In 2025, grappling with our mortality becomes unavoidable as we realize that "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" has turned 20 years old. Yet, amidst this realization, there's a silver lining: the film is set to return to theaters in May as part of Lucasfilm's anniversary celebration. Adding to the excitement, Matthew Stover's critically acclaimed novelization of "Revenge of the Sith" is also being re-released for its 20th anniversary, and you can pre-order it on Amazon.
As revealed by Collider, "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" will be available in a new Deluxe Edition hardcover, scheduled for release in October. This edition boasts new cover art, red foil edge pages, and a removable acetate jacket. Moreover, it includes over 170 new annotations by Stover, adding depth and insight to the narrative.
Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World, expressed his enthusiasm: "We couldn’t be more excited to publish this incredible deluxe edition of the Revenge of the Sith novelization. It has been thrilling to work with author Matthew Stover and Lucasfilm to create a fully annotated edition that gives readers unprecedented insight into the creation of this masterpiece. Across nearly 50 years of Star Wars books, it stands alone, and even among film novelizations, its approach to adapting characters and story from screen to page is unique. Two decades later, this novelization is as essential, enduring, and influential – on readers and creators – as it has ever been. Bringing the book back to hardcover in a stunning deluxe keepsake edition is a perfect way to celebrate 20 years of Revenge of the Sith."
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Episode III - Deluxe Edition (Hardcover)
Priced at $60.00, the Deluxe Edition is available for pre-order on Amazon. For those who have yet to experience Stover's "Revenge of the Sith" novelization, it's widely regarded as one of the best Star Wars novels, often considered superior to the film itself. While it follows George Lucas' screenplay, the book significantly enhances scenes and subplots, offering a deeper dive into the minds of characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. A unique feature is its use of second-person narration, setting it apart stylistically from other Star Wars literature. Consider the following passage, which presents a profound take on Anakin's tragic transformation into Darth Vader:
*And you rage and scream and reach through the Force to crush the shadow who has destroyed you, but you are so far less now than what you were, you are more than half machine, you are like a painter gone blind, a composer gone deaf, you can remember where the power was but the power you can touch is only a memory, and so with all your world-destroying fury it is only droids around you that implode, and equipment, and the table on which you were strapped shatters, and in the end, you cannot touch the shadow. In the end you don't even want to. In the end, you do not even want to. In the end, the shadow is all you have left. Because the shadow understands you, the shadow forgives you, the shadow gathers you unto itself—And within your furnace heart, you burn in your own flame.*
In contrast, the film offers a more straightforward portrayal of the scene:
This comparison underscores the value of exploring the novelization, which can enrich one's appreciation of the story.
The "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" novelization is currently available in paperback and audiobook formats, with the Deluxe Edition hardcover set to release on October 14. Pre-orders are open on Amazon.
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