20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Top Star Wars Novel Released

In 2025, reflecting on the passage of time hits hard when you realize that *Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith* is celebrating its 20th anniversary. However, the celebration brings joy as the iconic film returns to theaters in May as part of Lucasfilm's anniversary festivities. Not only will fans be able to relive the epic saga on the big screen, but they'll also have the chance to revisit the acclaimed novelization by Matthew Stover, which is getting a special 20th anniversary rerelease. You can pre-order this gem on Amazon.

Collider has revealed that the *Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith* novelization is being treated to a Deluxe Edition hardcover set to release in October. This edition boasts new cover art, luxurious red foil-edged pages, and a removable acetate jacket. But the highlight is the inclusion of over 170 new annotations by Matthew Stover himself.

Image Credit: Lucasfilm/Penguin Random House

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

Priced at $60.00, available for preorder at Amazon.

For those unfamiliar with Matthew Stover's novelization of *Revenge of the Sith*, it's widely considered one of the finest Star Wars novels, often surpassing the film in depth and quality. While it follows George Lucas's screenplay, the book enhances many scenes and subplots, providing a deeper dive into the psyche of characters such as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. A unique feature is its use of second-person narration, which sets it apart from other Star Wars literature. Consider this poignant passage that reimagines Anakin's tragic 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 captures the same moment with less depth:

This comparison highlights why diving into 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 slated for release on October 14. Preorders are open on Amazon.

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