Such a fun read, I always love getting to revisit familiar events from the eyes of a new perspective! Some are funny, others are insightful, but all around this was a good read with a lot of interesting stories! There’s definitely something for everyone!

From the very first book in this anthology series I wanted this one the most. For those that don't know this is a collection of stories that tie into situations and actions that occur in Return of the Jedi. There is a wonderful diverse group of writers and great stories.

From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi zet de traditie voort die in 2017 begon met From a Certain Point of View. 13 oktober van dit jaar was het 40 jarig jubileum van Return of the Jedi en dat wordt gevierd met een verhalenbundel bestaande uit 40 verhalen, geschreven door 40 bekende en minder bekende auteurs. Het is vast geen geheim dat ik deze boeken erg kan waarderen, het is een leuke manier om de films opnieuw te beleven en wat extra diepte te geven aan gebeurtenissen die we daar zien gebeuren en vooral aan achtergrondpersonages. Ook deze keer gaan we weer vooral met die achtergrondpersonages op avontuur, al duiken we deze keer ook wat meer in hun achtergrond. We gaan in flink wat verhalen terug naar momenten net voor de film, of zelfs jaren eerder in het verleden van personages als Max Rebo en Malakili. Ook zien we deze keer wat verhalen van personages die we in de film helemaal niet zien, zoals Dexter Jettster!

Zoals te verwachten met dit soort boeken zien we ontzettend veel variatie in schrijfstijl, tempo en genre. In From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi springen we heen en weer tussen serieuze contemplatie van Dexter over zijn rol in de oorlog en daarmee de vorming van de Empire, een komische vertelling van het leven van de – bij voorkeur vegetarische – Sarlacc in de Dune Sea, naar de filosofische reis die Anakin maakte van de acceptatie van zijn dood tot toetreding in de Force naast zijn mentoren Obi-Wan en Yoda, tot door Star Wars Battlefront geïnspireerde Ewok horror.

Het is veilig om te stellen dat dit boek voor ieder iets wils bevat, maar aan de andere kant van die munt zal het boek voor een ieder ook genoeg verhalen bevatten die de plank een beetje mis slaan, maar dat mag de pret niet drukken. Er is echt voor ieder wat wils.

Een aantal hoogtepunten voor mij waren het verhaal van Gloria Chao over de Imperial Red Guards die de kamer uitgestuurd werden toen Darth Vader Luke naar de Emperor bracht. Het was erg interessant om te zien hoe deze elite getrainde en toegewijde krijgers het absoluut niet leuk vonden om Palpatine alleen te laten, en langzaam tot de realisatie komen dat dit ook een grote fout was. Ook het verhaal van Mike Chen, waarin we Anakins reis door de Force volgen is ontzettend indrukwekkend. Het verhaal van Sarah Kuhn vertelt over Nanta, een Ewok die zijn draai niet echt weet te vinden, tot duidelijk wordt dat verhalen vertellen helemaal zijn ding is. Dit verhaal geeft een hele leuke kijk in de Ewok cultuur en raakt de gevoelige snaar best hard.

Het 19 en een half uur durende audioboek is net zo indrukwekkend als de verhalen zelf. Er zijn geen 40 voorlezers, maar de cast is ook zeker niet klein, Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes, Jon Hamm, January LaVoy, Saskia Maarleveld, Scott Adams, Marc Thompson en Sam Witwer vertolken de verhalen elk op hun eigen manier. Zoals altijd vergezeld door de nodige geluidseffecten en muziek. Ze geven met zijn allen elk verhaal een eigen stijl en ik durf te wedden dat verhalen die op papier niet helemaal klikken met sommige lezers, ze in audiovorm ineens wel aanspreken. Wat mij betreft zijn de audioboeken voor deze reeks een geweldige manier om van de grote hoeveelheid variatie aan verhalen te genieten.

From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi is wat mij betreft een erg leuk boek waar menig fan van zal genieten. Zoals gezegd, wellicht niet van elk verhaal, maar dat is niet erg, bij dit soort verzamelingen is het helemaal prima om er enkel de verhalen uit te pikken die je aanspreken, en met 40 opties moet dat zeker lukken.

De grote vraag is nu of we 16 jaar moeten gaan wachten op From a Certain Point of View: The Phantom Menace of dat Random House Worlds het format aanpast om die eerder uit te kunnen brengen. Al heb ik er ook geen problemen mee als die ook gewoon 40 verhalen krijgt maar met een paar jaar al in mijn boekenkast te vinden is.

Of the three From A Certain Point of View books, this one is my runaway favorite. 40 stories from 40 authors each with a unique perspective and style. Admittedly, not every story hit of much as some others, but the ones that did left an indelible impression.
I'm old enough to say that I saw ROTJ on its initial theatrical run and this book adds so much lore and background to many of the characters that lie in the periphery of the movie.

From the denizens of Jabba's palace to Rebellion pilots, heroic Ewoks and Imperial commanders, FACPOV: ROTJ has something for every Star Wars fan and it's a book that I can't recommend enough.

The From a Certain Point of View anthology series has been a JOY to read, as a Star Wars fan, and as an enjoyer of short fiction in general. It reminded me of the magic of watching the original trilogy of films, and why I love Star Wars in the first place, and this one was no exception. Return of the Jedi is far from my favorite Star Wars film, and yet this installment of the anthologies moved even me to tears at one point.

Much like the previous two installments, there's something for everyone in here — funny stories, moving ones, wonderful references to the movies, TV shows, other books, and comics. Every author's love for Star Wars was JUMPING off the page, and there were moments that made moments in the film even more poignant. I hope this project never stops, and they'll do the prequel trilogy some day.

The audiobook was, as usual from the Star Wars audiobooks, also a joy to listen to! I expected nothing less having listened to the last two, but it really elevated the experience and made it feel like I was really watching the movie all over again.

Thanks to Random House Worlds and Penguin Random House audio for the review copies of this book.

This dad read From A Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi! Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the film, and appropriately written by 40 diverse authors, this is the third book in the From A Certain Point of View series which collects short stories and highlights minor characters from the films. Whether it be in Jabba’s Palace on Tatooine or on the forest moon of Endor, Return of the Jedi has no shortage of background characters ripe for exploration.

From A Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi succeeds in the fact that it exposes Star Wars readers to a breadth of authors whose work might have otherwise never been engaged with. Some of the authors have published Star Wars works before (Kristin Baver, Sean Williams, Mike Chen) but others like Tara Sim (The City of Dusk), Dana Schwartz (Anatomy: A Love Story), Kwame Mbalia (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky), and Danny Lore (Unfettered Hexes) are likely brand new to the majority of readers. Every author included in the book is skilled and brings something to the table, so whether you’re a fan of war stories, abstract psychological explorations, comedic space adventures, or romance all will find something to enjoy.

This breadth of storytelling is also what ultimately hinders From A Certain Point of View: The Return of the Jedi from being outright amazing. The idea of 40 stories celebrating 40 years is clever, but at a certain point the energy required to dive into another new characters’ backstory/motivation/goals/life became exhausting. I’d recommend taking this book slow, pacing yourself to delve into one story at a time versus trying to read the book as soon as possible (something I think hurt my overall experience). This is the first From A Certain Point of view collection that I’ve reviewed, and while my memory might be somewhat hazy, I remember enjoying the previous two entries more. To me, the Return of the Jedi edition almost leaned too heavily on super minor characters that (at least for me) didn’t immediately spark any sort of recognition, so it was challenging for me to contextualize them within the framework of the original film.

All this to say that there are definitely stories here that I truly enjoyed. Fancy Man by Phil Szostak comedically dives into Max Rebo’s psychology as a tortured artist. Then Fall, Sidious by Olivie Blake brings Palpatine’s internal monologue front and center during his front row seat to the confrontation between Luke and Vader (and Sam Witwer’s narration in the audiobook is outstanding). Adam Lance Garcia’s entry, The Veteran, centers on Dexter Jettster, who technically isn't’ seen on screen in Return of the Jedi but I thoroughly enjoyed his exploration of a guy who’s been around since The High Republic; his story is one of determination and hope and one that I instantly fell in love with. Brotherhood by Mike Chen is basically an epilogue to his 2022 novel of the same name. Chen beautifully takes readers on Darth Vader’s journey from life to the Force and gives me the closure I didn’t know I needed; Anakin and Obi-Wan stans get your tissues ready!

The audiobook version of From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi features an all-star cast of narrators like Jon Hamm, Adam Scott, Nika Futterman and Sam Witwer. Star Wars narration mainstays like March Thompson, Saskia Maarleveld, Jonathan Davis, and Kristen Sieh (to name a few) are also present. Having numerous voices tell these stories adds another element of fun to the stories being told and with the addition of sound effects and music, it really feels like an expansion upon the film.

From A Certain Point of View: The Return of the Jedi is at times uneven, but if taken at the right pace can be an enjoyable Star Wars book experience for readers of any taste.

Ever since 2017, when the first From a Certain Point of View anthology was published, fans experienced tales of unsung heroes and dove into the inner thoughts of background and foreground characters from the original trilogy. From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi ends this series of books celebrating the 40th anniversary of classic Star Wars, collecting forty stories that fill the gaps of the titular film—sometimes in a meaningful and intriguing way, and others creating new perspectives for characters we always assumed were villainous.

Being nearly 600 pages in length, From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi looks intimidating to open—let it be the nature of the anthology series being mostly focused on creating brand new tales from a movie that’s been around for decades with little room for expandability or the number of stories required to match the anniversary—making the audiobook version a nice alternative if you don’t have enough time to read or if you want to experience these stories is a much more entertaining way. Keeping the tradition of this unique anthology series, Penguin Random House Audio brought together a full cast for the book, from Star Wars audiobook veterans Marc Thompson, January LaVoy, Saskia Maarleveld, and Jonathan Davis to the wonderful Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes (delivering several hilariously fun performances) and Sam Witwer, blessing the fans with yet another amazing portrayal of Emperor Palpatine.

Out of the forty tales, there are quite a few that really hit the mark in terms of importance for key characters in the Star Wars universe (e.g. Mike Chen’s Brotherhood brings closure to Anakin Skywalker’s journey, connecting it to his novel with the same title). Others shine the light on the true nature of creatures and droids serving under the unforgiving Jabba the Hutt, but these short stories are sprinkled throughout the book, and the rest of the anthology just misses the target in keeping the reader’s interest. However, the inclusion elements from the new Star Wars TV series really spices up and interconnects the storylines.

From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi is a book that should be savored, and since each tale is contained within the author’s vision, readers can pick and choose which ones to read in any order if you are familiar with the film. The book is ordered chronologically, so if you feel like skipping a few stories, it almost feels like fastforwarding the movie to a scene that you loved as a kid and discovering a new point of view within it.

Are you ready to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the final installment in the Star Wars original trilogy? Then make sure to pick up a copy of From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi today, with a gorgeous jacket cover by Will Staehle. Yub Nub!

From my review for Dork Side of the Force:

Overall, the anthology is an exceptional ending to the trilogy of From a Certain Point of View stories. It’s also full of new beginnings for beloved characters and the galaxy as a whole.

FACPOV: Return of the Jedi is full of love and celebration for the final film in the original trilogy. It also connects the 40-year-old movie to nearly every other project in the franchise. It adds new threads, pulls in loose ones, and generally makes the fabric of the larger Star Wars story that much more bright, bold, and dynamic.

Each story has something fresh but familiar to offer, and there really is a story for every kind of Star Wars fan.

The best stories in this anthology are full of reflection and hope — two of the most important themes in Star Wars. In this book, each character — new or established — looks back on their triumphs and tragedies, their mistakes and missteps, and any other action that led them to their respective pivotal moments.

In the two most powerful stories of the book, Anakin Skywalker and Dexter Jettster reflect on how their lives shaped the entire galaxy.

In “Brotherhood,” Chen draws out the beautifully bittersweet moment when Anakin rejoins the light and becomes one with the Force. While still full of grief and guilt for what he’s done over the decades, he’s at peace knowing that his son and daughter are his legacy.

In “The Veteran,”’ Garcia shows the heavy burden of guilt that wracks Dex. The besalisk diner owner and friend of Obi-Wan Kenobi is nearly consumed by wondering if he could’ve prevented all this tragedy when he guided the Jedi to Kamino and the Republic’s secret army of clone troopers.

Both stories, as well as a few others, are full-circle moments for these characters whom so many have loved over the decades.

FACPOV: Return of the Jedi feels like the most poignant and focused of the trilogy of From a Certain Point of View books. The book’s pacing is steady as it deftly moves the story and readers through more than three dozen different stories, several planets, a Death Star, and the forest moon of Endor.

Like the collections that came before it, FACPOV: Return of the Jedi adds depth and nuance to the stories told in the third Star Wars movie. And it just might make many aspects of the beloved film even better.

Some trilogies struggle to end with strong, memorable fanfare. This book is not one of those endings.

FACPOV: Return of the Jedi is my favorite of the FACPOV books that have been released. Which is interesting and honestly amazing, considering ROTJ is among my least favorite Star Wars movies. That really just speaks to how effective it is in recontextualizing the events of the movie and how well-crafted each individual story is, and how well all of them fit together as one big package.

Why do these stories work so well separately and together? I’ll give you two important reasons. One: They’re filled with dynamic, intriguing characters who are finally given space to bloom and expand. Many of them are background characters you wouldn’t typically give a second glance to. Others offer points of view you never knew you needed, like the climactic events of the first act chronicled through the sarlacc’s … eyes? And others still may never have gotten to have voices in the original trilogy at all without this book. I’m looking at you, Dex.

Two: Every story has a strong, unique, memorable and passionate voice. There’s a reason these authors were chosen to contribute to an anthology like this. You can feel the love of Star Wars on every page of the book. Each author comes at this with their own experiences and perspectives, so you’re not just seeing the events of the movie retold 40 different ways. All 40 stories look at Star Wars and its overarching meanings in different ways.

For those who don’t know, I should clarify that the From a Certain Point of View books each include 40 stories by 40 authors to celebrate the 40th anniversary for their respective Star Wars movies. There’s been one for both A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and today marks the release of the one chronicling the characters and events of Return of the Jedi.

And I know what you’re thinking: This must mean there are so many stories set on Tatooine and Endor! And you’re right! Of the three books, though, I do think this one balances this out the best. Due to the nature of the movie’s storyline, yes, you’re going to spend a lot of time on Tatooine. But there’s enough variety in the stories, and enough background on the characters, that it’s quite manageable. I was sad to leave Tatooine – not something I’ve ever been able to say before, so there’s that.

For me, the back half of the book really hit hard, but that’s also the part of the movie I tend to like more, so I don’t think it had much to do with the stories themselves – there were many in the first half that had me smiling and feeling feelings. More on that in a minute.

Let’s be honest: What you want to know if you’re listening to or reading this review is: Is the book good? Is it worth reading? Is it worth my time? And my answer to all these questions, regardless of how I feel about the nature of said questions, is yes. There are some stories in here that are going to break you, and some that will actually change the way you watch the movie. There are some authors you’re going to want to check out, and may even cross your fingers that they’ll get to come back and write more Star Wars someday.

The biggest takeaway from this book as a whole is that even if you don’t vibe with every story, there will be at least one story that’s for you. Everyone has at least one character or moment from Return of the Jedi they enjoy revisiting – even me! I can guarantee there’s something in it for you. Even if it’s to find out how the Whills trilogy at the end of every book finally concludes because that alone was worth the wait.

If I had to pick three stories I’d consider “top picks” – in no particular order – they’d be “The Chronicler” by Danielle Paige, “The Veteran” by Adam Lance Garcia, and “Wolf Trap” by Alyssa Wong. Honorable mentions: Marc Thompson’s reading of “My Mouth Never Closes” and also Marc Thompson’s reading of “The Plan” – I can’t say I particularly thought extensively about Malakili before this, but now I’m invested, and the narration of Saladin Ahmed’s already phenomenal story made me love it even more. There’s another recommendation for you: the audiobook. Even if you’re not typically an audiobook listener, I highly recommend this one as another way to experience these stories. The narration adds even more depth to many of these stories and makes them hit even harder in many cases.

We waited years for this book, and it’s finally here. Set aside some time over the next few weeks to work your way through it, because it’s lengthy. But it’s worth spending time digesting. There are already stories from this anthology I’ve gone back and reread, and that’s quite unusual for me. To me, the measure of a “good” story is whether or not you’re still thinking about it days after you’ve first encountered it. And I am. I think I will be for a very long time.

40 Stories!
40 Authors!
Celebrating Return of the Jedi’s 40th anniversary!

I’m in… HIT IT MAX!

This expansive anthology delivers 40 stories following lesser-known characters set during the events of Return of the Jedi. From gangsters beyond the Dune Sea, workplace drama on the Empire’s secret battle station, Apex predators on the sanctuary moon, and the hope of the Alliance fleet.

If you’ve read my reviews for the other book in this series you know I’m all about that ANTHOLOGY life. With each author bringing their own style and energy to the collection like a harmonious Jatz improvisational jam session fans are sure to find plenty of favorites in the mix!


Each story takes a background character we’ve watched and wondered about (possibly on VHS) and fills in their story. The range of stories hits on so many themes and emotions it’s hard not to find something that speaks to you like the silky croonings of a talented Pa’lowick vocalist.

Dancers and band members remember their friend Oola. Creative differences and band drama. Boba protects his reputation. The sarlaac trying to explain their diet preferences. Mon Mothma, alone on a secret mission. The Ballad of Nanta. TK-423 trying to solve workplace worries. Dexter Jettser thinking of an old friend. And Anakin Skywalker learning one last lesson.

This book is a must-read for Return of the Jedi fans looking for more stories filling in the world of a favorite movie!

Sal P.

The finale 6 years in the making, From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi closes out one daring, fun, and always exciting initiative to celebrate the 40th anniversary for each original trilogy film. Considering it would be at least 16 years before we’d ever see one again (yes, The Phantom Menace’s 40th is closer than I imagined), if they do one then, this is the end for the foreseeable future, and at least it went out on a high note. Despite 40 different authors across 40 different stories, an overarching theme, consistent quality of tales, mini-trilogy finales amongst the stories, and surprising choices lead to a finale which takes readers back to 1983 in the best way possible.

When I mentioned an “overarching theme” in From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi, I don’t believe it was actually intentional, but I found it amongst a feeling I couldn’t escape across many of the stories, and once I embraced it, I couldn’t unsee it and it led me to an overall feeling the previous two entries didn’t. The From a Certain Point of View series has been such an awesome, giant piece of work, and I can’t believe we’re here 108 authors and 120 stories later, proceeds of which going to Firs Book. I’ve enjoyed the previous two immensely, where even some of those stories beat some of the best here in my mind, but this theme I picked up on for FaCPOVRotJ curiously levitated the entirety above what came before. Across most of the stories in FaCPOVRotJ, there’s a sense of finality to characters’ point-of-view, often very directly, and other times subtle, as the impending Battle of Endor looks to signify an ending for either side of the war. Stories range in this mindset, as characters are either coming to terms with what it might mean to stop fighting, to lose, to win, or even learning to let go, while many seem to be left pondering the future, which can remain a scary, unknown thing despite their hope for what comes next. This general feeling is one I embraced, and in doing so, when I finished FaCPOVRotJ it felt like what I imagined leaving the theater did to fans in 1983. I wasn’t around just yet, and if you weren’t like me, it might be hard to imagine, but in 1983 there was no real expanded universe yet or tons of other materials to embrace, so going into the film was likely how it felt for the Rebellion heading to face off against the second Death Star: would they be triumphant, and if so, what could be next? While in 2023 we obviously have tons of material about what else can be happening in the galaxy far, far away (which Tom Angleberger’s Whills ending once again skewers in the best way possible), and have much, much more to look forward to, even despite this plethora of content, all the stories in FaCPOVRotJ allowed me to partially feel what those fans felt then about Return of the Jedi, of how they weren’t sure what could come next, but it was a wild, fun ride and hopefully more would follow. I felt something similar when Revenge of the Sith came out, as it was reportedly the last Star Wars film and the future was unknown, though there were many books out there to enjoy and an animated show on its way, so never quite like how it must’ve been in 1983. To then be transported back to a feeling I never could’ve felt, only imagined, after all this time, and with so much more content on the horizon, across 40 stories from 40 authors here, is a big reason everyone involved should take the largest bow.

Of the three FaCPOVs, this one felt the most pointed and focused, as the opening one didn’t feel like it had much of a pace and the second meandered on Hoth a little too long (especially in tone), while FaCPOVRotJ moves deftly from Tatooine, Dagobah, and the Death Star II/Endor, never feeling like it’s overstaying its time in the final part of the film by jumping from Imperial, Rebel, and Ewok with glee, plus many of the stories compromise more than one location or provide a glimpse just out of the film’s frame, managing to be both engaging and rewarding when doing so. This approach meant there weren’t as many surprises nor as many new characters, or as many deviations from the main story, as most options felt like the safe or expected choice, but at least it was to give specific background/minor characters on screen time to finally shine when it’s been long overdue. And while I didn’t cry as often as I did on the previous two, when I did, it took the wind out from my lungs it hit so hard, but thankfully there’s a good selection of humor, romance, and a little bit of both throughout as well, while some the romantic ones turn out to hold more of the book’s promise than others. LGBTQIA+ representation remains steady from its increase in The Empire Strikes Back’s entry, as organic and as lovely as any heteronormative options, and at this point in reading Star Wars books it’s nice to know we can rely on it to be included so wonderfully and often.

Before I wrap this up and get to my final thoughts, it’s time for my Top 10, 7 of which remained from my Top 10 Most Anticipated and 3 are new (just like with TESB’s FaCPOV), but I can’t say I disliked a single one!

Top 10 (in story order)

“Dune Sea Songs of Salt and Moonlight” by Thea Guanzon {#5/40}: Starring a "brand-new" character, Guanzon develops a compelling story full of love, heartbreak, finding the power of hope inside, while also touching on the less than savory aspects of being a dancer/musician in Jabba’s Palace that ends up feeling long overdue. Often what has endured me to a story in this series is showing the unintended consequences of our heroes’ actions, for better or for worse, all while showing said actions through the lens of an impartial observer, and Jess’ journey is full of both of these, as we see the tough life she’s found herself in and how our heroes’ desire to free Han Solo helps bring light into the darkness of the Hutt’s halls and into the character’s heart, as well as what it means for those around her. While it’s one of the longer stories here, Guanzon takes full advantage of it, finding ways to introduce sympathy and empathy for Jess’ plight, even if part of it is self-made, while corralling some compelling new scenes, from Jess helping with Leia’s new outfit to a fellow dancer and their sequels-related visions, that made me want more about Jess as well as more from Guanzon in the future. UPDATE: I will say, after writing this, I learned Jess can actually be seen briefly in the film but far more in mockumentaries and other sources of footage!

“The Light That Falls” by Akemi Dawn Bowman {#13/40}: There is a line early in Bowman’s tale from the dragonsnake of Dagobah’s POV which left me speechless for a moment, its simplicity brimming with an impactful message, and I already knew this would stay in the Top 10. Believe it or not, it only gets better and ends in such a way we should all feel special we get to read it, as Bowman packs the tale with imagery which boils down the Saga’s biggest, most important theme into a heartfelt eulogy for one of its enduring characters. On top of all that, Bowman makes the dragonsnake an interesting character by itself, making its sentience animalistic but one we can digest as well. I’d love to say more but this one speaks for itself, in volumes, and was the first to make me cry, forcing me to put the book down and return to it later. If you asked me to pick only one tale from FaCPOVRotJ, no questions asked it’s this one I’d keep.

“No Contingency” by Fran Wilde {#15/40}: There’s been a Mothmaissance in the last few years, and for good reason, as there’s so much left of her complicated, twisty story to tell from the early days of the Rebellion in Andor to the years of the New Republic’s reign (be it Ahsoka, the upcoming New Republic movie, or new and old books), and we can’t get enough. Case in point, Wilde’s Mon Mothma story here, as we see the depths she’s willing to go, despite her position, to secure the Rebellion’s future and give them the hope they need on the eve of their greatest struggle (for at least another year). It’s a side we don’t see terribly often from Mon, though did somewhat recently in a comic also celebrating the film’s 40th, but it feels right, especially as Wilde builds in references to Andor that seem inevitable now and can fit easily into her appearance in the film and beyond.

“The Last Flight” by Ali Hazelwood {#25/40}: As always, this series is full of stories which end in a character’s death, hoping to add a tragic or eye-opening backstory to make even the smallest of losses felt the next time you watch the film. Hazelwood’s entry in this tradition for Rebel pilot Sila Kott (played by actress Poppy Hands and dubbed over by an American male in post-production) produces plenty of tragedy, but it’s one with such a bittersweet ending I’m dredging up the poignantly tinged tears just typing about it. As Sila looks back at her life, we learn of a love she didn’t understand at first, comes to terms with, and experiences in such a way it's hard not to get sucked into producing similar feelings of moments lost and fleeting from our own lives. Was definitely glad I was sitting down when I finished this one.

“The Ballad of Nanta” by Sarah Kuhn {#27/40}: Telling stories takes a special kind of mindset, especially ones which will stand the test of time, and it can be easy to get caught up in dreaming about them to forget to live in the moment along the way. Sarah Kuhn takes us through such a journey for the Ewok Nanta, whose dreams of more, of why they are here, will resonate with any reader as he searches for the greatest story to tell for his people, even as war (and life) gets in his way. Where Kuhn’s going with the tale sneaks up on you and with it an emotional, fitting ending with larger themes about stories and our place in them, especially the ones we make.

“Then Fall, Sidious” by Olivie Blake {#28/40}: On the character card excerpt alone, I was hooked on Blake’s writing for her take on Emperor Palpatine and the full story didn’t disappoint. The conventions for how she wrote it, honoring the first Palpatine tale in A New Hope’s FACPOV, meant there was some repetition built in, which made the story’s length stand out a bit too much for me, but these same issues actually helped make the point Blake was trying to convey. By the story’s end, there’s no doubt over Ol’ Palpy’s belief in his superiority, but it’s the way Blake delivers it, not only in its almost Shakespearian, lyrical prose, rather the assorted imagery and definitive, haughty tone which give this story such impact. Several times I would reread a paragraph or even sentence, just because I couldn’t quite believe Blake managed to make a certain point with an intriguing collection of words; it’s as masterful of a display of the English language as Palpatine’s belief in his Mastery.

“The Emperor’s Red Guards” by Gloria Chao {#32/40}: The fiercest, most loyal troopers you can think of, the Emperor’s Royal Guard, banished from the room by their master, only for his overconfidence to get the best of him! What would they think when they learned what happened and would they survive long enough to grapple with those questions before the station blew? Chao ensures the answers to those questions, as well as other surprises, revolve around one of the more compelling stories in the group. As these aren’t characters you’d expect to follow, the short journey they go on here, as the two learn their master is dead and struggle to uncover what really happened, while one deals with doubts they can’t quite put down after Palpatine’s death, kept me on the edge of my seat and left me more than glad we got this unique perspective.

“Wolf Trap” by Alyssa Wong {#33/40}: If you’ve visited the Manor before, it shouldn’t come as a surprise I’ve really enjoyed Alyssa Wong’s work, going so far as to award them a spot amongst my favorite comics writers for 2022, and their story appearing on my Top 10 list likewise shouldn’t offer any shock. But there’s clearly a reason for this praise and “Wolf Trap” is an extension of that, as it builds off Wong’s stellar Ewoks comic (seriously, go read it, it’s such a great way to use the medium of comics) in a fascinating and mesmerizing way that’ll never let you look at Ewoks and their celebrations the same way again. More importantly, the journey Hoyel, the trooper at the center of the story, goes through is a psychological experience, for the lack of a better term, not to be missed and is something I couldn’t get out of my head even days later.

“The Veteran” by Adam Lance Garcia {#37/40}: On the surface, the way Garcia is able to weave together Dexter Jettster’s immense history and pull him directly to this moment in time, is nothing short of an eighth wonder of the world to read. Whether you’ve enjoyed his appearance in Attack of the Clones, checked out his various escapades in recent canon work (be it Padawan or The High Republic Adventures – Phase II), or have enjoyed much of his Legends stories as well (or are his biggest fan of all time), Garcia provides just enough context to satiate everyone, while offering something new and more than worthwhile in the process. By looking to the future, with a great connection to the opening of the Aftermath Trilogy, we get to see Dex process his role in events years ago and his feelings about his kind, young, bearded friend he hasn’t seen in a long time, so prepare for some emotions along the way.

“Brotherhood” by Mike Chen {#38/40}: After his excellent job capturing the essence of Obi-Wan and Anakin in his wonderful Brotherhood novel, Mike Chen is back with “Brotherhood,” which takes things full circle as one friend welcomes the other into the netherworld of the Force. The fascinating journey Anakin takes as he passes into the Force carries with it so many different emotions, from humor, the connection of friendship, to a bittersweet sadness carrying acceptance and hope alongside it. What makes this so memorable, and brought me to tears, is the final lesson Anakin has to learn to join his friend, as it’s something we all could benefit from learning and is a vital one this franchise makes a point to bring up about time and time again, though this time will stick with you long after it’s over.

And now here’s for the rest!

“Any Work Worth Doing” by Amal El-Mohtar {#1/40}: Of the Imperial ranking officers in the film which get a short story, Jerjerrod’s is my favorite of the bunch, as this glimpse into the Moff’s mindset, how he finds the question behind the question in his interactions with Darth Vader, show some intriguing efficiency. El-Mohtar’s writing was sublime, with great metaphors peppered throughout.

“Fancy Man" by Phil Szostak {#2/40}: If you’ve ever wanted to read a Saturday morning cartoon, look no further than this absolute madcap fun story about Max Rebo’s very bad, no good day of calamity. There’s a lot of intriguing details about Ortolans and their society along the way, a nice little bonus to all the fun.

“The Key to Remembering” by Olivia Chadha {#3/40}: Chadha has no trouble bringing forth a fitting, torturous mindset to EV-9D9’s story, while making the POV distinctively droid-like overall. There’s some good stuff here under the surface, about struggling to make sense of ourselves, our “programming,” and what the Maker meant for us, which stick out in recollection more than anything else.

“Fortuna Favors the Bold” by Kwame Mbalia {#4/40}: It should come as no surprise Bib Fortuna wouldn’t exactly enjoy his time as Jabba the Hutt’s majordomom, but Mbalia digs deep and pulls out a fun story of the list of things Bib hates, while also setting the table for his brief reign on the throne.

“The Plan” by Saladin Ahmed {#6/40}: Many stories in this collection end before we see specific moments in the film, but Ahmed’s story of Malakili might be one of the best at it, as the tale he weaves about the rancor keeper’s life before he arrives at the Palace, and even after he get there, ends in such a way Malakili’s appearance in the film doesn’t need to be retold.

“Reputation” by Tara Sim {#7/40}: Of the three Boba Fett stories across the series, this was my favorite, as it not only brought in some fun references to the recent War of the Bounty Hunters comic event (though accidentally claims its the last time two characters saw one another, but not Sim’s fault), it also lays the ground work for his appearances afterwards in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.  Wish it had gone a little further, but that speaks to Sim’s ability more than any issues with “Reputation.”

“Kickback” by K Arsenault Rivera {#8/40}: There’s a few stories which put us in the frame of mind to see our heroes as the villains, but what about the gangster’s goons and how they feel about our heroes? Do they see a villain or just someone they must defeat in order to go home and see their family another night to maybe one day retire? Rivera’s “Kickback” offers this unique perspective to great effect, making Luke Skywalker’s never edited missing kick a wistful, yet still humorous moment to notice.

“Everyone’s a Critic” by Sarah Glenn Marsh {#9/40}: It couldn’t have been easy getting into the mind of Salacious B. Crumb, but Marsh’s work makes it seem like it was, while the limited knowledge POV ended up being quite intriguing to read.

“Satisfaction” by Kristin Baver {#10/40}: While some of the pacing threw me off, Baver’s handle on Sy Snootles’ inner voice, her obsession with her fame and looks above all else, made for a memorable tale. I really enjoyed Sy’s “visitation” scene, you’ll know it when you read it, while it has my favorite little wink/nod to the Special Edition’s addition of the new song in the Palace.

“My Mouth Never Closes” by Charlie Jane Anders {#11/40}: From the exogorth to the Cave of Evil itself, we’ve had plenty of creature-centric stories and Anders’ sarlacc one is the funniest of the bunch, as long as you enjoy the joke. The humor shields at first glance deeper roots, about community and wanting to belong, and will certainly never make you look at its few scenes in the Saga the same way again, especially its TBoBF appearance.

“Kernels and Husks” by Jason Fry {#12/40}: Fry lets the ambitious Imperial advisor smother each page with his personality to the point readers aren’t left surprised by their overly devious method of murder. I’ve always wondered and worried about something like that happening, so this one gave me the shivers, and then some, with Sim Aloo’s thoughts.

“From a Certain Point of View” by Alex Jennings {#14/40}: Another of the trilogies within the trilogy, this final Obi-Wan tale wields recent developments in the Obi-Wan Kenobi show and an extension of the familiar scene to better capture his reasonings for specific information choices and feelings about his best friend’s children. This scene in the film is why we’re here, reading these, and Jennings does it great justice.

“The Burden of Leadership” by Danny Lore {#16/40}: There’s been a lot about Lando in the time after the incident at Cloud City in the comics and this feels like a continuation of it, of what it’s been building towards. Lore really knows how present Lando’s ability to control a room, while his thoughts on alternate presents and how he decides there can’t be mix well with the name’s love of sabacc.

“Gone to the Winner’s Circle” by Patricia A. Jackson {#17/40}: One of those stories where we know death is the end already, but we come to empathize with the character, yet not mourn them, thanks to a masterful, intriguing sense of Raab Krao’s voice by Jackson.

“One Normal Day” by Mary Kenney {#18/40}: Wicket isn’t Bilbo Baggins, but this is the closet the Saga has ever felt to honoring the Lord of the Rings franchise, as Kenney’s take on the recognizable Ewok hero frames him in such a way it’s hard not hear both the Hobbit theme and Ewok theme in your head, mixed together in some type of wonderful musical dance. With appearances by Kneesa, digging into how they view their planet and those who come to it, and Kenney’s way of framing Ewoks’ knowledge, the little furry hero has never had a better story worth his bravery.

“Divine Intervention(?)” by Paul Crilley {#19/40}: The Ewoks’ belief in a Golden One might not get explained here, but Crilley’s tale offers the best glimpse yet at how some of their society works, while I pleasantly surprised, in a delightful way, by Logray and his decisions when it comes to the Golden One suddenly amongst their midst.

“The Buy-In” by Suzanne Walker {#20/40}: Norra Wexley’s journey in the Aftermath Trilogy was one of its highlights, but she’s been underutilized since, even with a nice appearance in Resistance Reborn, but this tale shows how exploring more could yield great results. It’s Walker’s take on Norra, how it grounds her in this timeframe, before the trilogy of books, which really help make this a great continuation of the character. But her handle on other, recognizable characters in a very entertaining game of sabacc the night before the Battle of Endor is what will draw more fans in, especially as there’s a sprinkle of Rogue/Alphabet Squadron writing which reopens the itch for more fighter pilot focused stories.

“The Man Who Captured Luke Skywalker” by Max Gladstone {#21/40}: While Luke isn’t the POV character we experience this story through, Gladstone’s handle on the Jedi during this time frame sparks, while Altadan Igar himself was interesting enough on his own. Love the sneaky way this one ends as well as the imagery of the Death Star II as a guiding light in the dark for Igar.

“Ackbar” by Jarrett J. Krosoczka {#22/40}: This is my favorite of the three comics in the series, especially since it manages to provide the necessary context to combat how overly memed-up Ackbar’s one line has become…while still playing into its legacy.

“The Impossible Flight of Ash Angels” by Marieke Nijkamp {#23/40}: If you grew up with an N64 and played Starfox 64 like I did, “Do a barrel roll” might be a phrase you laugh at or are sick of hearing, but Nijkamp overrode that bias here to make barrel rolls part of an emotional story I won’t soon forget about Arvel Crynyd. Of many stories we already know the tragic ending to, I appreciated the romantic angle and the lovely imagery of the Ash Angels.

“Ending Protocol” by Hannah Whitten {#24/40}: Riz, through Whitten’s talented prose, paints an interesting picture of Endor, the Empire’s superiority complex, and what it means to follows one gut despite their training. The ending was nice, unexpected moment and I’d love to have more of Riz.

“Twenty and Out” by Lamar Giles {#26/40}: One trooper’s trillion-dollar idea is a well-known joke/commentary amongst fans and Giles plays it up for all it’s worth (not literally, but almost) in this enjoyable tale.

“Impact” by Sean Williams {#29/40}: It might jump around a little too much in time to make as much of an impact as it could (sorry not sorry), but this is Sean Williams and the twisty path we take to the ending is more than worth it.

"Trooper Trouble” by Laura Pohl {#30/40}: There are plenty of humor-ladened stories throughout, but Pohl’s look into one trooper’s diary entries was my favorite of the bunch, as there’s everything from the unique way they talk about forming a union to a sadistic droid that all comes full circle for funny effect by the story’s end. Also, Pohl reached out to give me a heads up mynocks make an appearance, and since they are involved in one of the many laugh out loud moments, you know I was absolutely pleased!

“To the Last” by Dana Schwartz {#31/40}: Admiral Piett has always been, to me at least, poised to be an interesting character to learn more about, even more than Jerjerrod, and Schwartz proves me right while capturing him in exactly the way I’d imagined his internal dialogue might sound, while the added layer of trauma is just icing on the cake.

“The Extra Five Percent” by M.K. England {#34/40}: Calling this one wonderfully sweet might sound like a derogatory sentiment, but it’s anything but, as England breathes to life Karie Neth in the feel-good tale of the (summer) collection.

“When Fire Marked the Sky” by Emma Mieko Candon {#35/40}: Emma Mieko Candon has proven lightning can strike twice, as their story about Wedge Antilles, as he faces down the prospect of another Death Star without having had time to contemplate what it meant he survived the first one, digs into the character’s soul in a refreshing, honest way that informs much of what Wedge does next that we already know about. Plus, Emma sneaks in a ton of references to other characters in the era and a previous tale in this collection, so lots for fans to enjoy.

“The Chronicler” by Danielle Paige {#36/40}: As Dora Mar interviews their way through the heroes we and the galaxy always hear about are the center of the story, a striking realization hits them about who and what makes a hero besides the name, the real truth of all their tales. Paige’s ability to capture familiar characters in this snapshot of time leads to some compelling, interesting interviews, but this felt like it could’ve been a bit shorter (as it is the longest tale in the book).

“The Steadfast Soldier” by Adam Christopher {#39/40}: Richard E. Grant committed himself to his portrayal of Enric Pryde in The Rise of Skywalker and Christopher gave the character and Grant’s performance room to grow, and drink, in his exciting and thrilling Shadow of the Sith novel. Christopher’s story here handily makes the case for more from Pryde going forward.

“Return of the Whills” by Tom Angleberger {#40/40}: There’s no other way to end these and Angleberger absolutely delivers for the final outing, alongside adding some sly references to where the Saga ends up going next, be it TV movies or recent theatrical releases.

Regardless of your feelings on the film as the finale to the original trilogy, readers couldn’t have asked for a better collection of stories to close out the book finale to the original trilogy, and maybe with its ability to take readers back to 1983, From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi might just change your mind on the film itself. Will these return in 16 years? We can’t know for certain, but if this the extent of such a big undertaking, reframing films fans have been familiar with for 40 years, this does feel like the perfect place to leave it (but we can always dream they’ll happen again).

40 years of Return of the Jedi can only mean one thing…a new edition of From a Certain Point of View! Does the third movie’s edition hold as much fun and excitement as the previous two?


Nowadays, how would you properly celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the most influential movies of all time? The movie where the bad guys are overcome by the force of love and self-giving; where gangsters are choked by the people they oppress; where seemingly regressive societies defeat one of the most powerful governments of all time? The one where a woman is dubbed over by the voice of a man in the climax of the film; the one where fight choreography means the main hero kicks a man ten feet away; the one where a teddy bear mourns the loss of his friend? You write a book featuring all of these stories and more! And the beauty of From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi is that it does celebrate the movie – all of it, from the weighty and the serious to the wacky and the lighthearted. And this, really, is what the core of the franchise is: the massive space opera is ultimately a corny story about love and death, of family and friendship, and teddy bears and space slugs.

From its inception, based on A New Hope, I’ve been a huge fan of the From a Certain Point of View series. I’ve enjoyed reading all of the backstories for 40 random characters throughout the Original Trilogy, and I’ve mostly enjoyed the chance these books give new authors to come into the galaxy far, far away. Now, I wouldn’t say every story has been a hit – these volumes have produced some of my least favorite stories in the franchise, and this edition contributes yet another. But these volumes have also contributed some of the best writing in the franchise, which, again, this one gives some top-tier amazing stories. Return of the Jedi‘s specifically includes a crop of my favorite authors: Emma Mieko Candon, Jason Fry, Sarah Kuhn, and Alyssa Wong, so I knew I would like a lot of these, while it also includes a few more “controversial” choices, like Ali Hazelwood, noted Reylo and author. From the start, this volume seemed like it would be the most polarizing for me, personally. From the teasers, I found a lot of stories I expected to love, in addition to a few that I didn’t look forward to, either due to the focus character choice or due to the author chosen for the story. I’m happy to report FACPOV RotJ offered more to like than dislike, by a measure of about 35 good-to-great stories with maybe 5 that didn’t work for me personally.

facpov return of the jedi full coverI want to address these five first, as they (mostly) weren’t bad due to writing or character choice, but because of my personality. As a rule, there are always going to be stories that don’t speak to me: I categorize these as “too-quick-romances” and “forced tragedies”. One story is a romance that moves at hyperspeed, so it didn’t work for me. (That being said, the central romance of The High Republic: Convergence didn’t work for me, either, and it had an entire novel to blossom.) The “forced tragedies” are the ones where we know the character is about to die, so the story feels like a melodramatic attempt at injecting some heartbreak into a story we know, which doesn’t always work, either. Both of these, I think, boil down to the same thing: the stories are too short to really make the impact on me I think they were hoping for. But really, this is more the “fault” of the short story medium rather than the authors, most of the time.

But I do want to take this time mostly to say: these books are really good. This volume is really good. Most of the time, if a story didn’t work, I recognize it as not working for me. And that’s really the beauty of these books, that for every story that doesn’t work for you, there’s probably three more that do. (There is one story in here, that I won’t name immediately, that did turn out to fall entirely flat for me, based on the writing style, editing, and character focus.) Overall, I found myself enjoying quite a bit more stories than I thought I would, even some that weren’t very enticing from their previews in the character cards. In fact, some were easily all-timers for me, including the amazingly well-written Emperor Sheev Palpatine story; Logray’s theological crisis; and the Imperial who captured Luke Skywalker, harnessing all of the spiritual energy of The Legends of Luke Skywalker. Mike Chen’s story starring Anakin was one I was most hyped for, and I was greatly rewarded in the hype. And the beauty of these volumes is that even if you didn’t like these, the chance you’re going to find one you *do* like is extremely high.

I do think RotJ had an advantage over TESB, my least favorite in the trilogy, because it had more interesting characters to focus on. By memory alone, I categorize TESB as mostly: Hoth, Boba Fett, and a new character. I felt like it spent way too much time on Hoth (for every other story to end with “Rebellions are built on hope”); spent too much time talking about Boba Fett; and too many stories with characters who were “just off screen.” This volume lends itself much more nicely to moving at a quicker pace, between Jabba’s Palace, Dagobah, troopers, Ewoks, and Rebel pilots. This variety of scenes and settings helped the stories feel more fresh going to the next one, and helped it feel like there was more variety. It also helped knowing where the characters were in the movie, a huge part that helped flesh out the movie (rather than the just-off-screen part of the movie). This variety of characters and contexts also allowed for more movement when stories grew a little stale for me. Unfortunately, most of the pilot stories really didn’t do a lot for me, even if they were well-written. Even then, it never felt like we were in the Rebel barracks or Jabba’s Palace long enough for me to grow too tired of them, which helped my reading experience a lot.

Ultimately, anybody who counts themselves as a fan of the franchise, of the Original Trilogy, of the Expanded Universe, of the galaxy far, far away will find something to like in From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi. And this isn’t “oh, dig hard enough to find something. This is essentially a guarantee that at least some of the stories will resonate with you as you read; some may resonate with you forever. I know a few certainly did for me.

You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor!

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no charge in order to provide an early review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.

Six years after the first From a Certain Point of View anthology hit shelves, we have finally reached the end of the original Star Wars trilogy with From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi, 40 short stories from the points of view of the side characters, background characters, and the nameless given names, lives, loves, and struggles.

Like the first two anthologies that make up this literary trilogy, FACPOV: ROTJ follows the story of the film in loose chronological order, making only brief contact with the actual events of the film in order to give them context.

One very unexpected highlight of the book was that every single one of my favorite characters got an indirect mention of some kind. Every. Single. One. With the exception of Obi-Wan Kenobi, of course, who featured far more prominently.

But really, this speaks to the larger trend of Star Wars publishing, and illustrates why it is the books that are home to some of my favorite, and arguably the strongest, Star Wars stories being told right now. All the stories are part of the same larger canon, its true, but the books always feel less encumbered by what the general audience may or may not be familiar with, and are freer to reach around the expansive timeline for references, dip into other stories - in other mediums, even - to borrow characters whose presence is a foregone conclusion, but who it’s nice to see included all the same. These aren’t just Easter egg mentions, they are the pulling together of threads that we already know form this large Star Wars tapestry, weaving them into a single, coherent picture.

The stories are, in turn, funny, heartbreaking, and thoughtful, each told in a unique voice, and all feeling right at home in the galaxy. Many of them focused on love - romantic, familial, platonic - in some capacity, but what surprised me was how many of them were romantic in nature, relatively speaking. Call me jaded, but there’s never enough of that for my liking in Star Wars, except, of course, in publishing.

To wrap up, I offer a list of my Top 10 favorite stories in the anthology, in order of their appearance (because ranking in order of preference will give me hives)

Dune Sea Songs of Salt and Moonlight by Thea Guanzon

Satisfaction by Kristen Baver

My Mouth Never Closes by Charlie Jane Anders

From a Certain Point of View by Alex Jennings

The Man Who Captured Luke Skywalker by Max Gladstone

The Ballad of Nanta by Sarah Kuhn

The Extra Five Percent by M.K. England

The Chronicler by Danielle Paige

The Veteran by Adam Lance Garcia

Brotherhood by Mike Chen

From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi is out August 29. Special thank you to Random House Worlds for the advance copy for review purposes.

New voices and returning authors bring to life the last few days of the Rebellion’s fights against the Empire from the eyes of the singers, dancers, servants, rebel pilots, stormtroopers, droids, and Force-ghosts that lived through it.

If you are a fan of Return of the Jedi and/or like to daydream about what the background characters were thinking in certain scenes, then this is the book for you. If you are like me and don’t usually connect with those characters, then you might have a harder time getting through some of the stories. There is a lot to love here and if you didn’t enjoy a certain tale, then don’t worry because there are plenty more to come right after.

Although I wasn’t a fan of all of the stories that they decided to tell, I think there is enough here to keep most Star Wars fans happy. My favorites ranged from EV-9D9 and his quest for remembering and free will (The Key to Remembering by Olivia Chadha) to Bright-Eyes, the dragonsnake of Dagobah sensing the darkness from the cave growing and spreading as Yoda dies (The Light that Falls by Akemi Dawn Bowman) and From a Certain Point of View (Alex Jennings) which chronicles Obi-Wan Kenobi finally trusting Luke Skywalker with the truth about his twin sister. A big surprise was Trouble Trooper from Laura Pohl. TK-423, a stormtrooper keeping daily logs recapping the boredom of daily life of a trooper inside the second Death Star. A very funny story that would make a great animated short.

It is not easy to write a full story in just a couple of pages, but most of the authors were able to do just that. Apart from two stories that were quite long (and with no chapters in them to give readers a breather), most of the anthologies are short enough that you can read one of three in a single seating.

Stories are as good as the characters that inhabit them and readers are gifted with a multitude of classic, background, and new characters. Ortolan Max Rebo has his own story and shows up in a few more. Multiple characters plan and scheme about how they would kill Jabba the Hutt. Lando Calrissian and Wedge Antilles battle with the difficulties of leadership and having peoples lives in your hands. Ewoks, ewoks, ewoks. Do you like furry murder-bears? Then you are in luck.

All authors delivered greatly-written short stories that fans of anthology books, especially the From a Certain Point of View series will enjoy. It expands on classic scenes giving them more weight and creates new scenarios for the characters on the fringe of the actions that were vital to the fall of the Empire.