Reddit mentions of Path of Destruction: A Novel of the Old Republic (Star Wars: Darth Bane)

I enjoyed the Darth Bane novels set millennia before the Star Wars trilogy.

You should try out some of the comic books if that's what floats your boat. My recommendations:

• I really enjoyed the Tales of the Jedi series set 4000 years before the trilogy (even though most were written by 'he who must not be named')
  
• I loved the Star Wars Legacy series set a couple of generations after the trilogy.
  
• There was also an interesting alternate history (if that's what you would call it) type series called infinities changing a major event in each of the 3 films e.g. Luke missing at the end of 'A New Hope'.

Neither book is going to win a Hugo Award, but I enjoyed them. They're not particularly literary or thought provoking, they're just engaging sci-fi books. Their real purpose was to give Mass Effect 1 fans something to keep them interested until Mass Effect 2 came out. ME: Revelation filled in the back story of Capt. Anderson's bad blood with Saren, explains why Anderson never became a spectre, and ends with Saren meeting Sovereign (it's a prequel, I'm not giving anything away). ME: Ascension introduced you to Cerberus and The Illusive Man.

If you're going to read one Drew Karpyshyn novel, read Darth Bane: Path of Destruction. If you're a Star Wars fan, it kicks ass. In the Star Wars mythology, the Sith used to be a large order like the Jedi. In the movies, the Sith consist of one master and one apprentice. This novel describes that transition.

Great idea, it's similar to Darth Bane's rise to power in the Star Wars universe. You need to check this out before you start writing, as it may give you some ideas.

http://www.amazon.com/Path-Destruction-Novel-Republic-Darth/dp/0345477367

Drew K. is an awesome writer by the way.