Review #13: Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

I have read every single novelization of the Star Wars movies, and this one takes the cake. In talking to some of my friends, we came to the conclusion that Matthew Stover's novelization of Revenge of the Sith should've been used as the screenplay. I know that I usually say that a book is better than a movie, and usually I'm right (the lone exception so far being Steve Perry's novelization of Men in Black), and Stover doesn't disappoint in that regard.

From the opening page, containing a chillingly cryptic warning (paraphrased here to avoid legal entanglement: these events are over, they happened long ago, nothing can be done to change them), to the end of the book, and all throughout, as Stover gives the reader glimpses of what it's like to be Anakin Skywalker as he spirals toward his destiny as Darth Vader.

The fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan proves to be beautifully written. The little interludes between chapters, as the story dives into the psyche of different characters, provide the reader with new insight into the events surrounding Palpatine's rise to Emperor.

Stover is one of my favorite Star Wars authors. He now has 4 books out, Traitor, Revenge of the Sith, Shatterpoint, and Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor. Why they chose that title for the last book I'll never know, but it completely breaks the tradition of Stover's prowess with the galaxy far, far away. But if the writing within is anywhere near half as good as Revenge of the Sith, well, I'll probably forgive him.

Re-readability: 9.9
Final Grade: A++