Check It Out: Read or read not — there is no try
On Oct. 11, the Newport Beach Public Library will host an event to honor the third annual Star Wars Reads Day. With the first in a new film trilogy set for release in 2015, “Star Wars” is more popular than ever.
Star Wars Reads Day combines the joy of reading with one of the most popular science fiction film franchises ever made. If your exposure to George Lucas’ space opera is limited to the films, consider this week’s Check It Out a primer to the expansive “Star Wars” literary universe.
Long before the rise of Darth Vader, there was the ancient Sith Empire. Comprised of mystics and sorcerers, the Sith were exiled to the planet Korriban after their defeat by a burgeoning Jedi Order. Their existence was nearly forgotten until the accidental intrusion of two pilots instigated the Great Hyperspace War. In “Tales of the Jedi,” Kevin J. Anderson’s graphic novel series tells the story behind the massive conflict that marked the return of the Jedi’s mortal foe.
Ever wondered what Master Yoda meant by the Rule of Two? The Sith decree that there will always be one master and one apprentice was formulated by a champion of the Dark Side named Darth Bane. Drew Karpyshyn’s “Darth Bane: Path of Destruction” charts the rise to power of the infamous Sith, from his humble beginnings as a child slave to his days spent mastering the Dark Side of the Force while trying to survive the brutality and deception of the Sith way of life.
There is no event more significant during the Clone Wars than Darth Sidious’ plan to exterminate the Jedi Order. Posing as Senator Palpatine, Sidious wormed and manipulated his way into the position of Supreme Chancellor by goading the Republic into a war with the Trade Federation. His victory culminated in the execution of Order 66, which falsely decreed that the Jedi Order staged a coup and must be destroyed. Karen Traviss’ “Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel” is the culmination of her Republic Commando novels that present the war through the eyes of Clone troopers. The novel presents the galaxy’s worst atrocity from the eyes of those on the front lines, who are detached from the “normal” programming of their fellow grunts.
Set after the events of “The Empire Strikes Back” and before “Return of the Jedi,” Steve Perry’s “Shadows of the Empire” pits heroes Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian and Princess Leia against the Empire as they attempt to rescue Han Solo, recently frozen in carbonite, from the clutches of Boba Fett. Their actions catch the attention of Prince Xizor, the calculating leader of the Black Sun criminal organization. When Xizor discovers that Luke is the son of Darth Vader, he launches a bold plan to capture the young Jedi in order to enact vengeance against the Dark Lord of the Sith.
Following up on the defeat of the Empire in the Battle of Endor, Tom Veitch presents a galaxy that is anything but calm. In his “Dark Empire” graphic novel series, the Imperial Remnant launches a series of planetary skirmishes with deadly new weapons to restore their iron grip. Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo, pregnant with their third child, find themselves on the run after Boba Fett resurfaces and harbors a grudge. Luke, struggling with the burden of establishing a New Jedi Order, comes face to face with evil after Palpatine returns. In an attempt to understand his father’s past, Luke becomes Palpatine’s apprentice in a misguided attempt to destroy the Dark Side from within.
CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.