Master of Evil

One of the aspects of Star Wars that I love is that it is an IP that keeps evolving, as do I. As a child I saw The New Hope as a simple action adventure between good and evil. The Emperor was omnipotent. As the series progressed, we see that the Empire was far too vast for one man to control, no matter how powerful. Therefore, various minions and scoundrels are using the shadows to do their work. Master of Evil by Adam Christopher highlights that even those closest to The Emperor are always plotting; there can only ever be two; master and apprentice. 

The newly formed Galactic Empire is starting to assert its authority across the Universe. At the helm is the maniacal Emperor, a leader who controls vast armies and starship armadas. At his side is a new and mysterious apprentice known as Lord Vader. Vader is new to the Dark Side and only beginning to understand its power. When The Emperor sends Vader out to find a Sith artifact, will Vader return? To make sure of his apprentice’s loyalty, The Emperor sends spies along with Vader on the mission. 

It must be tricky being a Sith, never being able to trust anyone. The one person who is meant to be by your side is inevitably going to try and usurp you. Master is a book that glimpses into the early days of this between Vader and The Emperor. Even in his first training missions, Vader is trying to work an angle.  

The tale is not told from the perspective of the Sith, but mostly from those around them; a terminally ill guard, a recommissioned clone fighter, even a group that side with the lighter side of the force. We are given glimpses into the mindset of the Sith via these characters, but they themselves have their own tales to tell and own agendas. Some segments are told from Vader’s POV, and here we see what feels like a lighter side to the character. 

Like with any character, the more you know about them, the less they seem to shine. In the case of The Emperor, Master certainly proves that he is fallible; Vader is not the only person close to him who has their own agenda. Then there is Vader himself. Master is an interesting insight into the internal turmoil of the character, but it also makes him seem slightly less menacing. Vader is willing to help some of those around him, for what appears to be reasons of friendship or loyalty. These are not qualities I think of when he is choking an incompetent officer to death. 

It is true that if you want to see any depth to a character or world, it cannot just be black and white. The interesting part is always the grey. However, the more light that you add to the blackness that is the Sith lightens the mix. We know that Vader is a complex character, we get that from the films, especially the prequels, but do we want it? Master is at its best when the Sith are being bad ass. It only dilutes the evil concentrate that is Vader slightly, but the more we know about the man behind the mask, the less threatening it feels when you watch him arrive on the scene in The Empire Strikes Back. Master is a nuanced Star Wars book for fans who know the series inside and out, just be prepared to know even more and lose some more of that mystery that came with watching the original trilogy for the first time.