Product Description

Based on the screenplay of the movie, Star Wars: Episode III, the novel brings the epic full circle, revealing at last just how the young Jedi, Anakin Skywalker, became the most evil villain in the galaxy, Darth Vader, and father to Luke and Leia.  When the novel opens, the Clone Wars are still in full cry, and numerous Jedi have already been lost.  Anakin is struggling with his dual life:  Jedi Knight and husband (in secret) to Padme Amidala.  The time is drawing near for the machiavellian Darth Sidious--the Sith Lord determined to wrest control of the galaxy from the Republic--to draw tight the noose he has been creating around Anakin Skywalker...and create a new Sith Lord with unmatched dark-side Force powers...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #143937 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Synopsis
Based on the screenplay of the movie, "Star Wars: Episode III", the novel brings the epic full circle, revealing at last just how the young Jedi, Anakin Skywalker, became the most evil villain in the galaxy, Darth Vader, and father to Luke and Leia. When the novel opens, the Clone Wars are still in full cry, and numerous Jedi have already been lost. Anakin is struggling with his dual life: Jedi Knight and husband (in secret) to Padme Amidala. The time is drawing near for the machiavellian Darth Sidious - the Sith Lord determined to wrest control of the galaxy from the Republic - to draw tight the noose he has been creating around Anakin Skywalker...and create a new Sith Lord with unmatched dark-side Force powers...

From the Publisher
The novel based on Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, the movie that brings the Star Wars epic full circle--to the creation of Darth Vader and the birth of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa. A must-read for every fan of the Star Wars movies.

About the Author
Matthew Stover:
Matt Stover is the author of five previous novels, including STAR WARS: SHATTERPOINT: A CLONE WARS NOVEL, STAR WARS: THE NEW JEDI ORDER: TRAITOR, and HEROES DIE and THE BLADE OF TYSHALLE. He is an expert in several martial arts. Mr. Stover lives outside Chicago.

Customer Reviews

very good adaptation
This is a very good adaptation of George Lucas' film.In some places this is better than the movie, but it still has the excititement of the openining space battle, the friendship between Anakin and Obi-wan and ultimately the hammer blow of order 66 and Anakin's tragic fall to the dark side.The only bad thing I would say is that some of the chapters are way too long.All things considered it's a very good take on Lucas' movie.

More Insight...
If you want the CGI FX, the duels and the money shots then obviously buy the DVD - Great film, easily the best of the prequels, maybe even my overall favourite!

Where the book scores points is that as well as vividly depicting the many action setpieces and the deaths of several major characters, it also offers WAY more insight into the relationships between several key characters, really focusing on their innermost thoughts & desires.

The key examples here are Anakin/Vader & Palpatine/Sidious; the scene where Anakin is finally turned to the Dark Side under the influence of the (soon to be Emperor) Palpatine is better than the film - on screen Anakin seemed to switch sides a little too readily, in the novel it's a more drawn out & complex process - and better for it!
Also Palpatine/Sidious & Count Dooku/Tyrannus; in the movie, apart from that one expression on Dooku's face as Palpatine instructs Anakin to decapitate the now defenceless & maimed Sith Lord, it's never explicitly clear that Dooku was fully aware of Chancellor Palpatine's true identity & therefore a fully clued-up participant in Darth Sidious's lethal deception.
The novel offers literally chapter & verse more on Dooku's character & his relationship with Sidious. He knew only too well who Palpatine really was - and Dooku's views on all non human species are clearly revealed as ultra fascist & hardcore right wing.
However, even Dooku is deceived as he foolishly believed that Skywalker was to become HIS apprentice, never realising that he was only the bait to ensnare the forthcoming Empire's deadliest weapon....

A damn good read, very maturely written & even darker than the movie in parts.

Terrific work
As good a book as could be expected, Stover's novelization of the last "Star Wars" film develops the script and better realizes the characters and the story.

He splits the tale into sections that philosophize (appropriately) about matters of light and dark. Anakin Skywalker's tragic journey is placed in a much more epic perspective, as is that of other characters including Bail Antilles, Padme and most notably Count Dooku.

For a four-hundred plus page length it's an astonishingly quick and addictive read (I got through it in one night) and Stover chronicles the movie's big events well, notably Mace Windu's betrayal and death, Palpatine declaring himself Emperor and the Sidious/Yoda battle in the Senate.

Fantastic stuff and (as with the best "Star Wars") left me wanting more. Recommended.