The beloved original returns...
Brought to life on the printed page via stylish command of the written word alongside evocative and exciting language/description, working from the original 1975/1976 filming scripts written by creator and innovator George Lucas, Alan Dean Foster's enthusiasm in adapting STAR WARS, now known as
Star Wars: A New Hope, back in that wonderful time capsule of late 1976, would quickly launch an incredible franchise of cinematic entertainment and original fiction galore, and remains palpably and delightfully fresh and invigorating to read forty years on with its all-new hardback Anniversary UK release from CENTURY PUBLISHING, delivering us a universe of unforgettable characters effectively introduced and showcasing pure golden moments of romantic adventure and exhilarating space conflict that would capture our hearts and minds a year later, though also at the time of its original release (Christmas 1976) acting as a fine taster for a film which wasn't then ready for release and would be delayed until the following May. No surprise to anyone soon reading this book that STAR WARS would become such an important US Del Rey Books best seller to an anticipating science fiction community effectively being primed to see a high class space fantasy epic better than anything then attempted for cinema during the 1970's.
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| Multi-generational icons forever: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo. |
Foster's book adaptation, looked at now, is surprisingly tough and adult to read at times- scenes like the bold and bolshy Princess Leia spitting at the evil and intimidating Darth Vader whom she has early on been captured and brought to, may seem out of character now but prove interesting nonetheless within a time when the film's story and heroes/villains were still being locked in, of which it's great to reexamine all the great deleted scenes and cut dialogue moments, many of whom we've now discovered, via online and in print,
were actually filmed after all. And let's not forget the classic book introduction that effectively sets up what will later become the Prequel Trilogy and ROGUE ONE with such satisfying and simple ease, clearly showing us how the evil Emperor was clearly influenced by then US President Richard Nixon and the rapidly dwindling events of the tumultuous Vietnam War.
Yes, Foster's book, now bearing the striking early poster/publicity artwork by the Hildebrandt Brothers on its cover, towers over its successors like a giant, and remains the first and best adaptation of any STAR WARS film, and a great adventure novel. Period.
AFICIONADO RATING: 5 out of 5
Get it here :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Official-Anniversary-Collectors/dp/1780898134/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494426442&sr=1-1&keywords=star+wars+george+lucas
