Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (novel)
Encyclopedia
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is a novelization
of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
written by Matthew Stover
and published on April 2, 2005 by Del Rey Books
.
The plot of the book corresponds with that of the movie, beginning and ending at the same points. There are several elements added not seen in the film (Lorth Needa as commander of the Integrity at the Battle of Coruscant, for example), while several sections of the plot are removed for pacing. All of the deleted scenes with the founders of the Rebel Alliance
are included. The Star Wars series' Expanded Universe
is also referenced; Asajj Ventress
, a character from the Star Wars: Clone Wars
microseries who does not appear in any of the films, is mentioned on more than one occasion in the novel.
The novel was very well received, with a four and a half star average at Amazon.com
from over 250 reviewers, and voted best expanded universe work by theforce.net users.
when describing a character's emotions ("The first light in your universe
brings pain") and often introduces and describes characters with simple declarative statements ("This is Obi-Wan Kenobi
", "This is what it feels like to be Anakin Skywalker", etc.) These literary devices are repeated at key points in the story.
There is also heavy use of metaphor
as a means of foreshadowing
; for example, Anakin's eventual fall from grace
is set up by descriptions of his fear as a dragon
, one he thinks he can conquer by embracing the dark side
of the Force
. Also, the narration makes use of events in the previous films to describe him as a character, particularly his childhood as a slave and the death of his mother.
fight between Anakin, Obi-Wan and Count Dooku
is described in far greater detail than in the film. Anakin and Obi-Wan pretend for much of the encounter to have learned nothing since the events of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
, but they reveal late in the fight that they have each mastered different "forms" of lightsaber combat.
Stover depicts Dooku as an evil
man who has no conceptions of friendship, loyalty, or love, seeing others merely as objects to be used for his own ends. It also reveals that he despises the galaxy
's non-human species
, and plans to exterminate or enslave them once in power.
During his fight with Anakin and Obi-Wan, Dooku uses the Force to throw chairs and particles at the Jedi, which is left out from the movie. In the movie, this fight is relatively short, especially after Obi-Wan is knocked to the floor.
Before the fight itself, there is a short conversation between Palpatine
and Dooku, revealing the plan Palpatine uses to lure Dooku into a confrontation with Anakin, his new candidate for Sith
apprenticeship; Palpatine tells Dooku that the objective of the duel is to kill Obi-Wan and surrender to Anakin, thus creating the right public story to allow the three of them to take over the galaxy
. This is the first scene in the various Star Wars novelizations to confirm Palpatine and the Sith Lord Darth Sidious as one and the same.
The novel makes it clear that Anakin wins the duel by giving in to his anger. After Dooku is disarmed and Palpatine urges Anakin to kill him, Dooku realizes that he has been used as a means to an end
, as the victim of Anakin Skywalker's first cold-blooded murder: "Treachery is the way of the Sith".
, as well as the Separatists' attack. These scenes are not included in the novel.
During this exchange, Palpatine offers to give Anakin anything he wants. At first, Anakin wonders if the Chancellor is only playing a childish game with him, and says he wishes for a new speeder, to which Palpatine asks if this is all he wishes for. The 'game' culminates when Anakin asks for Corellia; Palpatine asks him if he wishes only for the planet or the entire system. Anakin then tells him that he desires the whole system. The point of this game is to further tempt Anakin towards the dark side and present Palpatine as the gateway to the power denied to Anakin by the Jedi
.
Also, the novel states explicitly that Darth Plagueis was Palpatine's Sith Master; in the film, it is merely hinted at.
contacts Yoda once more after learning the truth of Palpatine's identity, marking his upcoming decision and action as approved by the Grand Master of the Jedi Order.
The novelization states that Palpatine can sense the approach of the four Jedi Masters and Anakin's emotional conflict. The novel also describes how Palpatine prepares for the upcoming duel in detail, including how he recovers his lightsaber
and prepares an audio recording.
During the duel, Palpatine catches Jedi Master Saesee Tiin off guard and beheads him. Second to die is Agen Kolar, whom Palpatine stabs through the head.
Anakin rushes to the Chancellor's office past Shaak Ti, who stands in his way, trying to convince him not to go. Anakin brushes past her without a word.
When Anakin arrives, he witnesses a small part of the battle between Kit Fisto, Windu and Palpatine. He does not see who the combatants are yet, only their lightsabers. When Fisto's green blade disappears, he rushes into the office. There, he finds Kolar's corpse and the severed heads of Tiin and Fisto. Anakin then watches the lightsaber duel between Windu and Palpatine for some time; in the film, he arrives just in time to see Windu knock Palpatine down.
Mace Windu can sense Anakin's presence through the Force before he breaks the office window. When the fight moves to the ledge, he senses Palpatine hesitate for a moment, and the Sith Lord slows down.
Windu confesses then that his lightsaber combat style, Vaapad, can not overpower the Sith Lord, and that it is in fact his ability to sense weaknesses, or "shatterpoint
s", which allows him to gain the upper hand. In the book, Windu does not kick Palpatine's jaw, and he slices the Sith's lightsaber in half instead of the Chancellor dropping his own weapon.
When Windu holds Palpatine at blade point, he tells his opponent why the Sith always lose: because they are always defeated by their own fear. Palpatine counters by screaming "Fool! Do you think the fear you feel is mine?" instead of "No! No!! NO!!! YOU WILL DIE!!!"
During the fight, Windu realizes that Palpatine's shatterpoint is Anakin Skywalker himself. When Anakin approaches Windu, who is fighting against Palpatine's Force lightning, the Jedi Master senses that Palpatine does not fear Anakin at all, and would make no move to defend himself. He then concludes that this is the shatterpoint of the Sith, and the absolute shatterpoint of the dark side itself.
When he is betrayed by Anakin and shot with Palpatine's lightning, Windu realizes too late that he forgot to look for the shatterpoint of Anakin himself - his desire to save Padmé Amidala
, his secret wife, at any cost.
commander who executes the order by name. Only the scene in which Obi-Wan is attacked by clone trooper
s is the same as seen in the movie. Yoda's escape is not featured; he appears next when he meets Obi-Wan on Tantive IV
.
When Anakin, newly renamed Darth Vader
, arrives in the Jedi Temple with the clone troopers, the narration describes how he murders the Jedi inside, including the gatemaster Jurokk. In the film, the scene cuts away after he ignites his lightsaber in front of a youngling; the murders are implied.
Stover describes the Clone Wars as "the perfect Jedi trap". This is the first account of the full extent of Palpatine's intricate plotting.
upon learning of Anakin's betrayal is described in greater detail. Among other things, he mourns the younglings more overtly, and says that he should have died before Anakin was discovered by the Jedi so his apprentice could have had a Master strong enough to keep him from falling to the dark side. Stover also references dialogue from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
. When Obi-Wan says he thinks he knows why Anakin joined the Sith, Yoda replies that "Why matters not; there is no why"; this is a reference to Yoda's admonitions to Luke Skywalker
, "Do or do not. There is no try" and "No, no, there is no why".
's order. Yoda realizes that "he had lost before he started. He had lost before he was born."
In the novel, Yoda enters the Chancellor's holding office from a different direction, so the Royal Guards
do not attempt to stop him. Yoda deflects Palpatine's Force lightning, blasting the Guards into unconsciousness
; in the film, the lightning blasts him across the office. Yoda then knocks Palpatine to the floor with his physical body instead of a Force Push
.
At the end of the battle, the lightning energy ball does not explode. Palpatine safely leaps to a nearby podium, and Yoda follows. Palpatine turns around and blasts Yoda back against another podium, which falls down to the bottom of an energy shaft.
Stover describes Palpatine after the duel as "a very old, very tired man." Palpatine cannot direct the search for Yoda as he hurries to rescue Vader, but he tells the clones to destroy the whole building if they have to.
ly realizes that Darth Vader — the fearless warrior he imagined himself to be — does not really exist, and that Anakin Skywalker is solely responsible for his fall from grace. Stover also describes how it feels to be Darth Vader; robbed of much of his power and in constant pain from his injuries, he now feels like "a painter gone blind
, a composer gone deaf."
Novelization
A novelization is a novel that is written based on some other media story form rather than as an original work.Novelizations of films usually add background material not found in the original work to flesh out the story, because novels are generally longer than screenplays...
of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It is the sixth and final film released in the Star Wars saga and the third in terms of the series' internal chronology....
written by Matthew Stover
Matthew Stover
Matthew Woodring Stover is an American fantasy and science fiction novelist. He is perhaps best known for his four Star Wars novels, including the novelization of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. He has also written several fantasy novels, including Iron Dawn and Jericho Moon...
and published on April 2, 2005 by Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn since 1998, by Bertelsmann AG. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It specializes in science fiction and fantasy...
.
The plot of the book corresponds with that of the movie, beginning and ending at the same points. There are several elements added not seen in the film (Lorth Needa as commander of the Integrity at the Battle of Coruscant, for example), while several sections of the plot are removed for pacing. All of the deleted scenes with the founders of the Rebel Alliance
Rebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
are included. The Star Wars series' Expanded Universe
Star Wars Expanded Universe
The Star Wars Expanded Universe encompasses all of the officially licensed, fictional background of the Star Wars universe, outside of the six feature films produced by George Lucas. The expanded universe includes books, comic books, video games, spin-off films like Star Wars: The Clone Wars,...
is also referenced; Asajj Ventress
Asajj Ventress
Asajj Ventress is a fictional character from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. She is best known for her appearances in the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series, in which she is played by voice-actress Grey DeLisle and serves as Anakin Skywalker's arch nemesis during the first season...
, a character from the Star Wars: Clone Wars
Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003 TV series)
Star Wars: Clone Wars is an Annie Award-winning American animated television series set in the Star Wars galaxy. The series chronicles the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic under Chancellor Palpatine, and the Confederacy of Independent Systems under Count Dooku.Chronologically, the series...
microseries who does not appear in any of the films, is mentioned on more than one occasion in the novel.
The novel was very well received, with a four and a half star average at Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
from over 250 reviewers, and voted best expanded universe work by theforce.net users.
Narrative style
Stover makes frequent use of second-person narrativeNarrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
when describing a character's emotions ("The first light in your universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
brings pain") and often introduces and describes characters with simple declarative statements ("This is Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is one of several primary characters in the Star Wars series. Along with Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO, he is one of the few major characters to appear in all six Star Wars films...
", "This is what it feels like to be Anakin Skywalker", etc.) These literary devices are repeated at key points in the story.
There is also heavy use of metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
as a means of foreshadowing
Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing or adumbrating is a literary device in which an author indistinctly suggests certain plot developments that might come later in the story.-Repetitive designation and Chekhov's gun:...
; for example, Anakin's eventual fall from grace
Fall from grace
To fall from grace is an idiom referring to a loss of status, respect, or prestige. It may also refer to:* The biblical fall from grace, from which the idiom originated-Albums:* If I Should Fall from Grace with God, a 1988 album by The Pogues...
is set up by descriptions of his fear as a dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
, one he thinks he can conquer by embracing the dark side
Dark side (Star Wars)
The dark side of the Force is a prominent moral, philosophical, and psychic concept in the Star Wars universe. It is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and appears in all subsequent Star Wars fiction...
of the Force
Force (Star Wars)
The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. Mentioned in the first film in the series, it is integral to all subsequent incarnations of Star Wars, including the expanded universe of comic books, novels, and...
. Also, the narration makes use of events in the previous films to describe him as a character, particularly his childhood as a slave and the death of his mother.
Fight with Count Dooku
The lightsaberLightsaber
A lightsaber is a fictional weapon in the Star Wars universe, a "laser sword." It consists of a polished metal hilt which projects a blade of light about 1.33 metres long. The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Jedi order and their Sith counterparts, both of whom can use them for close...
fight between Anakin, Obi-Wan and Count Dooku
Count Dooku
Count Dooku is a fictional character from the Star Wars universe. Dooku is one of the main antagonists of both Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and the events of the Clone Wars and is a supporting villain in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Count Dooku plays a substantial role...
is described in far greater detail than in the film. Anakin and Obi-Wan pretend for much of the encounter to have learned nothing since the events of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is a 2002 American epic space opera film directed by George Lucas and written by Lucas and Jonathan Hales. It is the fifth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the second in terms of the series' internal chronology...
, but they reveal late in the fight that they have each mastered different "forms" of lightsaber combat.
Stover depicts Dooku as an evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
man who has no conceptions of friendship, loyalty, or love, seeing others merely as objects to be used for his own ends. It also reveals that he despises the galaxy
Star Wars Galaxy
Star Wars Galaxy may mean:* Star Wars Galaxies, a Star Wars themed MMORPG platform for Microsoft Windows* Star Wars galaxy, the fictional galaxy where the setting of the Star Wars saga occurs...
's non-human species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, and plans to exterminate or enslave them once in power.
During his fight with Anakin and Obi-Wan, Dooku uses the Force to throw chairs and particles at the Jedi, which is left out from the movie. In the movie, this fight is relatively short, especially after Obi-Wan is knocked to the floor.
Before the fight itself, there is a short conversation between Palpatine
Palpatine
Palpatine is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Star Wars saga, portrayed by Ian McDiarmid in the feature films.Palpatine first appeared as the unnamed Emperor of the Galactic Empire in the 1980 film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back...
and Dooku, revealing the plan Palpatine uses to lure Dooku into a confrontation with Anakin, his new candidate for Sith
Sith
-Sith:The Sith is a name applied to certain characters in the Star Wars universe. In the films they are the central antagonists. They are capable of using the dark side of the Force.-The Invention of the Sith:...
apprenticeship; Palpatine tells Dooku that the objective of the duel is to kill Obi-Wan and surrender to Anakin, thus creating the right public story to allow the three of them to take over the galaxy
Star Wars Galaxy
Star Wars Galaxy may mean:* Star Wars Galaxies, a Star Wars themed MMORPG platform for Microsoft Windows* Star Wars galaxy, the fictional galaxy where the setting of the Star Wars saga occurs...
. This is the first scene in the various Star Wars novelizations to confirm Palpatine and the Sith Lord Darth Sidious as one and the same.
The novel makes it clear that Anakin wins the duel by giving in to his anger. After Dooku is disarmed and Palpatine urges Anakin to kill him, Dooku realizes that he has been used as a means to an end
Means to an end
In philosophy, the term means to an end refers to any action that the sole purpose of it is to achieve something else . It can be thought of as a metaphysical distinction, as no empirical information differentiates actions that are means to ends from those that are not—that are "ends in...
, as the victim of Anakin Skywalker's first cold-blooded murder: "Treachery is the way of the Sith".
The Battle of Kashyyyk
The scene in the film depicting the Battle of Kashyyyk shows Commander Gree deceiving YodaYoda
Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing in the second and third original films, as well as all three prequel trilogy films. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda made his first on-screen appearance in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is responsible for...
, as well as the Separatists' attack. These scenes are not included in the novel.
Palpatine tests Anakin's thirst for power
This is a short dialogue not featured in the film, describing in metaphor Anakin's fall to the dark side due to his lust for power.During this exchange, Palpatine offers to give Anakin anything he wants. At first, Anakin wonders if the Chancellor is only playing a childish game with him, and says he wishes for a new speeder, to which Palpatine asks if this is all he wishes for. The 'game' culminates when Anakin asks for Corellia; Palpatine asks him if he wishes only for the planet or the entire system. Anakin then tells him that he desires the whole system. The point of this game is to further tempt Anakin towards the dark side and present Palpatine as the gateway to the power denied to Anakin by the Jedi
Jedi
The Jedi are characters in the Star Wars universe and the series's main protagonists. The Jedi use a power called the Force and weapons called lightsabers, which emit a controlled energy flow in the shape of a sword, in order to serve and protect the Republic and the galaxy at large from conflict...
.
Also, the novel states explicitly that Darth Plagueis was Palpatine's Sith Master; in the film, it is merely hinted at.
The arrest of the Chancellor
In the novelization, Mace WinduMace Windu
Mace Windu is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, most famously portrayed by actor Samuel L. Jackson in the prequel films. However, Windu has also been voiced by other actors in assorted video game and animated projects....
contacts Yoda once more after learning the truth of Palpatine's identity, marking his upcoming decision and action as approved by the Grand Master of the Jedi Order.
The novelization states that Palpatine can sense the approach of the four Jedi Masters and Anakin's emotional conflict. The novel also describes how Palpatine prepares for the upcoming duel in detail, including how he recovers his lightsaber
Lightsaber
A lightsaber is a fictional weapon in the Star Wars universe, a "laser sword." It consists of a polished metal hilt which projects a blade of light about 1.33 metres long. The lightsaber is the signature weapon of the Jedi order and their Sith counterparts, both of whom can use them for close...
and prepares an audio recording.
During the duel, Palpatine catches Jedi Master Saesee Tiin off guard and beheads him. Second to die is Agen Kolar, whom Palpatine stabs through the head.
Anakin rushes to the Chancellor's office past Shaak Ti, who stands in his way, trying to convince him not to go. Anakin brushes past her without a word.
When Anakin arrives, he witnesses a small part of the battle between Kit Fisto, Windu and Palpatine. He does not see who the combatants are yet, only their lightsabers. When Fisto's green blade disappears, he rushes into the office. There, he finds Kolar's corpse and the severed heads of Tiin and Fisto. Anakin then watches the lightsaber duel between Windu and Palpatine for some time; in the film, he arrives just in time to see Windu knock Palpatine down.
Mace Windu can sense Anakin's presence through the Force before he breaks the office window. When the fight moves to the ledge, he senses Palpatine hesitate for a moment, and the Sith Lord slows down.
Windu confesses then that his lightsaber combat style, Vaapad, can not overpower the Sith Lord, and that it is in fact his ability to sense weaknesses, or "shatterpoint
Shatterpoint
Shatterpoint is a science fiction novel by Matthew Stover set in the Star Wars universe. Star Wars creator George Lucas wrote the prologue to the novel. Its main character is Jedi Master Mace Windu. Stover based Shatterpoint on both Joseph Conrad's novel Heart of Darkness, and the film Apocalypse...
s", which allows him to gain the upper hand. In the book, Windu does not kick Palpatine's jaw, and he slices the Sith's lightsaber in half instead of the Chancellor dropping his own weapon.
When Windu holds Palpatine at blade point, he tells his opponent why the Sith always lose: because they are always defeated by their own fear. Palpatine counters by screaming "Fool! Do you think the fear you feel is mine?" instead of "No! No!! NO!!! YOU WILL DIE!!!"
During the fight, Windu realizes that Palpatine's shatterpoint is Anakin Skywalker himself. When Anakin approaches Windu, who is fighting against Palpatine's Force lightning, the Jedi Master senses that Palpatine does not fear Anakin at all, and would make no move to defend himself. He then concludes that this is the shatterpoint of the Sith, and the absolute shatterpoint of the dark side itself.
When he is betrayed by Anakin and shot with Palpatine's lightning, Windu realizes too late that he forgot to look for the shatterpoint of Anakin himself - his desire to save Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala
Padmé Amidala is a fictional character in the Star Wars science fiction franchise. She first appeared on film in the 1999 feature film, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, as the young queen of the planet Naboo. In subsequent prequel trilogy films, Padmé represents Naboo in the Galactic Senate...
, his secret wife, at any cost.
Order 66
Order 66 is described in a few short sentences, with no mention of any Jedi's death or any cloneClone trooper
The clone troopers of the Army of the Republic are soldiers in the fictional Star Wars universe, cloned from Jango Fett, a Mandalorian bounty hunter. They first appeared in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and returned in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith where they were played...
commander who executes the order by name. Only the scene in which Obi-Wan is attacked by clone trooper
Clone trooper
The clone troopers of the Army of the Republic are soldiers in the fictional Star Wars universe, cloned from Jango Fett, a Mandalorian bounty hunter. They first appeared in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and returned in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith where they were played...
s is the same as seen in the movie. Yoda's escape is not featured; he appears next when he meets Obi-Wan on Tantive IV
Tantive IV
The Tantive IV is a fictional spaceship in the Star Wars film series. It was used by Bail Organa in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and by Leia Organa in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and was the first vessel audiences saw when Star Wars premiered in 1977...
.
When Anakin, newly renamed Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
, arrives in the Jedi Temple with the clone troopers, the narration describes how he murders the Jedi inside, including the gatemaster Jurokk. In the film, the scene cuts away after he ignites his lightsaber in front of a youngling; the murders are implied.
Stover describes the Clone Wars as "the perfect Jedi trap". This is the first account of the full extent of Palpatine's intricate plotting.
The return to the Jedi Temple
In the novel, Obi-Wan's griefGrief
Grief is a multi-faceted response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something to which a bond was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, it also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and philosophical dimensions...
upon learning of Anakin's betrayal is described in greater detail. Among other things, he mourns the younglings more overtly, and says that he should have died before Anakin was discovered by the Jedi so his apprentice could have had a Master strong enough to keep him from falling to the dark side. Stover also references dialogue from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
. When Obi-Wan says he thinks he knows why Anakin joined the Sith, Yoda replies that "Why matters not; there is no why"; this is a reference to Yoda's admonitions to Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
, "Do or do not. There is no try" and "No, no, there is no why".
Emperor Palpatine's duel with Yoda
In the novel, it is implied that Darth Sidious is indeed superior to Yoda in lightsaber combat. Yoda also realizes that the Jedi Order mistakenly focused on fighting the old Sith rather than the new, evolved Sith of Darth BaneDarth Bane
Darth Bane is a fictional character in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. He is first mentioned in the novelization of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and is thereafter consistently referenced in Expanded Universe material. He is a major character in the Jedi vs...
's order. Yoda realizes that "he had lost before he started. He had lost before he was born."
In the novel, Yoda enters the Chancellor's holding office from a different direction, so the Royal Guards
Emperor's Royal Guard
Royal Guards are soldiers who protect Emperor Palpatine in the fictional Star Wars universe. They appear in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and in the third prequel film, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith...
do not attempt to stop him. Yoda deflects Palpatine's Force lightning, blasting the Guards into unconsciousness
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
; in the film, the lightning blasts him across the office. Yoda then knocks Palpatine to the floor with his physical body instead of a Force Push
Force (Star Wars)
The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. Mentioned in the first film in the series, it is integral to all subsequent incarnations of Star Wars, including the expanded universe of comic books, novels, and...
.
At the end of the battle, the lightning energy ball does not explode. Palpatine safely leaps to a nearby podium, and Yoda follows. Palpatine turns around and blasts Yoda back against another podium, which falls down to the bottom of an energy shaft.
Stover describes Palpatine after the duel as "a very old, very tired man." Palpatine cannot direct the search for Yoda as he hurries to rescue Vader, but he tells the clones to destroy the whole building if they have to.
Obi-Wan's duel with Darth Vader
The duel between Obi-Wan and Vader is shorter than it is in the movie; the narrative focuses more on their respective inner monologues than the battle itself.Darth Vader's reaction to Padmé's death
The novel is more explicit than the film in describing Anakin's emotional transformation after learning of Padmé's death. It reveals that he blames himself, and subconsciousSubconscious
The term subconscious is used in many different contexts and has no single or precise definition. This greatly limits its significance as a definition-bearing concept, and in consequence the word tends to be avoided in academic and scientific settings....
ly realizes that Darth Vader — the fearless warrior he imagined himself to be — does not really exist, and that Anakin Skywalker is solely responsible for his fall from grace. Stover also describes how it feels to be Darth Vader; robbed of much of his power and in constant pain from his injuries, he now feels like "a painter gone blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
, a composer gone deaf."
Other key information found in the novel
- Names and details are given for the lightsaber techniques the characters use in their respective duels. All the seven lightsaber combat forms are mentioned and described except Form VI.
- Anakin wants to access the Holocrons of the Archives to know more about Darth Plagueis. (hence a genuine reason why he is upset at not being made a master)
- Towards the end of the movie a conversation takes place between Obi-Wan and Yoda in which Yoda tells the younger Jedi that Qui-Gon JinnQui-Gon JinnQui-Gon Jinn is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, and a main protagonist of the 1999 film Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, portrayed by Liam Neeson. He also appears in the Star Wars Expanded Universe of comic books, video games, and novels...
has "returned from the netherworld of the Force", and is ready to teach the pair of them how to do the same. In the novel, Qui-Gon's return is described in full during a significant conversation between his spirit and Yoda. During the discussion, Yoda laments having had reservations about the headstrong master prior to his death: "A great Jedi Master you always were, but too blind I was to see it." He then humbly declares: "Your apprentice, I gratefully become", as he prepares to embrace the Force in such a way as to retain consciousness after death.