Star Wars – The High Republic: Into the Dark
Written by Claudia Gray
Published by Disney Lucasfilm Press
Teenaged Padawan learner Reath Silas is an academic who prefers living through adventures of Jedi past over experiencing adventures himself. His life is turned asunder when his teacher, Jedi Master Jora Malli accepts an assignment aboard the newly constructed fronter station Starlight Beacon, an outpost so very far from everything Reath knows.
Reath’s journey in and of itself gives double meaning to Claudia Gray’s, Into the Dark, which is an edge of your seat nail-biter building on the growing threats to the Galactic Republic in Star Wars: The High Republic series.
As Master Jora has forged ahead alone, Reath travels with Jedi Masters Cohmac and Orla, who have a history together, and Jedi Knight Dez on a chartered flight aboard the cargo transport The Vessel.
Yes, that’s the name of the ship: The Vessel.
Helming The Vessel are easy going hippy captain Loex Gyasi, teenaged co-pilot and romantic interest, Affie Hollow and perhaps one of the more refreshing characters, a sentient rock named Geode.
When an “accident” in the Hyperspace lanes force travelers throughout the galaxy to drop out of hyperspace (this accident being the inciting incident of the series and focus of the maiden novel, Light of the Jedi,) The Vessel takes refuge on a seemingly abandon uncharted space station overgrown with vegetation and maintained by gardening droids. Stranded with other factions who are in it for themselves, a mystery unfolds involving the Dark Side of the force and the new threat to the Republic in the form of a fanatical organization called the Nihil.
Claudia Gray keeps a snappy pace with well executed twists and flawed, relatable characters that serve the Star Wars universe well.
Especially the Jedi.
Padawan Reath works especially well because he’s immediately introduced as us, the reader, embarking on a grand adventure whether we’re ready for it or not. Fighting that voice inside that asks if we’re truly prepared for what lies ahead. Filled with self-doubt.
Into Darkness. Taking that heroes journey of self-discovery.
This is Reath’s story.
Which is why I felt distracted when at points we’re transported backwards in time twenty-five years to follow a not-so-successful mission involving Masters Cohmac and Orla.
Don’t get me wrong. This side-story culminates with a nice payoff, however as I said, this is ultimately Reath’s journey and it may feel out of place to some readers. An enriching backstory to others.
This concise adventure feels both contained and epic at the same time. Terrifying that a seemingly innocuous place could spell disaster for the entire galaxy should it fall into the wrong hands. Each twist is perfectly motivated and has real consequences for the characters. Never crammed into the story simply to shock the reader.
And then there’s Geode. Scene stealer and pitch perfect tension breaker.
I was also delighted to find an easter egg or so for those with a keen eye for pop culture. References to both Kenner, the original Star Wars toys producer (Kennerla,) and the John Boorman directed, Sean Connery starrier cult film Zardoz (Zardossa) were cleverly snuck in there and I’m sure there’s dozens I missed. These two shout-outs alone, however, have earned Claudia Gray my sincere nerd respect
Without giving anything else away, I’ll leave off with this –
What’s more is that Into the Dark is a thrilling and engaging stand-alone science fiction story that happens to be set in, and works perfectly in, the Star Wars Universe. In other words, if these Jedi characters were not lightsaber carrying Force users, tweaked to use other skills to fight their battles, this would have been just as much well worth your time.
1 Comment