|
December 28, 2007
|
|
 When I first heard that LucasBooks was prepping the sequel to 2006?s Path of Destruction for a 2007 release, my initial impression was basically ?wow, that was fast.? Now that the novel is here, and I?ve subsequently read through it in a matter of hours, I?m left with a lingering disappointment over what might have been if the author and the editors had put a bit more time into the novel?s development.
This is not to say that the book isn?t an enjoyable read, it is, in the same way that downing a bag of doritos for lunch brings you a certain fleeting satisfaction. However, the novel feels rushed, and I can?t help but wonder about the ass-kicking that might have ensued over a longer narrative with a more fully realized cast.
The original Darth Bane novel seemingly came out of nowhere, rocketing up the New York Times bestseller list and taking Star Wars fans by storm in much the same way that its protagonist exploded onto the galactic scene by single-handedly rewriting the history of the Sith. Written by Bioware alum (and Mass Effect scribe) Drew Karpyshyn, the original novel was a pleasing blend of old-fashioned adventure serial storytelling coupled with a healthy dose of canonical originality due to the uncharted path through the EU timeline traveled by the titular Darth Bane. The sequel, Rule of Two, picks up where the original left off, and, despite a few missteps, manages to be an entertaining read, though not a particularly deep one.
The legendary Darth Bane has just completed his annihilation of the heretical Sith Lord Kaan and his mutineering Brotherhood on the war-torn planet of Ruusan. After manipulating Kaan into imprisoning his own followers, as well as the Jedi Army of Light, inside a sinister ?thought-bomb,? Bane discovers the orphan Zannah and takes it upon himself to train her in the ways of the Sith. He sees tremendous dark side potential in the young girl, and more importantly, sees in her a willing vessel through which he can reshape the Sith order to fit his one master/one apprentice doctrine.
Whereas the preceding Path of Destruction chronicled Bane?s humble beginnings and his meteoric rise to dark-side power, Rule of Two is clearly Zannah?s story, and it?s a credit to Karpyshyn?s plotting abilities that he has managed to weave a horrifying concept, the willfully devious corruption of a young girl, into an enjoyable narrative.
The novel works best when the reader is given a taste of the darkness dwelling in the girl?s heart, whether its during the wince-inducing maiming of one of her childhood friends, or the cold calculation with which she commandeers a planetary shuttle, killing its innocent crew in order to facilitate her journey offworld to rendezvous with her master.
Unfortunately the novel?s supporting characters are far less memorable, being little more than sketches designed to speed Zannah and Bane on their trek through the novel?s plot arc. Due to the book?s brevity (barely topping 300 pages) and a general lack of descriptive prose, you never feel like you really know the characters, and in some cases, the lack of physical description was glaring enough that I even had trouble picturing them.
That said, Karpyshyn is a competent storyteller (Mass Effect and the Bane books? plotlines are evidence enough of that), its just a shame that the novel isn?t fleshed out more fully. The author even mentions the hurried development cycle in his preface, though he puts a positive spin on the six-month gestation period between concept and printed page.
In a nutshell, Rule of Two can best be compared to a summer action movie, and it even reads like a film script, sans the character names preceding the lines of dialogue. It does have a solid premise, an engaging pair of leads, and a great hook. Unfortunately, it also has more than its share of superficiality, and will ultimately please fans of the first book, and leave non-fans wondering what all the fuss is about.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
