Star Wars: Darth Plagueis (2012) by James Luceno is a gripping Sith-centric novel that delves into the shadowy machinations of Darth Plagueis the Wise, the Muun Sith Lord whose mastery of midi-chlorian manipulation and political intrigue shaped the fate of the galaxy. Set primarily in the years leading up to The Phantom Menace, the book unveils Plagueis’s Faustian partnership with his apprentice, Darth Sidious (Palpatine), as they orchestrate the downfall of the Jedi and the rise of the Empire through banking clan conspiracies, secret assassinations, and Sith alchemy.
Luceno weaves canonical depth into the legend hinted at in Palpatine’s cryptic Revenge of the Sith monologue, exploring Plagueis’s obsession with cheating death—and how his own teachings ultimately doom him. The novel bridges Old Republic Sith lore with the prequel era, featuring cameos from Darth Maul, Count Dooku, and young Anakin Skywalker, while examining the Rule of Two’s brutal paradox.
A must-read for fans of Sith philosophy and Star Wars’ darker lore, it transforms Palpatine’s rise from a plot point into a grand tragedy of power and betrayal.
For Sith devotees:
- Darth Bane Trilogy (Drew Karpyshyn) – Origins of the Rule of Two.
- Tarkin (Luceno, 2014) – Palpatine’s post-Plagueis reign.
