It looks like a distant reminiscence that individuals learn the novelization of a Star Wars film earlier than it hit theaters. In as we speak’s movie-making surroundings, notably for Star Wars and Marvel, the secrets and techniques of the manufacturing are held for dramatic reveals. Remarkably, the novelization of Star Wars (now known as Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope) was printed over six months earlier than the movie launched. Many within the viewers for Episode III: Revenge of the Sith had learn the guide, printed in early April 2005 earlier than the late-Could theatrical premiere, and knew how Anakin’s fall would unfold. Now the Revenge of the Sith novelization has been re-released as a Deluxe Version that features over 170 annotations from writer Matthew Stover.
So far as Star Wars books are involved, the Revenge of the Sith novelization is taken into account one in all finest, if not the most effective. The Deluxe Version features a beautiful black and crimson wrap-around cowl with Vader’s silhouette framing the climatic duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi as alluded to all these years earlier than within the first Star Wars film. The pages are highlighted by a crimson foil that holds the second most well-known line (based on the writer) from the guide: “That is the way it feels to be Anakin Skywalker. Endlessly…” The inside additionally contains some beautiful paintings and a brand new writer’s word particular to this version.
When you attended Celebration III in April 2025, you might need been fortunate sufficient to attend the guide panel with Matthew Stover. By that time, Stover already had cemented himself as a legend within the franchise together with his novels Traitor (2002) and Shatterpoint (2003). On the conference, Stover supplied insights into writing the novelization, explaining why he didn’t embody the Wookiee planet scenes within the guide and noting that one should know the principles of writing with the intention to break them to most impact.
Throughout the writer’s word and annotations within the Deluxe Version, Stover offers a masterclass on the principles that he is aware of, and when he selected to interrupt them. He discusses the conceits of style, storytelling ploys to evoke viewers engagement, shifting perspective, and a myriad of different parts at an writer’s disposal to extend the stakes because the story progresses. Notably, Stover actually understood the place he wanted to get out of the movie’s means (at occasions as a result of it wasn’t shot but) or fill within the gaps in Anakin’s journey.
Irrespective of what number of occasions you’ve seen the film, the Revenge of the Sith novelization is a guide value studying. The Deluxe Version is an impressive model of an iconic Star Wars novel. For anybody wanting to know extra about writing and be taught some fascinating particulars concerning the artistic course of of constructing Episode III, it is a guide value including to your assortment.
When you haven’t learn the guide earlier than, I like to recommend studying it as soon as with out the annotations, then return to the annotations afterward. There’s a move to Stover’s writing that’s virtually magical. You slip into Anakin’s fall. Take the trip uninterrupted earlier than indulging in Stover’s genius annotations that make clear the craftsmanship behind the phrases.
The Revenge of the Sith Deluxe Version is on the market now.
Tricia Barr’s novel, Wynde, received the 2014 Unbiased Writer E-book Award Gold Medal for Finest Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror Book. She was additionally a part of Silence within the Library’s profitable all-female creator science fiction and fantasy anthology Athena’s Daughters, which is on the market now. For excerpts and tales of her adventures in making a fictional universe, jump over to TriciaBarr.com.
