SPOILER FREE PORTION: I will hazard to say that The Living Force is probably The Star Wars book of the year. It’s a really cool tie between the High Republic era and the prequels with some of our favorite Jedi in a completely new setting. Not only are the council members all written with depth, but the non-Jedi are compelling. Enjoy the tragedy of the Jedi Order? This is your book!
SPOILER WARNING FROM HERE ON OUT
While everyone in this book was written splendidly, I want to zero in on Mace and Depa here because we haven’t had content this good of them since probably Shatterpoint. I genuinely start tearing up every time I think about their individual and pair moments in this book. Miller manages to capture their dynamic of former master & apprentice so well as obviously Depa is grown up & Mace respects her, but he also does really care about her in a profound way. We don’t see that much of that in Star Wars at all, since often masters are dead or far detached from their now-knighted apprentices. Because Depa has remained close to Mace especially after her ascension to the Jedi Council, there have been a lot more opportunities to interact of which we have been robbed over the years.
I absolutely adore when Star Wars is “Mace Windu is looking for Depa Billaba” and so this book fed every single Shatterpoint brainworm I’ve had. One of my personal favorite moments:
Screamed, cried, clapped my hands, keyboard smashed in my friend’s DMs, etcetera. I genuinely had to stop reading for five minutes. And this was just one such moment – Mace is so very special to me and his writing throughout was insanity inducing in a way I haven’t read in a book in forever. Later on, the conversation between Mace & Depa regarding her mission, attachments, and Mace’s own pride in and concern for her also stood out to me. He’s not afraid to critique her, she’s not afraid to push back, neither will shy away from acknowledging their own failings. They both know she’s not his Padawan anymore, but their bond is so deep. I could go on and on.
In that vein, the Shatterpoint ties continue with the way Mace has to see Depa weakened and in a bad state. Please can he not continually be appalled at his daughter’s condition I can’t keep doing this (I continue to do it and eat it up every time). And her borrowing his lightsaber is SUCH a gesture of trust and they’re genuinely the characters ever of all time, if I ever get my own hardcopy of this book I will be highlighting so many passages. The tiny explorations of Chalactan culture and mentioning that Chalacta is near Kwenn also brought a personal element to Depa’s storyline and Miller’s love for her is evident in her writing.
I also would like to spare a moment to talk about Zilastra, who I’ve noticed is kind of a mix of Elecia Zeveron & Marchion Ro but vastly less successful and with less influence. I’m absolutely obsessed with her grudge against the Jedi (died ??? born ??? welcome back Elecia) and her desire to have control over her own space (Marchion Ro good morning) but in a more crime-boss way. She’s ambitious and ruthless and hiding a lot of pain and yet she got a just resolution thanks to the Jedi.
VEERS!!!! I will never ever watch The Empire Strikes Back the same way again. He has literally met Mace Windu and been in the same ship as him and they haven’t exchanged words but ohhhhh! The little comments about his future are so interesting when you know who he turns into and I think his inclusion was a genius move. I love when Star Wars brings a little bit of depth to characters who will be important later to some degree.
As I mentioned earlier, this book is great for the tragedy of the Jedi Order which anyone who has ever interacted with me knows I’m extremely normal about. Since this book is a year before The Phantom Menace we get to see little crumbs of Palpatine setting up his plan for the Order’s downfall (especially the conversation right before the epilogue – I am so glad I was alone in the house while reading that one). The acknowledgement of the Senate’s changed view of the Jedi and the pressure they’re under is huge especially with Jedi who were alive in the High Republic commenting on those changes. And of course there is those two lines of how it would be so hard to topple the Republic were SO uncalled for – JJM I am in your walls.
All of this is to say I really enjoyed this book and will be rereading it many a time. This and the Acolyte are really bridging that gap between the High Republic and the prequels in a painful but fascinating way for everyone involved. I’m so excited to reread and one day annotate The Living Force and I thank John for his service to Mace & Depa nation!