Review: 'The Glass Abyss' puts Mace Windu in dark, confusing Star Wars noir mystery
The book is unlike any Star Wars story I've ever read, and at times didn't even feel like a Star Wars novel.
Review: Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss by Steven Barnes
Well, that was a Star Wars book. Actually, there were many times while reading (and listening to) Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss that I forgot I was reading a Star Wars book. Then Mace Windu’s name would pop up and oh, yeah, this is supposed to be a Star Wars story.
No one is more disappointed than me that I didn’t love The Glass Abyss. Maybe I had misplaced expectations. Maybe the book arrived at a time when I needed cozy rom-coms and epic fantasy to escape into — i.e. two hurricanes in two weeks. Either way, The Glass Abyss never hooked me into the story despite being set in my favorite Star Wars era (the prequels) and starring a Jedi character we have so few stories about.
Set not too long after The Phantom Menace, The Glass Abyss follows Master Mace Windu as he follows the final wishes of his fallen friend, Qui-Gon Jinn. The mission pushes Mace to go to the planet Metagos, an Outer Rim world turned into a brutal crystalline marvel because of radiating solar storms. Qui-Gon made a promise to the people of Metagos, who have been oppressed for years under the yokes of criminal clans on the verge of civil war.
With Qui-Gon gone, it becomes Mace’s burden to help the Metagosians, but the Jedi’s mission isn’t clear until two-thirds into the book. The bulk of the novel is about challenging the Jedi warrior’s beliefs and presenting the most detailed, introspective Mace Windu story yet. The best parts of The Glass Abyss are Mace’s thoughts, feelings (and lack thereof), and inner monologues. The fact that we got a Mace-focused story far from the rest of the galaxy’s and Jedi Order’s issues is the only reason I gave this book three stars instead of two.
Where the book lost me was in the intricacies of Metagos and its denizens. Eric Eilersen over at Youtini wrote in his review that The Glass Abyss reads like it was never meant to be a Star Wars story — and I can’t help but agree. Barnes’ story is incredibly creative, leaning far into the subgenre of sci-fi noir mystery. It’s clear the author had been creating and molding this deep, dark world for a long time. And that absolutely comes through in Barnes’ intricate, hard sci-fi purple prose.
Because of odd pacing, clunky dialogue, and a confusing, hardboiled writing style, The Glass Abyss was a struggle to follow and comprehend. There were many pages I had to read several times and eventually listen to to understand what was happening and to whom.
Speaking of listening to the book, the audiobook files definitely helped me comprehend the story. Narrator William DeMerrit’s work turns The Glass Abyss into a classic radio mystery drama — still not a Star Wars book, but a much more enjoyable, vibey experience than silent reading the novel.
The audiobook also helps better differentiate between all the new side characters — from the Web-worshipping alien species to the science-defying mutant Chulok. The characterizations of Mace and others are the brightest parts of the story even when they’re convoluted or barely resemble established Star Wars lore.
With all the single character-focused Star Wars novels out there, expectations were high for The Glass Abyss. Because The Glass Abyss is the first Mace Windu novel in the new canon, I wouldn’t be surprised if this book was many fans’ most anticipated of the year. It certainly was one I was very excited about. I’ve never been a big Mace Windu fan, but I was thrilled to learn more about the Jedi’s past and what makes him tick. The Glass Abyss, unfortunately, didn’t deliver on what I thought was promised.
This Mace Windu simultaneously felt like the intense Jedi warrior we know and a completely different man dropped into the Star Wars galaxy and handed a purple lightsaber. Once the incredible Star Warsy action gets going in the last third of the book, I was already mostly checked out of this story and just wanted it to be over.
As I said before, I am so disappointed that I didn’t love this book like I thought I would. There’s a chance I may revisit The Glass Abyss in the future, but for now, I’m moving on to reading The Force Unleashed and finishing a game movie of Battlefront II.
Oh, and I’m looking forward to the next new Star Wars book on the roster — Tempest Breaker.
Star Wars: Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss by Steven Barnes is available now from Random House Worlds.
"Star Wars noir" is a phrase I've had in on my google docs Ideas sheet for a while. I'll check this out, but the reviews certainly seemed mixed. I might have to try the audiobook.
I was intrigued by this one, but I think I might pass now. Thanks for the review!