The Death Star by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry adds a whole new depth to the first ever Star Wars movie, A New Hope. From the movie standpoint we only see the side (mostly) of the heroic freedom fighters. But while villains ran the Death Star, there were others aboard, who had bought into the Empire’s law and order claims. This is their story and now we see how they react to discovering just what the Empire truly stands for.
The first part of the book, which covers over have of the Death Star novel, is subtitled ‘Construction’ and introduces all the players to the cast. Besides the obvious like Tarkin, Vader, and Motti, we have the return of Dr. Uli Divinian, no longer the idealistic young Doc with a crush on Barriss Offee. He’s been stuck in the draft for decades now, though he’s no less good at his job. We also get a nice range of both military and the civilians there to serve them.
The new characters are carefully built up and likable. From the doctor who was drafted in the Clone Wars point of view, its been like one long war. From the prisoners point of view, its better to be serving (or hiding) on the Death Star than suffering on the prison planet Despayre below. For the civilians, well, they were just offered a job. And of course the military officers just want to be heroes. None of them knew what they were in for, and through them we get a look at the many areas of the DS we never saw on film.
The only problem with the characters is there are so many that it makes for a lot of jumping around. Not only seven new ones, but two established expanded universe characters, and then there are Vader and Governor Tarkin. This explains why the book is so big and why the Construction section takes up more than half the novel.
Shakedown is the second half, well, less than half. There is a moment, when all must realize just how horrifying the Empire is, just how far Tarkin and his like will go, and make a choice on how to handle it. Shakedown is where all this begins. From the fate of the penal colony, to the moment the story crosses over with the movie events as Alderaan is destroyed. The story does rehash some of those events but at a different angle – you see things from those who worked there. There are only two ways for these well developed characters to jump: rationalize away any conscience, or try and get out – a seemingly impossible task either way.
It isn’t too surprising the civilians are on the ‘gotta get out’ list. But even some of the Imperial officers both main characters and mere background ones, have a reaction, that this was far from what they signed on for. This jives nicely with the fact that there were Alderaanians serving the Empire, much as Tycho Celchu of Rogue Squadron who had honestly believed in the Empire’s promise of peace and order. It also fits well with what the spirit of Anakin says in the Truce at Bakura, the actions here actually end up strengthening the Alliance due to the backlash.
I really like how the Death Star novel gives a whole new dimension to the original Star Wars movie. As a kid watching it, I only knew these are the bad guys. But now you see it was the guys at top that were the primary evil, and many below them truly believed in the Empire, until Alderaan was destroyed. For many on the Death Star, this realization would come far too late. The rebels had to destroy the Death Star for the sake of a galaxy, and unfortunately, there would be a lot of collateral damage.
Death Star Continuity
The archivist Atour Rand was trained at the Baobob archives – the Baobob’s were introduced as a merchant fleet of explorers in the 1985 Droids cartoons, and a member was present on Naboo at the victory parade after the Trade Federation was defeated
There was a rumored rebel prison break on the Death Star, mentioning the 501st. While most thought it made up or exaggerated, the core event happened in Battlefront 2 (2004). One set of the plans was stolen at this time, however, it was not complete.
The archivist used to be stationed at Danuta and kept personal copies of files there, explaining why they would be there for Kyle Katarn to discover.
The story mentions the plans were stolen from Danuta (Dark Forces and Lethal Alliance) to Darknell (Interlude on Darknell) to Toprawa (Operation Skyhook) – Star Wars Radio drama, Jedi Dawn and the Bounty Hunter (Havet Storm). You can read a complete history here.
It’s a bit of a mystery why Tarkin would be surprised they were on Toprawa as an official set was kept there and mentioned in Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire. Of course the Emperor did keep some secrets to himself. But Tarkin almost certainly didn’t know about the second set hidden there, as Atour Rand is mentioned as sending them to his private files there, and there were two different strikes there to steal them. Katarn taking the official set, the secondary set was stolen by Rianna Saren (given that Katarn had earlier hired her, but stealing the first set was his first mission after defecting.)
Tarkin taking the original plans from Raith Sienar is detailed in Rogue Planet by Greg Bear.
Doctor Uli Divinian first appeared in Medstar: Jedi Healer also by Michael Reaves.
The mentioned Vergesso Pirates were featured in the games Empire at War, X-Wing Alliance and the Shadows of the Empire novel and related material.
The only thing that saddens me about the book is that we never see these bew characters again in any other stories.
Tarkin’s Continuity
The Maw installation as established by Tarkin, Qwi Xux, Daala and the scientists there were first introduced and feature prominently in Jedi Academy trilogy by Kevin J Anderson. Daala is also in Darksaber and the Fate of the Jedi series.
Death Star doesn’t forget the details of Daala’s initial arc, it uses her dalliance with Tarkin while giving an explanation for why it’s said later that she ‘never’ left the Maw. This story doesn’t mention his wife at all, but it’s mentioned elsewhere that marriage was for political convenience, not love.
