20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Top Star Wars Novel Released

In 2025, contemplating one's mortality might be unavoidable when realizing that "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" is now two decades old. However, there's a bright side: the film is set to return to theaters in May, celebrating its anniversary in style. Fans have even more to look forward to, as Matthew Stover's highly acclaimed novelization of the film is also getting a 20th anniversary re-release, available for pre-order on Amazon.

As reported by Collider, a 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 himself, offering fans a deeper dive into the narrative.

Image Credit: Lucasfilm/Penguin Random House

Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World, expressed excitement 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)

$60.00 at Amazon

For those unfamiliar with Stover's novelization, it's widely considered one of the best Star Wars novels and is often praised as superior to the film itself. While it follows the plot of George Lucas' screenplay, the book significantly enhances many scenes and subplots, providing a deeper exploration of characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. The use of second-person narration adds a unique stylistic flair, distinguishing it within the Star Wars literary universe. A poignant example is the passage describing 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 presents the scene more visually:

This comparison highlights the value of exploring the story through different mediums.

The "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" novelization is currently available in paperback and audiobook formats, with the Deluxe Edition hardcover set to release on October 14. Pre-orders are open on Amazon.

For more Star Wars enjoyment, consider exploring the various Star Wars collectibles available on the IGN Store.