Mace Windu Wants Revenge on the Sith In This Exclusive Star Wars Novel Excerpt

It took astir a decennary and a fractional successful the Star Wars postulation since the Jedi genuinely became alert of the instrumentality of the Sith with Qui-Gon Jinn’s decease in The Phantom Menace and the postulation being plunged into chaos by their machinations in Revenge of the Sith. But what was it similar trying to process that archetypal daze for immoderate of the members of the Jedi Council? In an exclusive caller excerpt from the latest Star Wars novel, we’re astir to find retired from the position of its starring character, and 1 of the council’s astir fascinating Jedi, Mace Windu himself.

Mace is acceptable to prima successful his archetypal major Star Wars caller since the Legends-continuity classical Shatterpoint successful The Glass Abyss, retired adjacent week from Random House Worlds. Written by Steven Barnes, Glass Abyss is acceptable instantly successful the aftermath of The Phantom Menace–and much specifically, the ceremonial of Qui-Gon Jinn connected Naboo glimpsed concisely successful the movie’s climax. Wrestling with his analyzable feelings astir Qui-Gon’s views of the Jedi, arsenic good arsenic the daze of the Sith’s return, Mace finds himself fixed different astonishment erstwhile a last connection from the fallen Jedi Master is delivered to him containing a parting request: prevention the radical of the satellite Metagos.

© Random House Worlds

Before Mace travels to Metagos to assistance its radical from the warring transgression lords seeking to plunder its constricted resources however, Mace has to process a batch of those aforementioned Qui-Gon feelings… and arsenic you’ll spot successful our exclusive excerpt from the caller below, not each of those feelings are precise becoming of a subordinate of the Jedi High Council.

Lush and greenish and peaceful, Mace thought. Qui-Gon wouldn’t person cared for this.
The cremation spot betwixt four-meter statues of winged guardians was 1 of the astir honored locations successful Naboo’s royal cemetery. Qui-Gon Jinn’s assemblage rested atop a woody pyre, his hands folded crossed his mighty chest. In 1 sense, it was the cleanable spot for his mortal remains to beryllium consumed successful flame, present wherever truthful galore large warriors had been laid “to rest.” There was nary existent mode astir it, but Mace suspected Qui-Gon himself would person enjoyed the irony.
The Jedi Master had met his extremity astatine the hands of a Sith portion helping Queen Amidala liberate her planet. Death was ever and yet a backstage affair, but a Jedi’s decease often became a substance of nationalist mourning and authoritative sobriety. So the ceremonial pyre was attended by cardinal dignitaries from the Galactic Republic, the Jedi Order, and the radical of Naboo.
Mace Windu did not dwell upon the metropolis of Theed’s earthy beauty, each flowing h2o and greenery, but it did not deceive him. His look whitethorn person been peaceful, but his bosom roiled with the realization of the real implications of Qui-Gon’s death: the return of the Sith.
Qui-Gon’s erstwhile Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, dressed successful the ceremonial plain cloth of accepted Jedi robes, was speaking of his mentor, but Mace heard lone snatches of the eulogy.
“He was the top person imaginable, for immoderate who knew him. A mentor who saved my beingness much times than I would privation to remember, a antheral of heavy contented and a lukewarm heart. He seldom smiled, but erstwhile helium did, it was similar the prima emerging from down a thunderhead . . .”
And truthful helium continued. It was each sincere and each true.
None of it comforted Mace.
Obi-Wan had killed the mysterious Sith, a feat of accomplishment that made Mace proud. So their adversaries were not the immortal monsters immoderate feared, but creatures of soma and bone. Flesh could beryllium seared, and bones breached . . .
His thoughts had drifted successful that absorption erstwhile helium felt a gentle nudge from Master Yoda astatine his side. The Grand Master Jedi was a fraction of his size with doubly his wisdom, Mace was convinced. If determination was anyone successful the postulation whom Mace Windu looked up to, it was this small greenish titan.
Even a hint of Yoda’s disapproval caught Mace instantly, and helium snapped his attraction backmost to the ceremony.
Obi-Wan had conscionable finished recounting Qui-Gon’s wisdom, dedication to the Force, and committedness to his idiosyncratic mentation of the Jedi Code. As a awesome of respect, successful sync with the others, Mace drew and triggered his lightsaber. All were raised precocious successful a bouquet of ineffable fire, casting a reverent glow implicit the gathering.
Queen Amidala past added her thoughts arsenic the lightsabers blazed. Mace aboriginal remembered thing astir sacrifice and duty. The remainder slipped from his mind. Even successful 1 truthful young, the acquainted cadences of politicking had been learned by heart. Politicians were necessary, helium understood, but authorities was not his earthy mode of thought and emotion. He considered it an creation of compromise and deception, 1 that could be, and had been, corruptive to those walking a higher path. It was ironic that politicians truthful often mocked the warriors, past demanded they bleed to close governmental misfires.
Some adjacent thought that the Jedi should pb the Senate. That was different imaginable disaster. Power mightiness not corrupt absolutely, but it was similar prima and rain, facilitating the maturation of immoderate lurked successful a soul’s shadows. Mastery of the Force was already temptation enough.
The ceremonial concluded with a accepted Jedi ritual: Master Yoda ignited the pyre with Qui-Gon’s ain lightsaber. As flames rose, the attending Jedi collectively meditated, focusing their vigor connected Qui-Gon’s travel into the Force.
This, finally, resonated with Mace Windu, successful tune with that heavy consciousness of calm wrong him that immoderate mistook for detachment. Enemies who had mistaken that calm for weakness had paid with their lives much times than helium wanted to count, but less than his aboriginal dictated.
Something was coming, helium had nary doubt. The instrumentality of the Sith portended greater conflicts ahead. And the Jedi had conscionable mislaid 1 of their stoutest allies.
As the flames dwindled, aided by peculiar potions wrong the wood and wrong Qui-Gon’s assemblage itself, naught remained, prevention ash.
Mace bid a soundless goodbye to his aged person and comrade. Then, portion the others milled astir and conversed, helium returned to his vessel arsenic soon arsenic decorum allowed.
Public mourning was not his way.

Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss releases connected October 15.

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