There is, give or take a year or two, about two decades spanning the time between the end of The Revenge of the Sith and the start of A New Hope. Apparently, very little occurred during that period.

We already know the mighty Death Star, which was nearly complete at the end of Sith, wasn't put into use for 20 years. Now, it appears that the Emperor waited just as long to start training Darth Vader in the ways of the Dark Side of the Force.

Betrayal is supposed to occur just a few weeks before A New Hope begins. And yet Vader is still insecure in his power, fearful of leaving the Emperor's side, hardly the figure to inspire fear throughout the galaxy. This story would have worked much better 15 or more years earlier in the Star Wars continuity.

The story itself revolves around a plot of Grand Moffs and other top Imperial officials to assassinate the Emperor and Vader and take over the reins of the Empire themselves. The Emperor's devotion to the Sith religion, they fear, will lead them all into defeat.

The plot, obviously borrowed from a similar attempt by some German leaders during Hitler's reign, could have been good, but the book doesn't give itself time to involve the readers in anything more than the barest threads. We never get to know much about these rebellious leaders, who mostly squabble among themselves and assassinate each other rather than take action against their targets. Their plan, such as it is, is flimsy. Its execution, weak.

And Vader better pull himself together and inspire a little fear soon, or the Rebels are going to laugh him right off the Death Star.

by Tom Knapp
Rambles.NET
2 June 2007