Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Star Wars Junior Novelizations #6

by Ryder Windham

The Emperor. The Ewoks. Jabba the Hutt. The climactic lightsaber battle . . . an amazing all-new novelization tying into the massive DVD release of the classic Star Wars movies. The Emperor. The Ewoks. Jabba the Hutt. The climactic lightsaber battle . . . an amazing all-new novelization tying into the massive DVD release of the classic Star Wars movies.

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Childrens, Media Tie In, Adventure

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

Ryder Windham is an American sci-fi author who has written over sixty Star Wars books, including novels, comics, reference books, and so on. He has also written junior novelizations for Indiana Jones movies. Since 1993, he has been working on Star Wars projects either by himself or with other authors. His reference book Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide had been on the New York Times Best Seller list for three weeks in 2005. Although he has written lots of books, accepted interviews, and appeared at several fan-conventions, little is known about his personal life.

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite popular opinion, Return of the Jedi has always been my favorite Star Wars film. Between the big revelations--Luke and Leia are siblings? They used to have a thing going!--the action and intensity, the adorable yet formidable Ewoks, and the finale that is both intense and touching, this is George Lucas' masterpiece. So, bringing it to literary format is a tough job.

Still, Mr. Windham continues to excel at bringing "a galaxy far, far away" from the screen to the page. Extra details are included, including references to the prequels, which are welcome since they've been considered canon for quite some time now. Young Star Wars fans--or those who are young at heart, such as myself--will definitely enjoy this.

I do have to offer one complaint, though: While I know it's neither the author's nor the publisher's fault, my copy of this book, which I recently got as part of an eBay order, has to be in the worst condition of any book I've bought used in quite a while. I frequent library sales, thrift stores, garage sales, and such; many times, the books and other media I get from such places are in such great shape, they could easily pass for a Barnes & Noble or Wal-Mart purchase. This one wasn't that way; it had heavy stains and weird holes in the bottoms of the pages. I hope that my eBay order that's scheduled to arrive tomorrow is in much better shape.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried
Darth Vader: Just for once... let me... look on you with my own eyes.
[Luke takes off Darth Vader's mask one piece at a time. Underneath, Luke sees the face of a pale, scarred, bald-headed, old man - his father, Anakin. Anakin sadly looks at Luke but then gives a tired smile]
Anakin: Now... go, my son. Leave me.
Luke: No. You're coming with me. I'll not leave you here, I've got to save you.
Anakin: You already... have, Luke. You were right. You were right about me. Tell your sister... you were right.
[Anakin smiles and his eyes begin to droop slumps down in death while giving one last dying breath]

[Max Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of us have seen the movies, but the books are just as enjoyable. With cool art styles and images from the movie, this book is great. Any Star Wars fan should at least own one of these. It goes into further detail of the Empire's schemes which some might have not caught in the movies. Not to mention the great climax with the lightsaber fights. All in all packed in action we saw in the movies, recommended for all fans.

[Skylar Teague · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recomend this to any one who liked the original movies. the book had a good pace it wasn't to slow or fast. many time in fights or even dialogue it was easy to read but entertaining. I would not recommended reading it before reading 4 and 5 in the series. 1, 2,3 were prequels to the trilogy. through out the book Luke is learning more about Vader and his pas pas life that leads him to turning him self in to Vader. To find out what happens to Luke and Vader you will merchant to read the book.

[Paxton]

The title of this book is Star Wars Trilogy, Return of the Jedi. The author of this book is Ryder Windham, a science fiction author who has made over 80 books about Transformers, Indiana Jones, and especially Star Wars. He is an active blood donor, and saves lives. Star Wars Trilogy, Return of the Jedi, is an exciting book full of spaceships and creatures that are hard to even imagine. Luke Skywalker, the last Jedi, is the Rebellion's only hope against the dreadful Empire led by the evil Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious, and his apprentice, Darth Vader. Luke and his friends must go on a crazy adventure to win the war.

This story mostly takes place in space, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. (Doesn’t say exactly how long ago.) In the beginning, Luke Skywalker has to save his friends, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, R2-D2, and C3PO. After he completes this task of defeating the fat, plump, slimy and evil Jabba the Hutt, and escaping the Sarlacc, a creature of the desert, his safe friends travel back to the Rebel base to plan an attack on the Death Star, the base of the Empire. Luke goes to a planet called Dagobah, where an old friend of his named Yoda is. Luke unfortunately watches Yoda die while he’s there, but learns from him that there is another Skywalker, and that’s Leia! Luke doesn’t tell her yet though, it’s not the right time. Since the Death Star was in progress, it was not completely protected. So Luke, Han, Leia, “Chewie”, “R2”, and “Threepio” all visit planet Endor to take down the protector shield, So their friends in space, including Lando Calrissian, can attack the Death Star and blow it up. While Luke and his friends are on Endor, they come across scout troopers, working for the evil Emperor. They also meet up with small, fuzzy, and cute creatures called Ewoks. But despite their looks, these creatures are warriors. The Ewoks think that C3-PO, the golden droid, is some sort of god, and keep him, but plan to cook and eat the others. C3-PO convinces them not to, and the Ewoks let Luke and his friends join the tribe. They then start a huge war with the Empire to try and take the shield down. The Rebels in space are running out of time though, because they’re being attacked too. Eventually though, the battle on Endor is won by the Ewoks and Rebels. The rebels in space are trying to blow up the Death Star now that the shield is down. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker is willingly captured by Darth Vader, each of them trying to turn each other to their side. Darth Vader is revealed to be Luke’s father! Vader takes Luke to the Emperor, who tries to get Luke to use hatred and kill him, but Luke refuses, and Darth Vader and Luke battle. Eventually Luke wins, but the Emperor starts using the force to kill Luke. Just then, something changes in Darth Vader. He picks up the Emperor and throws him down a never ending shaft. At the Same time the Rebels in space start to blow up the Death Star. Luke can’t save his father, so he leaves him to die. In the end there is a huge celebration on the victory of destroying the Empire…for now. This story is an adventure with dangers and dark moments along the way.

Luke Skywalker is serious and curious. He wants to know the truth about his father, Darth Vader. He also wants to turn his father back to the good side. Leia, Luke’s sister, is also serious about defeating the empire. Han Solo is funny, he also likes Leia. Chewbacca is a wookie that everyone calls Chewie, and even though he’s big and strong, he can also be a softy, He is Han’s best friend. C3-PO Is a golden droid that is a coward, he’s pretty much scared of anything. R2-D2 is a small droid but he is brave and adventurous. He is determined to help Luke conquer whatever feat he wants. He is also very confident in almost every situation. Darth Vader is an evil Sith Lord that listens to Emperor Palpatine, and thinks it’s too late for him to be good again, even though he still has a tiny bit of good in him and knows what’s right. Emperor Palpatine is an evil sith lord that is very powerful and tries to turn other powerful Jedi to the dark side, for example, Luke. Yoda is old but also wise, he was a powerful Jedi in his prime, He wants Luke to defeat Vader and become a Jedi.

The rising action of the book is when Luke finds out that Leia is his sister and Darth Vader is his father. The climax is when there’s a huge battle on Endor, a huge battle in space, and when Luke fights his father Darth Vader. The falling action is when Darth Vader kills the Emperor, but also dies, and when the Rebels destroy the Death Star. The resolution of the book takes place on Endor when there is a huge celebration of winning the war against the Empire. The theme of the book is that it’s never too late to change who you are to be good again. No matter what you’ve done.

I like the book because it is interesting and has a lot of things going on, but not too much to where it’s hard to follow. I would recommend it to others because it is very easy to understand and follow in my opinion. I don’t like books that it’s hard to follow and half the time I don’t know what’s going on, but this is not one of those books. It is also suspenseful and exciting, which makes it fun and easy to enjoy. The book is full of adventure and cool sci-fi objects, spaceships, and creatures that are hard to imagine being real. None of the chapters actually really end in a cliffhanger, but it seems like every time you stop at a chapter, you really want to keep reading.

[Alexandra Freire · Rating 5 out of 5]

El tercer y último libro adaptado de la trilogía original de Star Wars. Aunque la primera me pareció la más graciosa por las peculiares conversaciones entre C-3PO y R2D2, las otras dos fueron por igual entretenidas. Ésta, siguió el mismo estilo de las anteriores y pudimos ver la caída del poderoso Darth Vader para convertirse a los últimos minutos de su existencia nuevamente en Anakin Skywalker.

[Pysen Kinchiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a man named Luke skywalker learned the dad is on the dark side and he is the good side. it's in outer space. And luke is trying to learn of to beat him. This book should be for people that watched the movies.

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing novelization of the movie, especially all the Vader's scenes. We see his humanity showing more and he becomes less of a monster, so the more we believe Luke whenever he claims "There's still good in him."

My top 3 favorite Vader moments in the book that gave me feels:

1.

I must obey my Master. I must deliver Luke to him. But if Luke can kill the Emperor, perhaps... perhaps then I will be free.
Vader saw the sun was beginning to rise.

But struck me was when he said "free" -- that is the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker: he was born into slavery, and when Qui-Gon took him away to be trained as a Jedi, Anakin just became a slave to the Jedi, and then later a slave to the Emperor. Whenever he refers to Palpatine as "my Master" it's just so ironic and sad.

But the author's decision to include that last line about the sun rising? Hope symbolism was never made more obvious.

2. When Luke was getting electrocuted by Palpatine:

Beside the Emperor, Darth Vader continued to stand and watch. He looked to the Emperor again, then back to Luke.
And then, in a moment, something changed. Perhaps he remembered something heard in his youth a long time ago: an ancient prophecy of the Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force. Perhaps the vague outlines of someone named Shmi and a Jedi named Qui-Gon struggled to the surface of his consciousness. The most powerful, the most repressed thought of all could have emerged from the darkness: Padme... and her undying love for someone he once knew well. And despite all the terrible, unspeakable things he'd done in his life, he suddenly realized he could not stand by and allow the Emperor to kill their son. And in that moment, he was no longer Darth Vader.
He was Anakin Skywalker.

My heart was filled and I was cheering for him in that moment. Of course we only get a quick glimpse of this revelation in the movie but it's difficult to read his face when he's wearing a mask (literally) -- but seeing that beautiful passage on the page made me cry. *

3. At the very end:

Then a third apparition materialized beside [Obi-Wan and Yoda] -- a figure whom [Luke] instinctively knew was a younger Anakin Skywalker, from the days before his Jedi father's fall, his features unscarred and... happy.

A seemingly simple passage until I thought, when was the last time Anakin was truly happy?


The ending of this book, just like the movie, left me crying in a good way.

---------

* Now I cannot wait for The Rise of Skywalker and Ben Solo's redemption arc -- if it's anywhere near as powerful and touching as Anakin's redemption arc, Star Wars Episode IX is going to ruin me in the best way.

And I believe in Ben Solo's redemption because if Anakin "despite all the terrible, unspeakable things he'd done in his life, he suddenly realized he could not stand by and allow the Emperor to kill their son" Skywalker got to redeem himself, then there is definitely hope for Ben, too. Anakin would want that, especially for his grandson.

But yeah, at this point, with everything that has occurred in the last 6 episodes, I don’t even understand all the hate on the sequels anymore. So I'm just going to keep enjoying what I love: I love Star Wars and not just the original trilogy, but the prequels, and the sequels, too.

[Margarida · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this last installment of Ryder Windham's Disney Novelization of the beloved saga created by George Lucas, "Star Wars", once again, and just like the previous two volumes - "Star Wars: A New Hope" and "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" - everything falls in palce to deliver the reader the most amazing experience ever, as reading this book is exactly like reading the movie. Everyhting in this book - and I mean EVERYTHING - from the setting to the lines, is just exactly like appears in the movie. You feel like the whole movie in unfolding in your head. It's sheer perfection for all Star Wars fans. This book - as well as its predecessors - is just PERFECT!!! So very awesome!!!
Now specifically regarding this book, I especially love the insights of the characters - especially Luke and his inner struggle about good and evil and about his fear of becoming his own father - that you can have access to when you're reading as by just watching the movie you won't notice them that much given all the action and everything else that's taking place around and you're focusing at. Oh, and what about Luke and Leia and the connection they share just by being twins even though they've been raised apart and had never met up until the beginning of their journey in "A New Hope"... don't even get me started on that one... THAT is just brilliant and it's been beautifully depicted by the author once again in this book. And the scene in the Ewok village where Luke's telling Leia who they're really are... Brilliant again!
All in all, this book - as well as the previous two novelizations by Windham - is a must for any Star Wars fan who will not be in the slightest disappointed, neither by the writing nor by the utterly astonishing depictions of the characters, places and inter-galactic strife made by the author.
I so recommend this book and... May the Force be with you!

[Erin Ure · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this, but it wasn't as enthralling as the prequel trilogy novels - the style continues to feel a bit more like a shot-for-shot transcription of the movies rather than an adaptation. With that in mind, as this wraps up my journey from books I - VI, my overall experience reading these has been 4/5 stars. They were quick, fun ways to experience the story.

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much staler in description and dialogue than James Kahn's novelization of the movie. There's not much effort to elaborate on the environments or the characters in the scene i.e. what they're thinking and feeling, details of the environment etc... I think I prefer Kahn's way of writing, he elaborates and add more to the scene instead of just doing a play-by-play of the movie in novel format.

[Carlos Zuleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ya lo dije en el libro pasado pero lo digo de nuevo amo Star Wars es de mi saga favoritas pero a comparación de El imperio contraataca, este libro no me gusto tanto, siento que es muy lento en la parte donde los personajes se encuentran a Jabba.

[Teri Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expect to shed a tear at the end.

These are tears of joy and victory. The Empire is building another Death Star, and guess who has to stop them? Have you seen an Ewok? I used to have a stuffed one, may still have him in storage. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this book!

[Mars G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly what it says on the tin. I enjoyed it, and any younger folks who are interested in Star Wars would, too. If you're looking for an "adult level" novelization, this isn't it, but if you want a fun and easy read that kiddos wouldn't have problems with, this is what you're looking for.

[Raúl San Martín Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deber obligado para terminar las trilogía original. Diferencias con la versión anterior, eliminadas por Disney, pero actualización con las precuelas, en especial, cuando Darth Vader vuelve a ser Anakin. Esencial.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

these novelisations are PERFECT for revisiting the star wars universe in a different format. absolutely love them

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of the three original trilogy books, this one was best written. I especially loved the added depth to the Han rescue scenes at the beginning.

[Allie // Kitasai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as apart of a 24hr Star Wars readathon I'm doing by myself.

3/5

[Electroclan17 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting reading the movie in book form.

[Jenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Star Wars movies so this was amazing. It’s just like the movie that’s why I love it.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come per i volumi precedenti, questa non è la versione che ho letto, ma era impossibile per me non mettere una recensione. Il mio amore per questa saga non finirà mai.

[eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

spelling out r2 really was a decision

[Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good novelization of episode VI. Originally written before the Disney buyout, it was published again years later into the new canon.

[Eric Stutzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Disclaimer
*This review is going to, more or less, be a copy and paste review for the other books in this series because my thoughts are roughly the same for each of them.*

I read these books ages ago and I recently found my copies from about ten years ago, and, because it was May the Fourth I decided to read them. They aren't bad, in fact they do something that the films could not, which is to tell us the inner thoughts and motivations of characters in cases when the audience might perhaps not be able to get that from the actor's performance alone.

In all, these books are great for kids, but overall the movies are far better.

[Hanstrider · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT

Return of the Jedi is a science fiction classic. I’ve seen all the movies more the once, but finally got myself to read the series. The books are about overcoming darkness and hate within yourself and the world around you.
If you know the story line inside and out feel free to skip this quick overview. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away Jedi are warriors who have the ability to channel an energy source what they call the Force. The Force is energy connecting them to everything around them. The Jedi use their powers to keep the universe safe from evil. Anakin Skywalker is a young Jedi knight. He falls in love with a princess, and even though it is forbidden for Jedi to do so, he marries her. Later Anakin becomes consumed with hatred and fear after his mother’s murder. An evil Sith Lord senses the darkness around him and turns him to the dark side of the force. Anakin’s Jedi Master tries to turn him back to the side of good, but it was too late. Anakin was no longer himself he had become known as Darth Vader. The Sith Lord’s empire takes over. Mean while Anakin’s wife has twins. She names them Leia and Luke right before she passes away. Years later, Luke becomes a Jedi. He learns that his father is Darth Vader. With his newfound friends he must stop the Empire’s rein of terror and confront his father.
If you’ve seen the movie you’ll want to read the book. Ryder Windham stays close to the movie’s script and gives new insight to the story. I love Star Wars for its good morals, in-depth characters, creativity, and Han Solo. (Han is definitely my favorite character.) I love how they show the fine line of good against evil. The only thing I disliked was Luke’s Character. Bluntly I think he’s a whiner. Even later when he turned into a Jedi he still seemed unrealistic. His father Anakin had been rebellious, brave, and mature even when he was a child. Luke was wimpy, even though he grew up in a hostile environment and had experienced hard things he never really changed. Heroes ought to be strong characters especially when the numbers are down.
At the ending, I felt a little empty. I always wondered what happened after the movie ended. I imagined them reconstructing order. I hear there are other books about that; maybe I should check them out.
I love how the characters are all so different and come from different backgrounds, and are all still tied together in interesting ways. The friendship and the faith in one another are stupendous. I did not like in the earlier books that Jedi are not allowed to have a family. I believe family and love bind people together. Though this fact did make the plot more interesting,I always hated how Anakin was not able to be with his princess.
The heroism to stand up even though it was against all odds in this book inspires me. Star Wars is a good idea anytime. After I read this book I had the feeling that I could conquer “Death Stars” in my own life.
I give this book five stars. It is an easy read and especially fun if you have seen the movie. I would put this on your “to read list”, and may the Force be with you.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY · Rating 5 out of 5]

A retelling of the original return of the Jedi.

Disney has presented a slightly scaled down version of the classic. The ending of the first trilogy is quite climatic. Suitable for children.

[Izzu · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I'm not sure what else to comment about the novel aside from the fact it was really well written. (Yes, it is.) It really is. It's just like watching the film again but in written form. And it does follow the film quite closely. And I have looked for info about the earlier trilogy novelizations, and there were listed some parts in those novelization that were actually written differently compared to the film. So... if you're the kind of reader that prefer to read the film novelization that followed the trilogy really closely, then Wyndham's novelization is going to be good for you. And Wyndham's really good at keeping the pacing and flow of the story. Like you know, for movies... they usually jump the pacing in between scenes in order to cut the total length of the film as well as move the story faster. That's good on film, but not for novels. Because of such blanks in between those scenes exist, Wyndham was able to fill in those blanks with his own narrative as well as adding more background details which one would not be able to be shown on film without sounding like a documentary. Regardless, that was the appeal of novels.

I love how Wyndham manage to add these extra details to further enrich the story; like the origins of Jabba's Palace before it was turned into a villain's lair, how Lando managed to sneak into Jabba's Palace as one of its guard. Or the identity of the smuggler that Leia had disguised as, or about the various creatures inside the palace. Or reading about what went on our favourite character's mind as the events play out. It's really a different experience you can only feel by reading the book. And while reading the novel, I can't help noticing some of the film's details that I normally didn't notice before. It really adds to the film's enjoyment, by knowing of the details and inner working of the characters... in which it'd be hard to be shown on film. But really, he did well in describing the happenings in the film in written form.

[Waltervilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book StarWars, Return of the Jedi, takes place in the future where they have advanced technology like space ships and laser blasters. After the incident on Cloud city, causing Han solo to get frozen in carbonite and Luke Skywalker having his hand sliced off by the evil Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker comes with new jedi powers to pull off his greatest plan on the Emperor.Can Luke Skywalker bring balance to the force while defeating Palpatine and perhaps turn his father to the good side? Find out once you read it.

The book is really dramatic and contains a lot of action. In the book it says, "Just once, let me look at you with my own eyes." Darth Vader mentions this when he talks to talk to Luke Skywalker after the death star being destroyed. It was a very sentimental part. It shows the connection between why is good and what is bad in the story.

There are many other books like this book. There are episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 left. Try to read them before the others. IT WILL MAKE MUCH MORE SENSE!!! If you start off with the last book, it will just spoil all of the previous events that happened to the three protagonists. So if you are looking for a book that has all action in all the series, StarWars can be the one you choose to read. Take a look for yourself.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the Star Wars original trilogy. I enjoy how you get to hear the thoughts of all the characters in the end of the book. My favorite part of the book is when, unlike the movie, you hear Darth Vader's thoughts change and he changes back to Anakin. In his thoughts he changes because he remembers the person Padme loved, as Luke was dying. Reading this book before you watch the movie or to help you learn the characters is a good idea. This book goes into more detail. However, it does not make it more confusing.