This collection of novelizations of the original trilogy of the Star Wars franchise is based on film scripts that Alan Dean Foster (ghostwriting for George Lucas), Donald F. Glut, and James Kahn used to bring the films to the printed page. Ultimately only Glut’s treatment of The Empire Strikes Back is the best of the bunch as it was readable, and the characterizations were good. Unfortunately, Dean’s Star Wars and Kahn’s Return of the Jedi while each having one good thing to them were overwhelmed by either poor writing or horrible internalization of characters along with a myriad of other issues to go along side them. I would recommend watching the films over the reading this collection if you’re a general reader, but if you want to dip your toe into the novelizations go for The Empire Strikes Back.

Star Wars by George Lucas
The Empire Strikes Back by Donald F. Glut 3/5
Return of the Jedi by James Kahn 2/5 ( )

If you don't know about Star Wars

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

This particular edition contains all three original Canon/Saga stories (Episode IV, V, VI) and is what you pretty much expect if you've seen any of those movies.

For those who have not:
A New Hope follows a young man named Luke Skywalker on his adventures from his desert planet home through space and his eventual involvement in a rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Hero's journey, wise mentor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), smart-ass rogue (Han Solo) with an alien sidekick (Chewbacca), droids (R2-D2 & C3PO), space battles, a rescued princess (Leia).

The Empire Strikes Back finds the group on an ice planet when they're discovered and have to make a daring escape. Luke has a vision and must seek out an old Jedi Master on the planet Dagobah. At the same time, Han and crew detour to the planet Bespin and the mining platform of Han's old friend, Lando Calrissian. The Empire is in hot pursuit and the friends find themselves in a no-win situation against Sith Lord Darth Vader and the Bounty Hunter Boba Fett.

The Return of the Jedi sees Luke fully realizing his Jedi potential in daring rescues and an end-all battle against the Death Star over the forest planet of Endor. The stakes are higher than ever for the rebellion and the deep secret Darth Vader revealed to Luke on Bespin still haunts him.

As far as space operas go, this one is the EABA and set the bar for most modern (re: post-1977) space films prior to common use of CGI. It was a phenomenon unto itself. There are inspirations from samurai films, westerns, and other adventure movies as well. There's a hero's journey, coming of age, despair, survival, character growth and redemption, even a frenemies to lovers trope exists. This has many other great themes and motifs to study for film and fiction.

Recommended for readers as young as 5th grade. And I totally recommend watching the movies first.

**All thoughts and opinions are my own.** ( )

What a great read! The Star Wars trilogy novelization is written by three different authors (one for each movie) and all of them captured the space spirit perfectly. If you like Star Wars or movie novelizations in general, you should certainly check this out! ( )

Star Wars by George Lucas; The Empire Strikes Back by Donald F. Glut; Return of the Jedi by James Kahn. ( )

I'll probably have a longer review later but honestly there isn't much to write about here.

Have you seen episodes 4-6 of Star Wars? Well then you have also read these books. They are everything that was on the screen just written down. Only somehow boring and dry.

There is no life to the stories here, it is written like someone watched each movie and transcribed what he or she saw. There is no extra insight into the characters or their motivation or any extra descriptive flourishes to bring it to life in an entertaining way.

Plus there is no warning as you move between each viewpoint. You are with Luke and then suddenly Leia and the Han, etc. it's really off putting.

These books are not for everyone but they are sort of interesting.

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