Book Review: Path of Destruction : A Novel of the Old Republic

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Path of Destruction : A Novel of the Old Republic     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Drew Karpyshyn
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction   Star Wars
Series: Star Wars : Darth Bane
Del Rey, Sep 26 2006, $25.95

On the planet Apatros, cortosis miner Hurst hated his son Dessel and raised the lad with his iron fist after the kid’s mother died. Des survives six hours of constant cramping every day by dreaming of escape though he knows that will never occur. However, everything changes during high a stakes game with Republic soldiers. Des wins, but one of the losers takes exception and attacks him. Des, who has the untrained ability to use the Force, kills his adversary.

Forced to flee as no one escapes punishment for killing a soldier, Des enlists with the Sith's Brotherhood of Darkness that is at war with the Jedi Army of Light over control of the Force. He shows great skill that is honed amidst the Sith who send him to their Academy on Korriban as Lord Bane. Bane wants to be the best so he accepts special secret training from former Jedi Githany, but she betrays him. Her duplicity cements his final lesson to trust no one not even his allies as he rises to the top of the Sith Brotherhood.

This is a terrific character study entry in the Star wars saga that will elate fans of the series. The action occurs about one millennium before the Emperor Palpatine's Galactic Empire with the Light (Jedi Knights) and the Dark (Brotherhood of the Sith) battling for supremacy of the Force and consequently the Old Republic. George Lucas will appreciate this delightful early in the timeline tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner