Star Wars: Crosscurrent

Title: Star Wars: Crosscurrent

Author: Paul S. Kemp

Published in: 2010

Date read: 30th April 2013

Score: 4/5

Genre: Science fiction, Fantasy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Star Wars: Crosscurrent" by Paul S. Kemp, published in 2010, is a standalone novel set in the Legends (Expanded Universe) continuity, taking place roughly 41 years after A New Hope. It's a thrilling blend of ancient Sith and Jedi lore colliding with the contemporary galactic timeline, centered around a unique form of time-displaced travel.

The story begins with Jedi Knight Jaden Korr (a character familiar to players of Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy) experiencing a powerful Force vision, compelling him to seek out an icy moon in the Unknown Regions. He enlists the aid of Khedryn Faal, a quick-witted salvage captain, and his Force-sensitive Cerean co-pilot, Marr Idi-Shael, to investigate this mysterious call.

Upon reaching the moon, they discover a derelict, ancient Sith dreadnought, the Harbinger, which has been hurled 5,000 years into the future due to a damaged hyperdrive caused by a brutal lightsaber duel. A single escape pod yields Relin Druur, an ancient Jedi Master from the Old Republic era, who was aboard the Harbinger trying to stop his former Padawan, now a dangerous Sith Lord named Saes Rrogon.

The Harbinger also carries a highly dangerous cargo: a rare ore that significantly amplifies Dark Side energies, making its users nearly invincible. This cargo, along with the time-displaced Sith, poses an immense threat to the galaxy, which is still recovering from the Galactic Civil War.

Adding another layer of intrigue, a secret Sith order from the present day, the One Sith (led by Darth Krayt, whose presence is hinted at), sends its own agents, including the vampiric Anzati assassin Kell, to pursue Jaden and learn about the ancient vessel. Everyone converges on the icy moon, leading to a complex web of converging agendas and deadly confrontations.

"Crosscurrent" is known for its fast-paced action, exploration of ancient Jedi and Sith philosophies, and its inventive use of a form of relativistic time travel. Jaden Korr grapples with his own past and the temptation of the Dark Side, while Relin Druur is consumed by his single-minded pursuit of Saes. The novel weaves together multiple perspectives, culminating in a desperate struggle to prevent the ancient Sith threat from devastating the modern galaxy.

Comments:
I remember enjoying this and I scored it highly at the time but I am struggling to remember anything that is not in the plot summary.

Books that we've read by Paul S. Kemp (2):
Star Wars: Crosscurrent (2010), Deceived (Star Wars: The Old Republic, #2) (2011)