melgonvyn's review against another edition
5.0
It’s really fun! Get different perspectives on scenes and events from the first movie that started this Galaxy Far Far Away!
It’s a fun book to pick up and take a little time to read one story or two without getting into a full book.
It’s a fun book to pick up and take a little time to read one story or two without getting into a full book.
kemendraugh's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know man, it's just like, what's even the point, you know? Of any of it...
Some super good stories! Most of which I found hella depressing. Those three stars are a little generous re. my enjoyment of the book, but any lower would have been an insult as to its quality, which is definitely not my intention.
Things I did not ask for:
Trying to make me feel even worse about the stormtroopers than I already do
Trying to make me feel better about the Red One (not gonna work, that is a SUPER SAD STORY YO)
Trying to make me laugh at the stormtroopers' antics when mostly I just want to cry the whole time
Tarkin
Sad aliens
Beru's final moments
Obi's final moments
Alderaan's final moments
Greedo (DON'T CARE)
Hearing the pilots die four times over
(Nnedi Okorafor is probably queen of all the star wars tho)
Some super good stories! Most of which I found hella depressing. Those three stars are a little generous re. my enjoyment of the book, but any lower would have been an insult as to its quality, which is definitely not my intention.
Things I did not ask for:
Trying to make me feel even worse about the stormtroopers than I already do
Trying to make me feel better about the Red One (not gonna work, that is a SUPER SAD STORY YO)
Trying to make me laugh at the stormtroopers' antics when mostly I just want to cry the whole time
Tarkin
Sad aliens
Beru's final moments
Obi's final moments
Alderaan's final moments
Greedo (DON'T CARE)
Hearing the pilots die four times over
(Nnedi Okorafor is probably queen of all the star wars tho)
octobertune's review against another edition
3.0
When I started this, I didn't really know what it was, to be honest. I knew it was short stories but I had no idea it was actually scenes from A New Hope rewritten but from the POV of different characters (should have read the synopsis before starting this, I guess). I liked it, but I felt like there were too many stories rewriting the same scene (like half of them were about that one scene in the Cantina on Tatooine).
Like with any anthology, I loved a couple of stories, and I hated a couple. There are threestories I gave 5 stars - Eclipse, a story from Breha Organa's point of view, Far Too Remote (seriously it made me cackle), and the final one - Whills (cackling again, also mention of Jyn Erso & K2SO *cue the sobs*). One story I DNF-ed was the story from Palpatine's POV because sorry not sorry but a poem written like Shakespeare wrote it? No thank you. Most other stories were around 3/3.5 stars, which is why the overall rating ended up being 3 stars.
In the end, I really enjoyed reading the stories, even if they were repetitive most of the time, and I will certainly enjoy the sequel - Empire Strikes Back. I loved discovering which character's POV the story was told from and I cried every time Scarif was mentioned (I am weak, OK?!). Definitely recommend if you want some more backstory from Star Wars characters!
Like with any anthology, I loved a couple of stories, and I hated a couple. There are threestories I gave 5 stars - Eclipse, a story from Breha Organa's point of view
Spoiler
I like to not have feelings anymore, please.In the end, I really enjoyed reading the stories, even if they were repetitive most of the time, and I will certainly enjoy the sequel - Empire Strikes Back. I loved discovering which character's POV the story was told from and I cried every time Scarif was mentioned (I am weak, OK?!). Definitely recommend if you want some more backstory from Star Wars characters!
kookykoi's review against another edition
4.0
I read the majority of this book in pieces and chunks. Some of the stories still stick out in my memory and others, not so much. But this is a wonderful tribute to Star Wars, developing the narrative and adding to the scope of the original movie. I'd recommend this to any fellow Star Wars fans who haven't already read this.
notapiano's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
fakespy05's review against another edition
3.0
I’d say the majority of the stories in this collection were good. A few stood out as absolutely fantastic and well worth the read. I loved how the collection told stories from mostly minor characters’ perspectives (aside from a few that were supporting characters’.). There were three stories in the collection that were incredible: a story from Leia’s adoptive mother’s perspective right before Alderaan is destroyed (even though you know what’s going to happen, the author really tugs your heart strings beautifully) and the other told from Obi-Wan’s perspective told in a past-present-future happening at the same time view. The last was told from Aunt Beru’s perspective post death and is very emotional and wonderfully written. Those three were masterfully constructed short stories.
Unfortunately, I feel that the collection still only deserves a 3 star rating because there were some stories that felt like they didn’t need to be included, and others that just plainly weren’t good. I skipped about 3 or 4 stories due to them being either poorly written or because I found them boring. One story told from the perspective of a mouse droid on the Death Star was both poorly written and boring whereas most of the underwhelming ones were one or the other. Honestly, I think these problems are a failure of the editor. They should’ve removed or replaced these stories regardless of who the author was.
That being said, if you like Star Wars and this alternative viewpoint storytelling interests you, then it is absolutely worth the read!
Unfortunately, I feel that the collection still only deserves a 3 star rating because there were some stories that felt like they didn’t need to be included, and others that just plainly weren’t good. I skipped about 3 or 4 stories due to them being either poorly written or because I found them boring. One story told from the perspective of a mouse droid on the Death Star was both poorly written and boring whereas most of the underwhelming ones were one or the other. Honestly, I think these problems are a failure of the editor. They should’ve removed or replaced these stories regardless of who the author was.
That being said, if you like Star Wars and this alternative viewpoint storytelling interests you, then it is absolutely worth the read!
waveycowpar's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was a very clever book. I like the idea of seeing a bit of episode IV from a perspective of a minor character.
I don’t know if this is considered canon (but everything these days is supposed to be right) if so there are a couple of contradictions in it which isn’t good. They needed to do a bit more editing and overseeing to keep each person’s story consistent with the others. And the big problem there is the placement in the book, the ones that contradict one another are usually right next to each other.
So a good book, a good idea, some great stories, but really poor editing.
I don’t know if this is considered canon (but everything these days is supposed to be right) if so there are a couple of contradictions in it which isn’t good. They needed to do a bit more editing and overseeing to keep each person’s story consistent with the others. And the big problem there is the placement in the book, the ones that contradict one another are usually right next to each other.
So a good book, a good idea, some great stories, but really poor editing.
big_lew's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
justincox's review against another edition
3.0
First, I loved this idea. What a fun way to celebrate Star Wars. I loved all of the stories with obscure side characters. I had issue with all of the characters who’s story was known. Biggs? Of course we know how that’s to play out. Those stories lost me a bit. The final story, about the writing of the Whills, what a fun way to end the compilation.
claire_michelle18's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a fantastic anthology, a must-read for Star Wars fans!