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The Star Wars Trilogy: The 25th Anniversary
Edition by George Lucas, Donald F. Glut and James Kahn check out website: www.orbitbooks.co.uk
‘Star Wars’ written by George Lucas. It was his brainchild. His fantasy epic set in space to tell the tale of good versus evil in a space-set cowboy movie for everyone. It has borne a generation who loved the characters of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and the unforgettable droids, R2-D2 and C3PO.
‘Star Wars’ the book is everything you expect from Lucas. His writing is tight. There isn't a word or sentence that doesn't need to be there. No padding out or glorifying the story with long-word embellishments. In a way it is just like the film, Lucas has the perfectionist clean-cut method of writing. It is a very short book, you cannot say that the book actually expands on what we already know from the film. That said it doesn't really matter. One thing that struck me as interesting was the way that Lucas describes his creatures in the story. He uses animals that we know of in such a way it should seem out of place but it adds to the way we view the film and his imagination. The only diversion from the film interpretation, comes in the form of Luke rushing in to tell his friends on Tattooine that there is a fight going on in the space surrounding the hot desert planet. This actually informs us of how he knows one of the rebel alliance members when they set out to destroy the Death Star. ‘The Empire Strikes Back’, written based on ‘Star Wars’, by Donald F. Glut. He uses the same tightly controlled writing style that was efficiently used in the first installment of this trilogy. You come to realise that the book doesn't really expand on the film, much like ‘Star Wars’ doesn't. However, the book is captivating in its simplicity. You get a greater understanding of the lead and supporting characters' motivations in terms of reading their current emotions verbatim rather than by the looks on the actors' faces. ‘Return Of The Jedi’ by James Kahn. As with ‘Empire’, this book is based on ‘Star Wars’. His writing style is very different to the previous episodes. Using far more wit and adult humour the book seems quite contrary, refusing to succumb to the same over-serious at times, characters. His use of the English language seems to be far further than the predecessors to this one. It makes for refreshing reading. This episode unlike, again, its former counterparts actually expands on the overall story. Little pieces of information that expand not only in its own pages but the story of the first two films that we have only just been able to see. It is revealed that the Emperor is in fact Senator Palpatine. For me, as an avid movie-goer to the films, this book may seem at first sentimental but it shows new depths to the overall epic that is ‘Star Wars’. Overall, the three episodes written here and re-released for the twenty-fifth anniversary are entertainment in themselves. They aren't overtly cram packed with new revelations, such as Luke is actually dreaming the whole Jedi thing and actually owns a ranch in Texas...mmmmmm...where have we heard that? It also isn't the most diverse trilogy I have ever read. However, there are nods to films and books throughout and even I would say perhaps subconscious references to historical events of the last century. The fact of the matter is that this book, all three books in this version are unassuming. For the die-hard ‘Star Wars’ lot otherwise known as the Jedi on their census forms, this book is a must for their collection. Even if this collection doesn't include the original photos as the first editions did. If merely to represent a celebration of the anniversary. For anyone else who likes a bit of fantasy, intermingled with romance and Science Fiction then have a read, it entertains and costs less than the three books do separately! Donna Jones [Editor note: As the reviewer was too young to remember, it is sometimes posited that it would be have been tough for George Lucas to simultaneously direct and write a film. It's been speculated by a few fans that Alan Dean Foster might have ghosted the first ‘Star Wars’ film. If that was indeed the case it would have been nice for history to have been set straight in this volume.]
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OTHER REVIEWS - March 2003
Books A Song For Nero by Thomas Holt Star Trek: The Brave And The Bold Book One & Two by Keith RA DeCandido Nasty Snips edited by Christopher C Teague The Psychic Battleground by W. Adam Mendelbaum The Facts Of Life by Graham Joyce A Plague Of Angels by Sherri S Tepper The Star Wars Trilogy: The 25th Anniversary Edition by George Lucas, Donald F. Glut and James Kahn Empire Of Dreams And Miracles edited by Orson Scott Card and Keith Olexa Downs-Lord Doomsday by John Whitbourn A Fortress Of Grey Ice by JV Jones Deathstalker Legacy by Simon R. Green Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days by Alastair Reynolds Light Music by Kathleen Ann Goonan Smallville: Hauntings by Nancy Holder DVDs & Videos
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‘The
Star Wars Trilogy: 25th Anniversary Edition’. The first three parts
to the Jedi Epic that we were shown. The last three parts to the
overall story.
Brought
up on this set of three films by fanatical parents, I enjoyed the
re-release of the digitally-enhanced versions at the cinema. I realised
then how they must have felt watching the dogfights and the fantastic
screen presences.
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