Lit Which is first? Catalyst or Tarkin?

I would like to read Rogue One: Catalyst and Tarkin but I am wondering which one I should read first.

Thanks,
Jacob

 

Catalyst is chronologically first. It flows pretty well into Tarkin by the end.

 

Catalyst ends about 17 BBY. Tarkin doesn't happen until about 14 or 15 BBY.

 

and when does catalyst start?

 

I believe within the first year of The Clone Wars.

 

Tarkin, however, was written first (by the same author). The order really doesn't matter. But if you're going for a chronological read, yes, the bulk of Catalyst takes place first.

 

Did Palpatine swindled The Separatist early?

THIS. Tarkin deals with the early days of The Empire, if you want to know him a bit more before hand.

 

Personally, I'd go with publication rather than chronology order.

 

AOTC shows Tyrannus giving Palps the Death Star plans !

 

I know @Endol, but I always got the impression that Palps wasn't going to risk construction during TCW for various reasons, while taking funds from the Separatist to build it. The Catalyst Synopsis seems to imply quite the opposite..

 

I read it out of order according to the timeline, Tarkin first and Catalyst next, but then again, I read Catalyst after Rogue One, so I guess I'm all over the place, huh?

 

Technically Catalyst is first, Tarkin takes place right after I believe, I would rather read it in order.

 

I'm currently reading Catalyst and I've noticed a discrepancy between that and Rogue One: Mission Dossier. The Mission Dossier says that a document was retrieved on Vulpter at Arakyd Industries HQ (makes droids for separatists) saying that that Galen Erso worked at their Experimental Fusion Facility on Vallt. Catalyst also has him working at a Experimental Fusion Facility on Vallt but at Zerpen Industries (a mutual energy research company). So which is it....Arakyd or Zerpen?

 

I've noticed that before. IIRC, Rebel Dossier never explicitly said that Galen worked for Arakyd. These guys make spy droids, after all.