April 4, 2005
Based on George Lucas's original screenplay and story, Stover's smart, efficient novelization isn't as humorous as the last of the Star Wars films, but it's packed full of stunning fight scenes, entertaining interludes with Obi-Wan Kenobi and delightful Yodaspeak ("Named must your fear be, before banish it you can"). Picking up where the movie left off, Stover (Star Wars: Shatterpoint) makes a heartfelt attempt at deepening the characterizations of Anakin Skywalker and his secret wife, Senator Padme Amidala. Haunted by his failed attempt to save his mother's life and having a premonition of Padme dying in childbirth, Skywalker chooses to serve Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith, in order to learn how to make his wife immortal. Sidious, who has been masquerading as the Republic's Supreme Chancellor Palpatine for many years, is determined, with the future Darth Vader's help, to destroy anyone who would defy him, including all Jedi and Separatists. Stover fills in the blanks regarding one of cinema's most fascinating villains with respect and relish, providing answers to such questions as why Vader looked so weird and how he became Luke's dad. This is the perfect companion to the blockbuster film.