Star Wars: The Mask of Fear
Perfect for fans of Andor!
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3 Months Free
Star Wars: The Mask of Fear
Buy Now for £14.51
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Narrated by:
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January LaVoy
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By:
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Alexander Freed
Brought to you by Penguin.
Before the Rebellion, the Empire reigned. The first book in a new trilogy.
"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.
© Alexander Freed 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
Continue the series
Great voice acting good sound effects
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Great look into the politics of SW
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On the one hand, it is interesting to establish links between Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera and Bail Organa, and the story offers an exploration of that slow decline of republic values and the steady rise of the brutal imperial methods. There is some emphasis on the casualness by which the empire dispenses cruelty, as well as the efficiency and power of it's information network, and both things are relevant to stories in later eras.
On the other hand, this book is a bit of a tangled mess of politics and minor action that leaves me unsure as to what it was actually ABOUT. It suffers from too many characters with too many individual stories and it's difficult to pick out a defining moment and say this was the main plot point, or here was the climax at the end. In a way it does a bit of an LOTR thing whereby the story is over then it goes on for another hour and just kind of fizzles into 'this is our lives now'. While there is tension, there is very little action, and if you like the swashbuckling adventures that usually come with Star Wars this is not that.
But it's not a bad book, and it's not a bad performance - it's just not great either. Midrange. If you have nothing else to spend a credit on, it's an ok listen.
The most mid Star Wars story
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Sometimes it’s a little hard to distinguish who is talking as the voice acting is quite similar for a lot of characters.
A solid 4/5 - Would definitely recommend
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Strongly appreciate that Star Wars has finally woken up to an audience that wants adult and overtly political work. Thank you Andor!
Good deconstruction of authoritarianism and the various ways in which people are motivated/choose to oppose it.
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