The Dark Side Compendium was conceived as the definitive and comprehensive resource addressing every facet of the dark side of the Force. Palpatine initiated this project shortly after his ascension to the role of Emperor, envisioning the Compendium as a vast collection spanning hundreds of volumes, fueled by his ambition to achieve immortality. However, by the time of his initial demise during the Battle of Endor, only two volumes were completed, with a third remaining in a near-finished manuscript state. Post-resurrection, he seemingly did not continue writing new volumes, nor did he finalize the almost-complete third volume. Certain concepts that found their way into the three volumes were also incorporated into his Dark Side treatise, Absolute Power, which additionally featured two other works, The False War and The Useful Bureaucrats, focusing on political manipulation and finalized between 19 and 18 BBY.
Palpatine granted select, high-ranking subordinates limited access to the work for study purposes, but this access was strictly monitored. Jerec, a former Jedi Master who had fallen to the dark side and served as an Imperial High Inquisitor, was permitted to peruse the Compendium. From its contents, he conceived the notion of forming a cadre of seven Dark Jedi entirely subservient to his will. When Palpatine grew suspicious of Jerec's burgeoning ambitions, he revoked Jerec's authorization to access the Compendium.
The titles of the three volumes are as follows: