The High Republic: Cataclysm First Non-Spoiler Thoughts; New Excerpt Sees the Jedi Investigate the Path of the Open Hand

SWNN Probe · Mar 23, 2023

A new excerpt for Star Wars: The High Republic: Cataclysm has been released, teasing the Jedi's search for evidence against the Path of the Open Hand. The second and final adult novel from this phase of the High Republic publishing initiative will take the action back to Dalna after the events of The Battle of Jedha.

Ahead of the novel's release on April 4, our Tyler Bradshaw had the chance to check out the book's 'cataclysmic' events and had this to say:

'The Jedi are pushed to their ultimate limits in Cataclysm. It's an action-packed story throwing a massive emotional punch. It's as pure as Star Wars can be. The fight for survival, love, and a future fuel a book that will leave your heart racing.'
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Heading into this last wave of Phase 2 storytelling, it has a different feel than the final wave of Phase 1. The fall of Starlight Beacon was hampered by the knowledge it would always leave us at a cliffhanger. While that wave of stories was poignant and powerful, it wasn't a conclusion. Cataclysm is the beginning of the end for these 'prequel' characters we've been with for only a few months, so it carries a different weight. It's good to hear the novel seems to fulfill that promise. Be sure to check out Tyler's full review, coming soon to Star Wars News Net.

Cataclysm by Lydia Kang

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The next order of business takes us to a new excerpt from io9. Cataclysm will have many moving pieces, including Aida Forte and Jedi Master Creighton Sun's investigation of Dalna. There is bound to be some nervous page-turning as the Jedi uncover what the Path of the Open Hand has up their sleeves.

The most significant event this phase has left to touch is possibly the Night of Sorrow, which leaves the Jedi at odds with the people of Dalna when they return to the planet 150 years later. Something happens here that will change this sector of the Outer Rim forever, and Cataclysm is where it begins.

Here is a piece of the excerpt:

“I heard that the Path had been nurturing a very simple life here on Dalna. Living off the land . . . in better weather, I’m sure it’s very bucolic,” Aida Fore said.
“Yes.” Creighton Sun replied.
“Well . . . they sure aren’t taking care of their crops much. It appears to be late summer here. This Dalnan corn is starting to rot on the stalks. Seems like they’re distracted.”
“I agree. But distracted by what, I wonder.” Creighton pulled his hood a little closer to his face to shield it from the rainfall. The structures here were also not well kept. They cautiously opened a door or two, and found living quarters that seemed uninhabited for the moment, with tipped-over bottles and containers. A rain barrel stood outside, overflowing onto wet dirt. “Aida. Turn off your comlink. We don’t want any messages coming through and exposing us. We’ll contact Yaddle as soon as we’re done.”
Aida nodded.
“Hey! What are you doing here?”
Aida and Creighton spun around to see a Togruta Path member, a male, standing some distance away. He was carrying what appeared to be a pretty heavy bundle, but its contents were obscured in cloth.
Creighton’s hand had already gone to grasp his lightsaber hidden under his cloak.
“Do I know you? What’s your name and assignment?” the Path member asked, taking a slight step backward. Like Creighton, he had put his hand inside his cloak. He could be holding some sort of comlink.
Creighton could sense the paranoia emanating from the Togruta, his heart beating a mite too fast. He relaxed and pressed his own thoughts toward the man, enveloping him inside another consideration altogether. One that felt irresistibly true.
“We are your brethren in the Path. We are on your side. And you will help us,” Creighton said, calmly.
Aida stayed silent and Creighton leaned on the man’s consciousness until, rather easily, he accepted the new thoughts as his own. The man’s demeanor morphed into one of patience and almost chemically induced relaxation.
“Where is everyone?” Aida asked.
“In the caves,” the Path member said.
“Why?” Creighton said.
“I do not know.”
“Take us with you. We are working together, after all,” Creighton said, and the man nodded.
Creighton and Aida followed the Path member, who walked ahead unsteadily, as if slightly lost. They followed him toward several rolling hills, past an octagonal building and some other structures, including one that looked like a simple cottage.
As they crested over a rise, several Path members awaited entrance at a security door tucked between two small hills.
“Moora,” Aida heard a Path member say to a young child leaning on her arm, “nearly there. You can rest soon.”
“What about grandfather?” the child said.
“He’s coming later,” the Path member said nervously. “Maybe he’s already there.”
Another Path member just inside the door instructed them to head to a room down the corridor.
Aida grabbed Creighton’s arm. “It looks like elderly and children are inside somewhere. C’mon, Creighton. You just aged fifty years.”
“I am not that old, Aida. We could as well reverse this charade. Your mind is strong enough to fool them.”
“Yes, but as my master once taught me—it is easier to let water run downhill than it is to push rain back into the clouds.”
He groaned. “I see your point but it would be nice next time if you threw in a compliment about wisdom and the years, to soften the blow.” He bent over, leaned on Aida, and began to hobble. The Togruta Path member took his turn entering the code, and the sentry droid opened the door. They followed him in.
“My grandfather is feeling unwell,” Aida said to the Path member just inside, a short woman who peered at them as they came closer. Creighton could feel Aida manipulate her vision of Creighton’s form.
“Grandfather?” Creighton growled quietly. “Am I your grandfather now?”
“You see, the rain makes him feel ill.” She smiled and patted Creighton’s hunched back.
“The elderly are to stay aboveground. In the huts,” the woman said.
“In the huts,” Aida repeated, her face questioning.
“To keep them safe. They are our shield, as the Mother says.”
Shield? Against what? Creighton wondered with disgust.
“Please. Just for a short while,” Aida pleaded.
The woman sighed. “Very well. Head to the chambers on the right. Stay until you are summoned.”
“Summoned for what?” Aida asked, pressing the Force through the woman, loosening the kept secrets in her mind.
“You’ll know when I know.”
“Thank you,” Aida said. She and Creighton hobbled past her. Under the lip of the cave entrance, the temperature dropped ten degrees and a cool clamminess emanated from beyond. Their wet robes left trails of water on the ground, already slick from water trickling in from the cave entrance. Small lights illuminated the way, with colored markings on the wall. To the right were several passages that opened to larger rooms. They walked by, noting there were mostly children within them, playing quietly.
Beyond these caves, the passageway was abruptly blocked by a set of three burly guards. Unlike the other Path members they had seen on Dalna, these wore bandoliers of ammunition, with blasters holstered at their sides.
“For a peaceful group of people who believe in keeping the Force free for all, they sure are decked out with a lot of firepower,” Aida said. “How are we going to get past them? We can influence a few, but we can’t take on that many people at once.”
“Let’s wait. Next time someone comes by to pass them, we’ll add ourselves on as if they miscounted how many are in their party. It’s easier to mildly sway many by influencing their thoughts than changing the set mindsets of a few.”
Aida and Creighton ducked into one of the rooms and waited. A shadow grew near the entrance of the chamber. Creighton saw a group of three Path members, dragging another person in ropes behind them, a Teevan man with telltale silver-tinted skin. The man looked ill, his Path clothing torn and bruises on his face. Though Creighton and Aida were hidden in the shadows, the man’s head swiveled and Creighton was shocked to see the Teevan’s blue eyes immediately find his own.
The look in his eyes was plaintive: You see me. Please help me.
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Be sure to head over to io9 for the full excerpt, where Creighton and Aida hear about something called the Leveler. If you know, you know.

Star Wars: The High Republic: Cataclysm will be released April 4 and is available for pre-order now.

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The High Republic: Cataclysm First Non-Spoiler Thoughts; New Excerpt Sees the Jedi Investigate the Path of the Open Hand

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The High Republic: Cataclysm First Non-Spoiler Thoughts; New Excerpt Sees the Jedi Investigate the Path of the Open Hand

SWNN Probe Seeker

Review: The High Republic Adventures #5 Is a Well-Paced Action Romp

Review - Ty Yorrick Returns in The High Republic Adventures: Saber for Hire #1

Review: Shocking Developments Come up Short in The High Republic #6

New The High Republic Phase III Covers Put the Nameless in a Terrifying Light

Review - The High Republic Adventures: Crash Landing Sets in Motion a Larger Redemption Story

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