20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Top Star Wars Novel Released

In 2025, the realization that *Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith* is celebrating its 20th anniversary can be a stark reminder of the passage of time. However, the celebration offers a silver lining with the movie returning to theaters in May as part of Lucasfilm's anniversary festivities. Adding to the excitement, Matthew Stover's critically acclaimed novelization of *Revenge of the Sith* is also set for a special 20th anniversary rerelease, available for preorder on Amazon.

Collider has revealed that *Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith* is getting a Deluxe Edition hardcover, slated for release in October. This edition features new cover art, enhancements like red foil-edged pages, and a removable acetate jacket. Moreover, it includes over 170 new annotations by Stover, enriching the reading experience.

Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World, expressed his excitement about the project: "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 yet to delve into Stover's *Revenge of the Sith* novelization, it's widely considered one of the best Star Wars novels, even surpassing the film in many fans' eyes. While it follows the plot of George Lucas' screenplay, the book significantly expands on scenes and subplots, offering a deeper exploration into the psyche of characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. A distinctive feature is its use of second-person narration, setting it apart stylistically from other Star Wars literature. Consider this poignant excerpt 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 differently:

This comparison highlights why exploring the novel can be rewarding.

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. Preorders are open on Amazon.

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