Over the years there have been a multitude of Star Wars novels, but never before has there been one quite like Emma Mieko Candon’s Ronin, which offers a totally new – and absolutely fascinating – perspective on one of the most famous settings in all of science fiction. Normally I try to write my own precis for each book I review, but in this case I don’t think I can really add anything of value to the publisher’s own synopsis, which does a fantastic job of setting the scene for this alternative interpretation of Star Wars. Unlike many official synopses, it’s both instantly engaging and satisfyingly spoiler free:
Two decades ago, Jedi clans clashed in service to feuding lords. Sickened by this endless cycle, a sect of Jedi rebelled, seeking to control their own destiny and claim power in service of no master. They called themselves Sith.
The Sith rebellion failed, succumbing to infighting and betrayal, and the once rival lords unified to create an Empire . . . but even an Empire at peace is not free from violence.
Far on the edge of the Outer Rim, one former Sith wanders, accompanied only by a faithful droid and the ghost of a less civilized age. He carries a lightsaber, but claims lineage to no Jedi clan, and pledges allegiance to no lord. Little is known about him, including his name, for he never speaks of his past, nor his regrets. His history is as guarded as the red blade of destruction he carries sheathed at his side.
As the galaxy’s perpetual cycle of violence continues to interrupt his self-imposed exile, and he is forced to duel an enigmatic bandit claiming the title of Sith, it becomes clear that no amount of wandering will ever let him outpace the specters of his former life.
Sounds cool, right? I think it’s a pretty intriguing synopsis in its own right, but it also gives me a good opportunity to talk about one of the things that really makes sure Ronin stands out. If you’re at all familiar with Star Wars then you’ll probably have spotted a few oddities already: the concept of Jedi clans, the nature of the Sith as members of a failed rebellion, the idea of an Empire formed by rival lords. As you can see, these are all things that exist in the regular Star Wars canon, just shifted into a slightly different configuration. And therein lies what’s so cool about this book, that it takes so many of the familiar Star Wars elements but presents them through the lens of Japanese culture, exploring familiar ideas in unexpected ways.
The book opens as the wandering Ronin – that’s how he’s referred to throughout (other than the nickname of ‘Grim’, by certain characters) – along with his droid B5-56, reaches a remote, mountainous village just as it’s attacked by bandits. As the bandit leader reveals herself to also be a Sith, the Ronin intervenes, and a deadly duel ensues. If any of that sounds familiar, then it’s for good reason as these opening scenes are adapted from The Duel, the first episode of the Disney+ animated anthology series Star Wars: Visions. If you’ve seen that episode (and I would really recommend you do watch it – it’s brilliant!) then you’ll know what happens next, but this comprises just the first two chapters of the novel. From that point onwards Ronin becomes very much its own story, building upon those early foundations and taking the narrative in wholly unexpected directions.
A still from Star Wars: Visions episode 1, The Duel (production house Kamikaze Douga, director Takanobu Mizuno)
Star Wars has always shamelessly borrowed from a variety of sources, not least old-school Kurosawa movies, so the focus here on Japanese mythology and history feels remarkably appropriate. As an existing Star Wars fan there’s a fascinating cognitive dissonance in trying to get your head around this particular version of the Jedi, the Sith, the Force and the Empire, while marvelling at how well everything ports across to the Japanese perspective. There’s a real sense of depth and history to this alternate universe that’s slowly revealed over the course of the book, even as the Ronin’s history gradually comes into focus too. This isn’t a book that worries about giving readers everything they need to know up front, but rather takes its time and carefully unveils more of the world building as the plot develops and the characters’ motivations and histories become clear. At times this does prompt a little head scratching, but it all comes together to make a lot of sense.
And these really are fascinating characters, all of whom are entirely appropriate to this sort of Japanese-inspired narrative while also feeling like they could easily have stepped out of another Star Wars story. There’s a really varied, diverse cast both in support of and opposition to the Ronin – I can’t say too much without risking spoilers, but it’s clear that a lot of thought and care has gone into the characters and what they represent, to both the author and the wider readership of this sort of story. In classic Star Wars fashion it’s very much a story about a ragtag bunch of desperate characters brought together by fate (or maybe the Force…or something else entirely), struggling against an oppressive, overwhelming enemy (in this case, drilling a little deeper than usual into the inequalities inherent in this sort of universe), so for all the lightsaber-wielding action there’s plenty of opportunities for exploring the dynamics between the characters and the history that they share.
That’s not the only Star Wars trope either, as despite its unique perspective on the setting it nevertheless digs into the light side and the dark side of the Force, the differing philosophies of the Jedi and the Sith (along with where they’re not that different, too), the need for heroes to come to terms with – and in some cases directly face – the darkness in their past, and so on. There are also a fair few of the aforementioned lightsaber battles, and there’s no doubt that leaning into the Samurai stylings of Japanese storytelling makes the action scenes an awful lot of fun. While Candon’s elegant prose is often notably poetic and evocative, it remains deeply immersive too, which helps things feel wonderfully cinematic at times. Again, I won’t spoil anything by talking about the cool locations or the epic set-pieces, but I’ll just reassure you that they’re there…and they’re brilliant!
All told, this is IP fiction at its very best, offering a wonderful alternative interpretation of a universe that was already awesome, and is now just that little bit cooler still. For someone who isn’t familiar with Star Wars but is perhaps already interested in cool Japanese-inspired science fiction, this is about as accessible as any ‘tie-in’ novel could be, as it really doesn’t require much, if any, prior Star Wars knowledge. For existing fans though, it pushes the reader to rethink Star Wars and what they love about it, providing something new and thought-provoking while maintaining the hallmarks of the best Star Wars stories – the hopefulness despite the darkness, the recognisable themes and relatable characters, the little bits of warm humour, not to mention the lightsabers and droids! If you haven’t already watched The Duel, go check that out now – then run straight out and buy this book. It requires a little patience, but it’s so, so worth it.
Ronin is out now in hardback, ebook and audiobook from Del Rey.
Check out the links below if you’d like to order a copy*!
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