Star Wars: The High Republic: Tears of the Nameless by: George Mann

 

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.