This book, aimed at younger audiences, presents a retelling of the film of the same name. Ken Steacy both wrote and provided the illustrations for this adaptation, titled A New Hope. Fun Works published the book on January 12, 1997, and it contains 24 pages filled with color illustrations.
This amazing storybook uses strikingly colorful foil to bring Luke Skywalker and the characters from the Star Wars saga to vibrant life on its pages.
Princess Leia and her Rebel allies are on the run from Darth Vader, an agent of the malevolent Empire, after they successfully stole the Death Star plans. Before Vader can capture her, Leia entrusts the plans to the droid R2-D2, who, along with his companion C-3PO, manages to escape to the planet below.
The planet's inhabitants, Jawas, quickly seize the droids and subsequently sell them to Luke Skywalker. While cleaning R2-D2, Luke discovers a partial message from Princess Leia. R2-D2 insists on delivering the complete message only to someone named Obi-Wan Kenobi. That very night, R2-D2 ventures across the Dune Sea to personally deliver the message.
The following morning, Luke and C-3PO pursue R2-D2 in Luke's landspeeder, eventually catching up to him. However, they are suddenly ambushed by Sand People. Fortunately, Obi-Wan, also known as Ben Kenobi, intervenes and drives the Sand People away.
At Ben's dwelling, R2-D2 plays Leia's urgent message. Ben reveals to Luke that he and Luke's father were once Jedi Knights, protectors who had safeguarded the galaxy for countless years. Their strength was derived from the Force, a unifying energy field that connects all living things in the galaxy. He then presents Luke with his father's lightsaber and encourages him to join the rebellion against the Empire.
At a cantina located in the Mos Eisley spaceport, Luke and Ben arrange passage to Leia's home world, Alderaan, aboard the Millennium Falcon. The pilot is a smuggler named Han Solo, and his copilot is a large, furry Wookiee named Chewbacca. When Luke inadvertently provokes a creature at the bar, the alien seeks a fight. In an instant, Ben's lightsaber ignites, swiftly ending the conflict.
In the meantime, the princess is held captive on the Death Star, where she refuses to disclose the location of the Rebel base to Darth Vader and Governor Tarkin. Tarkin, believing he has no other option to extract the information, orders the Death Star to target and destroy Alderaan. Leia pleads for mercy, but it is too late; Alderaan is destroyed.
As the Millennium Falcon exits hyperspace, Luke and his companions discover that Alderaan is no more. However, before they can alter their course, a tractor beam ensnares them, pulling them onto the Death Star. Luke, Han, and Chewbacca outsmart the Imperial stormtroopers and rescue Leia following an intense blaster fight. Simultaneously, Ben disables the tractor beam, freeing the Millennium Falcon, and heads to rejoin his friends, but Darth Vader intercepts him.
The former comrades engage in a fierce duel, with Ben sacrificing himself to ensure his friends' escape. Luke and his friends quickly reach the hidden Rebel base. There, Luke and Leia prepare for the final battle, knowing that failure will plunge the entire galaxy into darkness.
Every Rebel pilot, with the exception of Han and Chewbacca, participates in the assault on the Death Star. Just as the Death Star is about to obliterate the Rebel base, Luke aligns his shot and hears Ben's voice urging him to embrace the Force. At that precise moment, Darth Vader maneuvers his fighter directly behind Luke. At the last possible second, Han returns in the Millennium Falcon and shoots Darth Vader off course. Luke fires at the Death Star, causing it to explode.
A grand ceremony is held at the Rebel base. C-3PO and R2-D2, freshly polished, shine as brightly as the medals Leia presents to Luke and Han. Luke and his allies have successfully defended the Rebel Alliance and secured a crucial victory in the struggle to liberate the galaxy from the evil Empire.
A New Hope is a self-contained adaptation of the 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, the first film in the Star Wars original trilogy. Published two decades after the movie's release, this book is designed for young readers, employing simplified language and illustrations to effectively convey the narrative.
- ISBN 9781570825675 ; January 1997 ; Fun Works ; US hardcover [3]