Dr. Chris Kempshall Explains His ‘Star Wars’ Beginnings And What His Future Book Will Bring

Star Wars

Mar 6

Palpatine at the beginning of his rise to power — Image Source: Popverse

Historian and author, Dr. Chris Kempshall, sat down with Alex Damon of StarWarsExplained to talk about his beginnings with Star Wars, especially his popular novel, The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, and to give fans a glimpse of what to expect in his upcoming release.

Dr. Kempshall explained that the philosophy behind The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire served three specific purposes: to demystify Palpatine, to portray the Empire as a collective bearing responsibility equal to, or possibly greater than, Palpatine himself, and to show how the Empire used the law to weaponize unpredictability to the detriment of marginalized groups.

Kempshall chose Beaumont Kin to be the historian because of his role in The Rise of Skywalker. His role furthered the development of the previously introduced character as canon, while also increasing the credibility factor, as this character provided the experience and academic voice needed to tell a specific story. Additionally, Kempshall discussed the emotional weight carried by Kin, who was treated like a true historian, with all the trauma of discovery and the methodology involved in learning to cope with such findings.

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Dr. Kempshall described his approach to writing the fictional historical nonfiction piece through a historian's perspective, utilizing archival data and multiple sources to tell the narrative from a fresh perspective. One inspiration he discusses in more detail is Tony Gilroy’s expert storytelling in Andor.

The antidote to tyranny, according to The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, lies in community as resistance. The interview highlights a quote from the novel, “Cooperation, collaboration, and shared empathy are the antidote to a system designed to destroy and constrict.” Dr. Kemspshall argues that the Empire wins through isolation. When people feel alone, they are at their most vulnerable. However, sharing even the smallest act of humanity has a cumulative effect, including paving the way to bring down a regime.

Regarding Dr. Kempshall’s upcoming novel, he shared the premise, title, and anticipated release. Like his previous work, this is a non-fiction "in-universe" book. The main narrator is the legendary pilot Wedge Antilles, writing from a perspective set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. The book features a collection of voices and reflections from various Rebel and Imperial pilots, exploring their experiences flying during the Galactic Civil War.

Dr. Chris Kempshall’s novel, Star Wars: Star Pilots, is scheduled for release in October 2026. Check out his full interview below!