'Rogue One' Spoilers Abound In New 'Star Wars' Novel: Jyn Erso And Saw Gerrera's Relationship Goes Deeper Than You Think

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story prequel novel, Star Wars: Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel (sheesh) is out now and loaded with plot spoilers for the upcoming Rogue One. Some of the reveals in Catalyst will inform the plot of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Star Wars News Net has a comprehensive review, but there are several highlights worth teasing out for people who could give a bantha’s ass about reading some dumb tie-in novel.

The gist of Catalyst may be familiar, particularly if you’ve been paying close attention to Rogue One reveals. Catalyst is about the working relationship between Galen Erso and Orson Krennic, the former a pacificist scientist (and father of Rogue One lead Jyn Erso) and the latter a careerist Imperial looking to get ahead of his rival, Grand Moff Tarkin. Krennic imprisons Galen and Jyn’s mother, Lyra, forcing Galen to develop his kyber crystal (also to be found in lightsabers) energy tech that could provide the power necessary to power the Death Star’s destructive laser.

Some of the reveals are little more than trivia, like new planet names. That lush planet from the Rogue One trailers? That’s Lah’mu.

The most consequential bit is the role Saw Gerrera plays in freeing the Ersos from Orson Krennic’s grip (though Galen is eventually recaptured). Saw Gerrera, played by Forest Whitaker in Rogue One , is a lifelong freedom fighter, a guerrilla tactician who believes in the necessity of violence against the Empire. Part of the plot of Rogue One will involve tracking down and securing Gerrera for Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor’s (Diego Luna) mission to capture the Death Star plans.

But she’ll be reuniting with a father figure of sorts. Not only does he help free the Ersos from the Empire, but Catalyst hints that Saw Gerrera may have had a major role in raising Jyn Erso into the street rogue and renegade we’ll follow in Rogue One.

While Catalyst is loaded with all sorts of little details, the most important takeaway is just how much of the plot of Rogue One will involve Jyn Erso’s real and ad-hoc family. She truly is a child of the Rebellion.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is out in theaters on Dec. 16.