Lucasfilm Publishing has announced Star Wars: Reign of the Empire, a new trilogy of novels aimed at exploring the political origins of the Rebel Alliance. In other words, the perfect outlet for Star Wars fans hungry for more of the political intrigue seen in the Andor series.
As revealed by io9, the trilogy kicks off in 2025 with Star Wars: Reign of the Empire - The Mask of Fear. Written by Star Wars: The Alphabet Squadron author Alexander Freed, Mask of Fear is set in the year after the events of Revenge of the Sith and explores how Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera and Bail Organa react to the death of the Republic and the rise of Emperor Palpatine's new government.
Here's the official summary for Star Wars: Reign of the Empire - The Mask of Fear:
Before the Rebellion, the Empire reigned.
“In order to ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire! For a safe and secure society!”
With one speech, and thunderous applause, Chancellor Palpatine brought the era of the Republic crashing down. In its place rose the Galactic Empire. Across the galaxy, people rejoiced and celebrated the end to war—and the promises of tomorrow. But that tomorrow was a lie. Instead the galaxy became twisted by the cruelty and fear of the Emperor’s rule.
During that terrifying first year of tyranny, Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera, and Bail Organa face the encroaching darkness. One day, they will be three architects of the Rebel Alliance. But first, each must find purpose and direction in a changing galaxy, while harboring their own secrets, fears, and hopes for a future that may never come, unless they act.
“I’m enormously excited to be a part of this project and explore an era of Star Wars especially rich with the nuanced stories of ‘ordinary’ citizens–people living inside the machinery of the Empire, still figuring out what’s happened to their government and in violent disagreement over ideas of democracy, resistance, revolution, and complicity,” Freed told io9. “It’s a chance to write a political thriller and spy drama and sweeping historical epic all at once, as well as spotlight Mon Mothma–a character I’ve been passionate about for ages. I can only hope the end result does justice to the grand themes of the prequel films, and manages a similar blend of timelessness and relevance.”
Star Wars: Reign of the Empire - The Mask of Fear will be released on February 25, 2025. It'll be followed by Rebecca Roanhorse's Reign of the Empire: Book 2 in Spring 2026 and Fran Wilde's Reign of the Empire: Book 3 in Spring 2027.
In other Star Wars publishing news, we recently learned that Marvel's current monthly Star Wars comics will end at the issue #50 mark, with the publisher shifting focus to a new era in the Star Wars timeline. We got our first taste of what that entails just prior to Comic-Con, when Marvel revealed Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising.
At Comic-Con itself, Marvel also teased the impending climax of the High Republic saga with Star Wars: The High Republic - Fear of the Jedi.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
