Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel Spoiler Policy

This is a spoiler-free review. The plot summary here is an introduction to the characters and the scene and no further. If you choose to read, the outcome full of its twists and turns is all there for you to explore, spoiler-free.

Introduction

A book taking place within the Star Wars universe, Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel, by James Luceno, is the precursor to the film/novel Rogue One. An adult fiction book of moderate length, Catalyst is everything that a Science Fiction fan enjoys. A text full of political intrigue capable of standing alone, the novel only gets better as you keep reading. Though it may lack the space combat people expect when they hear the franchise Star Wars, Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel, is a book worth reading.

Characters and Plot

The story details the inner-conflict felt by Galen Erso and his wife Lyra due to the machinations of Director Orson Krennic. Director Orsen Krennic is the head of a massive military weapon project for the Empire, and he needs all the help he can get. Galen Erso is a one-of-a-kind researcher with an eye for crystals and renewable energy, and Lyra is a savvy person with an eye for nature and balance, in addition to her typical research work.

The galaxy, uneasy since the betrayal and execution of the Jedi during the Clone Wars, looks weak, but not for long. Controlled by now-Emporer Palpatine, fear becomes the new strategy to ensure compliance. Krennic, eyeing a promotion, goes all in, landing himself the job of Director, tasked with the prospect of finding something strong enough to drive fear into the hearts of the galaxy. He sets his sights on creating the Death Star; A space station bigger than ever before, with a superlaser that can turn planets to dust.

Creating the station shell is a walk in the park; however, the weapon is a different story. The sheer amount of energy needed to generate a blast to destroy a planet could only come from a crystal as pure as kyber, but kyber crystals have shown to be an enigma. An enigma full of hazardous and unstable energy. The only people capable of working with them are the now-extinct Jedi and possibly the energy crystal researcher Galen Erso. Running tests with kyber was a dream for Erso, making a union between the old friends a match made in heaven, with one catch.

Galen and Lyra are pacifists. They avoided choosing sides in the Clone Wars, and are obstinate about not hurting the lives of others. Life is sacred to them, especially Lyra, just like it was to the Jedi. The fear of hurting others is rooted deep in the hearts of the Erso family. They would never agree to make a weapon. However, even with the top researchers in the Empire, Krennic isn’t making progress on his superlaser, much to the chagrin of his leaders Moff Tarkin, Darth Vader, and Emporer Palpatine. Project Director Orsen Krennic is stuck between a rock and a hard place, and deception is his only way out. Cue a flurry of loaded conversations and high-pressure situations, and in a snap the novel is over, to be continued in Rogue One. 

Review

I opened the book with high expectations. I was looking for a powerful story tied into the Rogue One movie, and I got it. The character development is a high point of the book. You learn about the inner-workings of imperial minds like we never have before and truly get a sense of what the Erso family is going through. It adds a whole new dimension to the following movie, making it worth reading. I had already seen the film, and reading Catalyst made me want to re-live the story.

One thing I really enjoyed about the book was how grounded it was. In science fiction, you get used to seeing characters do impossible tasks and plan a million steps in advance, but I didn’t get that feel from Catalyst. It felt like normal humans making their way through the world just like I do every day. For a book in an entirely different galaxy, it felt realistic.

I also liked the characters and their growth throughout the story. It feels like they covered all the bases with personalities. The main characters Galen, Lyra, and Krennic, along with side characters like Saw, Has, and Tarkin, are all fresh and different. Each character feels like their own person with differing opinions and viewpoints, making the book a joy to read. They bounce off each other well and feel organic, which keeps you interested even during low moments. All the characters have clearly defined goals that they work towards, and even though many of them clash together, it creates a feeling that there is a larger world outside the main characters. It doesn’t feel like the villain exists purely to thwart the antagonist, which is a welcome shift.

Overall, Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel is worth reading, but its magic really does come from the tie-in. The characters all work standalone, but if you read the following film/novel, the book gets another dimension.

Final Statement and Further Reading

Final Opinion: Good as a standalone, Great in tandem with Rogue One.

Similar Books: If you like Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel, I would consider reading Tarkin, also by James Luceno, and A New Dawn, by John Jackson Miller. Both are Star Wars novels that take place in a similar period. Tarkin is a novel full of political intrigue with quality character development for a Star Wars villain. A New Dawn is a more traditional Star Wars book with a technology-driven plot like Catalyst with more action as well.