Review: Light-Dark Duality in “Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived”

Light-Dark Duality in Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived

Introduction

The Star Wars universe is ostensibly endless. Replete with tantalizing tales of colorful characters, stellar settings and the ever-popular clash of good versus evil, there is certainly no shortage of story possibilities. Combined with EA and BioWare’s 2011 Star Wars: The Old Republic video game, the number of plot points increases exponentially. Within this vast galaxy, however, underlies the power of personal and emotional connections, which can be as strong — and sometimes even stronger — than the crossing of lightsabers. Indeed, in Paul S. Kemp’s Deceived, readers see the culmination of efforts of Force users on both the Light and Dark sides of the Force come full circle as their respective quests come full circle during a time set long before the cataclysmic events in the films, providing an exciting reading experience for gamers, franchise fans and everyone interested in solid science fiction.

**A Brief History of the Star Wars Expanded Universe**

Before exploring the title in question, it is important to understand it in relation to the greater Star Wars timeline. Since the publication of the first Star Wars book, the novelization of the original 1977 film, each release has been placed in a specific spot on a timeline of chronological events. Using the Battle of Yavin of 0 BBY as the base reference for all associated works, each one is listed as having occurred before, during or after this pivotal event.

After Disney acquired the rights to Lucasfilm Ltd. in 2012, however, the timeline was altered. In fact, Disney deemed all previous entries non-canon, rebranding them under the banner of the Star Wars Expanded Universe (EU). As such, each successive novel, designed meticulously to avoid contrasting with any extant lore, is considered official. Although opinions about this decision, as is the case with many Star Wars aspects, vary considerably, Disney does give preferential treatment to all post-EU books.

That being said, Deceived, with its 2011 release,is considered, per Disney, a non-canonical Star Wars entry whose events happened approximately 3,653 BBY.

Story Overview: Struggles of the the Body, Mind and Soul

Published March 2011, Deceived is the fourth entry in the seven-title total Old Republic tie-in series released from 2010 to 2012. Set within the Star Wars universe as depicted in the Old Republic MMORPG, itself a follow-up to 2003’s hugely successful and popular Knights of the Old Republic as well as 2004’s sequel, The Sith Lords, this novel serves as a source of exposition in preparation for the game by telling the stories of Jedi Padawan Aryn Leneer and Sith Lord Darth Malgus alike, with the latter being a key character in the MMORPG. The explosive tone is set immediately upon opening this book as readers are thrown into the fray where Malgus, a devout proponent of the Dark Side and seeker of the Jedi’s total annihilation, and approximately 50 other red lightsaber-carrying Sith attack Coruscant’s hallowed Jedi Temple, a symbol of Jedi diligence, commitment and dedication. Defending Jedi fight back as best they can, providing a respectable bout of resistance to their attackers. The Sith are victorious, having slain numerous defenders of the Light in the process. One such Jedi is Ven Zallow, Aryn’s Jedi Master, who falls to Malgus’ crimson saber. These two characters part ways after the battle renders the Sith victors, and, as the rest of this work demonstrates, they become the respective protagonist and antagonist whose stories, while developing independently of each other, intertwine over three days to yield an explosive conclusion that tests their mettle in more than just lightsaber combat and command of the Force.

Aryn’s journey is one of vengeance. Having witness Master Zallow’s death, she swears to avenge him by finding first who is responsible and second doing to him or her what was done to her former mentor. This quest takes her around the galaxy, returning eventually to Coruscant with a new understanding of the events as well as how best to achieve her goals.

Malgus’ path is much darker. As a staunch Sith Lord, he aims for the complete and utter destruction of the entire Jedi Order. Believing diplomacy, negotiations and peace accords are futile and ineffectual, he advances his schemes, halting only when he senses a Force-sensitive on the Light side searching for him. Devoid of any desire to be defeated, he pursues this person so as to act as the hunter rather than the hunted. Where his actions lead him, though, are not exactly what he envisions, with these two storylines culminating in a satisfying conclusion that sees certain powers dominating others.

Strengths: Engaging Writing, Pleasant Pace and Incredible Interactions

From the start, it is clear Kemp is committed to his craft. With prose that fits each scene precisely, reading this novel feels not unlike progressing through the game. This excitement-inducing writing is largely what helps move along the plot as there are few, if any, wasted words, and the concise, organized story means little to no confusion about the finer details. Really, some of the best moments are those where Kemp describes in glorious — but not excessive — detail the skirmishes Aryn and Malgus encounter. Each word in them only enhance the intrigue, raising the level of depth to the point it is easy to visualize this plot playing out like the game or any of the movies. Without any doubt, this author’s fine prose is one of the main highlights.

With these two strengths the third standout: character interactions. As Star Wars is a universe brimming with life in a multicultural web of alien cultures, it is no stranger to different colors, concepts or conversations. Surely, this novel not only contains curious conversations but employs them largely as a collective device to advance the plot effectively. As much is evident in both story paths, where Aryn’s connection with former Republic solider turned spice runner Zeerid Korr raises her emotional heights in addition to her physical training and Malgus’ uncommon relationship with Twi’lek slave turned companion Eleena Daru causing him to re-evaluate his priorities. Undoubtedly, Aryn and Malgus undergo transformations to differing extents, and their eventual encounter does not end how either of them had planned.

Weakness: An Unbalanced Character Dynamic

Aryn and Malgus’ respective character changes are genuinely enjoyable to see. What else is apparent, though, is the uneven focus that tends to favor the latter over the former. It is not unusual, for example, to feel like there are more sections dedicated to Malgus’ character than Aryn’s. Due to the writing that shows more of the Sith than the Jedi, it appears frequently Kemp dedicates more time to fleshing out Malgus. Granted, as much means Malgus’ scenes are enthralling; it also means Aryn can sometimes seem neglected as a character. Seeing as how Malgus’ respirator-wearing face and Darth Vader-like body adorn this book’s cover, however, this seemingly preferential treatment could well be intentional. By the end, both characters do experience apt lessons, but the question still remains: Is part of the titular deception meant to be a Malgus-centric story? Either way, it is fun to read, and Kemp succeeds in portraying these characters in fitting ways.

Conclusion and Score

At its core, Deceived is a phenomenal novel. Its prose, pace and character interactions elevate this story to a level apropos of its source game as well as franchise. Although the unbalanced character dynamic that seems to focus more on Malgus than Aryn, it does not detract immensely from this plot at large — and could be done purposely. Seeing Aryn and Malgus evolve over the course of this book is an absolute pleasure, and, despite its noticeable drawback, stands among the most representative pre-2012 Star Wars publications, showcasing the wonders of the given game and franchise alike.

Pros:

Wonderful writing
Fitting plot pace
Character interactions enhance the story
Honors, respects and enhances the source material

Con:

Unbalanced view into Aryn and Malgus’ respective journeys, suggesting a preference for the latter (and with it, the Dark side) — which may be intentional, given the circumstances

Score: 8/10

Book Information

Title: Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived
Author: Paul S. Kemp
Publisher: Random House Worlds
Release Date: 22 March 2011
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780345511386
Timeline: 3,653 BBY
Series: Star Wars: The Old Republic

References/Further Reading

To learn more about this and other Star Wars releases, please visit the following links:

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this review as well as throughout this blog belong solely to Lord Trichechus Rosmarus of Premier Polygon Productions. Consequently, they represent the perspectives only of these entities and in no way aim to disparage the artists’ works cited.