Star Wars: A New Hope (novelization)

Star Wars: A New Hope, which was originally known as Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, constitutes a Legends novel. Alan Dean Foster served as its uncredited writer, while George Lucas received the official credit. This novel serves as an adaptation of the film bearing the same title, drawing its narrative from Lucas' screenplay. Ballantine Books released the novelization to the public on November 12, 1976, which was before the movie's debut in 1977.

Foster also authored a follow-up, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, which was then published in 1978. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was subsequently incorporated into The Star Wars Saga (1983) and The Star Wars Trilogy (1987).

Publisher's summary

On a risky mission, Luke Skywalker took on the stormtroopers of a faraway galaxy, where the power of life turned into the power of death!

Luke Skywalker was incredibly bored with his farm chores. He longed for adventures among the stars—adventures that would take him to distant and alien worlds beyond the furthest galaxies.

However, Luke received more than he anticipated when he came across a mysterious message from a stunning princess held captive by a formidable and wicked warlord. Luke was unaware of her identity, but he understood he needed to rescue her—and quickly, as time was running out.

Equipped solely with bravery and his father's lightsaber, Luke found himself thrust into the heart of the most brutal space war ever…and he was headed directly for a perilous confrontation on the enemy's battle station, known as the Death Star!

Development

Alan Dean Foster ghostwrote Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, using writings from George Lucas as a basis. Ballantine Books initially published it under the title Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, with its release occurring on November 12, 1976. The first edition of the novel showcased cover artwork by Ralph McQuarrie, while many later editions featured cover art created by John Berkey.

Continuity

Differences from the film

The novelization, derived from the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope screenplay, contains several subtle variations from the completed movie. These discrepancies include:

  • Instead of "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....," the novel commences with the phrase "Another galaxy, another time."
  • During the combat on the Tantive IV, the stormtroopers descend from the ceiling rather than storming through a door.
  • Leia Organa eliminates two stormtroopers before being captured, instead of just one.
  • Prior to Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader entering the conference room, the table is surrounded by eight Imperial Senators and officers. The film only depicts seven officers. During the scene, Vader employs the Force to summon a cup from the table to his hand.
  • Conan Antonio Motti is absent from the conference; instead, the disagreement occurs between Cassio Tagge and Hurst Romodi. Tagge also mocks Vader's use of the Force and is Force-choked by him.
  • Skywalker's X-34 landspeeder has an enclosed cockpit, contrasting with the open cockpit seen in the film.
  • Skywalker's lightsaber is described as having a hilt adorned with jewels.
  • In the novel, Tarkin is present during Organa's torture. In the film, Organa does not encounter Tarkin until she is taken to the Death Star's Overbridge.
  • Chewbacca is described as having bright yellow eyes.
  • In the cantina, Skywalker is bothered by a group of three individuals. Kenobi bisects a smaller alien and severs the arm of another. Ponda Baba is described as having many eyes.
  • Jabba is depicted as a bulky biped featuring a repulsive, shaggy skull and jowls. His scars are said to be a testament to his formidable combat reputation.
  • Following the destruction of Alderaan, Vader reports that Alderaan had defensive systems "as strong as that of the Empire." Obi-Wan does not sense Alderaan's destruction via the Force in the novel.
  • Stormtrooper TK-421 is identified as THX-1138.
  • The officer in charge of the detention block is killed when activating an alarm as opposed to drawing a blaster. Han Solo dives into the garbage chute before Skywalker when the group enters it. The garbage chamber's number is 366-17891 instead of 3263827.
  • During the Battle of Yavin, Skywalker, Biggs Darklighter, Wedge Antilles, Garven Dreis, Porkins, and John D. Branon are assigned to Blue Squadron, while Jon Vander, Tiree, and Davish Krail are in Red Squadron. However, in the film, Skywalker, Darklighter, Antilles, Dreis, Porkins, and Branon are in Red Squadron, and Vander, Tiree, and Krail are members of Gold Squadron. Moreover, Skywalker executes two attack runs through the Death Star trench. When Skywalker learns that Darklighter has died, his eyes begin to water and he reflects, "'We're a couple of shooting stars, Biggs' he whispered huskily, 'and we'll never be stopped.'"
  • Organa awards Chewbacca a medal at the conclusion of the novel.

Differences from later works

The novel also contains elements that have been retconned by later works. The book's prologue includes quotes from the Journal of the Whills, and it states that Emperor Palpatine was simply a symbolic leader controlled by the Imperial bureaucracy. Furthermore, certain words are spelled differently: "Wookiee" is spelled "Wookie," and "Hutt" is spelled "Hut."

Reception

From July 3, 1977, to October 23, 1977, the novel was featured on the New York Times Paperback Best Sellers list. The description provided was: "STAR WARS, by George Lucas (Ballantine/Del Rey, $1.95) The Space fantasy film hit in novel form, written by its director."

Media

Editions

American

International

Cover gallery

American

International

Newspaper serialization

A serialized adaptation of the novel was published in newspapers across North America in 1977.

Appearances

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