Star Wars Classic Novel Gets 20th Anniversary Edition
Nothing makes you confront the passage of time in 2025 quite like realizing Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is now 20 years old. The upside is that the film is returning to cinemas in May for Lucasfilm's anniversary celebration. Plus, Matthew Stover's remarkably well-written Revenge of the Sith novelization is also getting a 20th-anniversary re-release (available for preorder on Amazon).
As reported by Collider, a new Deluxe Edition hardcover of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is set to launch in October. This edition includes fresh cover artwork, special features such as red foil-edged pages and a removable acetate jacket, and over 170 new annotations by Stover.
“We are thrilled to release this outstanding deluxe edition of the Revenge of the Sith novelization," stated Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World. "Collaborating with Matthew Stover and Lucasfilm on a completely annotated version has been exciting, giving readers an unparalleled look into the making of this masterpiece. Among nearly five decades of Star Wars literature, it remains unmatched, and its approach to translating characters and plot from film to page is distinctive even among film novelizations. Two decades on, this novelization continues to be essential, enduring, and influential—both for readers and creators. Reissuing the hardcover in such an impressive deluxe keepsake edition is an ideal way to honor 20 years of Revenge of the Sith.”
Available October 14
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Episode III - Deluxe Edition (Hardcover)
$60.00 at Amazon
For readers unfamiliar with Stover’s Revenge of the Sith adaptation, the book is widely considered one of the finest Star Wars novels and is often praised as an improvement over the film. It follows George Lucas's screenplay but enriches many scenes and subplots, offering deeper insight into the perspectives of characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. The book also employs a recurring second-person narrative technique that distinguishes it from other Star Wars titles. For instance, the following passage presents a more introspective interpretation of Anakin's rebirth as Darth Vader:
Filled with rage, you scream and summon the Force to crush the shadow that has unmade you. But you are a fraction of your former self—more machine than man. Like a painter gone blind or a composer gone deaf, you recall your strength, but the power you grasp is only a memory. In your world-shattering fury, only the droids and equipment nearby implode; the table where you were restrained shatters. Yet, you cannot reach the shadow. Eventually, you no longer wish to. In the end, the shadow is all you have left—it understands you, it absolves you, it draws you into itself. And inside your furnace heart, you burn in your own flame.
Compare that to how the same scene unfolds in the film:
That’s why it can be so rewarding to pick up a book.
The Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith novelization is currently available in paperback and audiobook formats, with the Deluxe Edition hardcover launching on October 14. Preorders are open on Amazon.
Want more Star Wars entertainment? Explore the wide range of Star Wars collectibles available at the IGN Store.
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