'Star Wars: Master of Evil' Review

There are few icons in pop culture more recognizable than Darth Vader.

The silhouette of the masked lord of darkness has been seen everywhere from movie screens to toy shelves, and it’s not hard to believe that everyone reading this article has attempted to replicate his trademark breath at least once. He is synonymous with the very idea of Star Wars, and few characters have had their lives explored more deeply than the fallen Anakin Skywalker.

But there’s always room for more.

Random House Worlds

Master of Evil by Adam Christopher takes up that challenge by presenting a look at the early days of the Dark Lord’s reign. Closely following the bloody conclusion of the Clone Wars, this novel takes Vader and a surprisingly large ensemble on an adventure across the galaxy in search of an ancient power.

However…this is not a Darth Vader book. This is a book surrounding Darth Vader.

While that distinction may seem immaterial, it’s critically important to understand going into the latest release from Random House Worlds. Because while Adam Christopher has not written a novel that fully delves into the psyche of Vader for over 300 pages, he has written a thrilling account of a galaxy attempting to reckon with the introduction of a devastating new piece on the board…one that will change the fabric of the universe forever.

Plot

Master of Evil begins with a discovery. A discovery of an ancient source of power once thought lost yet revealed by those would use it for…unsavory desires. This discovery exists within a prologue years before Anakin Skywalker’s fall into the mask, but it sets up the framework for the quest he’ll undertake and its importance not only to the galaxy, but potentially to his very salvation.

This setup dives headfirst into the ethereal nature of the Force, and much like Christopher’s previous work Shadow of the Sith, proves that this is an author who is absolutely fascinated by the machinations of the Dark Side. However, as the story continues and the cast begins to flesh out, the Force falls away to reveal another complexity: how to balance a burgeoning Empire.

It is here that we meet one of the most prevalent protagonists of Master of Evil, Colonel Halland Goth. Goth spends his days as one of Palpatine’s Royal Guards, and early on in the book, the Emperor gives him one of the most dangerous missions imaginable: watch Vader.

Marvel Comics

This mission is especially intriguing, because at this point in the timeline, Vader is a total enigma to the loyal servants of the Empire. One day, he simply appeared and immediately held all the authority of Palpatine’s voice, and no matter what type of chain of command is slowly beginning to form amongst the newly established ranks, he is free to ignore all of them.

Yet his Emperor clearly distrusts him.

Goth takes on this assignment alongside his trust droid TC-99 who proves to be yet another sensational addition to the lineup of Canon droid companions. Nines, as he is called, accompanies Goth on his mission to discover the secrets of the newly revealed Sith while also acting as Goth’s confidant and occasional caretaker. Their relationship is a highlight of the novel - especially as it composes a majority of the book’s first act.

As the adventure continues, we are introduced to various other points of view from Force disciples to clone troopers to employees of a cybernetic conglomerate. They all have their part to play in Christopher’s intertwined web, but as the cast widens, it’s hard not to wish that there was a bit more of a singular focus on Vader’s mission.

After all, that journey provides the framework for the entire novel, but moving away from his point of view so often does feel like there’s some meat left on the bone for impactful storytelling.

That’s not to say, however, that this book is devoid of Vader scenes that will make any reader’s jaw drop. In a call back to Charles Soule’s 2017 Darth Vader comics run, we get to witness the excruciating process of the former Skywalker bleeding his kyber crystal. We also experience the terror that Vader inspires through the eyes of those surrounding him as his unmatched power over the Force is showcased through a number of vigorous action set pieces.

On the whole, Master of Evil sets out to tell a story about Vader’s desire to discover a power that was promised to him. A power that he feels is right around the next corner yet always outside his grasp. It is his relentless determination to obtain this power that drives the action of the entire story, and every character caught up in the momentum of his journey can only do their best to hang on for the ride.

Characters

The first thing readers will experience about Master of Evil is the unbelievable artwork by Simon Goinard that graces the cover. Vader’s visage has seldom appeared more horrifying, the image letting you know that this is a novel surrounding the identity and mythology of a single monster.

While Master of Evil boasts a surprisingly expansive ensemble, there is no doubt that this is a book surrounding the very existence of Darth Vader, and Christopher handles the daunting task of portraying the fallen Skywalker beautifully. This is a younger Vader full of malice, confusion, and tragedy, and as his journey plays out, we start to see the pieces come together for the true titan he will eventually become.

Most of Vader’s exploits throughout Master of Evil are witnessed via other protagonists, but the few times that we are able to see the galaxy through his eyes are some of the book’s greatest highlights. The entire prose structure shifts around him in a way we haven’t seen in a Star Wars novel before, and the result is a stunning look into the daily torture of this ravaged Sith.

He is eternally searching for a promise that was never meant to be fulfilled, and the slow realization of that path of deceit is crushing. He seeks life, but all he finds are ghosts.

Marvel Comics

Surrounding Vader are a number of original side characters - most importantly Colonel Halland Goth who serves as arguably the main protagonist of the novel purely by page count. Goth begins the story as a servant of the Empire looking for a way out of a seemingly inescapable destiny, and his arc may be the most fully explored in the whole novel.

Through Goth’s journey, we begin to understand how truly odd it is that Vader’s existence was never quite explained to any of the higher ups in the Empire. And instead of simply accepting the unilateral rule of this masked monster, Goth takes it upon himself to figure out why this man speaks with the voice of the Emperor and why he carries a forbidden weapon…even if it leads to an answer he may find unimaginable.

Fans of Timothy Zahn’s Canon Thrawn trilogy may liken Goth’s involvement in the story to Eli Vanto who acted as the reader’s access point to Grand Admiral Thrawn’s machinations. Both characters are eager to discover the truth behind their larger-than-life charges, although Goth is forced to deal with quite a few more demons along the way.

Aside from Goth and TC-99 (who, again, is one of the best droids put to paper in quite some time), Master of Evil brings a mother and daughter from a new world, a former 501st trooper, and a pair of executives looking to rebuild the Techno Union along for the ride. Although the finale of the book wouldn’t be possible without their involvement, they unfortunately dim beneath the shine of Vader and Goth. Add on the fact that the balance between POVs can occasionally dip too far in one direction for an extended period of chapters, and it’s hard not to imagine a version of this story that perhaps left a few of the ancillary pieces on the shelf.

Nonetheless, the book’s promise of a study of Darth Vader as he treads a trail of dark discovery is fulfilled vibrantly, and like any great Star Wars novel, Master of Evil will forever change the way readers view him on their next saga rewatch.

Writing

With Shadow of the Sith, Adam Christopher cemented himself as a Star Wars novelist for everyone to watch. His dissection of the mystical power of the Dark Side marked him as one of the premier writing talents working in a galaxy far, far away, and Master of Evil has absolutely continued that trajectory.

Master of Evil is a dense book. There are many factors at play in this story of Vader’s quest for discovery, and Christopher navigates through each twist and turn in admirable fashion. His descriptions both literal and metaphorical are luscious and evocative, and although this particular style may be a bit slower than some readers would prefer, it’s absolutely the right fit for the tale he wishes to tell.

Wes Ellis/LFL

Christopher’s narrative plotting also shows an increase over his previous work in Shadow of the Sith. While the earlier novel was by no means a lesser work, Master of Evil shows a clear evolution in Christopher’s ability to push a story forward efficiently and effectively. There’s a sense of pervasive momentum throughout the book that brings the reader along for the ride directly alongside Goth, TC-99, and Vader in a wonderfully tangible way.

Christopher also makes a soundly original and technical choice when it comes to Vader’s own point of view that shouldn’t be spoiled ahead of time…but it provides an experience unlike any Star Wars novel in recent memory.

If there’s anything missing from Christopher’s writing, it’s the feeling of wanting even a little more Force lore. The beginning and ending sections of the book are filled with some of the best descriptions into Lucas’s mythical world that we’ve had in Canon, so there’s a small sense of emptiness when the larger logistics of the book take over. But if the only knock is that you want more of a good thing…that’s a pretty fantastic sign.

Entertainment

Last week, we got to chat with Adam Christopher about his love for Force mythology and Vader as a whole, and throughout the conversation, his passion for the material was beyond evident. He clearly loves thinking about the depths of Lucas’s universe in every way imaginable, and those explorations lead to boundless creativity that he’s able to pour into his novels.

For Master of Evil, those discoveries provide the foundation for the book’s entertainment value as readers get to experience a plethora of new additions to the Star Wars mythos. We see a new Force sect, a new disease, a new type of droid interaction, a new type of ship, a new look at Vader’s inner turmoil, and for a franchise that has been telling stories about Darth Vader for almost fifty years, that’s quite the accomplishment!

Just as the characters in Master of Evil are completing a journey of discovery, so are we as readers. There is undeniable thrill in the revelation of a brand new entry in a universe you think you’ve seen fully explored, and that parallel existence between reader and protagonist remains wildly compelling throughout the adventure.

The book also delivers wonderfully in terms of classic, space operatic entertainment. After all, a book starring the monster of the Rogue One hallway scene would have to deliver some of the same chilling violence.

And deliver it does.

Witnessing the ferocity of Vader fully unleashed is supremely gratifying, and the few large scale battles that occupy the pages are well worth the price of admission. Sabers are flying, blasters are firing, structures are collapsing, and through it all, the raw power of the Force reigns supreme.

It is likely that Adam Christopher’s future stories may take him away from direct interactions with the power of the Force, but we are wonderfully lucky to witness them in the meantime.

Overall

Master of Evil is a book about journeys and expectations for both reader and protagonist. If you crack the marvelous cover in search of 350 pages of Anakin’s internal monologue, you will quickly surmise that this is not what Christopher has in store.

But if you open up to the actual adventure that’s presented through the eyes of Colonel Goth, TC-99, new followers of the Force, and Vader himself…a wealth of new discoveries will be revealed. You must merely be ready to accept them.

Master of Evil is on sale now wherever books are sold as well as on Audible where the audiobook is narrated by Marc Thompson.