Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker
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| Author | Alan Dean Foster (Credited to George Lucas) |
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| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| Era | Rebellion |
| Series | Film Novelizations |
| Canon | G |
| Subject(s) | Star Wars |
| Genre(s) | Science Fiction |
| Publisher | Del Rey |
| Released | Hardcover: 12 November 1976 |
| Media Type | Hardcover & Paperback |
| Pages | Hardcover: 272 |
| Size and Weight | Hardcover: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches 1.4 pounds Paperback: 4.2 ounces |
| ISBN | Hardcover: ISBN 0-345-40077-1 Paperback: ISBN 0-345-26061-9 |
| Preceded by | Han Solo and the Lost Legacy |
| Followed by | Allegiance |
Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker is the title of a science fiction novel credited to George Lucas (but actually ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster[1]) and first published on November 12, 1976 by Del Rey.
The book, which was based upon Lucas' original screenplay for the first Star Wars film, has been published under several titles, first as Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, later as simply Star Wars, and most recently as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, reflecting the retitling of the film that occurred following the announcement that Lucas would film the first three episodes of the Star Wars Saga.
This book was published about six months before the original Star Wars movie was released, which means it was probably written some months prior. At that point, the source material for this story in particular, and the whole Star Wars universe in general, was still somewhat fluid. As a result, it is interesting to note a few points where the story in the book differs from the story that ended up in the movie.
- A few scenes are included that were filmed but not included in the final cut of the movie, most notably Luke's scenes with his friends at Tosche Station.
- Various small details, such as the callsigns used by the Rebels in the Death Star assault, are different (e.g. Luke is "Blue Five" instead of "Red Five").
- The general style of the storytelling is perhaps suited to a more mature audience; in particular some violent scenes are depicted in detail much more graphically than that used in the movie.
- Han at one point mentions a Corellian friend named Toccnepil; this is a backward-masking reference to Charles Lippincot, the mastermind of the Star Wars marketing campaign.
- Obi-Wan's name is spelled Obi-wan.
- Droids are spelled with an apostrophe in the front, as if the term is an abreviation.
- The references to Rebels are listed as rebels.
- The stormtroopers board the Tantive IV through the ceiling rather than blasting apart a door.
- The prologue says that after Emperor Palpatine rose to power, he was "controlled" by the "boot-lickers he had appointed to high office," implying that he is not evil. However, all other media sources prove he is.
- Obi-Wan's death is different in the book in that Vader succeeds in defeating him during their lightsaber duel, while in the film Obi-Wan allows Vader to strike him down, in order to provide Luke and the others a diversion to escape the Death Star.
- This is the first time Darth Vader is referenced as a Sith Lord. He is not referenced as such in the movie (in fact the term Sith Lord isn't even mentioned until the first prequel film, The Phantom Menace); although Revenge of the Sith establishes it.
