History Literature / StarWarsCatalyst

* GrandFinale: Possible Meta example for James Luceno. As of Spring 2022, this is his final ''Star Wars'' novel.

* CallBack: Poggle the Lesser's imprisonment is mentioned, harking back to his [[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars capture earlier in the war]]. In fact, it is assumed that [[spoiler:the Death Star plans were originally obtained during the subsequent battle]].
** The [[Film/AttackOfTheClones first battle of Geonosis]] is also mentioned.

** Tarkin alludes to his imprisonment in [[WesternAnimation/TheCloneWars the Citadel]].
** A celebration is held to commemorate the [[WesternAnimation/TheCloneWars Liberation of Ryloth]].

** Galen believes the Battle Droids were shut down by a Lucrehulk-class Battleship being destroyed, thus saving Lyra, Jyn, and himself. In reality, it was [[spoiler:Anakin, aka Darth Vader,]] who sent a shutdown message to all Lucrehulk-class Battleships after [[Film/RevengeoftheSith killing the Separtist Council on Mustafar]].
* {{Expy}}: Krennic seems to be a pastiche of two prominent ''Star Wars'' villains: he has Thrawn's [[TheChessmaster planning abilities]] and Tarkin's [[MoralEventHorizon ruthlessness]]. Fittingly enough, the book is written by James Luceno, who also wrote the ''[[Literature/StarWarsTarkin Tarkin]]'' novel. It should be noted, however, that we don't yet know if Krennic's characterization will be the same in [[Film/RogueOne the film]] itself. [[spoiler: He isn't; he's a SmugSnake at most]].

* OperationBlank: Galen is assigned to Project Celestial Power, a research initiative to harness the power of Kyber crystals to provide sustainable energy to impoverished worlds. [[spoiler:Or so he's told. The project's true purpose is to develop an energy source for the Death Star's superlaser.]] Other project names are mentioned, [[spoiler:all of them also cover names for various Death Star subsystems.]]

-->'''Krennic''': They doomed themselves by clinging to their outmoded traditions instead of embracing the science of the new age! [[JustThinkOfThePotential Think of the good THEY could have done if they had been willing to share their secrets]] instead of [[HeWhoFightsMonsters allowing themselves to be drawn to a war against their own principles]]. [[MortonsFork But they had no choice, once they saw their Order threated]] by [[Characters/StarWarsCountDooku one of their own]].
-->'''Lex Luthor''': Gods are selfish beings who fly around in little red capes... ...and don't share their power with mankind. No, I don't wanna be a god. I just wanna bring fire to the people. And I want my cut.

* TemptingFate: A rare positive example, though in the form of a dark miracle. When the Battle Droids have Galen and his family dead to rights during the Battle on Lokori, he shouts if there's no escape to this madness. Before they could fire a single shot, they are promptly deactivated as if the heavens heard his voice. Of course, readers familiar with the timeline of these events know that [[Film/RevengeOfTheSith it's because Darth Vader just finished slaughtering the Separatist leaders on Mustafar.]]

* TemptingFate: A rare positive example, though in the form of a dark miracle. When the Battle Droids have Galen and his family dead to rights during the Battle on Lokori, he shouts if there's no escape to this madness. Before they could fire a single shot, they are promptly deactivated as if the heavens heard his voice.

* GrandFinale: Meta example for James Luceno. As of Spring 2022, this is his final ''Star Wars'' novel.

* AdultFear: Lyra [[spoiler:begins to doubt Galen's fidelity to her. The two of them begin to argue, not helped by Galen keeping secrets from her (although not without reason). Eventually, they discover that Krennic is keeping them under surveillance, and are forced to flee their home in the dead of night. Krennic is hot on their heels]].

* DramaticIrony: Lyra believes the Battle Droids were shut down by a Lucrehulk-class Battleship being destroyed, thus saving Galen, Jyn, and herself. In reality, it was [[spoiler:Anakin, aka Darth Vader,]] who sent a shutdown message to all Lucrehulk-class Battleships after [[Film/RevengeoftheSith killing the Separtist Council on Mustafar]].

* KickTheDog: Much to Lyra Erso's horror, Director Krennic decides to destroy a Separatist-aligned city just because they were on the wrong side.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Part of what raises the Ersos' suspicions are the disappearances of two of Galen's former colleagues - heavily implied to the reader to have been eliminated on Krennic's orders. In one case, the scientist in question vanishes after an experiment based on Galen's research goes catastrophically wrong, in the second, the scientist disappears after [[spoiler:a successful test firing of a prototype superlaser.]] Both may also double as examples of HeKnowsTooMuch, as both characters are depicted asking Krennic pointed questions shortly before they vanish from the narrative - the first about Galen Erso's involvement with the project, the second about the ultimate application of their research.

* LightIsNotGood[=/=]ManInWhite: Krennic wears white, and isn't even a member of the Empire yet (since it hasn't formed, obviously).

'''''Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel''''' is a 2016 Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse novel by James Luceno (who previously wrote ''Literature/{{Tarkin}}'' in the same continuity, and wrote the Franchise/StarWarsLegends novel ''Literature/DarthPlagueis''), serving as a prologue and background to ''Film/RogueOne'', taking place several years prior during the Clone Wars.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness / YouHaveFailedMe: Part of what raises the Ersos' suspicions are the disappearances of two of Galen's former colleagues - heavily implied to the reader to have been eliminated on Krennic's orders. In one case, the scientist in question vanishes after an experiment based on Galen's research goes catastrophically wrong, in the second, the scientist disappears after [[spoiler:a successful test firing of a prototype superlaser.]] Both may also double as examples of HeKnowsTooMuch, as both characters are depicted asking Krennic pointed questions shortly before they vanish from the narrative - the first about Galen Erso's involvement with the project, the second about the ultimate application of their research.

* ActualPacifist[=/=]NeutralGood: Galen has absolutely no interest in the Clone War. He will provide his services to either side, but only for reasons not related to killing people.

* OutGambitted: Happen to Krennic twice, once by Poggle The Lesser, and the other time was with how the Ersos made their escape.
* PurpleProse: During his [[spoiler:imprisonment early in the novel]], Galen writes Lyra a letter. His writing shows off his impressive vocabulary.

* {{Expy}}: Krennic seems to be a pastiche of two prominent ''Star Wars'' villains: he has Thrawn's [[TheChessmaster planning abilities]] and Tarkin's [[MoralEventHorizon ruthlessness]]. Fittingly enough, the book is written by James Luceno, who also wrote the ''[[Literature/StarWarsTarkin Tarkin]]'' novel. It should be noted, however, that we don't yet know if Krennic's characterization will be the same in [[Film/RogueOne the film]] itself.

'''''Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel''''' is a 2016 Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse novel by James Luceno (who previously wrote ''Literature/{{Tarkin}}'' in the same continuity), serving as a prologue and background to ''Film/RogueOne'', taking place several years prior during the Clone Wars.

* BittersweetEnding: Believe it or not, closer to the sweet side. [[spoiler:The Ersos are on the run, with Krennic determined to find them. But they've delayed his research, and have escaped unharmed. They are already have a destination for their possible new home. However, we know they're only going to be able to hide for so long, and by the time of ''Rogue One'', Galen will have been a captive for over a decade, and Jyn on the run for just as long.]]

* ManipulativeBastard: Krennic is a social climber with the intent of getting old Palpatine's good side. He proves extremely adept at achieving this goal. [[spoiler:It overlaps with AwesomenessByAnalysis, as the novel reveals]].