In 2025, the realization that *Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith* is now 20 years old serves as a poignant reminder of time's relentless march. However, fans have a reason to celebrate as the film is set to return to theaters in May as part of Lucasfilm's anniversary festivities. Adding to the excitement, Matthew Stover's acclaimed novelization of *Revenge of the Sith* is also getting a 20th anniversary rerelease, available for preorder on Amazon.
As Collider reports, a new Deluxe Edition hardcover of *Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith* 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, providing fans with deeper insights into the creation of this beloved work.
Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World, expressed his enthusiasm about the project, stating, "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."
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Episode III - Deluxe Edition (Hardcover)
Priced at $60.00 on Amazon, the Deluxe Edition is set to release on October 14. For those yet to experience Stover's novelization, it is widely regarded as one of the finest Star Wars novels, often considered superior to the film itself. While it adheres to George Lucas' screenplay, the book enriches many scenes and subplots, offering a deeper exploration of the minds of characters such as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. A distinctive feature of the novel is its use of second-person narration, which sets it apart stylistically from other Star Wars literature. Consider this powerful passage that reimagines 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 notably different:
This comparison underscores the unique value of the novelization, illustrating why delving into the book can be immensely rewarding.
The *Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith* novelization is currently 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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