- "I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner. Now, I am the master."
"Only a master of evil, Darth." - ―Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope
Master of Evil is a Star Wars hardcover canon novel that was written by Adam Christopher and published by Random House Worlds on November 11, 2025 alongside an audiobook version.[2] Prior to its title reveal, it was codenamed "Nauset Lighthouse" on Random House's website.[5] The book was first teased as "Master of Evil" via a listing on Random House Worlds' website[2] before receiving a formal reveal on April 10, 2025, via StarWars.com ahead of Celebration 2025.[1]
The novel is focused upon the dark journey of the Sith Lord Darth Vader in the time between Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope. The story features Vader on the haunting quest to overcome death itself,[1] a power first promised to him by his Sith Master Darth Sidious when he first fell to the dark side of the Force.[6] The book is notable for being the first Vader-focused novel in ten years after 2015 saw the release of Lords of the Sith.[7] Christopher described the novel as "a journey to the dark side"[8] and a big deal for him personally.[9] The novel's title has its roots in A New Hope, within which Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi rebuke's Vader's claim of having become a "master" by decrying him as having only become "a master of evil."[4] Master of Evil will connect with Charles Soule's series Star Wars: Darth Vader (2017), and will fill in a gap in one of the series' timeline jumps."[10]
Publisher's summary
After Revenge of the Sith, a newly forged Darth Vader hunts for the secrets of life and death under the watchful eye of Emperor Palpatine.
In the wake of Emperor Palpatine's rise to power, the true nature of his most sinister enforcer remains a mystery. Darth Vader is a dominant yet illusive figure: the shadow cast by a malignant Imperial regime, unknowable to even its top officials. But even as his humanity gives way to myth, Vader remains haunted by the promises of the dark side, seeking the ultimate power that his master has hinted at but withheld—the power to conquer death itself.
On the volcanic world of Mustafar, Vader undertakes a dark ritual, bleeding a kyber crystal to forge his lightsaber. This act unleashes a power far greater than he anticipated, giving him a glimpse into the limitless potential of the Force.
Vader is determined to follow this vision, even if it means defying his master's orders. Yet he finds the Emperor suspiciously supportive of his mission, even sending Vader to the Diso system to investigate rumors of a Force-wielding shaman able to raise the dead. At his side are a cadre of the Emperor's scarlet-robed Royal Guard, led by Colonel Halland Goth—a decorated soldier with a very personal interest in Vader’s mission.
Even as the Emperor's true motivations reveal themselves, Vader falls deeper into obsession. His journey takes him far across the galaxy, chasing rumors and phantoms. But no matter how far he travels, he cannot escape the shadows within his own soul. Haunted by the echoes of his past, Vader circles the true resolution to his quest: only once all weakness is purged can he become a master of evil.
Plot summary
Continuity
- In the prologue, Count Dooku reflects that, as he understands the Sith Grand Plan, the Confederacy of Independent Systems is to win the Clone Wars so as to usher in the reign of the Sith under Darth Sidious and himself.[11] However, most other stories and sources suggest[12][13][14][15] or confirm that Dooku knew the Sith plan was for the CIS to lose the Clone Wars while the Galactic Republic is transformed into their empire.[16][17]
Media
Editions
- ISBN 9780593874738; November 11, 2025; Random House Worlds; US hardcover[2]
- ISBN 9780593874745; November 11, 2025; Random House Worlds; US eBook[2]
- ISBN 9780593874752; July 21, 2026; Random House Worlds; US paperback[18]
Appearances
By type
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
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Organisms
Droid models
|
Events
|
Locations
|
Organizations and titles
|
Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
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Weapons and technology
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Miscellanea
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Sources
Star Wars: Master of Evil, a New Darth Vader Novel, Turns the Page on the Sith Lord on StarWars.com (backup link)- Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2025 - DAY 2 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Celebrate Star Wars Reads This October on StarWars.com (backup link) §
- "Darth Vader: Master of Evil" — Star Wars Insider 234
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3
Star Wars: Master of Evil, a New Darth Vader Novel, Turns the Page on the Sith Lord on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7
Star Wars: Master of Evil on Penguin Random House's official website (backup link)
- ↑ The events of Master of Evil begin during the events of Darth Vader (2017) 5 and then spans to before the events of Darth Vader (2017) 6, which corresponds to 19 BBY per Star Wars: Timelines.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- ↑ Nauset Lighthouse on Penguin Random House's official website (content not present on current version)
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Tom Hoeler (@darthinternous.bsky.social) on Bluesky (post on February 27, 2025): "It's been 10 years (2015 - Lords of the Sith) since we've had a proper Darth Vader #StarWars novel. We figured it was time enough at last to change that. INCREDIBLE artwork by Simon Goinard - with kind of a cool story attached to it." (backup link)
- ↑ Adam Christopher (@adamchristopher.me) on Bluesky (post on April 10, 2025): "Let's take a journey to the dark side together… Presenting STAR WARS: MASTER OF EVIL! Out November 11th from Random House Worlds." (backup link)
- ↑ Adam Christopher (@adamchristopher.me) on Bluesky (post on April 10, 2025): "Hi hi! I'm on my way to Japan, so am not able to reply to everyone individually at the moment. But just to say thanks to everyone! MASTER OF EVIL is a big book for me, and I'm glad people are excited to read it. Heck, I'M excited for YOU to read it! More to come at Star Wars Celebration Japan!" (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars Celebration LIVE! 2025 - DAY 2 on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- ↑ Master of Evil
- ↑ Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- ↑ Tarkin
- ↑ Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire
- ↑ Star Wars Helmet Collection: Commander Bacara Databank A-Z: Dooku–Dwarf Spider Droids
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Crisis at the Heart"
- ↑ Star Wars Bust Collection: Count Dooku Character: Count Dooku
- ↑ Star Wars: Master of Evil on the official Edelweiss website (backup link)
