In 2025, reflecting on one's mortality might come hand-in-hand with the realization that *Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith* has reached its 20th anniversary. But fear not, fans, as this milestone is being celebrated with the film returning to theaters in May, courtesy of Lucasfilm. Adding to the excitement, Matthew Stover's critically acclaimed novelization of *Revenge of the Sith* is also getting a special 20th anniversary rerelease, available for preorder on Amazon.
As reported by Collider, a Deluxe Edition hardcover of the *Revenge of the Sith* novelization will hit the shelves in October. This edition boasts new cover art, red foil-edged pages, a removable acetate jacket, and over 170 new annotations by Stover himself, enhancing the reading experience.
Image Credit: Lucasfilm/Penguin Random House
Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World, expressed enthusiasm about the project, saying, "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."
Out October 14
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Episode III - Deluxe Edition (Hardcover)
Priced at $60.00 on Amazon, this Deluxe Edition is a must-have for fans. For those yet to experience Stover's take on the *Revenge of the Sith* story, the novelization is often praised as one of the finest Star Wars books, even surpassing the film in many aspects. While it adheres to George Lucas' screenplay, Stover's version enriches many scenes and delves deeper into the psyches of key characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. The book's use of second-person narration distinguishes it from other Star Wars novels, offering a unique perspective 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.*
This passage contrasts sharply with the film's portrayal of the same scene, underscoring the value of exploring the story through Stover's literary lens.
Currently, the *Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith* novelization is available in paperback and audiobook formats, with the Deluxe Edition hardcover set for release on October 14. Preorders are open on Amazon.
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