Insmot Bowen

"The entire Rakatan civilization was built on such uses of the Force. And so as that civilization expanded, it needed the Force for fuel, fuel it obtained by finding planets rich in life and—"
"General, I really must object. We have strayed into discussions that are in poor taste. Not to mention ill-advised. They could be considered treasonous."
"I don't hear a threat to the New Order just yet, Admiral. Dr. Bowen is an academic, and as such we must allow him some leeway in discussing the mistakes and misapprehensions of the past."

―Insmot Bowen, Conan Antonio Motti, and Arhul Kurumenga^[1]

Doctor Insmot Bowen was a human male member of the Obroan Institute for Archaeology, who specialized in the history of the Pre-Republic era.

Biography[]

"Human history begins with our tenure as particularly useful Rakatan slaves, serving the greater glory of the Infinite Empire."

―Insmot Bowen^[1]

At some point prior to 1 BBY, Bowen joined the Obroan Institute for Archaeology. In 1 BBY, he met with several Imperials for a debriefing regarding Celestials and their technology. During the meeting, which was made up of Bowen, Admiral Conan Antonio Motti, Dr. Bevel Lemelisk, and General Arhul Kurumenga from the Imperial Department of Military Research, Bowen presented a theory that strange occurrences in the galaxy, including a barrier to the west of the Core Worlds, were remnants of Celestial technology dating back to the Rakatan revolt. Admiral Motti, a staunch non-believer in the supernatural, refused to believe him,^[2] and frequently mocked him throughout the debriefing.^[1]

Behind the scenes[]

Dr. Insmot Bowen was created for the original prologue of The Essential Guide to Warfare. However, the character was cut because Erich Schoeneweiss, the editor at Del Rey, felt that the prologue would not get people involved in the book, and that a firsthand account of a battle would be more appropriate. Jason Fry, one of the authors, begrudgingly complied, replacing Bowen's conversation with an account of the Battle of Andalia by Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik.^[2]

The character later appeared in the first part of the 12-part blog series Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Warfare Author's Cut, "The Celestials," on Star Wars Blog. He, alongside the entire segment, was vetted as canon within Star Wars Legends by Leland Chee.