Star Wars: Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss Review

ace Windu has been one of the most mysterious Jedi in Star Wars since his introduction in The Phantom Menace.

While occasional Legends novels like Matthew Stover’s Shatterpoint have pulled back the layers on Windu’s mind and past, most of the saga has kept Mace’s personality shrouded behind a sense of duty and justice. With the announcement of Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss, the idea of an entire story from Mace’s point of view was incredibly exciting. We looked forward to author Steven Barnes adding even more depth to one of the most memorable characters in the Prequel Trilogy.

Unfortunately, due to a plot that ultimately falls flat, remarkably odd characterizations, and a writing style that struggles to maintain reader engagement, The Glass Abyss will likely leave Windu fans more confused than satisfied after finishing this latest adventure of the Jedi Master.

‍The Glass Abyss begins with a classic Star Wars premise. After Qui-Gon Jinn's funeral, Mace receives a posthumous message from his departed friend telling him to go to the planet Metagos. Evidently, Qui-Gon had a mission that was never fully completed and promised the citizens that their problems would not be forgotten. As his dying wish, he asked Mace to take up his charge.

From the moment Mace arrives on the new planet, it’s clear that Barnes has thought about this world for quite a while. He painstakingly describes the world in deliberate detail, from its geography to the gangs that rule the depths of the underworld. However, despite the specifics that Barnes litters throughout the chapters, the exact nature of Mace's mission remains unclear for quite a while.

Once Mace starts to meet the leading players, another prominent aspect of the book emerges: Mace’s dreams. Now, while that may sound odd at first glance, plenty of Star Wars books have incorporated visions and dreams in the past. In The Glass Abyss, however, the reason for these interludes never becomes truly apparent.

Mace’s struggles with his past and suggestions of a need for redemption seem almost plucked out of thin air. Because the use of the dream sequences is so confusing, it also hinders the ability to decipher the rest of the Metagos plot, which often gets lost in its own twists and turns. While there’s nothing inherently wrong about a noir detective story in Star Wars, you can’t help but feel that the plot points are something that Barnes might have wanted to write in an original novel and has instead transferred them into the Star Wars universe.

By the novel's end, the larger conflict does shape up in a relatively satisfying matter, with action sequences that very nicely showcase why Mace is such a powerful Jedi and inspiring leader. Unfortunately, the journey to arrive there isn’t quite equal to the eventual payoff, leaving The Glass Abyss with the general idea of a plot rather than the crisp execution of one.

Some of the best Star Wars stories focus on a single character. John Jackson Miller’s Kenobi, Drew Karpyshyn’s Darth Bane Trilogy, and last year’s Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade by Delilah S. Dawson all generally follow the point of view of a singular protagonist. The stories can flourish because of the depth of their individual journeys and the richness of the included side characters.

‍The Glass Abyss attempts to replicate this success by focusing the story on Mace Windu’s internal struggle and external decisions. However, for most of the book, Mace’s characterization seems to resemble little of what has been previously established. While his dedication to the Vaapad style of lightsaber combat has been explored in other titles and is admittedly one of the more aggressive forms, there were points where Barnes’s description of Mace’s actions seemed particularly intense and even bloodthirsty in a way unbecoming of his reputation during this period.

This odd characterization is also evident within the aforementioned dream sequences where Mace appears to struggle with identity issues and a traumatic past that seems to appear almost out of nowhere. While there was an earnest effort to show him moving beyond these traumatic issues, these delicate ideas aren’t exactly handled in a way that signals a complete understanding of their depths – even leading to some remarkably confusing conversations between Mace and his younger self during a dream within a dream.

There are also a plethora of side characters introduced throughout the story. While some expand the mythology of Metagos, few appear well-rounded enough to make a solid impact on the story. A group of droids called the Mayas provide an insight into Barnes’s clear affinity for classic noir, but their actions don’t quite convey the idea of a Star Wars droid as opposed to an android seen in something like Blade Runner – further adding to the idea that this story may not have been meant for Star Wars in the first place.

One of the main antagonists, Chulok, is the most successful new addition, and without spoiling the specifics of their unique makeup, they prove to be just weird and capable enough to make a significant impression. Unfortunately, the nature of their plans and those of their rivals, more often than not, resemble classic mustache-twirling villainy without an apparent deeper motivation for their cruelty. Still, their scenes are nonetheless usually interesting.

‍Star Wars literature often serves as an arena for characters to work through their internal struggles in heartbreaking yet beautiful ways, but when the trials in question don’t line up with pre-established context, the conflicts, unfortunately, ring hollow. Mace Windu has undoubtedly faced more than his fair share of turmoil throughout his life. Still, The Glass Abyss feels like he’s working through the issues of another man amidst a supporting cast that can’t quite live up to his character's stature.

In an interview with StarWars.com, Steven Barnes mentioned his affinity for Mace Windu’s “martial arts prowess” and how excited he was to bring his action to life on the page. Whenever Mace is called upon to add some action to The Glass Abyss, Barnes’s writing skills show that excitement fully. It is easily the novel's highlight - particularly in the latter chapters.

In that interview, Barnes also noted that the novel also incorporates elements of mystery and classic noir. Unfortunately, it is in those sections that The Glass Abyss doesn’t quite come together. For large swaths of the novel, the writing appears relatively clunky in terms of pacing and comprehension, and multiple sections may require multiple rereads to follow the intricacies of the plot properly.

Barnes also seems to have an affinity for cryptic cliffhangers - a classic trope in the noir genre. While this particular element isn’t an issue on its own, The Glass Abyss falters when these cliffhangers refuse to resolve. These issues, combined with word choices and dialogue that can occasionally break immersion, make for a reading experience that can struggle to gather momentum.

However, the writing style adapts quite nicely to the spoken word, and narrator William DeMerrit’s work on the audiobook is unquestionably fantastic. Although the audio medium doesn’t smooth over every issue relating to the book’s structure, the cadence with which Barnes writes does seem to lend itself more to speech than silent reading. Naturally, that is also a testament to Demerrit’s talent as a narrator. Still, the audiobook may prove an excellent option for readers who may struggle through The Glass Abyss due to the issues above.

Despite the difficulties readers may encounter, The Glass Abyss is undeniably a marvelously creative book. Metagos and its citizens are unlike anything we’ve seen in Star Wars. After fifty years of stories, that is a nearly impossible task. Barnes’s passion for the makeup of the world is clear throughout the story, and witnessing the birth of a new world in our favorite universe is absolutely entertaining.

While the book's early setup has its share of challenges, the action-packed finale shines with the excitement of its cinematic counterparts. The fluidity and power with which Mace tackles his adversaries are fantastic. Through those scenes, we glimpse Windu's might with respect and awe.

The combination of thrilling action, unique worldbuilding, and some good old-fashioned Star Wars weirdness definitely imbues The Glass Abyss with some unquestionable entertainment value. Still, after finishing the story, it’s hard not to wonder if the book might have worked better in a different medium, like a comic or an audio drama.