From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back is out today! Like the first book in the series, it tells the story of The Empire Strikes Back from the perspective of forty side or background characters, some familiar and some brand new to the universe. I was a big fan of the first installment of the series, so does the second one hold up?

Mostly, yes. I liked it, but not as much as I liked the first. Maybe it’s because the first was such a novel concept, and the second time around I knew what to expect? It’s an anthology collection, so going into these I always know I’m going to love some, like some, think some are just okay. I can’t recall any stories I flat out disliked, but I did think most of them were just okay. There were nine that I really loved, and I’ll cover them more in a second. Looking back at the original From a Certain Point of View’s list of stories, I remember eight that really spoke to me, so in the end the books are very comparable. But I think I had more fun with the original because there was a little more variety. The source material is a little wackier. You’ve got a huge pool of potential weird characters to pull from in the cantina alone. I felt like I was learning new things about characters I recognized. The Empire Strikes Back is a little more subdued. The movie is more personal and focused. So a lot of the stories, by necessity, have to be about brand new characters. We also spend a lot of time on Hoth at the start, and then a lot of time on Cloud City at the end, because that’s where we get the most background characters.

For me the most memorable stories were about those characters that I recognized. I wanted to get into their heads a little more, and when I hit a story I liked, I really liked it. Jason Fry’s story about Wedge was probably my favorite. That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, I’m a big pilot lover, and there are several nods to the Legends Michael Stackpole and Aaron Allston X-Wing books. Likewise, I really like Gary Whitta’s story about Zev Senesca. The stories about the bounty hunters are a lot of fun. I liked Austin Walker’s Dengar and IG-88’s teamup story quite a bit, but also want to point out Daniel Jose Older’s very creatively written tale about 4-LOM and Zuckuss. General Veers’s story by Christie Golden was a lot of fun for a lot of reasons, and I can’t wait to hear what VeersWatch from Twitter has to say about it. Of course Willrow Hood gets a story, written by Rob Hart, and it was very fun. He has a bit of Legends history, but this is more intriguing, with his camtono treated almost like the briefcase in Pulp Fiction. 2-1B’s story by Lydia Kang was unexpectedly poignant. I was really hoping the unknown star destroyer captain we see get pulverized during a call with Vader would get a story and he does, written by Seth Dickinson. That was maybe the biggest surprise for me. It’s easily something that could be written as a joke, but it’s got a lot of smart, powerful stuff to say about the Empire and fascism and those who blindly follow it.

And finally, L3-37 got a great story by Brittany N. Williams. And those are the kinds of stories I might like the most. I loved Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s conversation in the first From a Certain Point of View. Show me a character that is very important to the entire Star Wars saga, but was created well after the movie the book is based on. Connect it all a little more. L3’s story is exactly that, and I think it improves not only the way I see some aspects of The Empire Strikes Back, but Solo as well. I would have loved to see a little more of that. Maybe a story revolving around Hera?

But that’s just what I enjoy and what I would do if I were in charge of the book. Those stories get me the most excited because I’m a lore junkie. I really did love nearly a quarter of the stories in this book. I’ll admit it took me a while to get through the whole thing. Partially because it is very long. Partially because I was distracted with everything else going on in the world. And partially because I just struggled through some of the stories. And that’s just the nature of anthology books. Even if the novelty has worn off for me a little in the past three years, I still hope people pick up this book and this series, because the nine or ten stories I find to be really special are absolutely worth the price of admission for me, and I want this series to continue. I feel like every new Star Wars movie has more and more possibility when it comes to these side characters. Think of From a Certain Point of View stories for the prequel era! There are so many to choose from, and I really hope we get to read those tales someday.

A year ago before the world changed, I attended an amazing Author signing at Star Wars Celebration Chicago. Ten authors who had contributed to From A Certain Point of view volume one signed and chatted with fans of the anthology.

I immediately began hoping for a sequel to the book focused on the Empire Strikes Back( I even asked Del Rey about the possibility on twitter!). And now the second volume of the series is here. One of the first things that struck me about this volume is the number of new "voices" are writing stories for the book and how many of the writers were women an Women of Color.

Anthologies like this are a great platform for writers from other genres to dip into the Franchise.

This volume has 40 stories and each of them reflect a lot on the elements of what make Empire such a fan favorite film, but we also get to see what parts of the saga personally connect to the individual authors.

Tracy Deonn , the author of Legendborn gives us new insight into the cave on Dagobah.

We get to see some insights into the events on Hoth and Martha Wells takes us back to Bespin as does Alexander Freed. Cavan Scott brings us some fun with Jaxxon a fan favorite from the EU . And The Whills Strike back thanks to another story of the escapades of the Narrator of the Saga by Tom Angleberger. That's just a small sampling of the amazing stories in this volume . It's a great book to take your time with and of course you will want to watch The Empire Strikes back soon after reading. I also suggest the audio version of this book because the cast is Epic!

A Very fun book, Each story adds to the stories of the movie. I loved the weird force exploration and I also loved the Exogroph story so much.

I look forward to ROTJ!

"From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back" continues what has been one of the most exciting anthologies from Star Wars publishing in the current canon. It gives meaningful insight into so many of the iconic moments from the most critically acclaimed film in the franchise while adding in plenty of fun, humor, emotion, and originality. Forty different authors uniquely tell their version of Star Wars, which provides plenty of hope for future storytellers and injects some long-overdue perspectives into a familiar story. What surprised me most was how well this book portrayed hope in one of the Rebellion's darkest hours. Despite being the darker middle chapter of the original trilogy—including several gut-wrenching stories that will make you pause and reflect—it perfectly balances the lighter moments with the darker ones, leaving you inspired once you turn the final page. "From a Certain Point of View" heightened my appreciation for so many characters I've long known about but hadn't appreciated, and I'm grateful that I can watch "Empire" through a new lens.

For our full three-part discussion, adding up to nearly 4 hours, check out the Friends of the Force podcast feed.

Lightning strikes twice with From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. This second original trilogy anthology delivers a satisfying sequel by showing experimental short stories from old hands to Star Wars and new authors alike. Some of my favorite stories in this particular volume involve character studies of how people in different walks of life cope with Imperial rule. Some are part of the Imperial machine -- willing or otherwise -- and some are trying to avoid being crushed underfoot. Some of the most interesting takes involve highlighting the banality of the bureaucratic machine of the Empire and how it makes people complicit, while others involve zany but plausible interstitial stories about the guy witnessing Han and Leia arguing or the chef responsible for cooking a meal for Darth Vader.

Somehow I liked FACPOV: ESB even more than FACPOV: ANH, and that was a hard thing to pull off!

The author line-up for this book still blows my mind and it’s been SO much fun to see what some of my favorite authors did with these characters. Plus this short story collection really does an awesome job diving into side characters (including some that I would never have guessed would be included!) and really fleshing out this world. Also, the first half of this book got me through election week, which is really a testament to how excellent some of these authors are at writing short stories.

If you’re a Star Wars fan or have a Star Wars fan in your life, I’d definitely recommend this collection!

Intro

It’s one of the questions Star Wars fans love and hate the most.

What’s your favorite Star Wars movie?

Such a seemingly innocent question can provide anything from an innocent response to a torrential spin down the mental rabbit hole. And if you ask enough fans, you’ll eventually hear every film mentioned at least once. Some folks are addicted to the podracing of The Phantom Menace, others are forever enraptured with the original magic of A New Hope. The song goes on and on.

But even if it’s not the unanimous favorite, it’s hard to deny one simple truth. Everyone. Loves. Empire.

2020 marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, and just as they did three years ago with the 40th celebration of Luke Skywalker’s first trek across the stars, Del Rey has published a collection of 40 short stories celebrating characters in the film that may have slipped right past you during the first watch.

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back collects 40 of the brightest stars in the publishing world to tell the 40 tales of what was really happening from the Attack on Hoth through the Escape from Bespin. Featuring a score of voices new to Star Wars publishing, the hereafter abbreviated FACPOV: ESB celebrates the incredible variety and vastness of storytelling that is possible in our favorite galaxy far, far away.

Plot

While the overall plot structure of The Empire Strikes Back is decently familiar to most people picking up this collection, FACPOV: ESB keeps the reader’s attention beautifully by staying faithful to the original story beats while simultaneously adding in brilliant shades of color.

The order of the stories follows the general outline of the film, and you’ll find yourself hitting familiar landmarks like Hoth, Dagobah, and Bespin as you go. Some of the stories will feature characters interacting directly with major story characters like “Rogue Two,” Gary Whitta’s tale of Zev Senesca and Rogue Squadron, while others will showcase entirely new characters and plot points like Sarwat Chadda’s “Standard Imperial Procedure.”

While every entry into this collection is unique in its own way, I found myself enjoying the stories that introduced new characters and voices much more than those with which I may have been previously familiar. We often talk about freedom in writing as a key to an author’s success in Star Wars publishing, and FACPOV is no different. Without the pre-existing constraints of an established character, a writer can feel free to truly expand the scenes they write about -- which was the beauty of both the first From a Certain Point of View as well as this successor.

This encompasses the main strength of FACPOV: ESB’s plot, and that is its ability to enhance its source material unlike any other type of novel. With 40 separate stories and scenes to work with, this book can’t help but make me consider parts of one of my favorite movies of all time that I had never before thought about.

Do I know now what Bossk was up to before he met up with Vader? Yup.
Do I know the history of the exogorth species in the time before it ate the Millennium Falcon? Yup.
Do I know why Willrow Hood was running so fast? Okay...so I’ve definitely wondered that before, but nonetheless...yup.

The first From a Certain Point of View novel was heralded for its ability to reshape key moments in A New Hope, and after paging through the tome of FACPOV: ESB, I can confidently say that this sequel follows through on that promise with results that even manage to outshine its predecessor.

Characters

When this project was first announced, Del Rey Publishing was very frank about the insanity of the character selection process amongst its chosen authors. Evidently, a giant Google Doc was created, and at the same time, every writer pounced in order to lay a claim on their favorite background character.

Did Christie Golden throw a haymaker at John Jackson Miller? Did Tracey Deonn sweep Daniel José Older’s leg? Was Marc Thompson eagerly eating popcorn in the corner as the chaos unfolded around him? We can never truly know.

We can, however, see which character pairings proved to be the most successful, and after reading through the entirety of FACPOV: ESB, there’s not exactly a golden rule. Above, I noted that the original character stories occasionally brought me more joy and interest, but I was nonetheless blown away by the character complexity added to Admiral Ozzel and Dak Ralter by Charles Yu and RF Kuang, respectively.

The characters within this collection are the bridge between the reader and the rich existence of The Empire Strikes back and, for the most part, this book nails a wonderful balance of classic tone and new voices. Personally, I found that this book worked the best when it chose to expand the background of a singular character whether preexisting or original.

C.B. Lee’s “A Good Kiss” took us through the day of a man we’ve never met just trying to escape Hoth while also dealing with the daily pressures of an unspoken crush. Christie Golden’s “The Truest Duty” brings us inside the mind of General Veers as he ponders the impact of his coming assault and the legacy of his career. And S.A. Chakraborty’s “But What Does He Eat?” asks us to consider the responsibilities we have to our careers, our survival, and the galaxy as a whole.

While naming every single story that focuses on a singular point of view would make this review arduous at best, there are so many that really allow us to see inside the moment to moment decisions that craft the world of The Empire Strikes Back, and that personal touch puts some of these character moments up there with the best of the new Canon.

Writing

What. A. Lineup.

FACPOV: ESB features a collection of authors that all bring something unique and beautiful to the table. More races, gender identities, sexualities, religious backgrounds, and more are represented on the brilliantly designed cover of this book, and the result is a group of stories that sound and feel as diverse as the folks who wrote them.

As you read through each chapter, you’ll experience a variety of tenses, character types, and even poetics from time to time. I have never witnessed such a vast collection of tones and styles in a Star Wars book, and because of that intense variation, it is quite unlikely that readers will love every single story in this collection.

But that’s the beauty of it! From a purely writing standpoint, FACPOV: ESB appears to represent the future of Star Wars publishing, and that future is not a straight line, but a singular force that branches into multiple galaxies, timelines, and more.

Tracey Deonn’s psychological description of the mentality of the Dagobah belongs in Star Wars.
Cavan Scott’s unabashed love of Jaxxon belongs in Star Wars.
Daniel José Older’s hilarious inside jokes about the publishing system belong in Star Wars.

Are there stories that feel a little off to me regarding my particular style of reading? Sure. Are there chapters that introduced me to a style of storytelling I had never before experienced? Absolutely. Are there authors I had never read before that I now wish to support in everything they do? BETTER BELIEVE IT.

And therein lies the beauty of such a large collection of creators folded within one collection. Most of the writers of FACPOV: ESB have published other full-length works, and what better way to meet your new favorite writer than by meeting them within the confines of Star Wars?

Originality

For a book that takes place entirely within the confines of a known film, FACPOV: ESB adds a remarkable amount of original lore to the history of the Star Wars universe.

Without spoiling too much, you’ll learn about the history of Rogue Squadron’s callsigns, the protocols of an Imperial waste manager, the history of the exogorth species, the gambling underbelly of Bespin, the depressing depths of Yoda’s exile, and more. Every addition and enhancement to Star Wars lore feels organic, and upon your next watch of Empire, you’ll be hard pressed not to mentally input the lessons that you’ve learned from the pages of FACPOV: ESB.

“Oh hey! I know the guy who looks after those tauntauns.”
“...Dak no.”
*bursts into tears when The Millennium Falcon chooses Cloud City*

It’s these types of additions that can only be found in short story collections like FACPOV: ESB and its predecessor, and at their core, they represent the purest enhancements to the Star Wars universe. Sure -- as an adult, you may eagerly devour the latest Thrawn novel (and believe you, we did), but when you first watched a Star Wars movie as a kid, your mind was filled with possibilities about the little things whirring by the screen.

Additionally, this novel wonderfully increases the amount of LGBTQ+ representation in the Star Wars galaxy. Obviously, the racial and sexual politics of the original films were not quite as inclusive as they could have been, but this collection turns that on its head by introducing a multitude of queer characters that, as of now, were actually there the whole time.

The continued effort to include these types of people and life experiences in the pages of Star Wars is forever welcome, and knowing that queer creators got to write folks that have lived their own experiences is pretty damn special.

Finally, while this book may not fill the Star Wars universe with additional galaxies and political hierarchies like recent Canon additions, it does add naturalists, chefs, Force visions, and Wampa families...and I’ll put my name right up on Rogue Squadron’s betting board if that doesn’t bring a smile to your face.

Entertainment

Remember the thrill of watching The Empire Strikes Back for the first time? Or the 40th time? Great. Now expand that over almost 600 pages, and you’re in for a pretty good time, right?

It’s clear from the start that FACPOV: ESB was written for people who love Star Wars by people who love Star Wars, and that obvious passion positively bleeds entertainment value. Because every author was given the ability to pick their own character focus, it’s clear to see that the authors chose to write their own particular strengths, and the results benefit across the board.

Some writers take us through thrilling ground assaults and space battles, others focus on the excitement of new romance and clandestine meetings, and others still can’t get enough of the sly smugglers that pepper themselves all around our favorite galaxy. Each story reads as so intensely personal that it’s easy to be entertained not only by the subject matter, itself, but also by the image of each writer creating the settings and circumstances playing out on the page.

For my own money, I found myself to be slightly more entertained by the stories that were on the shorter side. In such a massive collection, it’s hard to escape the desire to know which character is coming next, and with some of the longer entries, it became decently hard to focus on the current story as it entered yet another scene.

Were some of these writers somewhat auditioning for their own full length entries in the Star Wars Canon? Absolutely -- that’s their job, after all. But the most entertaining entries were most definitely self contained tales rather than a single chapter in a hopefully future novel.

On the whole, FACPOV: ESB blends the nostalgia of the film with the bright new horizons of the current world of Star Wars publishing to create a book that traverses the brilliant highs and lows of the emotional spectrum in a way that is thrilling, entertaining, and immensely satisfying.

Audio

The first From a Certain Point of View audiobook sits at the top of our Best Star Wars Audiobooks list for good reason. It employed a stellar lineup of narrators that were able to breathe life into a multitude of different characters, story types, and settings, and the result was an astonishingly well crafted piece of media that would impress even the harshest critics.

Well. They’ve done it again.

FACPOV: ESB once more brings together a mindblowing good stable of narrators and voice actors to create a product that may even eclipse its prequel. Jonathan Davis, Sean Elias-Reyes, Dion Graham, Jon Hamm, January LaVoy, Soneela Nankani, Marc Thompson, Sam Witwer and Emily Woo Zeller unite as a Vultron of talent to breathe life into characters old and new, and the results very simply took my breath away multiple times.

Whether it’s embodying the soul of an ancient Jedi master, personifying the thoughts of an ancient space slug, or describing the burgeoning romances in the cold depths of Echo base, every narrator is perfectly tailored to their specific stories, and variety in voices keep each story fresh and exciting as you go to the next track in sequence.

Additional recognition must be awarded to the technical creators at Penguin Random House Audio, because just like the first entry in this series, they were tasked with recording, editing, and producing 40 separate stories with unique locations, background noise, and soundtracks.

The amount of effort that requires can easily be taken for granted, but every listener is essentially getting 40 fully produced Star Wars films in one box, and my mind starts to melt the moment I attempt to rationalize how much work that must have taken during a pandemic.

This past year has been particularly good to Star Wars audio with the success of Doctor Aphra earlier this year, and seeing rising Star Wars audio drama stars like Emily Woo Zeller and Sean Elias-Reyes join classic voices like Marc Thompson, January LaVoy, and Jonathan Davis and welcome relative Star Wars newcomers like Soneela Nankani and Dion Graham speaks to the wondrous stable of talent Star Wars is assembling in every corner of its creative empire.

And then there’s Jon Hamm and Sam Witwer. Let’s see...what’s the most appropriate way to describe the impact of their voices on my soul, body, and mind? Let’s go with: they’re allowed to narrate anything they want. Forever. For all time.

Yeah that’ll work.

Conclusion

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back follows through on the expansive promise of the original book but increases its effectiveness tenfold by employing the talents of the most diverse group of writers Star Wars has ever seen. While not every story will thrill every single consumer, the vast assortment of tales will surely entertain every type of reader from the newest Empire fan to those who waited in line to discover Luke’s secret origin back in 1980.

If this collection is any indication for the future of the Star Wars publishing universe, then we could not be in better hands. These authors should all be proud of the work they’ve put in to creatively enhance one of the most beloved media properties in the history of the franchise, and in three years time, we can only hope to get something as wonderful, different, and exciting for Return of the Jedi.

I loved this anthology! It is a great present for lovers of science-fiction that are barely acquainted with Star Wars, and for Star Wars fans that would like to explore some of the other themes of science fiction not present in the franchise (deep-dives into Imperial world-building, exobiology from the point of view of the creatures, the intricacies of collaborative AIs...)

I confess: I'm a trekkie.

So I wasn't horribly excited about this collection of "B-roll characters" stories. It seemed a fine conceit, but I've only watched the movies a few times...over my life...in theaters and on VHS and laserdisc and DVD and streaming...and...

OK, so I was a little excited. But the book actually engaged me in a wholly unexpected way: not only are the stories themselves good - from some of the best writers in the field - but they actually deepened my enjoyment of the entire canon. There are glimpses of the main characters and places and ships throughout these stories, and it is like watching a black-and-white photo turn color...and then 3d...and then start to move.

It changed the way I feel about the whole arc, and I can't wait for the third volume.

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (ESB FACPOV) picks up where the first short story collection left off, chronicling 40 stories of characters both old and new based in the world of the movie. While many might consider The Empire Strikes Back a more difficult challenge to find 40 characters to write stories about, as opposed to ANH with the Cantina or ROTJ with Jabba's Palace, the authors of these stories do a wonderful job not only expanding the world of ESB with new characters, but creating connections between characters and ideas throughout the 40 stories.

Some of the standout stores include "A Naturalist on Hoth" by Hank Green, "Eyes of the Empire" by Kiersten White, and "Faith in an Old Friend" by Brittany N Williams, just to name a few.

In addition to great storytelling on the page, this book also has a wonderful companion in the audiobook format. Each of the narrators in the full cast bring such life to these characters. This audiobook really represents just how exciting and dynamic that Star Wars audiobooks can be.

What is most wonderful about these collections is that there is truly something for every Star Wars fan. Whether you gravitate to the creatures, the Rebels, the Imperials, Lando, Boba Fett, or anyone else, there are a couple stories that you will undoubtedly love. This is an anthology that I'd recommend to every Star Wars fan, regardless of age, favorite movie, or time in fandom.

With 40 short stories you’re bound to get a mix bag, and that’s exactly what you’ve got with the latest Star Wars anthology release, From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Some great stories, some not-so-great stories, and just about everything in between!

The success and failure of these shorts’ relies on one simple premise, does the text change or alter your perspective of the film in some way? Are you left with the notion that you’ll never watch these select characters/scenes through the same lens ever again? But that metric is again, just success or failure, it doesn’t speak to the imaginative ways these talented authors have expanded our worldview when it comes to perhaps the greatest sequel of all time. The good news is that your baseline in this case is Star Wars, so no matter what, it’s all good!

The Empire Strikes Back may be structurally simplistic, but like Star Wars, provides a target rich environment when it comes to looking into the weeds for creative ways to tell forty different short stories. With only a handful of characters on screen at a time and much of the film spent inside the Millennium Falcon, you would think the pickings would be slim. But, the folks at Del Rey have re-calibrated their lenses and learned to see the forest for the Wroshyr trees. So, while some of these choices were definitely obvious, there are a more than a few inspired ones that I think will surprise and delight you.

Overall, this edition sticks the landing and matches the tone and essence of the first one, and despite the dire straits we find many of these characters in, there’s a surprising sense of whimsy to much of this book. The Empire Strikes Back is a dark, moody, and atmospheric follow up to its predecessor Star Wars, which is its less-emo, jocky older brother. This edition of FACPOV doesn’t run away from this, but rather re-purposes it to deliver a book definitely not lacking in zeal, producing nothing short of story alchemy.

As you would imagine, Hoth, Dagobah, and Bespin, figure heavily into this list as do many of the peoples and creatures that inhabit those locales. It’s amazing how much mileage they get out of Hoth and Cloud City alone, which is where the book could start to feel a tad mundane. Before you begin to feel weary however, they smartly whisk you away onto the next phase of your journey so you’re never in one place for too long. This isn’t a huge problem for me, as I read the stories not in the order they’re presented. But for those that do, the majority I suspect, shouldn’t have any issues.

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back re-creates the events in Episode V while providing an alternative perspective to the events we’ve come to love. It was evident time and thought when into every story included and it paid off. Various connections to the prequels, animated shows, and other written stories enriched the book to offer something for everyone! If Empire Strikes Back is your favorite Star Wars movie, this book is a must read.

On May 21, 1980, Star Wars became a true saga with the release of The Empire Strikes Back. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, forty storytellers recreate iconic scenes from The Empire Strikes Back, through the eyes of a supporting character, from heroes and villains to droids and creatures. (via Goodreads) 📚
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📚 This was so fun to read! Lots of authors I already loved, and I discovered a few new-to-me favorites.
📚 These stories are all so nuanced and thoughtful about what life for peripheral characters in the movie might be like. Some we already know, like Wedge Antilles, and some are completely fabricated, like a scientist studying ice slugs on Hoth.
📚 My favorites were the stories from the points of view of animals - I never expected to feel so much for a tauntaun.
📚 Plus! The wide variety of authors means this collection includes own voices stories for characters of color, women, queer characters, and more.
📚 I do wish some stories had been longer, but this is my perpetual gripe with short story collections. If you're a Star Wars fan, it's worth checking out. Now I need to go rewatch them all! 📚

The idea for the original From a Certain Point of View garnered tons of attention for its nearly endless possibilities to reshape such classic films, giving them new life even 40 years after their debut. Thankfully it seems to be a tradition, at least for now since the prequels won't have the opportunity for another 20 years (and let's not even talk about how old I'd be when the sequels would hit the milestone...), to take the original trilogy films and retell them from new, interesting, and unexpected points of view, which brings us to From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Stronger across the board in its stories, with more consistently engaging tales and original or surprising points of view, and a far more coherent structure from one tale to next, From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back does not fall short of its source material, doing it justice by being such a great and memorable sequel.

When I say From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (FACPOVTESB) is stronger than the original FACPOV, I'm not quite sure if it has to do with the batch of authors arrayed for it or the expanded potential thanks to the film's expanded scope over A New Hope, but I found myself consistently enjoying tales throughout, with nary a miss, disappointment, or bore. There were a few tales in FACPOV which fell short of their premise/promise ("Bump"), or went on far too long for their own good ("The Kloo Horn Cantina Caper"), and I was able to put together a list of my Top 5 without too much debate (6, since the Dr. Aphra tale was far and above my favorite). When trying to pick a Top 5 here with FACPOVTESB, bringing it down under a Top 10 was a near impossibility. I'm not saying I absolutely loved every tale, but this time around there was only one I truly didn't quite like, but I found the other 39 well worth the time to read. My list of favorites will of course be much different than everyone else's (there's a joke somewhere in there about certain point of views...), though I feel like overall there's more to enjoy and appreciate this time around. The author list is more diverse, which is saying something compared to the first's, the amount of non-white or LGBTQ+ representation is far greater, as in if there's a love angle to a story it's more often a queer romance than not, while the animal/droid/cave POVs offer very unique takes on certain memorable moments in the film. FACPOVTESB has longer tales overall, and instead of meandering, they take full of advantage of their page-count, though plenty of tales skew shorter and were often stronger regardless. Likewise, the cohesion across tales is much appreciated, from the early running joke about betting pools on Han or Leia, how stories flowed through the film in a more orderly, sensible manner helped propel me through to the next tale, while connections to the previous FACPOV prove to be sequels of their own. It all adds up for a richer, deeper experience, which digs deeper into the cracks and seams we don't see in the film, offering fresher and more unique ways to view moments, often forever changing scenes 40 years old.

So now we'll jump into my Top 10 favorite tales, in order of appearance in the book, followed by mini-reviews for the remaining tales (also in order they appear in the book), with my closing remarks shortly after. Out of the 10 I originally picked as my most anticipated, 7 made the cut, with 3 others sneaking in:




“A Good Kiss” by C.B. Lee {4/40}: I enjoyed the first few tales before C.B. Lee’s “A Good Kiss,” but it was the first one to really wow me. It made me laugh, shout in excitement, and never quite look at the Rebellion’s time on Hoth the same way again. A lot of my reaction stems from how relatable Chase Wilsorr is, stuck in a menial job, hoping for it to mean something/work his way up to more important assignments, be remembered for something, and of course fumbling through the early parts of liking someone. Chase appears in the film, during Han and Leia’s fight in the Hoth corridors, strolling through the middle of them carrying a box, and the small portion of his story that’s spent on the moment is freaking delightful, and would’ve been enough to make this tale great all alone, but it’s the overall story for Chase, and how he finds importance, and love, that make this a real highlight. It’s also one of the first, of many, with LGBTQ+ representation, and how effortlessly its included here and other tales makes its lack of inclusion in the films even more glaring.




"A Naturalist on Hoth" by Hank Green {12/40}: Hank Green’s “A Naturalist on Hoth” took me by pleasant surprise, as the idea of someone focused on the natural aspects of a planet instead of the big, important moment around them for the Rebellion didn’t seem like my shot of spotchka. Oh boy, was I wrong and damn glad to be, as Kell’s POV really offered something I now wish we’d get more often. His expedition to Hoth, understanding the planet’s history and how its ecosystem works so beautifully, only for the Rebellion’s base to muck it all up (also seen in “Hunger”), provided a different way to consider the worlds our heroes hop between, a way that made me sad how they affect them much like we do and destroy our own. I’d love to have more stories told from this type of perspective, learning how these unique and memorable planets formed or allow for such strange and interesting creatures to thrive or die on, and it’s all thanks to this tale.




"Rendezvous Point" by Jason Fry {15/40}: FAVPOCTESB’s first long tale, “Rendezvous Point” by Jason Fry, never overstays its welcome, focusing in on Wedge Antilles’ time taking over and forming Red Squadron while Luke is away on Dagobah. Fry channels the Legends X-Wing authors and novels (which Chris has only just begun in his Legendary Adventures series!) as if he was writing their prequel, laying the groundwork for a canon version, but one that could also mesh well with Legends. There’s lots of good humor throughout, including a classic level prank from Wes Jensen, as well as a wonderful nod towards an (in)famous phrase from the Legends series regarding a pilot from a surprising species. Beyond that, the Wedge within its pages feels grounded within this very specific moment of time, making references to the new past given to him and his time in Star Wars Rebels, while laying the ground work for what’s to come. I also enjoyed Mon Mothma’s inclusion, as she was surprisingly absent for this novel/film when you think about it, though what sticks with me longest is the new character introduced, the “Contessa,” and all the potential hidden within the mysteries surrounding her and her past.




"Amara Kel's Rules for TIE Pilot Survival (Probably)" by Django Wexler {17/40}: The kinetic energy of “Amara Kel’s Rules For TIE Pilot Survival (Probably),” by Django Wexler, is infectious and fitting for a tale about a TIE pilot, even if her rules make her take it cautiously to maintain ‘veteran’ status. There’s plenty of humor in how her rules are presented, just a look at the title should give you a hint, but I most enjoyed how Amara Kel has to adjust her rules on the fly, or her adherence to them, as she finds it increasingly hard to follow them. It was a great look at a less fanatical Imperial character, of the grunt level, and how they deal with their disposable status while trying to survive just like anyone else. It’s also another great tale for LGBTQ+ rep!




“This is No Cave” by Catherynne M. Valente {20/40}: Catherynne M. Valente’s Space Opera was a big highlight in my reading for last year for its creative galaxy and gut-busting humor, and once I saw she was writing “This Is No Cave,” a tale told from the exogorth aka space slug’s POV, my anticipation for the tale shot through the stratosphere. “This Is No Cave” didn’t disappoint in the slightest, in fact beating my expectations, for its bizarre, unique, and memorable depiction of an exogorth’s life cycle. Sy-O and its journey will forever be on my mind when watching TESB now, especially its hilariously misplaced expectations for the arrival of Han, Leia, Chewie, and Threepio in the Falcon. It also featured mynocks often, at one point calling them butterflies, and we here at the Manor could be happier about such positive representation. But another tale even had a better usage for mynocks…




“Lord Vader Will See You Now” by John Jackson Miller {21/40}: RAE SLOANE! Written again by John Jackson Miller! I’ve been a very big fan of RAE SLOANE since A New Dawn in 2014, and how they’ve charted her journey through novels, short stories, a video game, and a comic has presented the character with tons of nuance and a storied career to watch unfold. “Lord Vader Will See You Now” is the latest in a long line of excellent appearances for Sloane, adding to her register of competency and shrewdness, making me itch even more for another novel with her, specifically as she sets the stage for what becomes the First Order. Most importantly (not really), Sloane’s continued rise in the Empire is all thanks to the humble mynocks, which play a pivotal role in helping her reverse a recent demotion; we’re getting the respect and importance we deserve! Anyways, Sloane’s got stones, even around Darth Vader, and it makes me love her even more, which might be the real reason she gets un-demoted. Plus, all the little references to her past stories, from the Kanan comic to A New Dawn, were great touches that reward her fans.




“Vergence” by Tracy Deonn {22/40}: I’m still reeling from “Vergence,” by Tracy Deonn. Diving into the cave’s ‘consciousness’ is a mesmerizing and twisted experience, as it grows and learns and manipulates the fear of those who visit it. Yoda’s interactions with the Cave, which are surprisingly numerous after he comes to Dagobah, and what he’s ultimately doing hits like a wallop, both for the reader and for the cave, allowing “Vergence” to stay on your mind long after you finish. If I was forced to pick an absolute top favorite, this would be the one.




"Tooth and Claw" by Michael Kogge {23/40}: Talk about another pleasant surprise, “Tooth and Claw” by Michael Kogge, featuring Bossk shortly before he arrives on the bridge of the Avenger to hear the bounty for the Millennium Falcon from Darth Vader, engaged until its very end. From its insight into Wookiee and Trandoshan culture, and diving a bit more into Bossk’s own past, to the numerous twist and turns that keep you guessing, this was a surprisingly layered tale for one I typical chalked up as a one-note character. I don’t want to give away any of the surprises, but I’m eager to have more stories expanding and exploring what unfolded within!




“Faith in an Old Friend” by Brittany N. Williams {33/40}: I was down to two for my final choice of Top Ten and L3-37's story just barely edged out Obi-Wan Kenobi's, simply because we've had Obi-Wan tales before and L3 deserves far more love and recognition after her debate-worthy fate in Solo: A Star Wars Story. What has she been up to since then? How is she coping with her new life? What would happen if she saw Lando again? Brittany N. Williams tackles all this and more in "Faith in an Old Friend," finally giving us a glimpse into her life as part of the Millennium Falcon. While L3 doesn't seem to be coming out of the Falcon anytime soon, as there was a little nod to her still in the ship thanks to Jason Fry's The Last Jedi novelization, this handles how/why she's not out already while retaining some sense of agency for the character. On top of that, Williams' makes it feel like Phoebe Waller-Bridge is playing the character again, as she captures the actress' distinct style, mannerisms, and voice with aplomb, to the point even though the audiobook doesn't include her making a guest appearance, she already did when I read this one in my head. This one really made me laugh and truly cry, leaving me wanting far more for L3 all over again, even though it helps ease the original pain.




"The Man Who Built Cloud City" by Alexander Freed {37/40}: I’ve been a long-time fan of author Christopher Moore, whose delightfully absurd books have brought me much enjoyment and laughs over the years, and the main character of “The Man Who Built Cloud City,” by Alexandeer Freed, reminds me a lot of one of Moore’s recurring characters: the Emperor of San Francisco. Both suffer delusions of grandeur, both are ‘homeless,’ and both are tolerated staples of their chosen homes (Cloud City and San Francisco, respectfully). Their delusions of a more glamorous life and world are so ingrained, they can’t accept much else, but whereas Moore’s character often gets into funny shenanigans, Freed’s King Yathros falls into a more tragic tale, with glints of hope. In the lead up to FACPOVTESB’s release, they teased this tale having fairy-tale qualities, but to me it read more Shakespearean, though overall it was a great change of pace for Freed, leaving me to hope he gets different assignments like this in the future (though Alphabet Squadron: Shadow Fall is his best book and one of the top novels in recent memory).

And now some brief thoughts on the remaining stories, all in order of appearance (minus the 10 above):




"Eyes of the Empire" by Kiersten White {1/40}: A solid enough start the collection, setting the tone and scope of how these stories provide new eyes (literally, in this case) on familiar moments.

"Hunger" by Mark Oshiro {2/40}: The animalistic nature of the POV, from the Wampa’s thoughts on how humans could survive at all to reclaiming its home after the Rebellion leaves, was refreshing and unique.

"Ion Control" by Emily Skrutskie {3/40}: Toyrn Farr’s commitment to her job, and how she sees a kindred spirit in Leia, flesh out this background character to a degree I really enjoyed, making me hope we get more time with her soon. This starts the running joke about Han and Leia and everyone just over their flirting already.




"She Will Keep Them Warm" by Delilah S. Dawson {5/40}: Something with the Black Spire novel didn’t sit right with me, and then I read these two important Twitter threads from Black Star Wars fans and it was far worse than I expected. The uneasiness continues in “She Will Keep Them Warm,” as I can’t quite accept the Tauntaun POV as the author’s attempt at a Tauntaun POV and not be a stand-in for something else.

“Heroes of the Rebellion” by Amy Ratcliffe {6/40}: This not making my Top Ten after it being on my Top 10 Most Anticipated tales doesn’t mean “Heroes of the Rebellion” isn’t good, it just lost out to a few others. Ratcliffe’s fiction prose debut was a great view on the Rebellion’s heroes, while it ends on a very hope-filled message. Lots of references to Jyn Erso’s famous “Rebellions are built on hope,” line throughout FACPOVTESB, and it all starts here.

"Rogue Two" by Gary Whitta {7/40}: A fitting tale for Gary Whitta, writer of Rogue One! Much like his last story bridged Rogue One to A New Hope (even more than the movie did), this continues to explore the impact of those events, including why there's Rogue Leader and Rogue Two, no Rogue One. Beyond some interesting details on adapting the speeders to Hoth or his thoughts on Luke, there's some fun humor around betting pools (again!) and a great and fitting Leia appearance.




"Kendal" by Charles Yu {8/40}: One of a few Honorable Mentions (meaning it almost cracked the Top Ten), as Yu's talented prose expanding on those literal last breathes of Admiral Ozzel really crescendos into his final one.

"Against All Odds" by R.F. Kuang {9/40}: While I didn't cry like I expected, that's a good thing, because instead this tale is both sad and uplifting, recounting Dak's final days with the Rebellion and peppering it with the character's unending sense of hope.

"Beyond Hope" by Michael Moreci {10/40}: Even the troopers in the ditches wondered why they were even out there shooting their little blasters at the AT-ATs, but Moreci explores it with humor and gravitas, focusing on the rallying cry of Jyn Erso as well to help a doubter understand hope.




"The Truest Duty" by Christie Golden {11/40}: I don't entirely know if I enjoyed this on its merits alone, as Christie Golden's way of tackling Maximilian Veers' confident, assured POV in "The Truest Duty" keeps the story compelling, or because I'm so damn excited to see how @VeersWatch reacts to it once he reads it. But I know one of those things made the ending even more exciting than expected!

"The Dragonsnake Saves R2-D2" by Katie Cook {13/40}: Short and delightful, this one's comic is the better of the two (so far)!

"For the Last Time" by Beth Revis {14/40}: I can't honestly say I know why Piett has always interested me, but Revis' dive into his haughty mind suddenly made it clear from how he handles a certain revelation regarding Darth Vader.




"The Final Order" by Seth Dickinson {16/40}: Another Honorable Mention, this story turns unnamed Imperial officer who dies aboard Star Destroyer in the Hoth system's asteroid field to an intense and deep exploration of a man whose career has been anything but uneventful, with a name you won't soon forget the next time you watch the film.

"The First Lesson" by Jim Zub {18/40}: Plenty of important connections to Yoda's previous FACPOV story, which helps build into his choice to test Luke the way he does, while hearing him mention certain prequel characters and compare Luke to them was a welcomed delight.

"Disturbance" by Mike Chen {19/40}: We need a Palpatine novel pronto, as this explores some of the more chilling aspects of the Sith apprentice/Master relationship and the Emperor's impressive depth of abilities. It also changes how one views the conversation between him and Vader once the latter exits the asteroid field, while it lays the groundwork for what's to come both in this film and the trilogy after.




"STET!" by Daniel José Older {24/40}: The formatting on this alone, which doesn't look as good on Kindle as it does in the physical version, makes for a hilarious and enjoyable tale, even if I wasn't always 100% sure what was going on. I think the old Dug waiter might be one of my favorite characters out of the whole book, while the notes from the editor droid really standout.

"Wait for It" by Zoraida Córdova {25/40}: Far better than Boba's FACPOV tale, toning down the 50's gangster by a mega-ton, the way Córdova heavily connects to The Clone Wars and the recent comic helped flesh out his trajectory a bit.

"Standard Imperial Procedure" by Sarwat Chadda {26/40}: Practice what you preach is an important mantra to follow and this doesn't shy away from the pitfalls of avoiding ones own advice.




"There is Always Another" by Mackenzi Lee {27/40}: Lost narrowly to L3's story to be in the Top 10, so this is basically #11. Obi-Wan is so ready to be done with the Skywalkers, but they keep pulling him back in, giving us another tale where laughing, and crying, are hard to avoid. How he tries to lie to himself about not caring about the Skywalkers is such an excellent examination of his love for Anakin, his big dumb friend.

“Fake It Till You Make It” by Cavan Scott {28/40}: It's Cavan Scott, writing more canon Jaxxon...what more do you need to know!? The meta-ness regarding the assumptions of the galaxy against Jaxxon and the Lepi and our own past of mocking him, was a sneaky, excellent touch by Scott. Definitely left me wanting more prose Jaxxon!

"But What Does He Eat?" by S.A. Chakroborty {29/40}: Sous Chef Chris, my fellow writer at the Manor, gets a shoutout in the tale (not really) as this chef has a Sous Chef too! Joking aside, I really enjoyed this tale for Lando and Torro's conversations about Cloud City and Torro's reality check to her sous chef when Gersolik wonders if they should poison Darth Vader. But yes, it also made me hungry!




"Beyond the Clouds" by Lilliam Rivera {30/40}: Isabalia has her eyes to the sky, thinking of a life of adventure and bounty hunting, but there are those around her trying to help her see she could be better than a lowly hunter. Seeing Cloud City from its less opulent side reveals it's not all glitz and glamour for all Lando's citizens.

"No Time for Poetry" by Austin Walker {31/40}: Walker manages to dive into IG-88's swiveling head to great effect, from how he feels about organics or prepares simulations to kill his new partner Dengar when he's annoyed with him, this tale is Odd Couple-levels of yes, please, more.

"Bespin Escape" by Martha Wells {32/40}: Ugnaught society is layered and dense, maybe too dense to cause themselves trouble in the middle of an evacuation, but "Bespin Escape" certainly changes how you view their important to the city.




"Due on Batuu" by Rob Hart {34/40}: Willrow Hood runs again! This was a lot of fun, especially with the references to ice cream and Hood's Legends backstory, and certainly lives up to the hype.

"Into the Clouds" by Karen Strong {35/40}: Jailyn's desire to be more than daddy's clean-up crew for their Tibanna gas tycoon life is a short but compelling read, as Strong manages to pack in some heady conversations about acceptance oneself over adhering to what everyone else wants you to be.


"The Witness" by Adam Christopher {36/40}: Stormtrooper Deena Lorn's struggles with the pain and torture she's helped inflict, and coming to terms with her decision to leave the Empire, takes a little more nuanced approach to defectors some stories gloss over. How Vader's conversation with Luke during their duel, which she accidentily stumbles into, helps her with her choice was an interesting way to frame such a famous scene. Bonus fun fact: The TK number for Lorn is the same as Bria LaVorgna's in the 501st costuming league, which is such an awesome shout-out to a fantastic fan from both the Tosche Station and the official site's blog!




"The Backup Backup Plan" by Anne Toole {38/40}: Another Honorable Mention, this one started off a little hard to follow but shortly I was along the ride for all its fun twists and turns. One of the few tales I wished was longer!

"Right-Hand Man" by Lydia Kang {39/40}: There was humor within, but there was a deeper, more psychological focused conversation that I feel I only scratched the surface of while reading it. I especially like the droid's insight to Luke's pain after Cloud City, as well as his thoughts on Luke and Leia's reaction to one another changing since Hoth.

"The Whills Strike Back" by Tom Angleberger {40/40}: These meta-heavy endings, as someone is picked by the Whills to inscribe the tale of Star Wars into their journels, is an excellent way to end each FACPOV! It's an absolute blast to read, while that Holiday Special reference is on-point. Can't wait to see what Angleberger cooks up for Return of the Jedi's in three years!

The art/social cards are thanks to Chris Trevas!

Mynock Mentions: Out of 40 stories, the mynock, first introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, makes only 4 appearances. At 10%, its doesn't look like the strongest showing from the heroic and selfless mynocks, but they play pivotal roles in at least two of the stories where they are mentioned. In "This Is No Cave," the exogorth considers the mynocks to be butterflies, which is poetical sound and definitely needs to be add to the their Wook page, while their role in giving Rae Sloane the upper hand over Admiral Piett shows they know a great character when they see one.

Overall, From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back is an even better showing than the original, offering more memorable and unique characters/events, exploring the Saga as a whole in new lights, and providing tons of diversity in all its representation.

+ Consistency in quality

+ Cohesion between tales

+ Broader representation

+ Mynock redemption ;)

The Empire Strikes Back has been called by many Star Wars fans the best episode of the entire saga. The second chapter of the original trilogy brought countless unforgettable moments that are still to this day embedded in pop culture—from the introduction of the greatest Jedi Master of all time, Yoda, to the shocking revelation of Luke Skywalker’s parentage through Darth Vader’s quote “I am your father.” Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the movie, Lucasfilm Publishing assembled an all-star group of forty storytellers with From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back—recreating iconic scenes through the eyes of their supporting characters, from unsung heroes to beloved protagonists.

Continuing the tradition of its predecessor by the same name, From a Certain Point of View has a unique structure compared to what you would expect from an anthology. Although each tale is standalone in and of itself, readers will experience a certain level of continuity from one to the next. Watching The Empire Strikes Back is definitely a prerequisite for the book, even tempting the readers to indulge in rewatching specific scenes in the movie, frame by frame to visually connect with each story—especially the ones with background characters (yes, Willrow Hood, a.k.a Ice Cream Man gets his own tale). However, having a new author for each story can break the flow of the book as a whole, which is something that needs to be considered when reading it as a novel.

Artist Chris Trevas’ black and white silhouette illustrations perfectly capture the essence of each story—a clever way to allow the readers to visually immortalize them.

The new perspectives in From a Certain Point of View often come from well known side characters, from the Wedge Antilles to Admiral Piett, but what makes this book shine is the points of view of the creatures. Readers will finally understand the struggles of the tauntauns as they are kept in captivity in the tight walls of Echo Base and the Space Slug’s search for love and togetherness.

From a Certain Point of View not only connects with The Empire Strikes Back, but also with events from other Star Wars sources—movies, TV shows, and the publishing world, both canon and Legends. For example, Rogue One’s “Rebellions are built on hope” quote deeply resonates with the Rebels’ fight against the Empire’s constant oppression during the Battle of Hoth seen in the movie and expanded in the book. Even L3-37 from Solo returns to the spotlight as part of the “Millennium Collective”. Readers will also spot mentions of events from The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels series. Characters and locations from other books and comics including but not limited to Rae Sloane, Jaxxon (thank you, Cavan Scott), and even the jungle planet of Haruun Kal (from Matthew Stover’s Shatterpoint Legends novel) are featured in From a Certain Point of View—bringing a true sense of a larger galaxy within the movie and the franchise as a whole.

The all-star author tales are paired with an equally spangled voice cast. Star Wars narrating legends Marc Thompson, Jonathan Davis, and January LaVoy are joined by Emily Woo Zeller (Doctor Aphra), Sean Elias-Reyes (Poe Dameron: Free Fall), Dion Graham, Soneela Nankani, Sam Witwer, and Jon Hamm—coming back to voice a Boba Fett story once again! Listening to the audiobook brings the experience closer to the movie, with each actor’s performance elevating the characters within the stories. In particular, Sean Elias-Reyes truly showcased his vocal versatility with bold characters such as Jaxxon—adding extra fun to the mix.

From a Certain Point of View is the best way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back. Forty acclaimed authors for forty amazing stories that will expand what you know from the movie like never before. Why don’t you give it a try? But as Yoda says “Do or do not. There is no try,” so grab your copy, whether it’s physical or audiobook format, and let us know about your favorite story by leaving a comment below or on our social media outlets.

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back is an anthology of 30 short stories told from the points of view of various side characters, and original characters, who bore witness to the events of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Published by Del Rey, the stories in this volume range from tragic to romantic and serious to silly, written by popular Star Wars authors, science fiction favorites, and upcoming fiction stars.

Since 2017’s original From a Certain Point of View introduced the idea of retelling Star Wars from the perspective of the original movie’s myriad side characters, as well as concurrent vignettes from beloved characters not from A New Hope, many have asked whether Empire should get a FACPOV treatment. And if it should, how would the next installment work for a movie with far fewer side and background characters of note? The short answers? Yes, there should absolutely have been a From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back, and you make it successful by simply inventing new characters in pivotal scenes.

The first installment of FACPOV found its most creative and fulfilling moments in stories told by characters not in the film, such as Lando Calrissian, Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Dr. Aphra (no, not the Emperor or the Whills). From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back has some of its most successful moments when it is creating original characters. Kiersten White’s story “Eyes of the Empire,” Emily Skrutskie’s “Ion Control,” and C. B. Lee’s “A Good Kiss,” and several others are each great examples of this success. Each character is original, and maybe there’s an on-screen correlate, but you could easily see them having been at Echo Base right next to the rest of the rebels, or aboard a star destroyer.

I also appreciate the diversity of genres the stories bring. The creativity ranges from the romance of “A Good Kiss,” to the action of Jason Fry’s great Wedge Antilles story “Rendezvous Point,” to the, whatever you call the mode Daniel José Older took writing his story “STET!” as if it was a Google Doc draft in the middle of edits. Because the volume contains 30 different stories, several from similar parts of the movie each, it’s okay if certain stories don’t work for you. There is always another perspective to try instead.

Another strong aspect of From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back is the way its characterizations are consistent with not just the movie but other Star Wars canon. For example, “There is Always Another by Mackenzie Lee” stars Obi-Wan Kenobi, who remarks on small character bits developed explicitly in Claudia Grey’s Master and Apprentice. There are also direct Clone Wars references and other small Easter eggs and character moments that always reflect a cohesiveness to the greater Star Wars storytelling rather than coming across as pandering.

The single-story that I take issue with is Delilah S. Dawson’s “She Will Keep Them Warm.” Not only does it feel just poorly written prose-wise, but its portrayal of Leia feels flat and I’m some ways, simply wrong. That said, of all the stories in From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back, this feels like the only true error. Some are less compelling than others, to me, but all 29 other stories had either satisfying character moments, interesting stories, creative aspects, or a few chuckles. The occasional drawings by Chris Trevas also help round out this volume.

In all, not every story in From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back will be for everybody, but that’s okay. The range of types of stories is excellent and the balance between original characters and fan favorites helps make sure the book holds something for everybody.