What books do I read if I really want to get into the head of (Legends) Palpatine? Darth Plagueis is an obvious starting point, the Dark Empire sourcebook an obvious coda. But in between, I'm stumped. Can anyone recommend any books, comics or whatever that feature Palpatine's POV in a meaningful way, that shed light on his life and politics after DP, etc.? For example, the only prequel novelization I've read is Stover's RotS - do any of the others have good Sidious scenes that go beyond the movies? I'm also not too firm on all the Clone Wars tie-ins; I imagine there could be Palpatine moments in some, but I don't know. Some more that I do know of: Outbound Flight has Palpatine / Kinman Doriana interaction. I'm always keen on seeing more of Palpatine's "circle" beyond Vader. One or both of the Darth Maul books, I suppose? I seem to remember something about a party on a Coruscant skyhook involving Palpatine, but I could be mistaken. Dark Lord for Vader/Palpatine banter, of course. What did I miss?
Palpatine does a lot of internal monologuing in TCW tie-in novels as Darth Sidious. He thinks about how he wants to attack Yoda and despises having a meeting with Jar-Jar, that I can remember. He also finds Dooku boring.
Labyrinth of Evil was pretty great for showing us Sidious's scheming. Yoda: Dark Rendezvous doesn't feature Sidious front and center, but you can see him subtly pulling the strings and manipulating everyone.
in the Revange of the Sith novel you can see Palpatine point of view of the events of the film , he also appear in the 2000 Darth Maul books and comic, multimedia project/republic comics, Dark Times comics, Force Unleashed , Jedi Quest, Shatterpoint, The Last of the Jedi and he is part of Mara Jade/Thrawn backstory
I'll second this by saying Sidious is at his best in Yoda: Dark Rendezvous. He's not as prominent therein as he is in some of the other books like Darth Plagueis or Labyrinth of Evil, but his scenes are viscerally memorable in YDR, specifically his mind games with Dooku. He's delightfully despicable.
I would actually like to see a canon novel covering resurrected Palpatine's time on Exegol after ROTJ. It seems like he and the Sith Eternal hang out in that arena and party all day. Who get chosen to do that and who is forced to do military/stormtrooper duty? Maybe they rotate? Or maybe only Force sensitives get to party with Sheev?
I know this thread is more for Legends, but does anyone have a quick list for the same subject just for canon? I tend to stay away from Legends. I've read Dark Lords of the Sith and Tarkin, he was quite good in that but there wasn't much of him. Gotta' be some more content out there covering him. I've only really dipped my toes into the NU thus far.
It's your right to do that, but the fact of the matter is a lot of ground covered in Legends novels just isn't going to be retread in Canon ones. For example, don't expect to ever find out about that incident on Cato Neimoidia or the Mission to Ansion, both of which were covered in Legends and seems unlikely to be explored again in Canon. Same for Sheev's entire history unless they make a movie about him. Even something as major as Palpatine's kidnapping didn't get a Canon remake in TCW Season 7 (some underworld stuff was prioritized even). Yet his thoughts on that are covered in Labyrinth of Evil.
I'm able to concede based off the consensus that Legends does have better stories than the NU, and that a lot was lost because of the retcon. However, I've got a bit of a stick up my bum about only consuming what is canon, but I am willing to extend to 'what could still fit as canon'. We know that the post-ROTJ Legends stuff is dead and gone, by those parameters. I'll never bother with them, even though I have heard great stuff about the Vong, Mara Jade etc. The books that cover Ansion, and Cato Neimoidia, do they in anyway go against canon now? If not, I could see myself trying them out. And if they never delve into Old Republic era, I can see myself trying that too for Revan. For instance, the Kenobi book that came out just before the retcon is something I really want to read. So long as it doesn't go against canon. Basically, I'm willing to venture into some of Legends for the benefit of my headcanon, but nothing that contradicts anything in the canon.
You might want to look at my thread that covers this: https://boards.theforce.net/threads...can-still-reasonably-fit-into-canon.50043107/ . Some of it is outdated now, though the list on the later pages should fit. As far as I know the Approaching Storm can still fit (Mission to Ansion) although it's strange as Barriss is 100% good with no sign of her turning evil later, but it still fits as far as I know. Labyrinth of Evil (Mission to Cato Neimoidia) was problematic even in Legends due to timeline conflicts with the old 2003 Clone Wars cartoon. I don't think it can fit into Canon now due to timeline issues with Battle of Yerbana in TCW 7 and Battle of Tythe in the novel. Maybe it could fit with a lot of reading between the lines wonkiness, but honestly it doesn't.
Republic#64 was great in showing how Palpatine exploited and used his "friendship" with Ronhar Kim for years, and how he responded to the threat of exposure that appeared when it was suggested that all members of the Senate submit to midichlorian testing to find out if there really was a Sith among them. There was quite a lot in that single issue.
Cloak of Deception has some good Palpatine POV stuff - this was before he was openly acknowledged by Lucasfilm as being Sidious, so technically it's "Sentor Palpatine's" perspective, but Luceno writes it in such a way that it works on both levels.
Even though I knew of and contributed to this thread, looking at it again just now put to mind Darth Sidious' reading list instead of Darth Sidious reading list; i.e. what Palpatine reads in his free time. He probably doesn't like most books, that's why EU Palpatine wrote his own: https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Dark_Side_Compendium
To follow up on my effuse YDR praise, here are some great excerpts with Darth Sidious: Spoiler Physically, the Count’s age was rarely a handicap. Deft as he had become with the Force—unimaginably more subtle than the boy who had watched water-skeeters in the Jedi gardens all those years ago—he wore his eighty-three standard years better than most humans half his age. He was still in superb physical shape, senses keen, health undiminished by even the memory of a cold. Only in this situation, stooped before the image of his Master, did he feel his years. Even via hologram, the flickering figure of Darth Sidious, hideous in blue and shadows, seemed to strip his false youth away, leaving his bones brittle, his joints worn thin and knotted with tension. “These are the envoys from Troxar,” his Master said. How could he know? Dooku didn’t ask. Darth Sidious knew. He always knew. “They are considering surrender,” Dooku said. “They claim they have a resistance planned, ready to rise in insurrection when the clone troops withdraw.” “No!” the flickering figure said sharply. “The war has already damaged the planet too much to make it worth saving. Its only value now is to chew up more troops and resources. Tell them they have to fight on. Promise them reinforcements—tell them you will be deploying a new fleet of advanced droids to retake the whole system within a month, if only they can hold on. Explain that such weapons will not be put in the hands of those who surrender.” “And when the month passes, and no reinforcements arrive?” “Help will come within another month at most. Promise them that, and make them believe it. I’ve shown you how.” “I understand,” Dooku said. How casually we betray our creatures. The hooded figure cocked its head. “Having an attack of conscience, my apprentice?” “No, Master.” He met the hooded figure’s hideous eye. “It was their own greed that brought them to you,” he said. “In their heart of hearts, they always knew what they were getting into.” Spoiler Dooku reached for the box. He found to his surprise that his hands were shaking. Odd. He had been almost as surprised as Ventress to see himself sparing the gaunt Jedi, Jai Maruk. It had been a sudden whim, sending him back. A hook dropped for Yoda, as he had told Sidious afterward. A hook baited with the pink squirm of an old memory. Darth Sidious had given him a curious look, then, one that passed through him like a flush of fever, a weakness inside. “Do you still love him?” his Master said. Dooku had laughed and braved it out. The idea was ridiculous. “Ridiculous?” his Master had said, in that soft, terrible voice of his. “I hardly think so.” And then, his voice like honeyed poison, “A good student always loves his teacher.” There was always a risk, talking with Sidious. Sometimes the conversation would go badly, and Dooku would fail to please somehow. It was a terrible thing, failing to please his Master. Spoiler Outside, the wind picked up another notch, shrieking and groaning among the eleven chimneys, as if to announce the arrival of a hideous guest. Dooku’s comm console chimed. He glanced over, expecting the daily report from General Grievous, or perhaps a message from Asajj Ventress. He reached over to open the channel, recognized the digital signature of the incoming transmission, jabbed the channel open, and snapped to his feet. “You called, my Master?” The hologrammic projector on his desk sprang to life, and the wavering form of Darth Sidious regarded him. As always the picture was oozy and unclear, as if light itself were uneasy in the presence of the Lord of the Sith. Dark robes, purple shadows—a patch of skin, pale and mottled under his hooded cloak like a fungus growing under a rotten log. From under heavy lids the Master’s eyes, snake-cold and serpent-wise, regarded him. “What would you have from me, Master?” “From you? Everything, of course.” Darth Sidious sounded amused. “There was a time when I wasn’t sure if you would be able to overcome that…independent streak of yours. After all, you were born to one of the wealthiest families in the galaxy, with gifts and abilities far, far greater than any amount of wealth could bestow. Your understanding is deep; your will, adamant. Is it any wonder you should be proud? Why, how could it be otherwise?” Dooku said, “I have always served you well and faithfully, my Master.” “You have. But you must admit, your spirit was not made for fidelity. After all, a man who will not bow to the Jedi Council, or even Master Yoda…I wondered if perhaps loyalty was too mean, too confining a thing to ask from so great a being as yourself.” Dooku tried to smile. “The war progresses well. Our plans are on schedule. I have dealt out your deaths, your schemes, your betrayals. I have paid for your war with my time, my riches, my friends, and my honor.” “Holding nothing back?” Sidious asked lightly. “Nothing. I swear it.” “Excellent,” Darth Sidious said. “Yoda came to the Chancellor’s office this morning. He is going on a very special mission. Top secret.” He laughed, a harsh sound like the bark of a crow. The wind rose again, shrieking around the mansion like a creature in torment. “When he arrives, Dooku…see that you treat him as he deserves.” Darth Sidious laughed. Dooku wanted to laugh along, but couldn’t quite manage it before his Master cut the connection and disappeared. Dooku paced in his office. With the end of Sidious’s call, the storm had slackened, and the shrieking wind outside now only sobbed quietly under the gables of Château Malreaux. Spoiler For a long time Darth Sidious did not speak to him. Instead, he simply piped the breaking news story into Dooku’s holoconsole. A smiling Palleus Chuff, bruised but modestly triumphant. Long panning shots of the interior of the Phindar Spaceport: reporters pointing excitedly at spent flechettes and plasma scorch marks. Quickly patched holes in the floor and wall. Head shots of Master Yoda—“another glowing chapter in his legendary career.” Security footage of Trade Federation assassin droids running amok; two Jedi Knights bravely battling to save civilians before being cut down. Asajj Ventress, of course. A shot from external space station cams: Last Call tumbling heavily through space, accelerating, and then making a hyperdrive jump to certain doom. A state-of-the-art ship built at Dooku’s own expense—the third one she’d lost, if one counted the craft Anakin and Kenobi had stolen from her. Dooku wished Darth Sidious would speak. It was Ventress’s fault. The woman was impossible. She was talented, yes, but really, a battalion of droids was of more immediate practical use. At this rate, cheaper, too. He should terminate her. The remorseless hooded figure flickered like a ghost on the holoconsole. “I was not aware. Thank you for showing this to me. Needless to say, Ventress was acting on her own initiative.” The arrogance—one might even say, the faint condescension—with which he had been thinking of his Master a few moments before had drained out of him like blood spilling from an open vein. “Nevertheless, the basic facts remain: Yoda is coming to me here, and here I will finish him, once and for all.” “So I trust.” Darth Sidious smiled. Once, early in Dooku’s Jedi career, he had arrived on a distant planet too late to stop a massacre—a long hall of wood and grass, tribal enemies inside, the outside doused with kerosene and a match thrown in. The flames, dancing, had looked like his Master’s smile. “Of course, Count, I leave you to manage Ventress as you see fit: but would you like to know what I do, when my servants show enough…initiative?” Dooku found his finger touching—just touching—the small red button on his desk. “Master?” “I crush them,” Darth Sidious said. Great stuff here. Stewart's interpretation of Sidious expertly blends the Machiavellian chessmaster of the prequels with the sadistic troll of the originals. Even though he's only in a handful of scenes as Sidious and Palpatine, his presence looms over the entire novel. YDR is an exceptional and criminally underrated book. Luceno and Stover are rightly acclaimed, among others, for their efforts, but I'd argue Stewart's prose, characterization, and dialogue in this book are simply without equal in all of SW literature.
I'm personally of the opinion that the absolute best Legends books are the ones with a Jedi's name in the title. Yoda: Dark Rendezvous, Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor, Mission to Mount Yoda ... OK, maybe it's not a perfect theory.
Legends Darth Plagueis Cloak of Deception Outbound Flight Labyrinth of Evil Revenge of the Sith Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader Shadows of the Empire Canon Lords of the Sith Tarkin
Thanks everyone for your fantastic contributions - you're the best So my preliminary reading order for the next few weeks is: Darth Plagueis Darth Maul: Saboteur Cloak of Deception Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter Outbound Flight * Republic 64: Bloodlines Yoda: Dark Rendezvous The Clone Wars: Wild Space Labyrinth of Evil * Revenge of the Sith (novelization) * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader * The Last of the Jedi The Force Unleashed Allegiance Choices of One Shadows of the Empire * Sleight of Hand: The Tale of Mara Jade Return of the Jedi (novelization) Dark Empire trilogy Handbook: Dark Empire Dark Empire Sourcebook (* just going to skim those, because I reread them recently) It's looking to be quite a ride! Also, looking at those I notice some intriguing gaps. The Dark Times of course were woefully underdeveloped in Legends (though if that means we were spared Sheev romance drama that may have been a good thing...) - but a story about what Palpatine was up to during, say, A New Hope (or the OT pre-SotE in general) sounds like it could have a lot of potential.
Star Wars: Empire Vol. 1 comic has Palpatine scenes just before ANH, and The Force Unleashed has him in the Death Star. Palpatine and Vader in the immediate aftermath of ANH in Legends is, I think, found in the fairly rare (but you can find it for a reasonable price on Amazon) book Star Wars Missions 17: Darth Vader Returns https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars_Missions_17:_Darth_Vader's_Return . For Disney Canon Palpatine chewing out Vader immediately after ANH, it's much easier to find (like on comixology) it's in the first few issues of Darth Vader Vol. 1: https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Darth_Vader_Vol_1
Vader's Quest comic focuses more on Palpatine than Vader, but it may fit. In the Rebel Force YA series book 1 opens with Palpatine discussing the loss of the Death Star with his inner circle, and what's to be done about it (answer - eliminate the pilot responsible). It's the only Palpatine-centric scene though.
I read that as a teenager! I suspect it influenced the way I think about Palpatine a lot. Thanks for the pointer, I'll definitely have to revisit this.
I think you wanted to say "more Vader than Palpatine" but anyhow, the final Palpatine scene in that comic is just genius.
