Sometimes re-watching the movies for the umpteenth time just isn't enough for you and you feel the need to dive into the Star Wars world a little deeper with some of the books. Thank God there are hundreds of them available.
You can tell from the red lightsabers on the cover that this series focuses on the Dark Side. The series includes the titles "Path of Destruction," "The Rule of Two," and "Dynasty of Evil." The trilogy takes place 1,000 years before Han Solo and Luke Skywalker save the day by blowing up the Death Star. You have played some of the Star Wars video games that are set 4,000 years before, and these books reference some of the events and some of the planets from those games (which is kind of cool, in a very nerdy way). The plot follows the lifespan of Des, a young man with a job mining ore on a remote asteroid with a father who beat Des relentlessly before dying of a heart attack. Des soon realizes he possesses instincts and powers that others lack. He uses those qualities to quickly rise from obscurity to distinguish himself as a soldier in the Sith Army in its war against the Jedi.
Soon, others take notice of Des' abilities, and he becomes more than a mere blaster slinging soldier. He becomes Darth Bane and is sent to the Sith Academy to learn the ways of the Force. Along with his fellow students, he is educated in the ways of the Dark Side and the philosophy of the Sith. Disgusted by the brotherly ways of this Brotherhood of Darkness, Bane researches the ancient history of his order. He soon realizes that his teachers have corrupted the true path of the Sith, the Sith were never supposed to cooperate with one another, or be mutually supportive. Too often, Bane sees coalitions of less powerful acolytes band together to bring down the strongest individuals in the Order. He sees the strength of his newfound religion being eroded, its purity being tainted. Sith were supposed to seize power individually. If your fellow Sith wasn't strong enough to defeat your own attacks on him, he wasn't strong enough to deserve the title anyway. Bane vows to restore the Sith to their former glory.
He is the one who writes the command that would rule the Sith for the next millenium, "Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody the power, the other to crave it." No more schools of cooperative Sith, no more academies or brotherhoods. Master and apprentice only. Darth Bane purges the Sith, killing them all but choosing an apprentice to shape and mold in the ancient ways, one who would one day challenge Bane for the title of Lord of the Sith. Bane prepares his new Order of the Sith for the long slow vengeance against the Jedi and the destruction of the Republic they vowed to protect. He embraces secrecy and subterfuge, deception and manipulation. Bane is fully aware this revenge against the Jedi might take centuries before it is realized. It is, in fact, a thousand years from the rise of Darth Bane to the day Darth Sidious takes his place as Emperor Palpatine. In the closing shots of the movie "Episode III, Revenge of the Sith," the citizens of the crushed Republic are forced to bow to their new Sith master and the Jedi are merely a shattered remnant of a forgotten religion. All events set in motion by Darth Bane.
The books are well written and serve to wrap you up in a familiar universe, one you've enjoyed since childhood. The plots are engaging and enjoyable to read, and the storyline ends with a satisfyingly ambiguous mystery. Each book reveals new and interesting facets of the Star Wars universe, adding depth to the mythology. The seven person duel in book two is particularly awesome fun to read. It never ceases to amaze you how good authors can make battle scenes not sound boring. Every time you have ever tried writing one, it's always ended up something like, "He swung his sword, but the other guy blocked it. And then the other guy swung his sword but the first guy blocked it too. Then they both swung their swords again..." Pretty awful stuff there. Thankfully these battle scenes are nothing like that. They are exciting enough that you can almost hear the 'Duel of the Fates' playing in your head when you're reading them.
You noticed that Bane only ever chooses women to be his apprentices. This is never expressed as a specific preference on his part, he simply recognizes that power does not come solely from physical strength but from many source; ruthlessness, guile, deceit, manipulation, ambition, natural talent. These qualities are not monopolized by either gender, and Bane sees talent and potential wherever it is hidden. This idiosyncrasy endeared this evil character to you somehow. Like, if he respects women enough to realize that they can rule the galaxy too, he can't be all that evil, right?
Except, no. He is all that evil. This isn't "Wicked." There is no examination of whether or not we can ever really call someone evil. Bane and his acolytes are evil. They crave power over all else. They feel no remorse or pity. Only the strongest are worthy of living, and only the strongest are worthy of ruling. They draw strength from the suffering of others. Joy has no place in their lives.
Ultimately all of their evil stems from one sin; not greed or lust for vengeance, not violence or lies. They are all of them simply selfish. Darth Bane, and all of the Sith in the Star Wars pantheon, are like all other bullies. They are pitiable. They are so insecure and patheic that they are willing to bring destruction and horror on countless innocents just to feast themselves on the fantasy that selfishness can bring anyone security. You know different. Your faith teaches you that strength comes from allowing yourself to be weak, that true power comes from service, and honor is found in humility. Evil takes effort. Evil is a choice, a choice to trust the lie that promises security through narcissism.
These books reminded you that you don't have to be a Sith or a Jedi to embrace the Dark Side. Both the Sith and the Jedi reject personal attachments. You believe that both are wrong. As vengeance and anger never lead to anything positive, neither does detachment. Our attachments are what bind us all together, not some invisible all-powerful Force. The friends we make, the love we all choose to share with one another, the enemies we forgive, these are the roots of real power. Love is the real Force.
May the Force be with you, always.
On to the next book!
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