In 2025, the realization that "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" is now 20 years old can be a stark reminder of time's passage. Yet, fans have much to celebrate as the film returns to theaters in May for Lucasfilm's anniversary celebration. Adding to the excitement, Matthew Stover's highly acclaimed novelization of "Revenge of the Sith" is set for a 20th anniversary rerelease, available for preorder on Amazon.
Collider has announced that a Deluxe Edition hardcover of the novelization will be released in October. This edition will feature new cover art, red foil-edged pages, and a removable acetate jacket. Moreover, it includes over 170 new annotations by Stover, providing deeper insights into the creation of this beloved story.
Image Credit: Lucasfilm/Penguin Random House
Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World, expressed enthusiasm about the project: "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 to 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)
$60.00 at Amazon
For those yet to experience Stover's rendition of "Revenge of the Sith," the novel is celebrated as one of the best Star Wars books and is often considered superior to the film. While it adheres to the plot of George Lucas's screenplay, it significantly expands on scenes and subplots, offering a profound exploration of characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. The use of second-person narration distinguishes it within the Star Wars canon, as illustrated by this passage detailing Anakin's 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.
In contrast, the film's depiction of this scene is more straightforward:
This comparison underscores the value of exploring the novelization for a richer narrative experience.
The "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" novelization is currently available in paperback and audiobook formats, with the Deluxe Edition hardcover set to release on October 14. Preorders are open on Amazon.
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