there should only ever be two Sith at any given time – a master to embody power, and an apprentice to crave it, ensuring that each generation becomes stronger than the last.

The novel culminates with Bane's ruthless implementation of his vision. He engineers the demise of the Brotherhood of Darkness, sacrificing countless Sith to cleanse the Order and pave the way for his new doctrine. He eliminates all who stand in his way, embracing his destiny as Darth Bane, the architect of a new Sith age. "Path of Destruction" is a dark, character-driven tale of ambition, betrayal, and the forging of a legendary villain.

Comments:
I don't care how much of a geek I sound with this, I love these books and I would love them to be made into a film trilogy in order to being Darth Bane to the wider audience. Better still, more people should read these books. The idea of the Sith being present in huge numbers as a brotherhood is unimaginable and their downfall is inevitable but it is wonderful to see how the Sith in the time of Palpatine/Sidious came to exist as a pair...a master and an apprentice.

Books that we've read by Drew Karpyshyn (4):
Path of Destruction (Star Wars: Darth Bane #1) (2006), Rule of Two (Star Wars: Darth Bane #2) (2007), Dynasty of Evil (Star Wars: Darth Bane #3) (2009), Revan (Star Wars: The Old Republic, #1) (2011)