Despot's Reign
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| Author: | HandofThrawn45 |
|---|---|
| Series: | Despot Trilogy |
| Length: | 359 pages |
| Source: | AO3, FF.net |
| Publication Date: | September 28, 2023 |
| Timeline Placement: | c. 25180 BBY |
| Canon Tier: | F |
| Preceding: | Following: |
|---|---|
| Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void | Despot's Dream |
Despot's Reign is a fan fiction novel written by HandofThrawn45 (also known as Gregory O. Scott) and is the first book of the Despot Trilogy. It was first published on fanfiction.net on February 9, 2024. The novel takes place circa 25180 BBY and centers around Xim the Despot.
Synopsis
Before the Empire, before the Sith, before even the Republic, there was Xim the Despot. Millennia before the age of Skywalker, Xim's brutal conquests consume worlds upon worlds.
In this perilous time, a family of free-willed spacers makes a dangerous discovery, a clan of alien refugees is chased from its home, and a trio of Jedi explorers arrive from the far side of the galaxy. Soon they are all thrown together, pursued by Xim's merciless forces.
Development
The concept for Despot's Reign originated after the completion of the Gregory O. Scott's Legacy's End series. Seeking a new, untouched era in Star Wars lore, Scott shifted focus to ancient history, specifically the time of Xim the Despot, a character first mentioned in Brian Daley's novel Han Solo and the Lost Legacy in 1980. Xim is often seen as a Star Wars equivalent to historical conquerors like Alexander the Great or Genghis Khan.
The setting of Despot's Reign draws heavily from various sources within the Expanded Universe, including Dawn of the Jedi and Knights of the Old Republic. The largest inspiration, however, comes from the works of Jason Fry and Michael Kogge. Fry, a known enthusiast of Xim, expanded on the character and era in several guidebooks. Kogge’s Despotica, a collection of plays, poetry, and metafiction, provided unique narrative and aesthetic inspiration.
Previous Star Wars works depicting ancient eras, such as Tales of the Jedi, Knights of the Old Republic, and The High Republic, took different visual approaches. In contrast, Despot's Reign opts for a more low-tech aesthetic, giving it a feel more akin to Battlestar Galactica or The Expanse rather than traditional Star Wars. This choice emphasizes a galaxy still in its infancy, where fledgling civilizations are just beginning to reach for the stars.[1]