Author: Valeda Kor
Date posted: 3/11/2002 7:54:12 PM
Valeda Kor's Comments:

I was honored to have the chance to beta-read this fine story, and am very glad that it was chosen for the archive. You won't find a better description of an early Palpatine, allowing his hatred of the Jedi to overcome any constraints he may have, even to the point of destroying that which he loves. Getting into the story, one can understand his frustration and rage, even if the denouement of that means an end to the Jedi Order and a start to the events we've seen in the movies past and future, and even beyond.

The chilling characterization is striking, and the little bits of foreshadowing understated, so that the story continues far past the ending. This is a tale to be read in a leisurely manner; enjoy the lyricism and art of the telling, in this author's capable hands.

Author: JediChicTK421
Date posted: 3/12/2002 9:06:13 AM
JediChicTK421's Comments:

this was a great story. it was written in a very well put together creative form. now that i've read it i have a totally new perspective on things and events that happen in the movies. i recomend this story to everyone. i feel that every star wars fan need to know what happened early on in the Star Wars saga. this was really a great piece of work. good job!

Author: spoot
Date posted: 3/12/2002 12:19:16 PM
spoot's Comments:

I'm very glad to have read this story. No one has ever made me like Palpatine. Very well written.
I cannot say this enough, great story.

Author: ESPayne
Date posted: 3/12/2002 3:23:23 PM
ESPayne's Comments:

Great story! It made me actually side with Palpatine. Ha! But then again, this story didn't show how evil we all know he became. I really like the story. I was actually really surprised when I saw Episode 1. The Jedi Council was nothing like I expected. They almost deserve it!

Author: jetfirespam
Date posted: 3/13/2002 11:04:39 AM
jetfirespam's Comments:

I have long felt that there was a story to Palpatine that needed to be told, and Gandalf the Grey does a marvelous job of providing one.

I liked how Palpatine's fatal flaw was a desire to bring Order to the galaxy, just as Vader's was his love for Padme, Luke's was his love for his friends, and (in A New Hope Infinities) Leia's was a quest to change the Empire back to the Republic. It would have been too easy to simply gloss over Palpatine's reasons for becoming a Sith, saying he simply wanted revenge or something.

The romantic aspect was a bit overwhelming, though. I would have liked to see a little more focus on Palpatine's journey into Darkness, but his love for Phaedra came to take over the story. Actually, all it would take to bring a bit more balance to the story (no pun intended) would be to devote another page or so to Palpatine's training, perhaps a mission to kill a young Padawan or something.

All in all, a worthwhile read, though. One question: is Adrik really Palpatine's first name, or was it invented for this story?

Author: LL
Date posted: 3/13/2002 9:53:13 PM
LL's Comments:

I was pleased to be able to accept this story for the archive. I thought it presented a well-thought out background for Palpatine that also absorbed the reader. Very skillfully done.

Author: Jedimistress
Date posted: 3/14/2002 4:57:05 AM
Jedimistress's Comments:

Outstanding story!!! I can learn to care for Palpy. Your Jedi council sounds just like the movie, inactive. No wonder Palpy ruled over them. I enjoyed your fan fic, please continue what does he do next?....great job!!!

Author: Clutch D'Rofab
Date posted: 3/15/2002 10:53:49 AM
Clutch D'Rofab's Comments:

Captivating and well done. It's nice to see some decent motivations behind, arguably, the most powerful Star Wars character.

Author: Bush Baby
Date posted: 3/20/2002 4:39:38 PM
Bush Baby's Comments:

Hehe... the authors mentioned in the beginning, J'erne and H'Gells... that <i>has</i> to be from Jules Verne and HG Wells... very neat!

Author: Master Eternity
Date posted: 4/5/2002 2:31:56 PM
Master Eternity's Comments:

WOW. This story helped build a bridge from pre-epi 1 to the trilogy. Adrik...cool name. Good job tying in the Darth Sidious/Adrik Palpatine thing. All in all a great story.

Author: peregrine
Date posted: 4/18/2002 3:19:26 AM
peregrine's Comments:

This was a GREAT story! I've always found Palpatine more than the simple epitome of Evil, and this story gives a great background to him and his motivations. One cannot be evil simply for evils sake, and it was wondeful to see good old Palpy as a tragic character. I also loved the irony and the foreshadowing that permeated the storyline. Good work!

Author: rheofan
Date posted: 4/25/2002 8:52:05 AM
rheofan's Comments:

Great story telling. The emotion was perfect. One must get published. Thanx for telling it.

Author: BobBacca
Date posted: 5/14/2002 2:54:27 PM
BobBacca's Comments:

This story was so great. It Looked into the most evil and powerful person the galaxy has ever seen, and made you like him. It's just such an interesting look into Palpatine. I just really loved this story.

Author: Argent Jedi  (signed)
Date posted: 6/8/2002 2:05:46 PM
Argent Jedi's Comments:

I love how fanfics like this can fit so seamlessly into the Star Wars storyline. Wonderful job of charachterizing Palpatine: this is a side of him we never got to see.

Author: ARES
Date posted: 6/14/2002 7:23:38 AM
ARES's Comments:

Wow... This story was really good and absorbing to read. I like reading stories that tell us the history of a person, how he or she came to be, their motives etc. And while tt's always interesting to see the journeys that a hero makes, the path of a villian also makes for good reading. Seeing Palpatine as a three-dimensional character was a truly enjoyable, if not a little sad.

Author: tracey smith
Date posted: 7/12/2002 5:11:02 PM
tracey smith's Comments:

This is one of the most prodigious piece of work I~{!/~}d ever laid eyes on! An enthralling concoction of angst and drama, spiced by a touch of romance, all fostered by the linchpin of Sith Philosophy. A satisfying read if there ever is one. Its rich complexity a mile higher than the less-than-involved cheap colourations and monotype mulishness. ...i really want to be a Sith now.

Author: MovieBoy
Date posted: 7/31/2002 8:20:12 AM
MovieBoy's Comments:

A story which definitely needed to be told... The "Mein Kampf" of the galaxy's most powerful villain. Masterfully written. Very well done.

Author: Jose
Date posted: 8/30/2002 4:06:39 PM
Jose's Comments:

THE VERY BEST PIECE OF FANFICTION EVA


Please refrain from using profanity, even to express approval. This is your only warning.

Author: Atrox  (signed)
Date posted: 2/28/2003 5:36:24 PM
Atrox's Comments:

Simply beautiful. It provides a reason for Palpatine's evil, and a reminder which road is paved with best intentions. But it didn't make me like him any better. All the great villains of real-world history felt a deep need to do their deeds out of just such a sense of historic necessity. Like Palpatine, they were dreamers, romantics. This is what makes the story work so well. . .

Author: Lendll Phillip
Date posted: 5/27/2003 8:38:25 PM
Lendll Phillip's Comments:

One of the first longer fanfics i've read, "in the Shadows of the Ivory Tower" repeatedly made me wish it was hundreds of pages longer. The plot is very tight and satisfying, and, with all the comments I've addeded to help me piece together and keep track of all the story's subtleties, i'm sure this is one story that will satiate novice up to skilled readers. It's so well written that I even made sure to study the author's skill to build my own in writing=]Besides being well written, the storyline gives an unexpected, fresh insight of Palpatine FROM Palpatine , making even me say *Edit: profanity deleted* Haha, read this story.

Author: pimpy wan
Date posted: 6/29/2003 5:33:33 PM
pimpy wan's Comments:

this was one fo the finest fictions i've yet read on this site! i love the jedi/trade federation backstory (and particularly enjoyed the joke about yoda looking like a puppet). this was a long read, but well worth it. i hope to see a similar story about sidious's recruitment and training of darth maul!

Author: Lans
Date posted: 10/30/2003 1:19:59 PM
Lans's Comments:

This story was very very good. It also confirms a theory of mine that the Clone Wars were nothing more than an excuse for Palpatine to get rid of potential enemies, and to take control of the Republic.

Author: SithLord13
Date posted: 7/13/2005 8:16:15 PM
SithLord13's Comments:

Great story! I envisioned Palpatine's early life differently, but good writing!

Author: Kalabus
Date posted: 10/31/2005 2:27:11 PM
Kalabus's Comments:

This is one of those fics that is fluid (and good) enough that you have to remind yourself that is not an actual SW novel. No bad transitions, nice characters, and overall a good story. Enjoyed it enough to eat lunch while reading it - no small feat when dealing with fried chicken. Good job!