Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear Review!

Authors write for the times in which they are living.

This mantra has been a favorite of mine over the years, and from A New Hope, Star Wars has seemingly adopted it as a guiding light. George Lucas had a very clear message regarding the rise of fascism when he sculpted the Original Trilogy, and the Prequels followed that tradition by offering a younger generation an insight on the potential downfalls inherent in ultimate power.

Star Wars novelists have upheld Lucas’s vision over the years with books full of heroism when the light is hard to see and books filled with the strength of the people against the might of tyranny. Despite that vision, however, most novels in a galaxy far, far away take a somewhat delicate approach in their commentary on real world events.

The Mask of Fear does not.

Alexander Freed’s latest novel follows his tradition of writing excellence that he established concretely with his masterful Alphabet Squadron trilogy. In doing so, he presents an unblinking story about the inherent dangers of rising fascism and political corruption.

It may also be his masterpiece.

Plot

The Mask of Fear is a book that takes its time.

During our interview with Alexander Freed, he mentioned that he’s “never been accused of writing page turners”, and while he is surely too hard on himself there, you can see what he means with the pacing presented by this book. From the start, there are multiple plot lines and points of view following not only Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Saw Gerrera, but additional characters like an Imperial agent and a Separatist soldier looking for purpose.

All of these stories offer insights and examinations into the ways that the galaxy is changing under the reign of Emperor Palpatine and the burgeoning Galactic Empire, and it immediately becomes clear that there will be no rush to integrate them.

And that’s okay. That’s intentional.

Random House Worlds

At its core, The Mask of Fear is a political thriller set in the Star Wars galaxy. And as much as that phrase gets carelessly tossed around in the publishing space, for this project, it’s quite accurate. Out of the three named protagonists above, only one is really prone to classic Star Wars violence while the others find their missions in the shadows of Coruscant alleys and the blinding lights of the Imperial Senate.

As the story evolves, we follow each of the characters as they attempt to start building the eventual Rebellion in their own way. Mon Mothma uses her talents with political maneuvers and complex legislation to gain advantage while Bail Organa takes the path of righteous indignation in an effort to prove the innocence of the Jedi he fought so ardently beside. Each chapter contains elements of trial and error as the future leaders try to figure out ways to begin unravelling Palpatine’s control over the galaxy, and we also get to witness how certain Imperials are already trying to stop them.

However, as they arduously try to find their own paths to victory, one revelation becomes clear: without compromise, they will fail.

As clear as this story is about the dangers of fascism and the destruction of representation and democracy, it is equally clear about the impossibilities of moral absolutism. No matter how many rules and regulations that Mon and Bail want to follow in order to overthrow a dictator, never have the inherent moral compromises of fighting this new tyrannical regime been more on display.

Friends must be sacrificed. Promises must be broken. Lines must be crossed. And still, you might lose.

You might be able to tell by this point that The Mask of Fear is not necessarily an easy read…and it doesn’t have to be. Freed respects the story by allowing it the space to breathe and evolve. By allowing it the time to be uncomfortable and unknown. By allowing you as a reader to experience the actual frustration of the characters who don’t understand how evil is prevailing so completely despite their greatest efforts.

It’s no spoiler to say that this book does not end with the Rebellion’s victory. After all, this is the beginning of a trilogy aptly titled Reign of the Empire. There are two more books to come before the Rebellion even begins to have enough coordination for Luke to take down the Death Star. This is a story of darkness and of small victories made of large sacrifices by people who aren’t even sure that they have the strength to make them.

But if you’re looking for the beginnings of the spark that will eventually light up the fires of rebellion…it’s hard to imagine that it can be done better than this.

Characters

Alexander Freed’s works have long been defined by the richness of their characters. The Alphabet Squadron trilogy especially showcased the complex nature of wartime heroes like Yrica Quell and supposed villains like Soran Keize. No matter the context, Freed ensures that his characters are completely three-dimensional and feel as though they are actual historical figures rather than fictional constructs.

The Mask of Fear continues that tradition beautifully.

As opposed to some of his previous books, however, The Mask of Fear is mostly focused around characters with rich histories in the Star Wars Canon, but Freed rises to this particular challenge with grace and ease. He simultaneously incorporates our previous knowledge about characters like Bail and Mon while also providing them with new insights, ambitions, and flaws to flesh out the larger conflicts of the book.

Random House Worlds

Mon Mothma’s characterization clearly borrows plenty of inspiration from Genevieve O’Reilly’s stunning work in Andor to the point where you can nearly hear her voice lifting off the page. Even though the events of that series take place well into the future of the timeline, Freed expertly lays the breadcrumbs for what’s to come for her and even for Perrin who gets the briefest opportunity to shine on a few occasions.

Bail, on the other hand, probably benefits the most from Freed’s expansion due to his singular focus on removing slander from the name of the Jedi. While we’ve seen Bail’s loyalty to the Order in various other Star Wars projects before, The Mask of Fear really hones in on his desire to clear their reputations after Order 66 - especially since he’s actively raising one of their daughters.

Both characters treat their respective callings with the utmost sincerity, and their reactions to the increasing severity of the Empire’s tactics falls right in line with their previously established personalities. Add in dialogue reminiscent of a mid-season episode of Andor, and you can’t really argue with the winning nature of this formula.

However, Freed puts just as much effort into writing the original characters that litter the book - namely Soujen, the aforementioned Separatist agent who finds his place alongside Saw, and Haki, an Imperial who spends quite a lot of time with Bail. Both characters command their own POV chapters, and while it can be slightly more difficult to keep track of their motivations as the story goes on, they fit seamlessly into the brutalistic world Freed has created.

None of the characters within The Mask of Fear are, at the risk of being cliche, completely black or white. Haki may be an Imperial intelligence operative, but she is not blind to the rampant changes occurring within the administration she has served for so many years. Mon Mothma is clearly attempting to rid the galaxy of a maniac and his army of sycophants, but it doesn’t mean that she won’t sacrifice a friend to get one step closer.

Much like the plot itself, every character in this book is an unflinching representation of the price that fascist tyranny takes upon all those that live beneath its fist. And it’s amazing how quickly heroes and villains are created based on the consequences of just a few measly decisions.

Writing

Alexander Freed is, simply put, one of the best Star Wars writers we have. The way that he’s able to sculpt an entire world through intensely descriptive prose is second to none, and his dialogue in The Mask of Fear is some of the best of his entire career. That being said, the writing skill inherent in Mask is even more impressive not purely because of its beautiful complexity…but also because of its deceptive simplicity.

The Mask of Fear is not subtle about its subject matter. Then again, Star Wars never has been. While yes, George Lucas respected the need for escapism in science fiction and fantasy, he also respected the idea that these genres are at their best when they tell us something important about our world. This book very clearly examines issues that are bubbling at the surface of our everyday lives, but Freed’s writing talent never makes the reader feel like you’re being hit over the head with obvious parallels.

There’s delicate grace imbued in every choice of word and scene, and although some may call the writing a bit more dense than other Star Wars writers, a more apt description would be to call it philosophically “heady.” Luckily, the insertion of so many real world philosophies remains palatable throughout the book, because Freed is able to present those ideals through the eyes of pre-established, well known characters.

And because the heavy weight of introduction has already been done for him, he can focus solely on the meat of what he’s trying to say.

Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Now despite the simplicity of the message Freed is portraying throughout Mask, the writing is still filled with his trademark nuance. Because all three main protagonists are simultaneously right and wrong (which will surely be individually determined by each reader’s point of view), Freed is able to confidently make a statement about unchecked authority while not injecting any sort of moralism toward how people fight power.

With a book that could have been so overtly on-the-nose regarding the climate of modern day politics, Freed somehow navigates the most terrifying issues of our time with the deft skill of a prodigious craftsman. He uses his characters as tools to efficiently translate the unbelievable complexity of the stresses that plague us in the real world while also allowing us the modicum of escapism that we seek in this fake one.

This task shouldn’t be possible, and yet The Mask of Fear proves that under the hand of a master, no challenge is too great.

Entertainment

It’s hard to imagine a book that meets the moment better than The Mask of Fear.

For some readers, the clarity with which Freed writes about the present day through the lens of Star Wars may not provide the classic “entertainment value” that we sometimes expect from an in-universe novel, and that’s okay! Plenty of people define entertainment by the ability a book has to transport them into a world of high-octane space battles filled with quips and valiant heroices. There’s nothing wrong with that.

But if you’re willing to go on a slightly different journey, The Mask of Fear delivers in spades.

Within these pages, Freed channels the best of late 20th-century espionage fiction and nests it perfectly in the Star Wars universe. This was never designed to be a flashy story with wall-to-wall action despite having some quite impressive set pieces scattered throughout, but the entertainment value lies within the gritty details and shadowy corners into which the characters are thrust.

Depending on where you are in your own life, the reading pace of this book will vary drastically. The chapters continually maintain a level of tension that can make scenes fly by with fiery necessity or can cause you to stand up and take a full lap every few pages.

Regardless of how you consume the story, there is undeniable momentum within Freed’s storytelling that cannot be denied - it’s just presented in a slightly different shape than you may be used to.

Verdict

After the stunning success of Alexander Freed’s Alphabet Squadron trilogy, the bar for his next novel was high…it was very high. And yet he unquestionably eclipsed it.

The Mask of Fear is an unflinching, unabashed commentary on the price of fascism and the devastating consequences of its influence. It is a reflection of modern society with clarity never before seen in Star Wars literature, but somehow…it remains hopeful.

It reminds us that every blazing rebellion begins with the smallest embers. That a single person’s efforts can build the momentum needed to topple the evils of this world. That even if we don’t have all the answers, we can work together and find them as a united front against the unbearable weight of tyranny.

The Reign of the Empire trilogy will continue next year with Rebecca Roanhorse’s entry and the year after that with a novel from Fran Wilde. If the subsequent books keep up this level of narrative excellence and unblinking commentary…this will be a trilogy for the ages.

Rating: Masterpiece

The Mask of Fear is available now wherever books are sold and on Audible where it is expertly narrated by January LaVoy.