Like its predecessors, Star Wars – From A Certain Point of View and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – From A Certain Point of View, this book collects short stories from 40 different authors telling the story of Episode VI of the Skywalker Saga from the perspective of those adjacent to the main action. It features the talents of Saladin Ahmed, Charlie Jane Anders, Tom Angleberger, Kristin Baver, Olivie Blake, Akemi Dawn Bowman, Emma Mieko Candon, Olivia Chadha, Gloria Chao, Mike Chen, Adam Christopher, Paul Crilley, Amal El-Mohtar, M.K. England, Jason Fry, Adam Lance Garcia, Lamar Giles, Max Gladstone, Thea Guanzon, Ali Hazelwood, Patricia A. Jackson, Alex Jennings, Mary Kenney, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Sarah Kuhn, Danny Lore, Sarah Glenn Marsh, Kwame Mbalia, Marieke Nijkamp, Danielle Paige, Aura Pohl, K. Arsenault Rivera, Dana Schwartz, Tara Sim, Phil Szostak, Suzanne Walker, Hannah Whitten, Fran Wilde, Sean Williams, and Alyssa Wong.

In following the basic plot of Return of the Jedi, most of the early stories focus on Jabba’s palace, thus recalling Kevin J. Anderson’s edited anthology, Tales from Jabba’s Palace, which came out in 1995. Phil Szostak’s story begins the process of renaming Max Reebo’s music from its traditional name to “jatz,” though they still allude to the original name with the line, “it came to be known by many names, some less palatable than others” (p. 21). Mary Kenney’s story from the perspective of Wicket Wystri Warrick references the events of Caravan of Courage and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (p. 231). Meanwhile, Suzanne Walker gives Norra Wexley her own chapter set during the Battle of Endor, connecting to the Aftermath trilogy and helping to retroactively establish her role in the Alliance fleet (p. 267). Alyssa Wong’s story confirms that Ewoks ate the Stormtroopers (p. 438). Emma Mieko Candon’s story focuses on Wedge prior to the Battle of Endor, with references to his and Lando Calrissian’s appearances in Star Wars Rebels (p. 464). The story also ties into the first issue of the Shattered Empire comic series (p. 471). Both Thea Guanzon (p. 63) and Danielle Paige (p. 477) expand the definition of rebellion and show how the women in Jabba’s palace found their own ways to resist. Paige has Leia neatly summarize the purpose of this book, where even characters who are not part of the Empire nor the Alliance “are part of the story” (p. 500). Finally, Adam Lance Garcia uses Dexter Jettster to tie together threads from the High Republic through the Clone Wars and finally the Empire, putting the history of the Star Wars galaxy into perspective (p. 512).

The book neatly rounds out this 40th anniversary celebration of the Star Wars Original Trilogy with stories that deepen those seen on film. Fans will enjoy the alternate perspectives as well as the references that connect this to other Star Wars media beyond the films. ( )

Really enjoyed the 40 stories set in the Star Wars, Return of the Jedi universe. I read them over time, not all at once and reminisced about how the original trilogy fit into my universe. ( )