Honestly, if you go far enough back into the timeline of the galaxy far, far away, things start to look a little weird. We aren't talking about the High Republic or even the Old Republic of Darth Revan and Malak. No. We're talking about the deep time. The era of the Je'daii. This brings us to Star Wars Into the Void, a novel by Tim Lebbon that basically serves as the anchor for an era of history Lucasfilm is finally starting to acknowledge on the big screen. It’s a book that feels more like a fantasy epic than a sci-fi flick. There are no X-Wings. There are no lightsabers—at least not the humming plasma blades you’re used to. Instead, you have "forcesabers" and metal swords imbued with the Force.
It's different.
The story follows Lanoree Brock, a Je'daii Ranger on a mission to stop her own brother from tearing the galaxy apart with a dark matter tear. It sounds heavy because it is. While the book was released in 2013 under the "Legends" banner, it’s becoming increasingly relevant because James Mangold is currently working on a film about the Dawn of the Jedi. If you want to understand the DNA of that upcoming movie, you have to look at Star Wars Into the Void. It’s the primary text for how the Jedi Order actually began on the planet Tython, long before they became the bureaucratic monks of the prequel era.
The Tython Problem and the Balance of Ashla and Bogan
One thing people often get wrong about the early Jedi is the idea that they were always "light side" purists. They weren't. In the world of Star Wars Into the Void, the ancient Je'daii believed in total balance. You couldn't just be a saint. If you leaned too far into the light (Ashla), you were sent to a moon to meditate until you found your center. If you leaned too far into the dark (Bogan), you did the same thing on a different moon. It was a rigorous, almost brutal philosophy.
The planet Tython itself acted like a sentient entity that reacted to the Force. If the Je'daii fell out of balance, the planet would literally erupt in "Force storms." Imagine a world where your bad mood could cause a localized hurricane. That’s the setting Lanoree Brock navigates. She’s a Ranger, which is basically a frontier marshal. Her brother, Dalien, hates the Force. He sees it as a parasite. This is a fascinating perspective we rarely see in the franchise—someone who views the "mystical energy field" as a curse rather than a gift.
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Most fans think the Jedi started in a temple on Coruscant. Not even close. According to the lore established in this era, nine mysterious pyramid ships called the Tho Yor traveled the galaxy, gathered Force-sensitives from various species, and dumped them on Tython. It was a forced melting pot. This is the "into the void" aspect—being thrust into a frontier where survival depended on mastering a power nobody fully understood yet.
Why Lanoree Brock Isn't Your Average Protagonist
Lanoree is prickly. She’s stoic. She isn't particularly "nice." In a galaxy that usually deals in archetypes, she feels more grounded. Her relationship with her droid companion, Tre0, provides the only real levity in a story that is otherwise quite grim.
The plot of Star Wars Into the Void isn't just a chase. It’s an exploration of the Pre-Republic era. There is no Galactic Republic. There are no Sith. There are only "Dark Jedi" or individuals who have lost their way. The stakes feel personal. When Lanoree hunts Dalien, she’s grappling with the fact that the person she loved is now a nihilist willing to risk planetary extinction to prove a point. It’s a tragedy wrapped in an adventure.
The Visual Language of the Ancient Galaxy
If you’re expecting sleek chrome and neon, you’ll be disappointed. Everything in this era is bronze, stone, and leather. The tech is clunky. Space travel is dangerous and localized to the Tython system because hyperdrives haven't been perfected for long-distance travel yet. This creates a "locked-room" feel for the entire Star Wars Into the Void narrative. You can’t just jump to hyperspace and be across the galaxy in ten minutes. You’re stuck in the Deep Core, a region of space so dense with stars that navigation is a nightmare.
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- Forcesabers: These are precursors to lightsabers. They require the user to channel the Dark Side to ignite them. This creates a massive moral dilemma for the Je'daii.
- The Tho Yor: These giant floating pyramids are still one of the coolest mysteries in the franchise. Who sent them? We still don't know for sure.
- The Flesh Raiders: If you've played The Old Republic MMO, you know these guys. They are a devolved, cannibalistic species that serve as a constant threat on Tython.
Is It Still Canon?
This is the big question. When Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, they wiped the slate clean. Star Wars Into the Void was moved to the "Legends" category. However, "canon" is a fluid thing at Lucasfilm. We’ve seen Dave Filoni and other creators pull bits and pieces from Legends back into the main story constantly.
With the announcement of the Dawn of the Jedi movie, the concepts in this book are being looked at as a blueprint. Even if the specific character of Lanoree Brock doesn't show up on screen, the world-building regarding Tython, the Tho Yor, and the ancient philosophy of balance is almost certainly going to influence what James Mangold puts on screen. Tython has already appeared in The Mandalorian, specifically the "seeing stone" where Grogu reached out to Luke Skywalker. That location is a direct tie-back to the era described in this book.
What Most Readers Miss About the Plot
People often complain that the villain's motivation in Star Wars Into the Void is a bit thin. Dalien Brock wants to use an ancient Gree device to open a portal to the void, potentially killing everyone. Why? Because he wants to escape the influence of the Force.
Think about that. In a galaxy where the Force is everything, being a "Force-null" or someone who despises its influence is the ultimate rebellion. It’s not about being "evil" in the way Palpatine is evil. It’s about wanting autonomy in a universe that feels predestined. This adds a layer of philosophical depth that is often ignored in favor of the action beats. The "void" isn't just a physical place in space; it's the absence of the Force.
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Actionable Steps for Exploring the Dawn of the Jedi
If you want to get the full experience of this era, don't just stop at the novel. The lore is spread across several mediums that complement each other perfectly.
- Read the Comic Run: Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema is the visual companion to the novel. It covers the broader conflict with the Rakatan Infinite Empire. The art is fantastic and gives you a clear look at what a "Forcesaber" actually looks like.
- Play the Tython Origin: In the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, the Jedi Knight and Jedi Consular classes start their journey on Tython. You can visit the ruins of the Kaleth temple, which is a major setting in the book.
- Watch for High Republic Links: The more recent High Republic books have started referencing "The Age of Discovery," which is the period immediately following the events of the Dawn of the Jedi era.
- Track the Movie News: Keep an eye on "Dawn of the Jedi" casting calls. Any mention of characters like "The First Jedi" will likely draw inspiration from the Je'daii Rangers.
The beauty of Star Wars Into the Void is that it stands alone. You don't need to know who Darth Vader is. You don't need to know about the Death Star. It is a raw, primal look at what it means to wield power before there were rules or codes to govern it. It’s a messy, violent, and fascinating start to a story we’ve been watching for fifty years.
If you’re diving into the book for the first time, pay attention to the descriptions of the different Je'daii temples. Each one—Akar Kesh, Bodhi, Qigong Kesh—represents a different aspect of the Force (healing, science, combat). It’s the most detailed look at Jedi education we’ve ever received, even if the "Jedi" in question are still figuring it out as they go.
The story of the Jedi didn't start with peace and justice. It started with survival and a desperate attempt to stay balanced on a planet that wanted to swallow them whole. That’s the real legacy of the void. It’s the reminder that before the light, there was just the struggle.
To fully grasp where the franchise is heading, start by looking back. Grab a copy of the book, but pair it with the Dawn of the Jedi: Force Storm comics to get the visual context of the Rakatan technology. This provides the most complete picture of the pre-Republic era currently available. Check the copyright dates on your copies; the 2013-2014 era of Star Wars publishing was a unique transition point where authors were given massive creative freedom before the canon reset, making these stories weirder and more experimental than much of what followed.