Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy

Star Wars Legends: Novels

by Jason Fry

Fueled by vengeance and rage, the newly reunited brothers Darth Maul and Savage Opress spread terror and violence across the galaxy. As they forcibly recruit criminals from the darkest corners of the Outer Rim to join their army, the brothers begin to consolidate their new criminal empire in an effort to draw out Darth Maul's most hated enemy: Obi-Wan Kenobi.

With the backing of an army composed of the galaxy's most vicious criminal organizations, there is nothing that stands in Maul's way that he cannot crush. Will Darth Maul have his vengeance against Obi-Wan Kenobi, or will the Jedi Knight escape his grasp? And if so, at what cost?

Genres: Star Wars, Fiction, Science Fiction, Childrens

186 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

I am the author of The Jupiter Pirates series published by HarperCollins -- visit the official site at http://jupiterpirates.com.

In addition to Jupiter Pirates, I've written or co-written more than 30 novels and short stories set in the Star Wars galaxy, including The Essential Atlas, The Essential Guide to Warfare, The Weapon of a Jedi, and the Servants of the Empire quartet.

I spent more than 12 years at The Wall Street Journal Online, where I wrote or co-wrote the Real Time and Daily Fix columns. My non-fiction work has appeared on ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports, Poynter.org, Deadspin and Baseball Prospectus. I blog about the New York Mets at Faith and Fear in Flushing and live in Brooklyn with my wife and son.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novelisation of four episodes of The Clone Wars, set 19 BBY.
Sith warriors and brothers, Darth Maul and Savage Opress set out to carve an empire for themselves among the criminal underworld. Allying with the Mandalorian Death Watch, Black Sun, the Pyke Syndicate and the Hutts, Maul and Opress make their play for power as a third party between the Republic and Separatists.

This book has the benefit of being based on one of the best story arcs of The Clone Wars, but added to that it Jason Fry's deep understanding (and love) of the Star Wars universe as a whole. He manages to balance the additional details and references perfectly with the core story we saw on screen to provide a very satisfying novelisation.
Sure it's aimed at a YA audience, but the author doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of the story; not least the brutal deaths of several important characters.

For me the really enjoyable aspect of this book is how it explores the machinations of the Sith. To begin with Maul and Savage try the blunt-force approach but when they goes awry they adopt a much more subtle plan, before finally becoming ascendant when their plan comes together.
However, the book's best scene comes when their success threatens the plans of another master manipulator and the Sith brothers have to confront the Dark Lord of the Sith himself; Darth Sidious.

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[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darth Maul: Shadow Conspiracy by Jason Fry.
This is an adaptation of 4 episodes covering the Darth Maul arc in Season 5 of The Clone Wars. I have watched all seasons of The Clone Wars, but I still enjoyed this book. I liked reading the story of what happened to Darth Maul after he and Qui-Gon Jinn fought.
I will say that because this is an adaptation of a TV show at times it really reads like a TV show. Also, at times it is very fast paced so not much depth is given to the characters.
Overall though I liked it. I gave it 3 stars.

[Kat V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Already off to a better start than most kids books. Let’s see if this keeps up. I’m not sold on the idea of Maul being back. Or having a brother. Ok his brother found him in a trash pile in the outer rim? I’m not buying this. 0/10 for realistic. Props to the author for being given the most ridiculous story and making the writing still good somehow. 2.7 stars.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book about Darth Maul It's not terribly exciting. Interesting thing is I don't remember how I felt about the clone wars episodes featuring Maul.

Overall an entertaining enough book, but it struggled to retain my interest.

[Nathaniel Perkins]

It was very good. About Darth Maul after he go sliced.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty decent for a YA tale. =)

[Nathalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jason Fry's junior novelisation of the infamous Clone Wars Maul/Mandalorian arc is relatively entertaining and informative, and a good read for the interested fan. However, it severely lacks the essential focus on the emotional journey of the characters. Very little depth is given into any of the characters' thoughts and emotions at all, especially when this book was such a perfect opportunity to dig deeper into Maul, Obi-Wan, Satine, Pre-Vizla and Bo-Katan's psychology during critical points of the TV show. That's more important than anything. Only the extra scene in The Lawless and the background information on Adi-Galia saved it from a one star.

[Omega Khaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novelization of the Star Wars The Clone Wars Season 5 Darth Maul arc....the book is really good and nicely written...I myself did like the idea of resurrecting Darth Maul....actually it made the character more appealing....Darth Maul,s character never got any character development aside from some Expanded Universe material...but with this you can actually find out,what his character is actually about...If you have already seen the 4 Darth Maul episodes of Season 5..you don,t really need to read this....I myself bought this because I wanted teh spoilers...either way,really good...