‘Star Wars’ books will revisit the original trilogy from new perspectives
Yoda (shown in wax at Madame Tussauds in London) tells his own version of the events of “Star Wars — Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” in one of three new “Star Wars” books.
Read. Or read not. There is no try.
Fans of the original “Star Wars” trilogy (circa 1977-1983) have something to look forward to in addition to the Dec. 18 release of “The Force Awakens.” Disney-Lucasfilm Press will release a trilogy of books retelling the stories of the first three films from the perspectives of Princess Leia, Yoda and Darth Vader, the Guardian reports.
According to the Star Wars website, the books will be “more than just mere retellings from this top talent; these are fresh interpretations — true to the films but filtered through each author’s vision. In each novel, the authors get inside the characters’ heads, tell us about the scenes between the scenes and even teach us how to be a Jedi.”
The books aren’t aimed at the people who saw the movies in theaters the first time — they’re meant to appeal to a new generation. According to their Amazon pages, they’re aimed at a middle-grade audience, ages 8-12.
The film “Star Wars: A New Hope” (1977) will be retold in the book “Star Wars: A New Hope — The Princess, The Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy” by Alexandra Bracken, told from Princess Leia’s point of view.
From Yoda’s perspective, the next installment of the story will be revisited in Adam Gidwitz’s “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back — So You Want to Be a Jedi.”
Tom Angleberger — the creator of “Origami Yoda” — will write “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi — Beware the Power of the Dark Side!” from Darth Vader’s point of view.
A PDF excerpt from “Star Wars: A New Hope — The Princess, The Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy” is online, and its first sentence echoes the famous beginning of the first “Star Wars” movie: “The story begins as so many do: a long, long time ago ... in a place far beyond the glittering stars you see in your night sky.”
These won’t be the only new “Star Wars” books to be released in the coming months. In March, Disney Worldwide Publishing revealed that more than 20 books, including some aimed at children, are planned for publication this year.
The book trilogy will be released Sept. 22.
MORE FROM BOOKS:
Get ready to be obsessed by these 29 page-turners
23 fiction books you’ll want to read -- and share -- this summer
Listen up: Here are 11 audiobooks you’ll want to ‘read’ this summer
Sign up for our Book Club newsletter
Get the latest news, events and more from the Los Angeles Times Book Club, and help us get L.A. reading and talking.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
