Crimson Empire II - Council of Blood (Star Wars: Crimson Empire II) - Softcover

Richardson, Mike; Stradley, Randy; Gulacy, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1840231262 ISBN 13: 9781840231267

Publisher: Titan Books Ltd, 1999

Synopsis

Based on the characters and worlds created by George Lucas and set some years after the events in the movie Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, this sequel to the bestselling Crimson Empire expands on and continues the saga of the evil galactic Empire and the rebels who oppose them. The rise of the new Crimson Empire continues, as former Imperial Guardsman Kir Kanos vows to destroy the members of the Interim Council that, he feels, have betrayed former Emperor Palpatine. But other forces are gathering, and they too have their sights firmly set on the vacant Emperor's throne.

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Review:

With this series, we get the further adventures of Imperial Guard Kir Kanos, one of the Emperor's personal protectors, who garnered mere seconds of screen time in Return of The Jedi--ample proof of the astounding depth the expanded universe of Star Wars regularly explores. Following the death of Emperor Palpatine, a plot by Kanos' fellow Guard Carnor Jax to become a Dark Lord of the Sith was foiled when he was killed by Kanos. Now, an interim council runs the affairs of the Empire, with each member trying to consolidate their own power base. Kanos views them all as traitors to the Emperor, and vows to destroy them. When the council members become assassination targets, Kanos becomes the prime suspect in a web of intrigue and treachery. Kanos is certainly prominent in Star Wars' rapidly expanding ranks of complex characters. His devout and unwavering loyalty to the Empire is well portrayed, but Kanos is certainly not an Evil character. Like Mara Jade, Kanos must find a new purpose now the Empire is embroiled in a massive power struggle. Paul Gulacy (Batman: Prey) makes the most of the vivid settings and atmosphere, mixing intrigue and action efficiently. If you are an ardent fan of Luke and co., you will not find them anywhere here, as this series makes the bold step of eschewing all the more familiar elements of Star Wars. That said, X-Wings, Tie Fighters, Droids, Stormtroopers and all manner of aliens appear in abundance and if you fancy delving into the outer reaches of the Star Wars universe, this will be more than satisfying. --Danny Graydon

About this edition

• Publisher: Titan Books Ltd
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1840231262
• ISBN 13: 9781840231267
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160