Roc, Jan 2003, 23.95, 480 pp.
Three generations ago, Owen Deathstalker destroyed the Empress Lionstone and by that one feat alone, assured his place in history. He disappeared and nobody knows if he still is alive, but all the planets in the New Empire venerate his memory. At the time that King William passes the crown to his son Douglass, the empire was at its zenith, a golden age where peace was the norm and prejudices for the most part were set aside.
Upon becoming King, Douglas appointed Lewis Deathstalker as the king's champion. This turns into a grave and fatal error for it was expected that Finn Durandel would get the position. Both men were Paragons (heroic soldiers that represented the King's justice) but Lewis is Douglas's trusted and only friend. Finn did not know how much he wanted the position until he lost it and he vows to take away everything and everyone that means something to the king before he finally destroys his highness. He becomes a mole in the palace, spreading dissension everywhere he goes and making sure that his enemies pay the price for standing against him. The golden age of mankind is ending due to one man's jealousy.
DEATHSTALKER LEGACY is space opera at its action best. The novel is populated with heroic figures reminiscent of Lancelot and Arthur and villains that make Darth Vader seem like a nice person. The antagonist is so successful because he knows so many government secrets and enemies and willingly uses them to his own advantage. Once again, Simon R. Green has written a work that will appeal to Star War fans.
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner