donbrown 's review for:

Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel by James Luceno

3.0

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"Catalyst" offers interesting views of the political play between Imperial officers Krennic and Tarkin. Bring in the likes of a smuggler, a dresellian named Has Obitt in this case, and you have the makings of a solid Star Wars book. I think that Luceno does a great job with his technical descriptions of the technology at work in the book. I would like to have seen more discussion and contemplation of the former role of the Jedi relative to the kyber crystals. But, I understand that "Catalyst" was not the place for lengthy ponderings about the Force-Jedi-khyber crystal dynamic. And, maybe we don't really want those ponderings answered, especially by science, as Galen attempts. I really like the ending - a bit of tension and surprise I the last chapter. No spoilers here, but I really liked hoe "Catalyst" wrapped things up in the last twelve pages.