Maul: Lockdown is a novel from the Star Wars Legends continuity, spotlighting the Sith Lord known as Darth Maul. The narrative unfolds one year prior to the events depicted in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, chronicling Maul's assignment to infiltrate the Cog Hive Seven space prison. His objective is to procure a nuclear bomb for his Sith Master, Darth Sidious. He is the main character in this story.
Joe Schreiber penned the novel, which Del Rey initially published in hardcover on January 28, 2014. It stands as the second-to-last Legends novel released before Lucasfilm Ltd. ceased the Legends storyline on April 25 of that same year. The paperback version was then made available on January 27, 2015.
Back cover
The Dark Side's might is at its peak when it's pushed into a corner.
Internal flap
Within the confines of a space penitentiary that holds the galaxy's most heinous criminals, survival is a constant struggle. Convicts engage in gladiatorial combat, providing entertainment and profits for an underworld gambling ring that thrives on the brutal spectacle. However, the newest participant in this violent arena, as menacing in appearance as he is lethal in combat, fights for a purpose beyond mere survival. His mission, dictated by the dark masters he serves, is to seize a powerful weapon: an artifact capable of annihilating the Jedi and achieving galactic domination.
Sith Lords Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious are both determined to acquire this prize, and one of them harbors treacherous intentions for its use. But first, their formidable apprentice must overcome a ruthless prison warden, a cannibalistic gang, the notorious crime lord Jabba the Hutt, and an unimaginable alien horror. Only Darth Maul, the feared dark-side disciple, possesses the ability to endure such a deadly trial and emerge victorious.
Darth Sidious sends Darth Maul to the prison world of Cog Hive Seven. His goal is to locate the elusive arms dealer known as Iram Radique. Disguised as a mercenary named Jagganath, Maul enters Cog Hive Seven, discovering that the prison hosts gladiatorial battles between inmates. As he searches for Iram Radique, Maul is compelled to participate in these deadly contests. As his search progresses, the true nature of his assignment becomes clear: he must contact Radique to purchase a nuclear weapon secretly constructed within Cog Hive Seven. The plan is to then sell this weapon to the Bando Gora, whom Radique despises.
During Maul's investigation, Sadiki Blirr, the warden of Cog Hive Seven, learns that Jabba Desilijic Tiure has infiltrated the prison with guards seeking Radique. Blirr promptly executes these guards, incurring Jabba's fury, who then dispatches a team to seize the prison barge known as the Purge. Jabba's team successfully hijacks the Purge and launches an assault on Cog Hive Seven, prompting Blirr to activate the prison's self-destruct mechanism. However, Blirr is ultimately killed by the Syrox, a creature residing within Cog Hive Seven that feeds on the consciousness of deceased inmates.
As Cog Hive Seven faces destruction, Maul, aided by fellow inmate Eogan Truax, attempts to escape with the nuclear device he acquired from Radique. However, Radique betrays them by refusing to disarm the bombs implanted in their hearts (a standard procedure for all Cog Hive Seven inmates upon entry). In retaliation, Eogan kills Radique just as the Bando Gora arrive. Maul engages in a brief skirmish with the Gora's leader, Komari Vosa, before they are confronted by the Syrox. Maul chooses to assist Vosa in defeating the Syrox to ensure the delivery of the nuclear device to the Bando Gora. Subsequently, Maul, Vosa, and Eogan escape the prison before its complete destruction.
On January 24, 2013, the novel was initially revealed on the website io9.com.
- ISBN 9780345509031 ; January 28 , 2014 ; Del Rey ; US hardcover [1]
- ISBN 9780345535665 ; January 28, 2014; Del Rey; US eBook [2]
- ISBN 9780345509048 ; January 27 , 2015 ; Del Rey; US paperback [3]