George
Mann wrote Tears of the Nameless at a time where he didn’t know whether
or not he would live to see it through, something revealed in the acknowledgments
at the end of the novel. This adds a grave
tone to the novel, retrospectively, as while The High Republic as an initiative
was far from one author’s vision, Tears of the Nameless is very much about
the Jedi in nothing but a precarious place. The Nihil have the upper hand and while there
have been several parties slowly advancing on their enemies, the High Republic
and the Jedi have always felt on the backfoot and ready for a fall. George Mann as a person is writing this novel
through the idea that he might actually fall to a brain tumor. The Nameless themselves can almost be read as
some of Mann’s own fears of what could be killing him, even if Mann examines
the fact that calling them Nameless paradoxically gives them a name within the
book. The acknowledgments don’t actually
say whether or not the lesion is benign or a malignant tumor, though the
implication is that it is benign as Mann describes partway through the writing process
being able to add levity back into the book.
That
retrospective tone means Tears of the Nameless becomes a book about hope
returning, something great for the young adult audience that this is aimed
at. Mann, however, despite getting lighter
in tone as the book goes on actually ends the novel with these bittersweet
notes that work as the characters really haven’t won the day. They have gained knowledge, some of that
knowledge being contradictory and confusing when it pertains to certain
characters, but knowledge nevertheless.
It brings this in line with the other books from Phase III of The
High Republic as being often more personal stories for the characters
outside of the larger Nihil and Nameless plots. Impressive considering Mann likes to include a
rather large cast of characters from Vernestra Rwoh to the crew of the Vessel
with several added cameos. It’s many of
the returning characters that while not bringing the novel down, are perhaps
the least explored here. It isn’t so
much as Mann not wishing to advance plot threads of pre-established characters,
he doesn’t really introduce new characters here and a major supporting
character was an integral part of Path of Deceit, but includes almost
too many characters for them all to be established.
This is
slightly odd as the book is split into two parts and the first half is the
slower half. It’s all perfectly serviceable
setup and focused largely on connecting the reader with Padawan Amadeo Azzazzo,
a character who has appeared in the publishing initiative but this is really
his book over anyone else. The actual
plot builds to a secret mission with the intent of capturing one of the
Nameless alive for study. The buildup
before this intended mission is revealed is slightly weaker than when we get onto
the mission, this is where the characters become their most contemplative. Doubt creeping into one’s convictions is the
novel’s major theme. Amadeo as a
character is largely upbeat and caring protagonist even if his relationship
with his master becomes fraught with worry and strain, but he is essentially
the only one. He is paralleled with Jedi
Raeth Silas who is dealing with the loss of his master and thus his own doubts
in the nature of the Jedi teachings. While
he has a new Master, one with whom he eventually can confide in and rely on. The representation of doubt that springs to
the forefront and ties Tears of the Nameless together is Azlin Rell, the
fallen Jedi from Path of Deceit (among other books and audio dramas). He’s essentially the representation of
temptation and forbidden knowledge, almost more so than the Nihil and the
Nameless as this novel is one that is reflective on the High Republic as an
organization through its characters. The
doubt is also an interesting aspect as by the end there is this almost beautiful
uncertainty as to the alignment of the Nameless, they are living creatures
after all and there is a sense that they are not inherently evil. Even for his sinister nature Azlin Rell is a
fallen Jedi and not a Sith. Mann is
active in making the role of antagonist for Tears of the Nameless to be
less clear cut than some other novels, just this once, to allow the characters
to really grow.
Overall,
reading Tears of the Nameless was actually quite the nice return to Star
Wars: The High Republic even if it is slightly weaker than the last
installment I read from George Mann.
When it works the best is when it is continuing individual characters as
examination of the entire Jedi and High Republic as a setting as well as sewing
specific seeds of doubt. The second half
of the novel in particular is an exhilarating ride after a first half where the
buildup is just slightly overstuffed to really smooth out. Mann is putting a lot of himself in the page
in a way that you can tell even if you don’t read the acknowledgments at the
end. 8/10.
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