20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Top Star Wars Novel Released

In 2025, the realization that "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" is now two decades old might make you ponder your own mortality. Yet, there's a bright side: the film is set to return to theaters in May as part of Lucasfilm's anniversary festivities. Even more exciting, Matthew Stover's highly acclaimed novelization of "Revenge of the Sith" is getting a special 20th anniversary rerelease, which you can preorder on Amazon.

Collider has revealed that a new Deluxe Edition hardcover of "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" will be available in October. This edition boasts new cover art, red foil-edged pages, a removable acetate jacket, and over 170 new annotations by Stover himself.

Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World, shared his enthusiasm, 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 on Amazon, this Deluxe Edition is set to release on October 14. For those yet to explore Stover's take on "Revenge of the Sith," the novelization is celebrated as one of the finest Star Wars books and is often considered superior to the movie. While it adheres to the plot of George Lucas' screenplay, the book enriches many scenes and subplots, providing a deeper insight into the psyches of characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. A distinctive feature is its use of second-person narration, which sets it apart stylistically from other Star Wars novels. 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.

Contrast this with the film's depiction:

This comparison underscores the value of diving into the novelization. "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" is currently available in paperback and audiobook formats, with the Deluxe Edition hardcover slated for release on October 14. You can preorder it on Amazon.

For more Star Wars enjoyment, don't miss out on the variety of Star Wars collectibles available at the IGN Store.