Let’s not mince phrases: Darth Vader is without doubt one of the greatest fictional characters ever created (after Batman!) so it is with nice anticipation that New York Instances best-selling novelist Adam Christopher (“Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith“) heads again to the galaxy far, far-off to ship a macabre new Sith Lord story in “Star Wars: Grasp of Evil.“
Arriving on Nov. 11, 2025, courtesy of Random Home Worlds, this 384-page hardback takes place after the occasions of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” the place a freshly solid Darth Vader seeks out the arcane secrets and techniques of life and loss of life below the enveloping gaze of Emperor Palpatine.
The official synopsis reads: “Within the wake of Emperor Palpatine’s rise to energy, the true nature of his most sinister enforcer stays a thriller. Darth Vader is a dominant but illusive determine: the shadow forged by a malignant Imperial regime, unknowable to even its prime officers. However as his humanity provides method to fantasy, Vader stays haunted by the guarantees of the darkish facet, searching for the last word energy that his grasp has hinted at however withheld — the facility to overcome loss of life itself.
“Vader is decided to comply with this imaginative and prescient, even when it means defying his grasp’s orders. But he finds the Emperor suspiciously supportive of his mission, even sending Vader to the Diso system to research rumors of a Pressure-wielding shaman in a position to increase the lifeless. At his facet are a cadre of the Emperor’s scarlet-robed Royal Guard, led by Colonel Halland Goth — a embellished soldier with a really private curiosity in Vader’s mission.”
Unique excerpt from “Star Wars: Grasp of Evil”:
Colonel Halland Goth, an honored member of the Emperor’s private guard, has been contacted by the Imperial Safety Bureau to look at and report on the Emperor’s unusual new enforcer, Darth Vader. Now on project, Goth meets Vader for the primary time and finds the expertise … unsettling.
Colonel Goth took a deep breath and targeted his consideration on the Emperor, sitting on his throne earlier than the massive window of the workplace. The room was silent, save for the heavy, mechanized respiratory of the massive man in black armor standing to 1 facet of the throne dais.
Lord Vader himself. The person Goth was supposed to look at. However right here, in his precise, bodily presence, Goth may do nothing however stand to consideration and swallow as he fought to regulate the virtually visceral response he needed to the imposing determine.
Goth may not have recognized who Vader was, however he had seen him earlier than, simply … not this shut. It had been on the celebration marking the eradication of the Jedi Order, the place the lightsabers of the traitors had been burned. From afar, he’d glimpsed this nightmare in black standing by the Emperor’s facet, watching the proceedings from a excessive balcony overlooking the steps of the Jedi Temple. Now, up shut, Goth was impressed not simply by the know-how of the person’s go well with but additionally by the design itself, the skull-like masks and flared neck protector clearly designed to instill worry in those that dared to face him, the exaggerated quantity of the mechanical respirator one other characteristic that may impress, if not terrify.
As his nerves started to settle, Goth allowed himself a good smile, attempting very laborious to maintain the expression as impartial as attainable. However he was happy to be a part of this, no matter it was. Concern was how the brand new Empire stored management. Not terror, as such. Nor certainly austerity or hardship or punitive measures — though every had its place, he knew that — however worry. Folks responded to worry, they usually responded nicely. He had seen that himself when accompanying the Emperor as a Royal Guard. The complete ceremonial uniform he and his males usually wore, with its elongated cowl-like masks and enveloping purple cloak, was designed not only for pomp and circumstance but additionally to elicit a sure form of response from those that noticed it.
Oh sure, appearances have been every thing within the new order.
There was the sound of footsteps coming into the workplace. Nonetheless standing to consideration, eyes entrance, Goth waited patiently, questioning who the newcomer was, not conscious that anybody else had been invited to the briefing. An Imperial adviser maybe, one of many barely odd outdated males who appeared to have the Emperor’s ear infrequently.
Goth realized who it might be simply because the newcomer got here into his field of regard, and he discovered his temper deflating just a little.
ISB supervisor Desler walked in and bowed low to the Emperor earlier than turning and, fairly casually, glancing over the Royal Guard. Goth’s gaze met the supervisor’s piercing blue eyes, and as soon as once more he was caught by the hearth he noticed inside them.
Then the supervisor smiled, and Goth realized that the hearth he had seen was starlight glinting off ice.
Desler moved to face beside the Emperor’s throne and stayed there, fingers clasped behind her again. The way in which she had simply walked in, the best way she had made herself a part of the proceedings with out saying a phrase … Goth wasn’t positive he would ever get used to the ISB, the best way they appeared to assume they weren’t a part of the common hierarchy, apparently free to wander across the buildings and services of the Federal District, going about their very own enterprise with out a lot regard for the remainder of the navy equipment. In fact, the Emperor had invited her — Goth’s new mission had come from the throne, in any case — however nonetheless. It was unsettling. The ISB was clearly a strong entity.
Then it occurred to him: the ISB … or COMPNOR?
It was Lord Vader who broke the silence within the Emperor’s workplace.
“I want no bodyguard.”
His voice was deep and resonant — enhanced, in fact, by the vocalizer constructed into the spectacular masks. When he spoke, the sound of the mechanical respirator continued uninterrupted. Attention-grabbing, thought Goth, as his eyes fell on the sq. management panel on the entrance of the person’s chest. Pink and inexperienced lights shone brightly, as they did on his belt, amongst a sequence of switches and buttons.
Life assist?
“That isn’t your resolution to make, Lord Vader,” stated the Emperor calmly.
There was affirmation, from the Emperor’s personal lips. Lord Vader — considered one of Palpatine’s advisers? A part of his internal circle, actually. However … that go well with. Goth checked out it once more. Not simply armor, not only a ceremonial demonstration of the Empire’s may. There was extra to it. He listened rigorously for a second to Vader’s regular respiration, his eyes falling once more to the lights on the chest panel —
After which Vader turned, his lengthy cloak swirling as, with out one other phrase, he left the workplace and the Emperor’s presence. Goth allowed himself to interrupt out of line for only a second — he was the rating officer within the room, in any case — and watched him go, then turned again to the Emperor.
The Emperor waved a hand. “You are actually below Lord Vader’s command,” he stated. “Accompany him to Diso. You’ve gotten your orders. Go.”
Goth snapped to consideration, then gave the Emperor a deep bow. As he stood, he noticed Desler transfer nearer to the Emperor, the thumb and forefinger of her proper hand taking part in with a signet ring on her left.
Goth straightened and offered the supervisor along with his full consideration. Desler smirked and gave him a small nod, which Goth returned. Then Goth turned on his heel and marched out, his Royal Guard sweeping in silently behind.
Within the foyer exterior the workplace, Goth ordered the guards to return to barracks and put together for departure. As they filed away, Goth turned to look again into the Emperor’s workplace. He caught a glimpse of the ISB supervisor speaking intently with the Emperor simply earlier than the doorways to the workplace slid closed.
Clearing his throat, he headed again to his quarters to arrange for the mission, absentmindedly rubbing his chest with one hand. Getting into an empty turbolift, he began coughing and didn’t cease till he stepped out 100 ranges beneath.
Reprinted from “Star Wars: Grasp of Evil” by Adam Christopher. © 2025 by Lucasfilm Ltd. Printed by Random Home Worlds, an imprint of Random Home, a division of Penguin Random Home LLC.
