Star Wars Novels

#### November 12, 1976: Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker

***Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker*** is the original title of the novelisation of the 1977 film Star Wars. Credited to George Lucas, but ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster, it was first published by Ballantine Books, six months before the theatrical release of the film. In later years, it was republished under the title Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope to reflect the retroactive addition of episodic subtitles to the theatrical film titles.

The book was written by Foster and based upon Lucas's original screenplay for the first Star Wars film. Foster not only adapted the film's events, but also fleshed out the backstory of time, place, physics, planets, races, languages, history and technology. When asked if it was difficult for him to see Lucas get all the credit for the novelisation, Foster said, "Not at all. It was George's story idea. I was merely expanding upon it. Not having my name on the cover didn't bother me in the least. It would be akin to a contractor demanding to have his name on a Frank Lloyd Wright house." Lucas, for his part, has always been open about the fact that Foster ghost-wrote the novel, noting this fact in his introduction to later editions of the book.

The cover art was by Star Wars conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie, who was commissioned by Ballantine Books while he was working on visualisation work for Lucas's forthcoming film. The cover depicted Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 standing in front of an enlarged head of Darth Vader. In the United Kingdom, the novelisation was published by Sphere Books, and featured cover art by John Berkey (right). Sphere reportedly paid $225,000 for the British publishing rights.

The words that open each Star Wars film, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ..." are absent from this novelisation, substituted by the similar, "Another galaxy, another time ..."

The novelisation bears a major difference in the form of a prologue explaining the backstory behind the film's events. It is presented as an entry of the Journal of the Whills. This prologue contains the first-ever reference to the Emperor's true name, Palpatine. George Lucas had not fully developed the character at this point in time, allowing Alan Dean Foster to expand upon the Emperor as he saw fit. Lucas' conception of the character continued to evolve, until he eventually determined that Palpatine was Darth Vader's master and the true personification of evil in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Several other portions of the novel deviate from the film, including scenes that were filmed but not inserted into the final cut of the movie. Most notable of these are scenes with Luke Skywalker and his friends at Tosche Station on Tatooine. Also included is the scene with Jabba that was re-inserted into the Special Edition of the film; however, in this novelisation he is written as a fat biped with an ugly, "shaggy skull" and "jowels" that shake with his head, and he has scars that are a sign of his ferocious reputation in combat. This differs both from the script's version of Jabba (which is described as a creature with "eyes on stalks"), and the version that finally appeared in Return of the Jedi, a giant slug with no ability to partake in combat.

The death of Obi-Wan Kenobi is also different in the book, in that Darth Vader succeeds in defeating him during their lightsaber duel, while in the film Obi-Wan allows Vader to strike him down, in order to provide Luke and the others a diversion to escape the Death Star.

#### March 1, 1978: Splinter of the Mind's Eye

***Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind's Eye*** is a science fiction novel written by Alan Dean Foster. It takes place between A New Hope and its sequel The Empire Strikes Back. It was the first original full-length Star Wars novel to be published after the release of the original Star Wars film.

The novel's principal characters are Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Darth Vader. The characters of Han Solo and Chewbacca do not appear, and Solo is only referred to by Luke Skywalker as "a pirate and a smuggler" whom he knows at the end of the book. The book was originally written to be filmed as a low-budget sequel to Star Wars if the original film was not a success.

Though Foster was granted a great deal of leeway in developing the story, a key requirement was that many of the props from the previous production could be reused when shooting the new film. Foster's decision to place his story on a misty jungle planet was also intended to reduce set and background costs for a film adaptation. According to Foster, Lucas's only request upon inspecting the manuscript was the removal of a space dogfight undertaken by Luke and Leia before crash-landing on Mimban, which would have been effects-heavy and expensive to film.

The eponymous "Mind's Eye" of the story is a MacGuffin called the Kaiburr crystal. This was based on the "Kiber" crystal, a Force-amplifying talisman that was included in early drafts of the Star Wars story, but later eliminated by Lucas in favour of making the Force a more ethereal power.

By the time the novel was published, Star Wars had broken records in box office receipts, and the film adaptation of Splinter of the Mind's Eye was abandoned in favour of Lucas' vision of a big budget sequel.

#### April 12, 1980: The Empire Strikes Back

***The Empire Strikes Back*** is a science fiction novel written by Donald F. Glut based on the script of the film of the same name. The novel, like the film, introduces new characters, most notably Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett (though Fett was technically introduced in the earlier, low-canon Star Wars Holiday Special).

Glut's novelisation was originally released in two forms; a standard edition and a special Young Readers Edition that was condensed into 150 pages. Initial printings of both versions contained 8 pages of colour photographs in the middle of the book.

Differences between the film and the book include:

* Yoda has blue skin in the novel, while in all other appearances his skin is greenish.
* Luke Skywalker's training with Yoda is given more detail than in the film.
* The Battle of Hoth is extended somewhat, such as when General Veers' AT-AT is destroyed by a Snowspeeder shortly after blowing up the Rebels' shield generator.
* When Luke is attacked by Stormtroopers in Cloud City, he returns fire with his blaster, unlike in the film, where he doesn't fire a single shot.

#### May 12, 1983: Return of the Jedi

***Return of the Jedi*** is a science fiction novel, written by James Kahn and is based on the script of the film of the same name. According to Publishers Weekly, it was the bestselling novel of that year.

Differences between the film and the book include:

* When Leia is captured by Jabba, instead of him saying, "I'm sure," to her warning of her powerful friends, he says, "I'm sure, but in the meantime, I shall thoroughly enjoy the pleasure of your company." Additionally, instead of simply licking his lips as seen in the movie, he is described as planting "a beastly kiss squarely on the Princess's lips".
* C-3PO's story alone does not convince the Ewoks to help the Rebels. Han attempts to persuade them by telling them the Empire is draining Endor's resources, but also fails. It is ultimately the Ewok Wicket who convinces the tribal elders to help the Rebels. C-3PO is also described as having a "wobbly, amazed smile" after being levitated by Luke to impress the Ewoks, which is inconsistent with the series' depiction of the droid's immotile face.

* The battle in space above Endor is given an expanded treatment. The text describes a much larger Rebel fleet than what is seen on film.

* Moff Jerjerrod, acting on orders given to him by Emperor Palpatine, orders the Death Star to turn and fire on the Sanctuary Moon of Endor, but is killed when the Death Star's reactor is destroyed before the station can complete its final task.

### 1996: Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire is a multimedia project created by Lucasfilm Ltd. in 1996. The original idea was to create a story set between the films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (a time no Star Wars novel had explored before), and to explore all commercial possibilities of a full motion picture release, without actually making the film. The venture paved the way for the theatrical release of the Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition in the following year, and the later releases of the prequel trilogy.

The main plotline is told in Steve Perry's novel, ***Shadows of the Empire***, published by Bantam Books. It introduces Prince Xizor, the alien overlord of the largest criminal organisation in the galaxy. His goal is to take Darth Vader's place at Emperor Palpatine's side. The novel also resumes the storylines of the usual characters. Han Solo is still frozen in carbonite, being taken to the gangster Jabba the Hutt by the bounty hunter Boba Fett. It shows Princess Leia's secret search for Boba Fett, the construction of Luke Skywalker's new lightsaber and Darth Vader's search for his son. It introduces a new character to the saga, Dash Rendar, a Han Solo-type smuggler, who acts primarily as a replacement for Han Solo and as a part of the action sequences.

### The Han Solo Adventures

***The Han Solo Adventures***, written by Brian Daley, are a loosely connected trilogy detailing Han Solo and Chewbacca's adventures in the Corporate Sector and the Tion Hegemony prior to the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. During their adventures, they are accompanied on the Millennium Falcon by a pair of droids, Bollux (renamed Zollux in the UK editions) and Blue Max.

#### September 12, 1979: Han Solo at Star's End

***Han Solo at Stars' End*** is the first novel of The Han Solo Adventures trilogy, written by Brian Daley.

Han Solo trusts no one, and does no favours. But when the best illegal ship rebuilder in the galaxy disappears, Han and Chewbacca agree to go after him—after all, the Millennium Falcon needs some very special repairs. Their search pits them against powerful and ruthless enemies out to destroy them, and finally leads them to an airless speck of desolate asteroid—the Authority prison planet known as Stars' End.

#### October 12, 1979: Han Solo's Revenge

Han Solo's Revenge is the second novel of The Han Solo Adventures trilogy, written by Brian Daley..

For a cool ten thousand credits, Han and Chewbacca will do just about anything—except transport slaves. For one thing, it means an instant death sentence. So when a high-paying cargo shipment turns out to be a consignment of Lurrian slaves, Han and Chewie have to think fast. But Han forms a plan to turn the tables on the slavers and free the captives. Then, good deed accomplished, he scours the skies for the nasty joker who set him up—because revenge can be so sweet.

#### August, 1980: Han Solo and the Lost Legacy

***Han Solo and the Lost Legacy*** is the third and final novel of The Han Solo Adventures trilogy, written by Brian Daley.

The fabled hoard of the mad tyrant Xim was beyond measure — it was also, as far as Han Solo and his Wookiee partner Chewbacca were concerned, strictly legendary. But the pleadings of an old spacebum who had once saved his life — plus the fact that a trifling misunderstanding had set the deadliest gunman in the galaxy on his trail, making a secret expedition to almost any place seem highly desirable — were enough to grab Han Solo's interest.

But within hours of landing on the planet rumoured to hold the treasure, Han's beloved spacecraft *Millennium Falcon* was hijacked, and his party had to contend with assassins and an army of killer robots.

This was no way, Han Solo felt, for a pair of honest smugglers to make a living…

### 1983: The Lando Calrissian Adventures

***The Lando Calrissian Adventures*** is a series of novels by L. Neil Smith published in 1983 and released in an omnibus in 1994. They detail the experiences of Lando Calrissian as captain of the Millennium Falcon before he lost it to Han Solo. Lando is accompanied by his droid co-pilot, Vuffi Raa, and opposed by Rokur Gepta (part of a mystic order called the Sorcerers of Tund).

#### July 12, 1983: Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu

***Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu*** was the first book in The Lando Calrissian Adventures.

Gambler, rogue, and con-artiste, Lando Calrissian was born with a well-developed taste for the good life. More comfortable at the dealer's end of a fast shuffle than at the rear end of a blaster, Lando always had his sensors scanning for the chance to pick up easy credits.

So when he heard that the planets of the Rafa System were practically buried in ancient alien treasure, he hopped aboard the Millennium Falcon and brushed up on his rusty astrogation. He never stopped to think that someone might be conning the con man...

#### September 12, 1983: Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon

***Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon*** was the second book in The Lando Calrissian Adventures.

A solar system with little more than luxury hotels catering to the underemployed filthy-rich, the Oseon was every gambler's dream come true. And so it was for Lando Calrissian, gambler, rogue, and con-artiste. Until he broke the gambler's cardinal rule: never beat a cop at high-stake games of chance.

Soon Lando and his feckless five-armed robot companion were being stalked by two enemies—one they knew but could not see, and one they saw but did not recognise...until it was too late.

#### November 12, 1983: Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of ThonBoka

***Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of ThonBoka*** is the third and final book in The Lando Calrissian Adventures.

For a year Lando Calrissian and Vuffi Raa, his five-armed robot astrogator, had roamed space in the Millennium Falcon, seeking or creating opportunities to turn an easy, but not too dishonest, credit.

But now their partnership seemed doomed—for Lando's uncharacteristic impulse to help a race of persecuted aliens had suddenly made him and Vuffi vulnerable to several sets of their own enemies…not least of whom was the evil Rokur Gepta, the Sorcerer of Tund!

### 1997: The Han Solo Trilogy

***The Han Solo Trilogy*** is a Star Wars Legends compendium title collecting the three volumes of author A. C. Crispin's Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy, comprising The Paradise Snare, The Hutt Gambit, and Rebel Dawn.

#### May 5, 1997: The Paradise Snare

***The Paradise Snare*** is the first book in The Han Solo Trilogy by A. C. Crispin. It details Han Solo's life from his escape from Trader's Luck until his entrance into the Imperial Academy, with some flashbacks to his childhood.

Han Solo was a child without a past, a Corellian street urchin, abandoned, foraging for scraps of food, when the cruel Garris Shrike whisked him away to a nomadic band of spacefaring criminals. Now, years later, Han fights his way free. His goal: to become an Imperial Navy pilot. But first he needs hand-on experience flying spacecraft, and for that he takes a job on the planet Ylesia—a steaming world of religious fanaticism, illicit drugs, and alluring sensuality…where dreams are destroyed and escape is impossible.

#### August 11, 1997: The Hutt Gambit

***The Hutt Gambit*** is the second book in The Han Solo Trilogy by A. C. Crispin. It tells the story of how Han Solo and Chewbacca came to be partners, as well as how he got started in the smuggling business, how he met Lando Calrissian, and how he began working for Jabba the Hutt. It goes on to depict the Battle of Nar Shaddaa. Narration for the audio version was performed by David Pittu.

Once one of the Academy's brightest stars, Han Solo is now a fugitive from the Imperial Navy. But he has made a valuable friend in a former Wookiee slave named Chewbacca, who has sworn Han a life debt. Han will need all the help he can get. For the Ylesian Hutts have dispatched the dreaded bounty hunter Boba Fett to track down the man who already outsmarted them once. But Han and Chewie find themselves in even bigger trouble when they agree to lend their services to crime lords Jiliac and Jabba the Hutts. Suddenly the two smugglers are thrust into the middle of a battle between the might of the Empire and the treachery of their outlaw allies…a battle where even victory means death!

#### March 9, 1998: Rebel Dawn

***Rebel Dawn*** is the third book in The Han Solo Trilogy by A. C. Crispin, and the final chapter in the Rise of the Empire era. The three volumes of The Han Solo Adventures cover a period of almost 3 years during interludes in this novel.

The Millennium Falcon is "the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy." So when Han Solo wins it in a game of sabacc, he and Chewbacca become kings of the smugglers—uncatchable and unstoppable. But with the Empire clamping down, Han knows his luck can't last. Still, when an old girlfriend who is now the leader of an insurgent Rebel group offers him a shot at an incredible fortune, Han can't resist. The plan seems a sure thing. The resistance will be light and the take enormous. Han and his friends will divide it equally with the Rebels. Too bad for Han that the planet of Ylesia is far from a pushover, that the Rebels have an agenda of their own, and that smuggler friends can often turn into enemies…quicker than lightspeed.

### October 5, 1999: The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime

***The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime*** is the first instalment of The New Jedi Order and is a science fiction novel written by R. A. Salvatore. The galactic maps printed inside were designed by Daniel Wallace and Chris Barbieri.

**Twenty-one years after the Battle of Endor, the New Republic will face an even darker enemy…**

The Galactic Empire has ended the war with the New Republic, but the galaxy is far from peace. Unrest is spreading everywhere, and threatens to destroy the New Republic's tenuous reign.

Into this fragile moment comes Nom Anor, a mysterious and charismatic firebrand who is sowing seeds of mistrust and anger through his call for a simpler time. Little do his followers know the truth which hides behind his words.

When ExGal-4, a scientific outpost on Belkadan, discovers an odd comet-like object coming through the vast distance between the galaxies, astrophysicist Danni Quee takes it upon herself to investigate. She journeys to the Helska system, unaware of the danger which threatens the survival of the entire galaxy: the Yuuzhan Vong.

Jedi Masters Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker, along with the Solo's and Chewbacca are thrust into the middle of the danger once more, forced to fight with all they have to save the galaxy.

But this time, the Force itself may not be enough.

### From the Prequel Trilogy

#### April 21, 1999: Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

The ***Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace*** novelisation was written by Terry Brooks and is based on the script of the film of the same name. It was released with multiple covers, including Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Queen Amidala.

Differences between the film and the book include:

* More background for Anakin Skywalker is given which ties into later comments in the film, such as Anakin's conversation with a pilot about angels, and Anakin's race in which Sebulba causes him to crash Watto's podracer, and an encounter with an injured tusken raider.
* Background for the Sith is given, showing their origin and reasons for wanting revenge against the Jedi.
* There is a monologue by Darth Sidious about his plans after the death of Darth Maul.
* Yoda's famous quote in the film in which he alerts Anakin of the path to the dark side ("Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering") was altered in the novel to just: "To the dark side, fear leads. To anger and to hate. To suffering".