So I just finished reading Starfighters of Adumar, of the X-Wing series of books.

My opinion: Thumbs up. It's a fascinating look at a specific culture, and addresses many very important moral issues that soldiers of the New Republic have to face every day. And if you have a crush on Wedge Antilles, you just may swoon your heart out.

But one passage really caught my attention, as a great general lesson on the Emperor's ways. Although it takes place years after Return of the Jedi, it is just as concerned with Palpatine's rise to power as anything else.That topic, as you may have noticed is often talked about on these blogs, because it's such a crutial turn in Galactic history, and it's been illuminated by Revenge of the Sith.

Wedge is speaking to a drunk Imperial Admiral, and starts to talk about why Imperial vessels have such hostile names. Wedge says these words, presenting them as the opinion of Luke Skywalker:

"Put a man or woman in a situation where the actions he's obliged to take, such as serving Emperor Palpatine, are a certain path to personal corruption. Fill his ears with words saying that his actions are honorable ones. But suround him with constant reminders of the wrongness of what he's doing. Our victim will cling to the words but will, at some level, always be aware of the wrongess--he can't escape it. The symols, such as the names of ships he commands, won't let him forget. He's always aware of his descent, of his slow transferance to the dark side. Skywalker thinks the Emperor found this knowing acceptance of corruption, this half-accepting, half-struggling process, particularly delicious."


Very perceptive, and very intriguing