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Granted, governments and law are full of inconsistency, but for me to want to read a good story, I want it well vetted. This being the fundamental plot driving the rest of the story forward, it is sadly not the only error of logic. (Let’s go ahead and counter what the Separatists don’t have with something we don’t even know if we can build.) One would assume that once the schematics were revealed to have no real threat, other than size, it should have been more likely that the plans would join other data on the enemy in a giant doomium-clad filing cabinet. Maybe I should be emperor?)Īnd if that weren’t enough, the amount of resources utilized to build the battle station - literally scouring worlds for their minerals - was beyond ridiculous for a weapon, that has no…weapon. If he wanted to build the weapon, why not just say: build it then hand power-seeking Krennic the edict to convince his friend Galen to make the research happen. He’s the self-appointed emperor, with hushed atrocities happening all over the galaxy. But the kind of manipulation over years that this takes to accomplish leaves me still grasping for something more sensible. (And yes, yes, quick aside: The emperor is implied to have somehow manipulated/provided the schematics for construction of the Death Star, somehow washing his hands of the mess and putting it on other shoulders. For Krennic, who views everyone around him as but tools to further himself, who managed to uncover the varied and hidden exploits of an experienced smuggler, who manipulates Imperials that outrank him, it is a massive character inconsistency that grates throughout the book, for simply the one fact that he takes on Erso to create the weapon on a (wait for it): Leap of Faith.Īnd antagonistical masterminds with everything on the line always resort to that, right? Certainly an intelligent fellow, and they have history, so he is aware of Erso’s research, but how Krennic can bet everything he has to lose and gain that Erso will unlock the secrets of the kyber crystals and unleash a new power is beyond me. (Insert bad pun here.) The energy weapon that would one day make it a force to fear across the galaxy - and the constantly used rationale of fear-induced peace as the reason to build the dang thing - is not provided by schematic or even hinted at Krennic, however, places his sights on scientific genius, Galen Erso. Opportunistic Engineer Krennic takes to the monumental task of managing the project to build their own, but it is quickly realized that the moon-sized battle station (even with the stolen schematics) offers nothing revolutionary, other than size. Nearing the end of the conflict with the Separatists, the Republic uncovers plans for an ultimate weapon. It’s a varied cast that could have, should have, worked. Where does Catalyst go wrong? We have a conniving power-hungry manipulator that works behind the scenes, a scientific genius with high morals, his strong-willed wife, a smuggler of some acclaim, and Governor Tarkin that is suitably patient to undermine his fellow Imperial when the timing is advantageous. So, for the devoted Star Wars fan, you may not find any interest in finishing this review. A past attempt at reading Thrawn’s appearance in Heir to the Empire (which I hear is a fan favorite) left me unable to finish the novel. So perhaps my review is as appealing to the rabid fan as a Wookie personal ad on. In the pursuit of a new super weapon to bring lasting peace through fear, the Republic rapes worlds to build what could be an impossibility.ĭisclaimer: As a fan of the movies, I’ve not yet found a love for the novels. Even overgrown battle stations need something that goes BOOM.