F/SF

First Edition-- First Special Edition 1980

Yeah, let's be real I would not be giving this five stars if it wasn't Star Wars. The writing isn't very good. All tell, no show. Doesn't really bring much more depth to any of the characters. But hey, it's Star Wars, so I love it. Let's discuss some of the quotes!

"She began to laugh harder now. "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee."
"I can arrange that." He moved closer to her, and she looked radiant even in the cold light of the ice chamber. "Believe me, you could use a good kiss. You've been so busy giving orders, you've forgotten how to be a woman. If you'd have let go for a moment, I could have helped you. But it's too late now, sweetheart. Your big opportunity is flying out of here."
[...]
"You're as cold as this planet!"
"And you think you're the one to apply some heat?"
"Sure, if I were interested. But I don't think it'd be much fun."

Like oh my fucking gods, if this isn't the best example of less is more I've ever seen then I don't know what is. Why was those last lines necessary? Ruined one of the best exchanges in cinematic history with some casual sexism and whatnot. I'm sorry, but this is so not Han!? He shouts "you could use a good kiss" and then runs away because he's piiiiissed that Leia doesn't wanna kiss him, not because she's not woman enough wtf????? Idk, at no point do I ever get the feeling that Han considers himself gods gift to women (that's so fanon) and that Leia should be lucky to have him. At the most he makes jokes about being good-looking, but I doubt he ever gets over that "a princess and a guy like me"-thing. Fuck off with this.

(Yeah, the Leia/Han scenes kept bothering me in this book. Get used to hearing about it.)

[Leia falls into Hans arm while aboard the Millenium Falcon.]
"Why, Princess," he said, pleasantly surprised, "this is so sudden."
At that, she began to pull back. "Let go," she insisted, trying to move out of his arms. "I'm getting angry."
"Han saw the old familiar expression of arrogance beginning to return to her face. "You don't look angry," he lied.
"How do I look?"
"Beautiful," he answered truthfully, with an emotion that surprised him.
Leia felt suddenly, unexpectedly shy. Her cheeks flushed pink and, when she realized she was blushing, she averted her eyes. But she still did not really try to get free.
Han somehow couldn't let the tender moment last. "And excited," he had to add.
Leia became infuriated. once again the angry princess and haughty senator, she quickly moved away from him and drew herself up to her most regal bearing. "Sorry, Captain," she said, her cheeks now reddened in anger, "being held by you isn't enough to get me excited."
"Well, I hope you don't expect more," he grunted, angrier at himself than at her stinging words."

Once, again, UGH. Here's some good meta on the scene as it appears in the movie, and having read that this part irks me even more. ESPECIALLY since Han says "I hope you didn't expect more" in the book rather than the excellent "sorry, sweetheart, I don't got time for anything else". Also why would he ruin everything with the "and excited"-line here? Like it's fucking obvious he wants to hold Leia and kiss her and then it's all romantic and then he ruins it for no reason??? Nah, I'm not buying it.

Long white hair was parted down the middle and hung down on either side of the blue-skinned head.

YODA IS FUCKING BLUE.

[Leia and Han have their "dialogue before their first kiss, v similar to the movie except Han doesn't use Leia hurting herself as an excuse to take her hand, he just does it]
"Before she could finish, Han Solo drew her to him and felt her body tremble as he pressed his lips to hers."

I'm nitpicking, but I don't like that he draws her to him. I like it in the movie better where they kiss each other, rather than having "this time she didn't resist" pointed out to me. And they're not interupted by 3PO which means they have to end it by themselves and it gets weird. I don't like it.

Out of the darkness a light appeared - the blue flame of a just-ignited laser sword. In its illumination Luke saw the looming figure of Darth Vader raise his lighted weapon to attack, and then lunge.

Darth Vader has a blue light saber!!! I think this is the first time in the novels the color is described on any light saber, and it does make it sound like they are all blue. Was that originally planned?

"I love you," she said softly. "I couldn't tell you before, but it's true."
He smiled his familiar cocky smile. "Just remember that, because I'll be back."

I've heard that this is how the line originally appeared in the script, but I've also heard - I think - that he was meant to say "I love you too". I know the story of why it was changed, and I can't believe that exchange would've even close to as famous if it had stayed this way. It's cute, in a way, but not as epic as "I know".

"No," Vader replied calmly. "I am your father."

Then again some things are exactly as in the movie and those are kinda the best parts. So far. ( )

It's always a treat diving back into the Star Wars universe, even though I've long since deemed the novels less than completely fulfilling. After the runaway success of the first film (and presumably decent sales of the first novel, penned by George Lucas) they hired a regular author to adapt the Empire Strikes Back for readers. Glut may be a bit easier to read and a touch less awkward than Lucas, but the story still comes off as quite pulpy, driven by the action-filled plot and jumping quickly from storyline to storyline with little grace. The written story does provide audiences with the same behind the characters glimpses as the first novel, though, which definitely works to the book's benefit as without at least some character development the story would have been far too choppy. Not sure when I'll get to Return of the Jedi, but it was always my favourite of the film franchise, so maybe it will be sooner rather than later. ( )

The best Star Wars film gets a competent and straightforward novelization. As is the case in all novelizations, there are scenes that didn't make it into the movie, especially when Luke is training with Yoda. The book does make it feel like more time is passing in both Luke & Yoda's stories and the Millenium Falcon storyline whereas in the movie it feels as if everything happens in a couple of days. The only startling change is that Yoda is blue instead of green! And Harrison Ford's famous improvised line "I know" is not in the text. It's an entertaining read for fans of the movies. ( )