Star Wars: Dark Forces - Soldier for the Empire

Star Wars: Dark Forces Trilogy #1

by William C. Dietz, Dean Williams (Illustrator)

Kyle Katarn, a freelance agent for the Rebel Alliance, reminisces about the events that destroyed his life when he was a young soldier training at the Emperor's Imperial Academy, in a novel based on the Star Wars CD-ROM game, "Dark Forces"

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Comics, Space Opera, Adventure

126 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1997

About the author

New York Times bestselling author William C. Dietz has published more than fifty novels, some of which have been translated into German, Russian, and Japanese. He grew up in the Seattle area, served as a medic with the Navy and Marine Corps, graduated from the University of Washington, and has been employed as a surgical technician, college instructor, and television news writer, director and producer. Before becoming a full-time writer Dietz was director of public relations and marketing for an international telephone company. He and his wife live near Gig Harbor, Washington.

Reviews

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unexpected snow day resulted in some extra reading time to polish off this opener to the Dark Forces trilogy. It's an impressive feat that this book is anticipating & mining territory that will be covered 20 years later by "Rogue One " and "Andor". That comparison is extra amusing as I find it has the same pacing problems -- some stretches are deadly dull, while others are manic and thrilling. The Dark Jedi Jerec isn't in these pages anywhere near enough for my taste, and Kyle Katarn is still a bit of a blank slate. It's an intriguing start, but I hope the pace and the characterization picks up in volume two. Kudos for the satisfying cameo by then-Captain Thrawn in the opening chapter.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pure nostalgia, having played the game decades ago. It's more of a radio drama than an audiobook,

[Graham Barrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Read in 2018, review from 2025)

Around this time of reading I got an earful from a Star Wars Legends uber fan about how “Rogue One’s” cast and their theft of the Death Star plans was inferior to Kyle Katarn’s theft in the “Dark Forces” series. I knew of Katarn and had played one of the series’ multiplayer modes briefly but had no real fondness for a character that was an amalgamation of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. The uber fan’s rant got me interested enough so I did check out this book. It's short and the Death Star theft is only shown in the ending (the event itself is only the first level of the game), the rest is how Katarn became a member of the Rebel Alliance. As a whole the book is bareboned and the characters’ arcs being minimal. Katarn had a justifiable reason for turning on the Empire but the lead-up to the revelation is too thin (all comes down to Katarn getting a crush on a Rebel he spares). Everyone else originating from the game doesn’t have much more to their characters, they’re kind of just stock characters. We got a few cameos from classic Star Wars characters like Lando and Thrawn but they don’t add much to the story. The novel has occasional fun sequences like Katarn leading a stormtrooper squad into battle and the book’s art is pretty nice. In general I thought the book was pretty forgettable and there’s better versions of the Death Star plan theft, especially Rogue One’s. Maybe the game level was better as well.

Post 2022/”Andor” I did learn Cassian’s pistol is the same as Katarn’s which is a pretty neat way to keep this story’s “memory” alive in some way.

[Matthew Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love playing the games that this book is based on , i loved reading the book , it great to know what kyle katarn and jan ores are thinking and its great to know how they first met , sadly i wont ever get to read the rest of the trilogy unless my library can get them ( but i doubt that they have it it seems that these days they sell a book that has been read a couple of times , nothing wrong with that but if your hopin to read a book that came out in the 90s chances are high that the sold them way back then ) and i cant buy them my self , loads of copies are available for purchase bust every one is selling them from £60.00 + £30.00 postage and way higher , funnily enough the same prices they were when i brought this book 6 years ago if 6 years shows they wont sell the books at those prices then they are walking in the clouds lol , on to star wars death star by michael reaves and steve perry

[Adam Kiewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while for this one to get off the ground, but once it got going it was really enjoyable

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not a comic book--it is an prose rendition of the audio drama, with pictures.

The book takes a story that already moved too quickly for its own good and took it into hyperspace. It takes no significant time to establish the characters or the setting, and suffers greatly as a result.

Everyone is a casualty of the story’s poor pacing. Kyle might be the most prominent. He, as the main character, is barely characterized--the story of his time with the Empire, the death of his father, and his defection to the Alliance are swiftly bitzed. Certainly, there is not enough time to develop an affection or understanding of the character. You don’t get a sense for who Kyle really is.

Other characters, like Meck Odom and Nathan Donar are practically elided. They are introduced in quick one scene before their next plot necessitated appearance, with minimal characterization, to do their designated plot action. Then they disappear. Jan Ors gets more screen time but is hardly more developed.

The illustrations are quite hit-or-miss. Some are quite descriptive, like the shot of the graduation ceremony, while others cover characters or settings that don’t deserve illustrations, like the full portrait of that Rodian or the picture of Kyle brooding after getting his medal. Moreover, some illustrations are good, such as the picture where Kyle walks next to his father’s decapitated head on a pike (though that never happens). While others are bad, such as the one where Jan threatens Kyle with a blaster or Lando tries to sucker Governor Donar into Sabacc (the picture doesn’t imply that though--that’s merely where in the book it is placed).

Ultimately, I get the feeling that the author wasn’t given enough space to properly develop this story but didn’t know or care enough to try even if he had; though I am less certain about the illustrator’s intentions because the quality of his art is mixed. This book might have appealed to me when I was a wee lad--it probably still can appeal to younger children--but it certainly does not appeal to me now. Two stars.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Wars: Legends: Dark Forces 01 Soldier for the Empire by William C. Dietz, Dean Williams

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense 

Fast-paced

Plot or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes

3.5 Stars

This may not sound good, but I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters. I thought the story itself was compelling and went places I hadn't thought of, but the ONE thing that bothered me the most about this book/story, is the name of the character, Kyle. 

I just couldn't get an image out out of my head, of friends I've known...over the years. Central hair part, feathered back, with glasses...and a shirt made of satin (or faux satin). Something from the 70s or 80s. It just ruined the image in my head for THIS character.

So, no...I am conflicted. Also, I didn't know that Rodion's stunk. Really? Is this a thing? Hmmm?

And the other character's name is Jan. Not as problematic as Kyle, but it just seems uninspired.

Okay. I need to gird my loins, and pick up Rebel Agent, the second book in the Dark Forces trilogy.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Alfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story! Follows the game. Audio Drama is fun!

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Wars Legends Project #217

Background: Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire was written by William C. Dietz as the first of three tie-in novellas to the Dark Forces and Jedi Knight video games. It was published in February of 1997. Dietz wrote all three novellas in the series.

Soldier for the Empire takes place 1 year before the battle of Yavin. The main character is Kyle Katarn, along with Jan Ors and the Dark Jedi Jerec. There are appearances by Lando Calrissian and Thrawn. The novel takes place on various planets including Alderaan, Carida, and Sullust.

Summary: Kyle Katarn is already a decorated veteran by the time he graduates from the Imperial Military Academy. But he is troubled by the memory of a woman, a Rebel, whose life he spared for reasons he can't quite explain. After a personal tragedy for which he blames the Rebellion, he comes to regret his act of mercy. But there are larger forces, dark ones, at work. Will Kyle recognize the truth in time?

Review: Maybe it was because this was one of the first pockets of the Expanded Universe that I was aware of, but this feels like really early days for the EU, in a good way. It's short and straightforward, involves very few characters from any of the movies (and only in passing), and introduces and develops several compelling new faces who would go on to become beloved figures.

It's probably a little too simple, in the end. But I really appreciate how much time it spends just building characters and establishing their world. This isn't great, maybe, but I wish a lot more of the EU followed this model, and for that reason alone it's worth taking a look at. I have really fond memories of the games that this ties in with. It's weird, actually, how close the template of this story is to the template of Force Unleashed, except this isn't written like a deranged wish-fulfillment fanfic. Starkiller is basically the JJ Abrams version of Kyle Katarn. It's pretty clear which kind of storytelling is more successful.

B-

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have owned this book for nearly 20 years.
I bought it a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... Middle School.
It's one that I have saved and stored and moved with me over the years.
It is very bad.

The video game DARK FORCES was a Star Wars DOOM clone released back in 1995 and was probably the first major purchase I ever made. I was so bad at it that I had to buy the guidebook too, but I played the hell out of it and loved it because it was Star Wars and because I got to blow things up.
When the sequel STAR WARS DARK FORCES II: JEDI KNIGHT was announced I became obsessed with it, buying every gaming magazine that ran its previews and even had dreams about it.
I was not a cool kid.
And when that game finally released in 1997 I bought it and played the hell out of that Star Wars QUAKE clone.

And then there was this 3 part series of Dark Forces/Jedi Knight tie-in books released shortly after, which I dutifully saved up my limited funds for and purchased at the (not insignificant for a kid) price of $25 on one of our family trips to Barnes & Noble in Cedar Rapids. I took it home and read it and not even obsessive teen enthusiasm could overpower this book's mediocrity.
I was disappointed and never bothered to shell out the additional $25 each for the 2nd & 3rd installment. Until now, because thanks to Amazon I finally have a chance to complete the trilogy
Each book is a short hybrid graphic novella. The pace of this book moves along too quickly because it has to because it's based on a goddamn video game and some tired tropes, but is just Star Wars-y enough to be interesting at times. The art scattered throughout is full of weird compositions or odd choices of scenes to illustrate, and the quality ranges from good to amateurish.
This reread confirms my impressions from nearly 20 years ago, robbing me of even a meager dividend of nostalgia.

[Jamie Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good first part of a story (which is what this book is: the first portion of a trilogy) and I enjoyed the setup. I thought the insight into some of the Stormtrooper Academy goings-on was very interesting. If I had a complaint, it's that the climax of the book felt more like a video game than I think it was intended to. I know that this series is based on a game, but it truly felt like the author was playing the game and then transcribing what happened. Some of the dialogue was a little clunky, too. "Heck" instead of "Hell" coming out of an adult's mouth feels false to me.

[Bernard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof. This is bad. I don’t think I would have liked it as a kid, even. The illustrations are cool but don’t even match the book in all cases. There’s no lightsabers in this book’s actual text, yet the illustrations do. What?

The ending. Oof again. It was like someone was watching someone else playing a video game and recording the play by play. Mindless shooting everything that moves. A tie in novelization ought to go further than the game.

Well at least I can say I read it. I never even played the game. Maybe book two will be better? 🥺

[Ricky]

The pacing is weird, the climax of the story flies by in a quarter of a second, and the ending is completely inconclusive. The character interactions are enjoyable enough, but the rest...? Nah.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite good for a quasi-graphic novel. It was able to do develop a well put together story in a very little time.

[Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of the Audio Drama

I’ve had this trilogy for quite awhile but never actually listened to it. After listening to “Dooku: Jedi Lost” I thought, what the heck, let’s give another Star Wars audio drama a try. After all, it was the original Star Wars audio drama that first introduced me to the medium. I remember recording each episode on cassette as they aired on our local NPR station. Kept those cassettes for many years until I finally replaced them with CDs. It’s a very good audio drama and worth checking out for an “extended version” of the original movie. (Extended into six and a half hours to be precise.)

Anyway, “Dooku: Jedi Lost” was a little disappointing, so how about this older Star Wars audio? “Dark Forces” began life as a first-person shooter released by LucasArts in 1995, then the video game was expanded into a graphic novel, and this audio drama an adaptation of that.

Remember, this was still a few years before “The Phantom Menace.” At this point, the only Star Wars was found in the original trilogy and several spinoff novels. So not much had been established. The plot concerns Kyle Katarn, who, like Luke Skywalker, is a farm boy, but unlike Luke Skywalker, actually does manage to go to the Imperial Academy where it looks like he’s going to end up with a good career. Meanwhile, his father is secretly working for the Rebellion. An Imperial Attack (staged to look like it was actually done by Rebels) results in the death of his father, and Kyle is forced to pick a side. Of course, I think we all know which side he’ll pick.

It’s not bad. I think the same people who produced the original Star Wars radio dramas had a hand in this one, too, so the sound design is quite good. Use of familiar John Williams incidental music is there to remind you that This Is Star Wars after all. (The John Williams score is put to much better use here than it was in “Dooku: Jedi Lost” where it seemed that someone just grabbed some Star Wars music to fill in here and there whether it was really appropriate or not.) The voice actors are . . . okay. There’s something a bit stagey about it. And Kyle Katarn himself (played by Randal Berger. Who?) comes off a bit . . . I dunno . . . Wally Cleaver? Not that we need a dark, brooding, growly guy. But he doesn’t feel like a real character. At least, not yet.

There’s one character cameo from the film series that just feels gratuitous, unless it’s going to mean something in the second or third parts of the trilogy. But that character doesn’t appear until The Empire Strikes Back, and this story is set prior to Star Wars (Or “A New Hope” as the kids call it.)

And speaking of that, . . . here’s a spoiler: the plot in the second half of this story involves the stealing of the Death Star plans. And though the way it’s done would fit in with what we saw of that in the original Star Wars radio drama, “Rogue One” overwrites both of them. (And I like “Rogue One,” so that’s fine. But it’s interesting to see another take on that important event in the Star Wars canon.)

So while it’s not the greatest thing, it’s also from an earlier era and might be unfair to compare it to the modern productions that really do feel like “movies without screens” in terms of sound production. Furthermore, the closing portions ramp up the action, but somehow this big “Let’s Steal the Death Star Plans!” mission ends up feeling a little . . . small?

To be fair, this is only the first part of a trilogy and I have no idea what’s to come, having neither played the video game nor read the graphic novels. There’s also a Sith Lord (I think? Or Dark Jedi?) introduced here who doesn’t really come into the story much, so obviously this first part is intended to set up what’s to come.

To sum up: slightly cheesy at times, but at least it’s far more straightforward than the multiple frame-story structure of “Dooku: Jedi Lost.” Worth a listen for Star Wars fans (especially if you’re familiar with the source material). It kicks off a few plot threads that I’m curious about. But doesn’t leave me anxious to move on to the next part right away. So many audios, so little time.

[Rami Abuhamra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before there was Rogue One, we had Kyle Katarn. He is best known as a LucasArts character featured in his own series, the "Dark Forces/Jedi Knight" series, and appearing in other LucasArts games, as well as some of the Legacy of the Force novels. Perhaps best known as the true stealer of the Death Star plans.

Kyle is a fascinating character once you read more about and play his series. He goes through an incredible journey, which I felt was unfinished after Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, but that's beyond the point. This novel depicts his origins, and where we see him at the end of the first mission in the Dark Forces video game. I thought this novel tells that story very well.

Kyle Katarn is the son of Morgan Katarn, a respected leader in the Rebel Alliance, who sends his son, Kyle, to the Imperial Academy for his education. While at the Academy, Kyle becomes a well-respected hero after completing his mission, unlike anyone else. However, after graduation, he learns that his father was murdered, supposedly by the Rebel Alliance. This ignites a strong hatred toward the Alliance. Kyle vows to avenge his father.

Later on, he meets Jan Ors, whom he saved during his infamous mission. Jan shows Kyle the truth of who really killed his father. This causes Kyle to abandon the Empire and join the Rebellion. Jan takes Kyle to the Alliance leader, Mon Mothma, who assigns him the mission to steal the Death Star plans. Given his experience as an Imperial officer and having graduated from the Imperial Academy, he would make the perfect candidate for this mission.

This novel/audio drama perfectly tells Kyle's origins, and it's no wonder the man is a fan favorite. He's one of my favorite characters, too. The games did a good job introducing us to this character and expanding upon him in every sequel, but none of them told us his full origins. There were just bits and pieces told within cutscenes. This novel/audio drama does the job of the origin, and it's done perfectly well, respectfully.

The cast all give wonderful performances. However, the only one I didn't fully adapt to was Kyle Katarn's voice. Kyle was voiced by Randal Berger, who, don't get me wrong, delivers a good performance. However, he portrays Kyle with a slightly higher-pitched voice. In the games, he's known for a much deeper voice, but that's probably because I played the games first. Regardless, it's still a good performance, as I mentioned, but I would have much preferred Jason Court or Jeff Bennett to have voiced him.

This is something I would recommend for fans of Kyle Katarn who've only played the games, and for those who don't aren't gamers. Read or listen to the story, and you'll see why Kyle Katarn is such a fan favorite. Don't skip to Jedi Outcast, that's just wrong.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars: 3
Re-read? Not necessary, but maybe if the other two novellas are good.
Recommended for: Hardcore Star Wars fans and fans of the Dark Forces video game series. 3-4 stars if you've played the games; 2 stars if you haven't.

Like always, it is very interesting to see how much has changed since early video game writers filled in the blanks for all the events not shown in the Star Wars movies (although I'm sure Lucas and his team had some level of say in the plot). I was surprised how much of this book wasn't following the plot of the first video game, which was my assumption. Kyle Katarn steals the Death Star plans at the very end of the book, which is either the first or one of the first missions in the game. So this book provided some interesting backstory into the characters, particularly Jan, who didn't get much attention in the games.

The plot was interesting for the most part, although there were a few silly moments. It was laughable that after graduating from the academy, part of the ceremony is all the cadets walk towards this cliff. They walk until the cadet in charge of their group tell them to turn, and if he doesn't tell them to turn, they'll walk right off the cliff and die. So it is supposed to be adding tension that maybe Kyle will die when really it is absurd that the Empire would throw away officers they've spent a fortune training over this. The setup for the finale was poor as well. I don't know what Dietz could've done, but this facility was pathetically weak to hold such important information. It is also absurd that Kyle's friend would not only get assigned to this base, but have the power to immediately aid him in the way he needs. I liked that Dietz allowed the Rebellion to be brutal. Mon Mothma sends Jan after Kyle with instructions to blow him away if he ends up being a spy.

I don't know if this book would be of interest to those who haven't played any of the games featuring Kyle Katarn. I'm left wondering why this was made into three novellas instead of one book.

[Kaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Then, in a gesture, Jan would never forget, the officer ripped the bar symbolizing his Medal of Valor from the front of his uniform and tossed it into the recycling bin. The Empire didn't know it, but a rebel was born."
The story of Kyle Katarn, a stormtrooper from the Carida Military Academy discovers that his father has been killed in a rebel assault on Sullust's moon, Sulon. With a desire for revenge reinforced by a previous encounter with rebels on a very recent mission where he showed compassion to them, Kyle is willing to do anything to avenge his father. This, however, would change when he would meet the rebel agent, Jan Ors, who would reveal to him the truth of what happened in Sulon, and how his father was the leader of a rebel cell on the moon of Sullust. Feeling betrayed by the Institution he once swore allegiance to, Kyle decides to defect to the Rebel Alliance. As his first mission, Katarn aims to steal the plans for a mysterious superweapon created by the Empire known as the Death Star on the planet Danuta. Luckily for Katarn, he had his best friend working at the Research facility on Danuta, making it easy for him to sneak inside the facility. Receiving help from Jan Ors, who initially doubts Kyle's loyalties, he ends up completing the mission and taking the plans with the Rebel Alliance.
A magnificent story, which shows us the origins of one of the most iconic characters in the EU. Kyle Katarn along with his partner Jan Ors would have more adventures, and even though the character is not widely referenced until his appearance in NJO, this trilogy of novels helps us relate him to other important personalities such as Luke, Leia, Mon Mothma, Lando, etc A solid, magnificent novel and without a doubt, the best of the entire trilogy.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a graphic novel that was itself a spin off from
a computer game that I never had the chance to play, and reading more along the lines of some of the older EU novels, I gotta admit, I actually kinda of enjoyed Soldier for the Empire, despite its shortcomings.

It’s a pretty short book. Quick and to the point. Unlike a lot of the modern canon and even late EU works, Soldier for the Empire doesn’t mess around or pad pages Dietz throws readers right into the action and the book really never lets up, even in the more mundane areas of the life of a turncoat imperial.

This book had its issues though. It’s strangely safe, using words like “heck” instead of “hell” and keeping characters on some weird limbo between YA archetypes and bad ass killing machines. There’s also a lot of modern day references that don’t have a place in the Star Wars universe. Beer, plastic, doughnuts, email, baseballs...just odd choices that pull the reader out of the story.

Still though, this is a fun little read that skips a lot of the unnecessary PC, SJW, woke bullshit that has plagued the new Disney owned canon crap.

[Noel Thingvall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly only interesting as a predecessor to plot elements later echoed by the Disney era of films. Both in its idea of a morally grey world with Empire troops who aren't just evil mustache twirlers, and rebels who aren't always heroic and morally upstanding. Not to mention the entire sequence of a storm trooper going through a crisis of conscience while in the middle of blasting away a rebel camp, which inspires him to eventually flip sides. These are interesting threads, and there's nice scenes throughout the book, but it's too loose, too disparate with some stretches blazing over what feel like rough outlines for a more expansive and rich novel that we never got. And I know this is based on a video game, but when the third act thread of the heroes having to infiltrate a base just turns into a pages long description of basically a first person shooter, it's not interesting or compelling, nor is the lead for the majority of the read. The illustrations by Dean Williams are also very inconsistent, ranging from striking, to clumsy and blocky.

[Nathaniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It's a Lucasfilm novelization tie-in for a computer game. Nobody expected it to be good, right? As it is, this one commits a lot of the sins of the prequels a couple of years before Phantom Menace made those sins obvious to everyone.
A prequel backstory that didn't need to be told at all vs. brand new material? Check.
Giant galaxy becoming smaller than a town in North Dakota because new backstory was introduced that contradicted the previous source material? Check.
Supporting characters behave in unbelievable ways just to get the protagonist to the end of the story? Check.
The last third of the book is rehashing previous source material in a way that ends abruptly and makes no sense? Check.
The entire exercise was completely unnecessary and ultimately just feels like a cash grab? Double check and mate, sucker! Cha-ching!
The illustrations are neat, at least, though they add nothing to the flimsy plot.

[Joshua Plath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this 5 stars, perhaps because of nostalgia, but also because of the tiny details the author wove into the story. Details such as describing the rebel hanger as a mix of [oil, paint and other chemicals]. The story was simple, and I question the logic of Mon Mothma a little in sending Katarn on such an important mission, but all in all I like the book. I read the hardcover edition, and the pictures inside the pages, while not always exactly correlated to the text on the pages were close enough and really helped create a fun atmosphere to the book.

The story was short, and I think to fully grasp the full scope of the story all 3 have to be read in conjunction, despite the fact the other 2 take place years later. If they ever re-release into one omnibus book, I'd definitely buy it.

The story ends a little abruptly, but the picture on the final page is in essence supposed to be worth a thousand words.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to find a copy of this hardcover for cover price in October of 2024. It had well been out of my price range, but I'm always good for paying cover. I've not played the videogames that Kyle Kataran comes from, though I've read other books in which he later appears. No previous knowledge of the character is necessary to enjoy this book.

This is a great Star Wars book. The background of Kyle is given completely, showing where he started, where he was slated to go, and how his life took a turn to the Rebellion. Because the book is so short, more of a novella than a novel, I can't give away too much. Suffice to say, I've been reading SW novels since Splinter of the Mind's Eye first came out, so I'm familiar with much of SW's print run. This novel is entertaining, exciting, and gives a great perspective why someone would join the Rebellion.

I don't know if I'll ever read the sequels, since they are expensive, but there's always hope!

[Ronald Kelland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really a four star book, but three stars would not be fair. I needed a light, quick, easy read. This one fit the bill. It provides the back story of a minor character in the pre-Disney, Star Wars Extended Universe. Interestingly, it was refreshing to read a Star Wars story that only tangentially referred to the main cast of regulars. Kind of what made Rogue One such a great film, which is fitting as like Rogue One, this little book is also about how the Rebellion got a hold of the Death Star plans. The plot goes like gangbusters, yet, for a short little book, there is a decent amount of character development. A nice little read. The lavish illustrations were a nice touch, although I don’t think the artists style is really my thing. They are good, but didn’t really fit my idea of what the Star Wars universe looks like. Not a criticism, just a preference. A fun read.

[Michael Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dark Forces and Jedi Knight games in the mid-late 90s truly captured my imagination, and when a novelization of the Kyle Katarn stories were released I immersed myself in them as well. They dig deeper into the lore and backstory than the games while remaining true to the storytelling. It had been a number of years since I've read them and it was great to revisit these parts of the 'Legends' stories - along with other books from the 90s they remain some of the best stories in the Star Wars universe.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A subplot of the larger Skywalker saga, tells the story of how one former Imperial officer is converted to the Rebel Alliance and begins to do missions. Interesting characters so far, will be interesting to see how the series develops.

"Their presence, and the fact that he couldn't see their eyes, reminded Kyle of the extent to which the Emperor ruled through fear. He remembered what it felt like to be that powerful, and came to the sickening realization that he had enjoyed it."

[Joe Davoust · Rating 3 out of 5]

About five pages in, I thought, this sure seems familiar. I had forgotten that I had played the Dark Forces PC game nearly 30 years ago. This book reads like the game, and I had fun playing that Doom knockoff back then. This book was equally fun with the last chapter just a walkthrough of the game play. It was written well enough to entertain, but not impress. Overall it was quick and enjoyable way to get a little Star Wars fix.

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Non Canon **
A stormtrooper who gets awarded a medal of valor is told his father was killed by the rebels. When he discovers that his father was in fact killed by the Empire, he switches sides to the rebels.
They need someone who can break into a secure location to steal the plans for the Death Star, and he is their man.
** Obviously this story has been superceded by the "Rogue One" story line, but apart from that, it was a good read.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book only felt like a video game toward the end. Which I don't mind. It gives the last moments a different and interesting feel. It focuses on things that are inherent in video games, but not so common in story telling generally, and I like the feel it provided. The story itself was interesting enough, and the pictures were beautiful.