<Author's Note: This essay written before the release of the movie>
Not only does the novel, Catalyst, effectively set-up the soon-to-be-released movie, Rogue One, but also exquisitely enhances the overall Star Wars saga. The relationships and events established in this novel adds another tendon of connective tissue between the Prequel era, The Clone Wars and the Dark Times of the Empire.
There are always a few questions you have to ask with any content set in an established fictional narrative. What is the point of this new content? Does it improve the associated story? Does it add to the works that came before and does it set up the stories to follow? But, also, does it stand up on its own as a complete story with a beginning, middle and end? Are the characters compelling on their own? Are the settings and events interesting?
First...how well does it serve as a lead in to Rogue One? Another way to look at it is...why does a Prequel to A New Hope need a Prequel? Well, if nothing else, since 1977, Star Wars has been a story of generational connections. Princess Leia references her father fighting alongside a brave Jedi General long ago. Obi-wan tells Luke about his friendship with his father. So, a story about the father of the hero of another Star Wars story is a perfect fit for the type of saga that we've come to love.
In this case, issues of connection between generations is a repeated theme. Galen is driven to use his knowledge to make a better Galaxy for his child and for all future generations. Orson is driven to use his power to protect future generations. Galen risks his connection to Lyra and Jyn by the working so hard that he is distracted from the very thing he treasured most. Orson never even has a family...perhaps he sees all the sentient beings in the Galaxy as his children to protect.
I thought it was very elegant to use the Kyburr Crystal as a bridge between the fall of the Jedi and the rise of the Empire through the shift from the mystical, subdued respect of nature to detached irresponsible selfishness. The Jedi were guardians of peace for countless generations. Without their guidance, the Galaxy was forced to mature quickly. Too quickly. Without care and wisdom, the knowledge was used without consideration for the consequences. Lyra's devotion to that extinct religion with its ties to the connectedness of all living things is a stark contrast to Orson's devotion to technological solutions.
But what about the characters involved in the story? Were they compelling? I found the manipulative relationship between Galen and Orson was fascinating. Galen spent a lifetime using Orson to further his research while Orson used Galen to further his career.
And the tense, but loving relationship between Orson as he struggled to balance his drive for discovery with his commitment to connect with his family was both tragic and touching. I expect it to resonate directly into his relationship that leads him to sending a message to his daughter years later.
I thought that the evolution of Has Obit from smuggler to rebel certainly reminded me of Han Solo's journey without rehashing his story. He's a wonderful character that I was happy to meet and I hope to see more of him.
The competitive relationship between Krenic and Tarkin was fascinating, too. Seeing Tarkin's strengths used against him was an original take on the iconic character. I can't wait to see the desperation that Krenic must be feeling to complete the project without his lead designer and how it relates to the struggle for power within the Empire. We know that Tarkin will eventually seize control of the Death Star, and knowing the decades of rivalry between Krenic and Tarkin will give greater depth to this final showdown.
And it never would have occurred to me how familial of a relationship there is between Saw Guerrero and little Jyn Erso. Saw is like a family member that he has know her whole life. His mentorship becomes that much more moving knowing how long he has known the Erso family.
The elements showing the manipulation by the Empire to develop the massive weapon and how it related to its voracious expansion of its parasitic exploitation of the Galaxy that led to the very rebellion that its was trying to prevent.
Also, seeing the development of the Death Star by the Republic as a race to beat the Separatists during the Clone Wars gives an entirety new perspective on the development of the super-weapon. It gives the Mobile Battlestation a well-intentioned, honorable and necessary reason for the massive escalation in power. It's my mind, it evoked the race to harness the power of the atom during World War II...a race that determined the very existence of the winner of the challenge. I never thought of the Death Star in those term. The fact that the Empire continued the development and production of not one, but at least two such weapons to be used to intimidate its own people in a lopsided power dynamic after the end of the Clone War hostilities is that much more monstrous...although the desire to never again allow the Galaxy to devolve into such senseless open destruction has its own merits, too.
To sum up, I thought that Catalyst stood up on its own as a compelling addition to the Star Wars saga, while at the same time, it presented wonderful settings and characters that I expect will make it feel much more real with important personal connections. This will give greater depth to Rogue One than if I had seen it without reading Catalyst.
One side note...the Kyburr Crystal goes back to its introduction in the 1978 Star Wars novel, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, the first ever foray into an Extended Universe. So, for me, as a kid if the 70s, the focus of the current era of Star Wars stories on the power of Kyburr Cystals is quite heartwarming.
And it never would have occurred to me how familial of a relationship there is between Saw Guerrero and little Jyn Erso. Saw is like a family member that he has know her whole life. His mentorship becomes that much more moving knowing how long he has known the Erso family.
The elements showing the manipulation by the Empire to develop the massive weapon and how it related to its voracious expansion of its parasitic exploitation of the Galaxy that led to the very rebellion that its was trying to prevent.
Also, seeing the development of the Death Star by the Republic as a race to beat the Separatists during the Clone Wars gives an entirety new perspective on the development of the super-weapon. It gives the Mobile Battlestation a well-intentioned, honorable and necessary reason for the massive escalation in power. It's my mind, it evoked the race to harness the power of the atom during World War II...a race that determined the very existence of the winner of the challenge. I never thought of the Death Star in those term. The fact that the Empire continued the development and production of not one, but at least two such weapons to be used to intimidate its own people in a lopsided power dynamic after the end of the Clone War hostilities is that much more monstrous...although the desire to never again allow the Galaxy to devolve into such senseless open destruction has its own merits, too.
To sum up, I thought that Catalyst stood up on its own as a compelling addition to the Star Wars saga, while at the same time, it presented wonderful settings and characters that I expect will make it feel much more real with important personal connections. This will give greater depth to Rogue One than if I had seen it without reading Catalyst.
One side note...the Kyburr Crystal goes back to its introduction in the 1978 Star Wars novel, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, the first ever foray into an Extended Universe. So, for me, as a kid if the 70s, the focus of the current era of Star Wars stories on the power of Kyburr Cystals is quite heartwarming.
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