‘Lords of the Sith’ Preview Reveals First 50 Pages

Ever since Disney obliterated the Expanded Universe to clear space for its own take on the franchise, the Star Wars canon universe has been feeling a bit empty. But thanks to Random House, we have another glimpse at this somewhat new galaxy far, far away, with a 50-page preview of the upcoming novel Lords of the Sith.

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Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, Paul S. Kemp’s book focuses on Darth Vader and the Emperor, who crash-land on the planet of Ryloth and must survive the revolutionary war that’s taken over the planet. Along the way, they’ll have to contend with Cham Syndulla (father of Star Wars Rebels pilot Hera) and his friend, Isval, who want to free their world from the Empire.

From Random House’s website:

"“On Ryloth, a planet crucial to the growing Empire as a source of slave labor and the narcotic known as “spice,” an aggressive resistance movement has arisen, led by Cham Syndulla, an idealistic freedom fighter, and Isval, a vengeful former slave. But Emperor Palpatine means to control the embattled world and its precious resources—by political power or firepower—and he will be neither intimidated nor denied. Accompanied by his merciless disciple, Darth Vader, he sets out on a rare personal mission to ensure his will is done.”"

If this book turns out to be anything like the Vader/Palpatine buddy comedy it sounds like, count me in. I can’t wait for the scene where they roast hotdogs using the Force and Vader accidentally sets his master’s cloak on fire when he tries to steal his lightsaber.

Unofficial title card.

But even if we don’t get as many Sith hijinks as we hope, this novel could potentially be a historic one, as it’s set to introduce the canon universe’s first LGBT character. An Imperial agent named Moff Delian Mors will debut in the book, and rumors are already swirling that she’ll make the leap to the screen by appearing in Star Wars Rogue One.

It marks a huge step forward for the series to introduce such a character, and it works to make the galaxy feel much more expansive and real to include sexuality as a trait among its thousands of characters and species.

Find out if Mors makes her appearance in the pages below. Kemp gets right into the action immediately, so it looks like the universe is in good hands. Lords of the Sith is out on April 28.

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