STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE Prequel Novel Synopsis Offers Some Interesting New Details
An official synopsis for James Luceno’s upcoming Star Wars novel Catalyst has been released online and shared by Stitch Kingdom. Catalyst serves a prequel novel that leads up to the events of Lucasfilm's upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
The story dives into the Rogue One mythos and offers concrete details on some of the characters and their relationships with each other. The synopsis alone offers some very interesting information that you'll want to check out if you don't mind a few possible SPOILERS:
War is tearing the galaxy apart. For years the Republic and the Separatists have battled across the stars, each building more and more deadly technology in an attempt to win the war. As a member of Chancellor Palpatine’s top secret Death Star project, Orson Krennic is determined to develop a superweapon before their enemies can. And an old friend of Krennic’s, the brilliant scientist Galen Erso, could be the key.
Galen’s energy-focused research has captured the attention of both Krennic and his foes, making the scientist a crucial pawn in the galactic conflict. But after Krennic rescues Galen, his wife, Lyra, and their young daughter, Jyn, from Separatist kidnappers, the Erso family is deeply in Krennic’s debt. Krennic then offers Galen an extraordinary opportunity: to continue his scientific studies with every resource put utterly at his disposal. While Galen and Lyra believe that his energy research will be used purely in altruistic ways, Krennic has other plans that will finally make the Death Star a reality. Trapped in their benefactor’s tightening grasp, the Ersos must untangle Krennic’s web of deception to save themselves and the galaxy itself.
I just want to point out a couple of things that this description reveals. First of all, this confirms that Jyn Erso's father, Galen (Mads Mikkelsen), is involved with the creation of the Death Star. This has been rumored for some time, but now that rumor is a fact.
The other fascinating thing I want to point out is that Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), the main villain of Rogue One, actually rescued Galen, his wife, and Jyn from Separatist kidnappers. That gives Krennic and Jyn a very deep and personal history. He saved her life, she owes him his allegiance for that, but they end up being enemies. That makes for a pretty intense dynamic! That alone makes the Rogue One story that much more exciting. It's cool learning all these little layers to the characters we didn't know before.
Catalyst is currently available for pre-order and will be released on November 15th, 2016. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will hit theaters on December 16th, 2016.