Titles: A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy
The Empire Strikes Back: So You Want to Be a Jedi?
Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!
Authors: Alexandra Bracken, Adam Gidwitz, and Tom Angleberger
Upcoming Release Date: September 22, 2015
Synopsis: Acclaimed, New York Times best-selling authors Alexandra Bracken, Adam Gidwitz, and Tom Angleberger deliver captivating retellings of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi like you've never experienced before, infusing the iconic, classic tale of good versus evil with a unique perspective and narrative style that will speak directly to today's young readers while enhancing the Star Wars experience for core fans of the saga.
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Reviews: 2015 has been a wonderful year for Star Wars books. Everything is canon and everything is contributing to the big picture. These three upcoming books show the similar tales of the original trilogy but from different perspectives. I'm unsure if these too will be considered part of the canon. I'm skeptical considering that real world pop culture is referenced in at least one of these books.
The first sampler opens up with Leia in first person. Based on the title, I'm guessing both Han and Luke will be featured in chapters as well. I really liked the sampler for this book. Out of the three, it may be the only one I purchase. More depth was given to Leia's character. She is shown as a princess, future queen, and senator. This bridges the government of the prequels and the original trilogy nicely. Based on this book, it seems like Leia didn't learn of the Rebellion until after she was a senator so we may not see the young princess in the amazing tv series Rebels. Leia's mission was to bring Obi-wan to Alderaan. I really hope Marvel brings back the Infinities comics and takes us down that path. I love what-if stories. This sampler alone does a great job of enhancing Leia's character. I like the idea that she has confronted Vader before in the Senate. Leia fights back at the end of this sampler, showing that it wasn't as easy to capture this princess as the movies may have implied.
The second sampler confuses me. It starts as a second person telling from Luke, but it doesn't hold true. The writing in this book seems more aimed at a younger audience. I absolutely disliked the references to the Abominable Snow Man, Tin Man, and a British butler. I like my Star Wars stories to take place in-world.
The third sampler was better than the second, but I still wasn't a huge fan. It addresses the reader as "reader" and is definitely for a younger audience as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed the first book and will not be purchasing the other two. They may be better for a younger audience. This Fall we are going to flooded with Star Wars media. I'm going to have to be picky when it comes to book purchases.
--PAUL
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