Science Fiction
![Drew Karpyshyn - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_a_drew_karpyshyn.jpg)
Revan: Star Wars Legends (The Old Republic) (Star Wars: The Old Republic - Legends)
There's something out there:
a juggernaut of evil bearing down to crush the Republic-
unless one lone Jedi, shunned and reviled, can stop it.
Hero, traitor, conqueror, villain, savior-the man called Revan has been all of these. He left Coruscant a Jedi, on a mission to defeat the Mandalorians. He returned a Sith disciple, bent on destroying the Republic. The Jedi Council gave Revan his life back, but the price of redemption was the loss of his memories. All that's left are nightmares-and deep, abiding fear. What happened beyond the Outer Rim that Revan can't quite remember or entirely forget? One thing he's certain of: Something dark is plotting to destroy the very existence of the Republic. With no idea how to identify the threat, let alone stop it, Revan may be doomed to fail. For he's never faced a more powerful and diabolic enemy. But only death can stop him from trying.
"An excellent book . . . [Karpyshyn] really draws the reader in."-Eucantina
"Full of adventure, danger, and revelations."-TheForce.Net
a juggernaut of evil bearing down to crush the Republic-
unless one lone Jedi, shunned and reviled, can stop it.
Hero, traitor, conqueror, villain, savior-the man called Revan has been all of these. He left Coruscant a Jedi, on a mission to defeat the Mandalorians. He returned a Sith disciple, bent on destroying the Republic. The Jedi Council gave Revan his life back, but the price of redemption was the loss of his memories. All that's left are nightmares-and deep, abiding fear. What happened beyond the Outer Rim that Revan can't quite remember or entirely forget? One thing he's certain of: Something dark is plotting to destroy the very existence of the Republic. With no idea how to identify the threat, let alone stop it, Revan may be doomed to fail. For he's never faced a more powerful and diabolic enemy. But only death can stop him from trying.
"An excellent book . . . [Karpyshyn] really draws the reader in."-Eucantina
"Full of adventure, danger, and revelations."-TheForce.Net
Readers Top Reviews
A. J. HawkinsMano
If you're a fan of the Knights of the Old Republic video game, you'll definitely appreciate this book more than those unfamiliar with that story. I won't detail the plot as I don't want to ruin it, but it's one of the better SW novels for sure.
Mark PriorA. J. H
I've read more Star Wars novels than I care to remember and no one captures the sheer power of a Sith or Jedi as much as Drew. Bane, Revan and The Emperor are legends without doubt in the Star Wars universe and I'd love to see them as a star wars story on the big screen. Another great read, depth of character and story meant I just kept on reading. Having read the Bane trilogy and loving it, I already had high hopes for Revan and it certainly didn't disappoint.
JackMark PriorA.
As per usual with Karpyshyn, this is a well written book and engaging. Having played through the main kotor game, it was nice to see Revan again as he is one of the best characters in Star Wars and one of the most unique. However, this book felt more like a story centered around the sith than Revan himself, this can be a pretty annoying problem as you spend more time with this wannabe sith than the main character himself. Now, this is not to say that the parts with Revan aren’t great, they are for the most part exceptional, it just feels like they are few and far between. For half this book he’s technically captured and sitting on his butt doing nothing. It was interesting to see Canderous and Bastila again, clearly they’ve grown, learning a bit about the Mandos backstory.I didn’t see that betrayal coming at the end, which felt a bit random. I understand that Scourge was a sith and to never trust them but it came out of nowhere. I feel also that Revan was significantly underpowered and I can understand the controversy surrounding the book to an extent. However, to say this book is mediocre just isn’t true. It is an exceptional book marred by certain aspects that don’t work and really only for a simple tie in for a game. I definitely recommend giving this a try.
Alco-HolocaustJac
I don't even know where to begin. I am the definition of a huge KOTOR 1 & 2 fan. I have been waiting (with Jedi like patience) for this book to come out since it was announced in April. Perhaps that waiting did build up my expectations, but in the end: I was as satisfied with the book as I was disappointed. To all those who have written a negative review (or those who are thinking negative thoughts), it comes a bit unwarranted. Drew Karpyshyn (and Lucas) could have given us nothing at all.... and I will admit, some people would probably have preferred this. I don't know how an average Star Wars fan would react to the novel, if they have not played the games, but my assumption is they could appreciate the novel for what it is. Knights of the Old Republic fans WILL have mixed emotions. The ending (without revealing what happened yet) is hard to stomach for those hoping for true closure on Revan. On the whole, it has been said in other reviews: Fans hoping for a KOTOR 1 & 2 reunion will be sorely disappointed. This book is about Revan... and apparently Lord Scourge. On that note, to those with an open mind Scourge is a very interesting read. The chapters alternate between Revan's story and Scourge's... making a distinct and noticeable contrast between light and dark that the reader will pick up on. Without spoilers, the only thing I can say is the book SHOULD have been broken up into 2 or 3 installments. Ultimately, for anyone who is truly disappointed with the novel... my summation is distaste from a lack of control. The book is not the game, you have no control over what Revan does, says, thinks, wears, or looks like. One can certainly use their imagination, but "facts" are facts. In the end, if you liked or loved the KOTOR games... you will have some feelings of closure and love for this book. Just keep in mind, things may not necessarily end as you had always hoped they would. *****Spoilers****** Here Im going to go a little more in depth as to what it was that made me rate this a 4 star book. Anyone who has been anxiously waiting for the release of this book (without question) was likely a Knights of the Old Republic fan. This is where I make my first complaint: why not have more interaction between characters of the games? I am not asking for as deep a story as the one we got with Canderous and Revan, but to skip over so many years, the way Karpyshyn does, spoils an opportunity for closure with the other characters. Karpyshyn simply (and obviously) glosses over the prominent characters we grew to know from the games as a means of rushing forth with the main story. If you loved KOTOR then you loved SIDE QUESTS. Karpyshyn should have taken the time to expand where instead he chose to rush. With the tile being "Revan", all of this is understandable... but then why not HAVE more ...
Mike S.Alco-Holoc
Revan is a character that was introduced in the Knights of the Old Republic video games. He was a Jedi that turned to the dark side and joined the Sith (back before the Rule of Two was instituted, so he was one of many Sith) and then eventually turned back to the light and redeemed himself. The novel is written by Drew Karpyshyn who also wrote the wonderful Darth Bane trilogy of novels. The novel really tells the story of Revan after he has turned back to the light but before coming back to the Jedi order. When the book opens he is married to Jedi Master Bastila Shan and is experiencing insomnia due to a recurring nightmare he believes is part of his forgotten past as the Sith Lord Darth Revan. He believes that there is some threat to the galaxy that he cannot pinpoint and seeks help to regain his memory. The novel has ties to the Mandalorian Wars and has a parallel plot that involves the Sith Council and a plot against Emperor Tenebrae, who is known to the Old Sith Empire as Darth Vitiate. The book has a lot of action and suspense and has very good pacing, so, it is a pretty quick read. Of course, the novel is not canon even though the character of Revan is because of references made to him in the Clone Wars series and subsequent canon novels. However, his backstory has not been told in canon. And, there are definitely elements of this novel that have been retconned, such as the mask of Mandalore being replaced by the Darksaber as the artifact that bestows leadership of the Mandalorians. And, the fact that Jedi were allowed to marry. Even though it is not canon, it is still a very good novel and worth reading if you are one who picks and chooses which Star Wars novels to read.
Short Excerpt Teaser
CHAPTER ONE
Lord Scourge raised the hood of his cloak as he stepped off the shuttle, a shield against the wind and pelting rain. Storms were common here on Dromund Kaas; dark clouds perpetually blocked out the sun, rendering terms like day and night meaningless. The only natural illumination came from the frequent bursts of lightning arcing across the sky, but the glow from the spaceport and nearby Kaas City provided more than enough light to see where he was going.
The powerful electrical storms were a physical manifestation of the dark side power that engulfed the entire planet-a power that had brought the Sith back here a millennium before, when their very survival had been in doubt.
After a crushing defeat in the Great Hyperspace War, the Emperor had risen up from the tattered ranks of the remaining Sith Lords to lead his followers on a desperate exodus to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Fleeing the Republic armies and the relentless revenge of the Jedi, they eventually resettled far beyond the borders of Republic-charted space on their long-lost ancestral homeworld.
There, safely hidden from their enemies, the Sith began to rebuild their Empire. Under the guidance of the Emperor-the immortal and all-powerful savior who still reigned over them even after a thousand years-they abandoned the hedonistic lifestyles of their barbaric ancestors.
Instead they created a near-perfect society in which the Imperial military operated and controlled virtually every aspect of daily life. Farmers, mechanics, teachers, cooks, janitors-all were part of the great martial machine, each individual a cog trained to perform his or her duties with maximum discipline and efficiency. As a result, the Sith had been able to conquer and enslave world after world in the unexplored regions of the galaxy, until their power and influence rivaled those of their glorious past.
Another burst of lightning split the sky, momentarily illuminating the massive citadel that loomed over Kaas City. Built by slaves and devoted followers, the citadel served as both palace and fortress, an unassailable meeting place for the Emperor and the twelve handpicked Sith Lords who made up his Dark Council.
A decade earlier, when Scourge had first arrived on Dromund Kaas as a young apprentice, he had vowed to one day set foot inside the citadel's exclusive halls. Yet in all his years of training at the Sith Academy on Kaas City's borders, he had never been granted the privilege. He had been one of the top students, marked by his superiors for his strength in the Force and his fanatic devotion to the ways of the Sith. But acolytes were not permitted inside the citadel; its secrets were reserved for those in direct service to the Emperor and the Dark Council.
The dark side power emanating from within the building was undeniable; he had felt the raw, crackling energy every day during his years as an acolyte. He had drawn on it, focusing his mind and spirit to channel the power through his own body to sustain him during the brutal training sessions.
Now, after almost two years away, he was back on Dromund Kaas. Standing on the landing pad, he could once again feel the dark side deep inside his bones, the sizzling heat more than compensating for the minor discomfort of the wind and rain. But he was no longer a mere apprentice. Scourge had returned to the seat of Imperial power as a full-fledged Sith Lord.
He had known this day would come eventually. After graduating from the Sith Academy he had hoped for a posting on Dromund Kaas. Instead he had been sent to the fringes of the Empire to help quell a series of minor rebellions on recently conquered worlds. Scourge suspected the posting had been a punishment of some type. One of his instructors, jealous of the star pupil's potential, had probably recommended that he be stationed as far from the seat of Imperial power as possible to slow his ascent to the upper ranks of Sith society.
Unfortunately, Scourge had no proof to back his theory. Yet even exiled to the uncivilized sectors on the farthest borders of the Empire, he had still managed to forge his reputation. His martial skills and ruthless pursuit of the rebel leaders caught the notice of several prominent military leaders. Now, two years after leaving the Academy, he had returned to Dromund Kaas as a newly anointed Lord of the Sith. More important, he was here at the personal request of Darth Nyriss, one of the most senior members of the Emperor's Dark Council.
"Lord Scourge," a figure called out over the wind, running up to greet him. "I am Sechel. Welcome to Dromund Kaas."
"Welcome back," Scourge corrected as the man dropped to one knee and bowed his head in a gesture of r...
Lord Scourge raised the hood of his cloak as he stepped off the shuttle, a shield against the wind and pelting rain. Storms were common here on Dromund Kaas; dark clouds perpetually blocked out the sun, rendering terms like day and night meaningless. The only natural illumination came from the frequent bursts of lightning arcing across the sky, but the glow from the spaceport and nearby Kaas City provided more than enough light to see where he was going.
The powerful electrical storms were a physical manifestation of the dark side power that engulfed the entire planet-a power that had brought the Sith back here a millennium before, when their very survival had been in doubt.
After a crushing defeat in the Great Hyperspace War, the Emperor had risen up from the tattered ranks of the remaining Sith Lords to lead his followers on a desperate exodus to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Fleeing the Republic armies and the relentless revenge of the Jedi, they eventually resettled far beyond the borders of Republic-charted space on their long-lost ancestral homeworld.
There, safely hidden from their enemies, the Sith began to rebuild their Empire. Under the guidance of the Emperor-the immortal and all-powerful savior who still reigned over them even after a thousand years-they abandoned the hedonistic lifestyles of their barbaric ancestors.
Instead they created a near-perfect society in which the Imperial military operated and controlled virtually every aspect of daily life. Farmers, mechanics, teachers, cooks, janitors-all were part of the great martial machine, each individual a cog trained to perform his or her duties with maximum discipline and efficiency. As a result, the Sith had been able to conquer and enslave world after world in the unexplored regions of the galaxy, until their power and influence rivaled those of their glorious past.
Another burst of lightning split the sky, momentarily illuminating the massive citadel that loomed over Kaas City. Built by slaves and devoted followers, the citadel served as both palace and fortress, an unassailable meeting place for the Emperor and the twelve handpicked Sith Lords who made up his Dark Council.
A decade earlier, when Scourge had first arrived on Dromund Kaas as a young apprentice, he had vowed to one day set foot inside the citadel's exclusive halls. Yet in all his years of training at the Sith Academy on Kaas City's borders, he had never been granted the privilege. He had been one of the top students, marked by his superiors for his strength in the Force and his fanatic devotion to the ways of the Sith. But acolytes were not permitted inside the citadel; its secrets were reserved for those in direct service to the Emperor and the Dark Council.
The dark side power emanating from within the building was undeniable; he had felt the raw, crackling energy every day during his years as an acolyte. He had drawn on it, focusing his mind and spirit to channel the power through his own body to sustain him during the brutal training sessions.
Now, after almost two years away, he was back on Dromund Kaas. Standing on the landing pad, he could once again feel the dark side deep inside his bones, the sizzling heat more than compensating for the minor discomfort of the wind and rain. But he was no longer a mere apprentice. Scourge had returned to the seat of Imperial power as a full-fledged Sith Lord.
He had known this day would come eventually. After graduating from the Sith Academy he had hoped for a posting on Dromund Kaas. Instead he had been sent to the fringes of the Empire to help quell a series of minor rebellions on recently conquered worlds. Scourge suspected the posting had been a punishment of some type. One of his instructors, jealous of the star pupil's potential, had probably recommended that he be stationed as far from the seat of Imperial power as possible to slow his ascent to the upper ranks of Sith society.
Unfortunately, Scourge had no proof to back his theory. Yet even exiled to the uncivilized sectors on the farthest borders of the Empire, he had still managed to forge his reputation. His martial skills and ruthless pursuit of the rebel leaders caught the notice of several prominent military leaders. Now, two years after leaving the Academy, he had returned to Dromund Kaas as a newly anointed Lord of the Sith. More important, he was here at the personal request of Darth Nyriss, one of the most senior members of the Emperor's Dark Council.
"Lord Scourge," a figure called out over the wind, running up to greet him. "I am Sechel. Welcome to Dromund Kaas."
"Welcome back," Scourge corrected as the man dropped to one knee and bowed his head in a gesture of r...
