Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side [Vault Edition]

This arrived in perfect condition. It was placed in a shipping box and shipped that way. I've read reviews of others who say Amazon just shipped it in the box it comes with. I was absolutely ready to return it if that was the case, based on principle alone. But that didn't happen, so very happy about that. It's an amazing piece. And I'm thankful it got re-released. Works fine, no problems. The included batteries were dead when it arrived which scared me at first but replacing them was easy and it functioned properly, with sound/lights afterwards. The Holocron Vault takes two AA batteries. Mine works perfectly as it should. Just push the button on the front then it lights up, opens and out comes the book on a tray. Care is required as this is all mechanical and the gears are likely very fragile. It's sounds are kind of loud but the entire process only lasts about 10 seconds from a closed state to open. It looks most impressive, making a terrific conversation piece. The book is filled to the brim with interesting content. There's six sections of journal entries about various Sith Lords spanning many centuries. It's just overall very interesting to me and very well put together imho. There's little extras included between random pages of the book that are appreciated and add value to this. And it really makes you feel like you've got something historic and darkly powerful regarding the "knowledge" that it contains. Although that's just me letting my imagination run wild, obviously. But it's still really cool. Buy this now before it goes out of stock, because when that happens the 3rd party sellers will be the only ones offering it for ungodly prices. I'm talking upwards of $500. Ridiculous. I got it for $60. Which is a great price imo for what you're getting here. There's also (among five other vaults: Jedi Path, Bounty Hunters Code, Imperial Handbook, Rebel Files, Smugglers Guide) a Rebel Files Vault I'll likely be buying as well although it's slightly more expensive atm. I'm tempted to get the stand alone book (same book without the Holocron) because the cover of that one has the words and tribal design colored black. Which looks really nice, as opposed to the one that comes with this set that has a slightly deeper red for the words on the cover. David Wallace, the author of the book is a really nice guy, I've seen his comments on YouTube reviews of this and he seems to generally care about it. I think he did a fantastic job and look forward to more content from him. 5/5 stars. Totally worth owning. No regrets whatsoever with my purchase. Very pleased and highly recommend for any SW fan or those interested in Sith lore.

I also own the Jedi Path which was done similarly and with a cool case as well. This is the second in the series (I assume the last as well) and it's a cool counterpoint to the jedi path. It comes in an interesting pyramid shaped device (not sure what the significance of the shape is though...I am a huge nerd lol, but this one escapes me, but it looks cool) you push a button and the pyramid opens with star wars-ish sounds and music. Rather loud though lol. I had the same problem with Jedi Path, I had bought it for a friend for Christmas, but I wanted to check it out first (and I knew he was going to open it and display it) When I pushed the button on that one and it opened and made the noise/music I almost ruined the surprise lol. The book itself is very nicely done, it looks like bits and pieces of different book sources cobbled together, and much like Jedi Path it also includes random items inside the book that can be taken out. Me being a bit anal about my collectibles I wrote down in a notebook which pages the items belonged near, so if they fell out I could put them back where they belong. It seems pretty sturdy and the information contained in the book is an interesting read even if it's a bit scatter-brained (which is the theme of the book, that it had combined several different parts of books that were found and put into one volume)I noticed the Jedi Path came out with a standalone book, and while that is boring when you can get the nice deluxe edition, I will probably buy that so I can actually read it, and leave my collectible one alone. I hope they do that with the Sith book as well. For any Star Wars fan this is a must, especially if you like to collect the more interesting items that are available. As for whether or not you need it, I would say the book is a definite must have simply because it gives you more insight into the Sith Mythology hinted at in the movies, but you probably don't "need it" but when it comes to collecting and simply obsessing about Star Wars this is a very unique item and one that fanboys and fangirls will love, it's a definite conversation starter even among non-nerds (and I use the term affectionately as it's no longer uncool to be a nerd). I collect dvds so this will be something that I can put on the shelf and give my collection more character. So in this instance forget about whether or not you really need this and realise that you will really WANT this when you see it. I can't really say if this item is pricy or not, because after seeing it, I didn't feel cheated. Also I do not know the going rate for something like this. Besides it's Star Wars, and when you really love something, it's not really about the money but if it's something that's both cool and in some ways educational (the stories included are very well done). I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to collect or anyone who wants to be wowed. Trust me you will be.I really do not have any criticisms of this item, except maybe I would have liked maybe a little paper explaining why it's a pyramid shape unless it's simply the shape of a Sith Holocron (I am probably overthinking this) But do not overthink when considering purchasing it, just do it. Yoday was quoted as saying "Do or do not, there is no try" but I would change that to say "do or do it right now, there is no time to waste". Definitely worth five stars

I was not disappointed with this, not at all! Okay here's my review of everything The Book: The real reason your buying right? The book is amazing, its so detailed and the art is lovely! It gives you an inside look at different aspects of the Sith, and almost all of the material is new. The book was a little smaller than I expected about the size of a standard bible. If your a real Star Wars fan or just a huge Sith fan the book will make you very happy. The Little Extras: The ambulate, crystal, tapestry, and papers. Yes the ambulate and crystal are light but durable plastic but did you really expect them to be real? However, they look nice and they are good for display or play. The tapestry, it's a strip of thick cloth with red ink, its supposed to be frayed because the point was for it to be ripped from the original. Either leave it in the book or pin it up for display. And the papers, well they are paper. Shipping and Price: Okay I got mine for like $48.98 that is including shipping. Do I think it was a fair price for the product? YES! It was the perfect gift to myself. Now if I payed more than $70 I would be slightly sore but that's because of personal reasons nothing to do with the product. If you ask me its defiantly worth it! And finally The Case: After reading the reviews I worried about the case the book came in, however, when I got mine I couldn't see what everyone was complaining about... Its meant to be a Sith holocron, and to be honest its really cool. Its about 13 or inches long and about 8 inches high, its light-weight plastic so you do have to be somewhat gentle with it. It lights up and makes sounds, on mine I could hear the gears but the sounds overpowered it, the door opens smoothly not fast like in the official add but not super slow either. A lot of people complained that it made strange clicks and the door shuddered, mine didn't! these things are most likly due to bad shipping or mishandling, not the product it's self. Please do not pull on the door or sliding tray as it comes out nor try to force it closed this can really damage it. Wait for the book to come all the way out and the lights and sound to stop before removing the book and leave the door and tray open while you read it when done set the book back in and just tap the button. Let it open and close on its own PLEASE! If its doing strange things like in the other reviews the batteries could be low so change them if it still doesn't work then someone probably dropped your box as they were shipping it, I'm sorry. Overall this is worth it as a nice display and reading piece! I LOVE mine!

Like this book's predecessor, 'The Jedi Path', this book focuses on the history of the Star Wars universe. What truly separates this book from the previous Jedi version is how intensely personal each section is. Each of the six sections are written by different Sith Lords, and each has a distinct voice in the text. Each section is also enjoyable (kinda) to read, revealing what I can only describe as a semi-perverse form of enlightenment fueled by emotion and ambition. What the reader will walk away with is very similar to the Jedi version, a true sense of what MOTIVATES the Sith characters, as well as a clear sense of their weaknesses and flaws. This book also has several removable 'artifacts' related to the different sections of the book, each of which adds to the reader's experience. The penned comments throughout the text also add a sense of time and an air of philosophy. The comments from Quinlan Vos and Mace Windu are VERY interesting, as both were 'grey' Jedi who incorporated emotions into their training via Sith-like methods. I would LOVE to see another historical book like 'Jedi Path' or 'Book of Sith' that would focus on Windu/Vos, and their philosophies/thoughts in the form a journal or something. Overall, this is an excellent book, and like it's predecessor, is massed produced, so I wouldn't call it 'collectible'. It is however, an insightful and fun trip into the Star Wars universe, and I definitely recommend it to any serious sci-fi fan. Finally, I'll comment briefly on the 'Vault' case that this edition comes in. It's plastic, and feels a bit cheap, there's no two ways about it. It's also a little noisy, as the sound effects don't cover up the motor as well as in the Jedi 'vault' version. That said, I haven't had any malfunctions yet, and it does work just like it's supposed to, but I find myself saying,'Lucas, you could have done better'. The 'vault' case is the ONLY reason I gave this a 4 star and not 5, but it's really not that big a deal, and again, I recommend this product to any Star Wars fan!

I was originally only looking for the Jedi Path as a gift for my boyfriend, but as soon as I saw there was a Book of Sith in the shape of a holocron, I was sold! I had to have it. And I couldn't be happier with it. First of all, the look of it is really fantastic. It was much bigger than I anticipated, which was a total plus. It's very durable, but don't go playing football with it (obviously). I had seen some reviews where other buyers were having issues with the opening and closing mechanism, but I haven't experienced this at all. Then again, I'm not the type to sit there and continuously open and close the thing just for giggles. The motion is very smooth and the fluidity of the book extending out is very impressive. The book itself is a really good read. I read it over the course of a couple days at my work desk and I even found myself writing down a few things! All the goodies inside the book are interesting as well and a nice touch. The holocron also contains a red crystal shard (used for lightsabers, those not familiar with Star Wars lore) and a compass, both of which I can't figure out how to get out of the thing, and I don't think are supposed to come out. I have seen a few people who have finagled them out, but I personally wouldn't try it. The sound effects are really spot on, albeit loud, but it doesn't completely ruin it. I enjoyed the nice touch. Overall, a great product, fantastic gift, and superb Star Wars collectible!

How does one justify the right to own such knowledge? Does any one truly understand the power hidden within? Shortly after Ben turned from Jedi Master Skywalker’s teachings and sought out the Dark Side of the Force I met him at the Temple of the Ancients on Lehon. The Dark Side was called to fill the void Lord Vader left vacant I answered and so did Ben. Ben, who had taken on the name Kylo was on a quest to retrieve the artifacts lost in the downfall of the Empire, he believed by collecting them he would discover the true power of the Dark Side. I on the other hand was on a different path. I remembered Darth Bane, the truth and the power is in the ancient texts and the Holocrons left by those before us. As Darth aBane learned from Darth Revan I would learn from the ancient texts as well. Kylo found failure in his pursuit; I will be the one who ushers the Dark Side in to the 21st Century. I received my Holocron Vault and opened the box? It was protected by a clear film, which I delicately removed with Force Lightning. I could feel the Force emanating from this artifact I could feel it pulling me closer. I activated the release with caution, as I had no understanding of its full capabilities. When the air lock broke, a bright light blinded me and I was thrown back. I gathered myself and calmed the Force within me and moved forward. I looked at it and questioned, “Am I worthy to have this knowledge?” I reminded myself that no one is more deserving then I; I am the future of the Dark Side. Now that I have the knowledge I will rule the Galaxy. For those of you that are looking to buy this item know that all others are counterfeits and do not contain the true scripts written by the Dark Lords of the past. I have the original and I alone posses the knowledge to harness the full power of the Dark Side of the Force. Enjoy your comic book bulls***.

The plastic holocron, sound effects, and cheap red LED lighting really arekind of cheezy as are the plastic amulet and crystal inside. But that's what makes this thing so fun. It doesn't awe people, it amuses them. I had it delivered to my office and it has been an instant hit. No wonder holocrons get lost - mine is off somewhere in the building being shown off to someone. Maybe it's just where I work, but people love walking around and pushing the activation button. On the not so good side, I had to take the knick-knacks out from between the pages because otherwise the book didn't reliably scootch back into the holocron. The cover would hit one of the LED lights and then it sounded like gears grinding or slipping. As for the book - it has been superbly reviewed elsewhere so I'll be brief. There isn't a whole lot of new material but it is a whole new narrative. It covers Sith lore from exile to just after Sideous. Lot's of pictures, lots of little knick-knacks stuffed in the pages. pieces of cloth, maps, oddly folded paper. Kinda cool. More about the book - it is just plain neat. The leathery cover, the thick pages, different contributors using different fonts. It's yet another thing that just makes me smile. I also really like the way it gives such a nice historical overview all tied together in an incredibly quick read.

These books and cases are pretty much the coolest thing I have ever seen! I bought one of each style, first this one and also; The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force [Vault Edition ] and The Bounty Hunter Code: From the Files of Boba Fett . I bought one for three boys( One is an oversized boy). This one was for my 16-year-old son. The box that it is packaged is nice (worth saving). The Holocron case itself it HUGE! All Shiny black and red. It is I would say guessing about 10 inches, maybe 12 square at the base. When you push the button, the front of the pyramid pops open and lifts up as the red lights flash and the sound of lightsabers powering on plays. As the lid opens a tray containing the "Book of the Sith" slides out. Really awesome! My son thought it was just the best gift ever. Yeah we are all Starwars fans! On the inside tray where the book is is the Sith Crystal (it does come out). The book is pretty cool , stuck between the pages are artifacts of the sith, maps and compass like item. My son has already read the book at least 4 or five times. The book it written as a SITH with footnotes and handwritten notes in the magins, It is as if you are reading the private thoughts of past Sith lords. So if you have or know a Starwars fan and you want to give them a gift they will LOVE you for .... These vault editions are it!

Erst war ich skeptisch: eine Sith Pyramide ( elektronisch ), die wie ein Sith - Hologram aussieht; Sith-Artefakte ( Amullette, roter Kristall fürs Lichtschwert, Schlachtplan vom Imperator, Sith-Stoff ... )!!! Dazu Töne / Geräusche, Lichteffekte .... Ist dann nun albern oder kindisch? NEIN : ich war absolut fasziniert u. begeistert!!! Viel, viel Liebe zum Detail, durchdacht und vollkommen ernstzunehmend. Nichts da mit Spielzeug! Obwohl nicht gerade billig, ist es zu 100% das Geld wert; natürlich für einen Star Wars Fan und / oder Sammler. Das Buch selber ist eines der interessanten Bücher die ich habe. Da hat sich jemand aber richtig Mühe gegeben. Allein schon die Zeichnungen sind einzigartig. Das Buch ist auf englisch, wobei ein wenig Schulenglisch nicht reicht. Da ich 4 Jahre in den USA gelebt habe, hatte ich keine Probleme. Jetzt gibt es ja das Buch ( ohne die Pyramide ) seit einigen Tagen auch auf deutsch! So etwas ähnliches gibt es für die Liebhaber der weissen Macht, also Jedi, auch. Ebenfalls elektronisch, auch interessant, aber lange nicht so faszinierend wie diese Pyramide!!! Das Niedergeschriebene ist genial; kann man ganz schlecht erklären. Wer nur wenige Englischkenntnisse hat, sollte sich beides holen, um auch alles zu begreifen. Das einzelne deutsche Buch ist nicht allzu teuer. Fazit: wer ein wirklicher Fan und Sammler ist, MUSS diesen Sith-Artikel haben!! Ohne Frage! Ich gebe selten 5 volle Sterne, aber hier 6!!!!!

This is an excellent product to be sure, an item that no self-respecting Star Wars fan would want to be without, but there are facts which I feel needed to be addressed before you part with your hard-earned cash. At the time of publishing the item cost an incredible £63.86 but was subsequently offered at Amazon for a little over sixteen pounds less than the recommended price (at the time of writing), but what exactly do you can you expect for your money? First and foremost, the item is a novelty item and is designed to resemble a large Jedi Holocron (or more properly the ones used by the Sith Lords). It makes a nice display item for a coffee table or personal shrine. The shell is composed of black and clear red plastic under which are located LED's which light it appropriately. At the touch of a concealed button the Holocron automatically disgorges a motorized tray and with considerable fanfare and suitable sound effects produces the products main selling point, a copy of The book of Sith ... containing knowledge that is all that remains of the once great ancient libraries which at one time were compiled by generations of Sith ... all of whom fell to other Sith for the strong prey upon the weak, whom are seen as unworthy of the Sith's gifts. Within the book are scraps related to the Sith, including a small A4 sized 'poster' promotion for the new Galactic Empire, Senator Palpatine's plans for the assault and subsequent taking of the Jedi Temple, a folded fragment of a Sith burial shroud, a battle map from the Great Galactic War and a note from Jedi Master Luke Skywalker commenting on the content of the book. Embedded within the holocron's tray and beneath the actual book is a (plastic) Sith lightsabre crystal and an opening Nightsister talisman, both of which can be removed for examination. In addition the box contains an instructions sheet for the use of the Holocron item. Please note, it arrives with suitable batteries installed. The book itself has 160 pages, simulated to resemble fragmentary documents form times past, heavily annotated with comments from past Jedi and Sith Masters. Close examination of the material within slowly reveals some of the clues underlying the Sith practices and beliefs and gives the reader a chance to see how the Dark Side warriors think and what motivates their actions. The Book of Sith was written by noted author Daniel Wallace, who previously authored The Jedi Path. It is a recognized part of the Star Wars universe, is considered canon and is fully authorized by Lucasfilm. If you are considering this as a toy for your child my advice is DON'T. It is definitely not a toy and is unlikely to survive being ''played with''. It is however a collectors item, much like it's counterpart was, but make no mistake, the book contained within is an excellent well-made product which you will want to keep as it can only increase in value as time goes by. J. Bluestone

Après l'édition collector de "The Jedi Path" The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force Vault Edition j'attendais avec impatience la version Sith ! Et je ne suis pas déçu. Les effets sonores et lumineux sont au top, les petits objets bonus (cristal de sabre, médaillon Sith...) sont très bien réalisés et le must du must c'est quand même le livre sans copyright dessus !!! Il n'y a pas marqué en gros "Star Wars" ni le nom de l'éditeur ce qui le rend authentique. Une très belle réalisation pour les fans ! Vivement la sortie française...

da abbinare all'altro volume "The Jedi Path" questo ha un indubbio fascino malvagio vista la sua connotaizone dark side. E' arricchito da alcuni gadgets ma la vera chicca è il meccanismo di apertura con luci e suoni che lo rende molto suggestivo. Sono tentato di metterlo sulla scrivania dell'ufficio e usarlo come porta agenda...

The pictures & discription do not do it justice! Bigger & better than I could have imagined! Well worth the price. If you're a fan of Star Wars, you'll want this collectible!