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William Shakespeare's Star Wars
William Shakespeare's Star Wars Trilogy: The Royal Box Set
May the verse be with you! Return once more to a galaxy far, far away with this retelling of George Lucas’s Star Wars® Trilogy in the style of the immortal William Shakespeare. This Royal Imperial Boxed Set includes all three volumes in the original trilogy: Verily, A New Hope; The Empire Striketh Back; and The Jedi Doth Return. Also included is an 8-by-34-inch full-color poster illustrating the complete cast and company of this glorious production.
520 pages, Hardcover
First published October 28, 2014
53 people are currently reading
1436 people want to read
About the author
Ian Doescher
49 books726 followersIan is the author of the William Shakespeare Star Wars series and the Pop Shakespeare series, and other books. He's a Portland native, and lives in Portland with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 19, 2023
2023-07-16: 5 stars. William Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return
A good wrap-up to this trilogy, I particularly liked hearing Anakin's gradually conflicted thoughts as Palpy orders him to harm Luke. And Doescher lets us into the Ewoks thoughts, providing a credible translation for the murder bears' words.
2023-07-16: 5 stars. William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back
My favourite of the movies, Doescher handles this treatment of the story beautifully. I really like how he provides the characters' internal thoughts. Artoo is brilliant, again, speaking his usual beeps, but we also discover what he's really thinking in a number of circumstances.
2023-07-12: 5 stars. William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope
Clever, amusing and funny, this Shakespeare-style retelling of “A New Hope” was wonderfully told. Staged as a play, characters walk on and off stage, delivering dialogue, or relating their thoughts, all in iambic pentameter.
A good wrap-up to this trilogy, I particularly liked hearing Anakin's gradually conflicted thoughts as Palpy orders him to harm Luke. And Doescher lets us into the Ewoks thoughts, providing a credible translation for the murder bears' words.
2023-07-16: 5 stars. William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back
My favourite of the movies, Doescher handles this treatment of the story beautifully. I really like how he provides the characters' internal thoughts. Artoo is brilliant, again, speaking his usual beeps, but we also discover what he's really thinking in a number of circumstances.
2023-07-12: 5 stars. William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope
Clever, amusing and funny, this Shakespeare-style retelling of “A New Hope” was wonderfully told. Staged as a play, characters walk on and off stage, delivering dialogue, or relating their thoughts, all in iambic pentameter.
August 10, 2020
I don't own this particular set, but I own all the books as well as the prequel trilogy and I'm just using this space to put all the reviews in one place.
Five stars for the entire set ofsix seven eight nine as a whole. Individual reviews linked below are listed in order of publication which is also the order in which I read them.
Verily, A New Hope, ★★★★★
The Empire Striketh Back, ★★★★★
The Jedi Doth Return, ★★★★✰
The Phantom of Menace, ★★★★★
The Clone Army Attacketh, ★★★✰✰
Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge, ★★★★✰
The Force Doth Awaken, ★★★✰✰
Jedi the Last, ★★★★✰
The Merry Rise of Skywalker, ★★★✰✰
Five stars for the entire set of
Verily, A New Hope, ★★★★★
The Empire Striketh Back, ★★★★★
The Jedi Doth Return, ★★★★✰
The Phantom of Menace, ★★★★★
The Clone Army Attacketh, ★★★✰✰
Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge, ★★★★✰
The Force Doth Awaken, ★★★✰✰
Jedi the Last, ★★★★✰
The Merry Rise of Skywalker, ★★★✰✰
November 30, 2018
Ian Doescher, you are a genius!
-
So basically, Ian Doescher took the Star Wars movie scripts and wrote them as if they are a Shakespeare play instead, complete with Shakespearean dialogue, iambic pentameter lines, and stage directions.
I think the audiobooks amplified how incredible these books are. Plus, Shakespeare should be heard, not read. The same goes for William Shakespeare’s Star Wars. If you have a chance to pick these books up, go with the audiobooks (or reading them out loud in your own dramatic voices works too).
First, they are full cast, which means there are different narrators for the various characters, who do do an excellent job of bringing the Shakespearean dialogue to life. Second, the audiobooks include music and sound effects and a hilarious opening and ending that mimics stepping into the Globe Theater for a show. I pretty much almost crashed my car while listening because I was laughing so hard.
In addition, Ian Doescher is a brilliant genius! The idea of Shakespeare Star Wars is so bizarre it works. Seriously. R2D2 has these asides that share his (sarcastic) thoughts during certain moments, Lando has dramatic soliloquies, and even Jabba’s Huttese is in iambic pentameter. And the carbonate scene in Empire? So Dramatic. You think the movie version is dramatic, the drama in this version is tenfold. I love it.
I had a blast hearing Han speak in Shakespearean or listening to Luke say “Fie!” about literally everything. Ian Doescher explains in his author notes that Star Wars and Shakespeare plays have a lot of similarities when it comes to story structure. Whether it’s the use of the hero’s journey or has the structure of a tragedy, the two mesh together so well these adaptations basically wrote themselves.
But I also love how he expands upon the language of Shakespeare to give his work its own quirks. Yoda speaks in haiku, Boba Fett speaks in prose, and the Ewoks’ language is a mix of words and gibberish with a specific rhythm pattern. It’s so cool. He also includes famous lines from Shakespeare but with a twist, such as “Once more unto the trench, my friends!” and “[Exit, pursued by Wampa.]” I don’t think if I’ve ever had so much fun listening to Shakespeare before.
Unfortunately, only the first three (Episodes IV-VI) have been adapted into audiobooks. (Come on, Disney and Quirk Books!) Ian Doescher has written adaptations for the other Star Wars movies, including The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. I suppose you’ll just have to gather your friends for a dramatic reading of those titles instead.
I’ll be honest, I was a bit skeptical that these books could really do justice to Shakespeare and Star Wars, but they do. If anything, they make for a good laugh and an enjoyable audiobook experience. Highly recommended for anybody who enjoys Star Wars and Shakespeare.
-
So basically, Ian Doescher took the Star Wars movie scripts and wrote them as if they are a Shakespeare play instead, complete with Shakespearean dialogue, iambic pentameter lines, and stage directions.
I think the audiobooks amplified how incredible these books are. Plus, Shakespeare should be heard, not read. The same goes for William Shakespeare’s Star Wars. If you have a chance to pick these books up, go with the audiobooks (or reading them out loud in your own dramatic voices works too).
First, they are full cast, which means there are different narrators for the various characters, who do do an excellent job of bringing the Shakespearean dialogue to life. Second, the audiobooks include music and sound effects and a hilarious opening and ending that mimics stepping into the Globe Theater for a show. I pretty much almost crashed my car while listening because I was laughing so hard.
In addition, Ian Doescher is a brilliant genius! The idea of Shakespeare Star Wars is so bizarre it works. Seriously. R2D2 has these asides that share his (sarcastic) thoughts during certain moments, Lando has dramatic soliloquies, and even Jabba’s Huttese is in iambic pentameter. And the carbonate scene in Empire? So Dramatic. You think the movie version is dramatic, the drama in this version is tenfold. I love it.
I had a blast hearing Han speak in Shakespearean or listening to Luke say “Fie!” about literally everything. Ian Doescher explains in his author notes that Star Wars and Shakespeare plays have a lot of similarities when it comes to story structure. Whether it’s the use of the hero’s journey or has the structure of a tragedy, the two mesh together so well these adaptations basically wrote themselves.
But I also love how he expands upon the language of Shakespeare to give his work its own quirks. Yoda speaks in haiku, Boba Fett speaks in prose, and the Ewoks’ language is a mix of words and gibberish with a specific rhythm pattern. It’s so cool. He also includes famous lines from Shakespeare but with a twist, such as “Once more unto the trench, my friends!” and “[Exit, pursued by Wampa.]” I don’t think if I’ve ever had so much fun listening to Shakespeare before.
Unfortunately, only the first three (Episodes IV-VI) have been adapted into audiobooks. (Come on, Disney and Quirk Books!) Ian Doescher has written adaptations for the other Star Wars movies, including The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. I suppose you’ll just have to gather your friends for a dramatic reading of those titles instead.
I’ll be honest, I was a bit skeptical that these books could really do justice to Shakespeare and Star Wars, but they do. If anything, they make for a good laugh and an enjoyable audiobook experience. Highly recommended for anybody who enjoys Star Wars and Shakespeare.
January 23, 2025
Amazing concept, tijd voor een rewatch van de films
March 23, 2015
I love Star Wars. I love Shakespeare. Both have been important to me since I was a child. These audiobooks intrigued me from the minute I saw them show up as recommendations on Audible and finally I had enough credits to listen to all three in quick succession. I'm so glad I did. This version of the beloved IV.V.VI trilogy was good fun in the very best sense. It satisfied my geeky fantasy-loving side and my geeky classic-literature-loving side. And several other sides. I love drama and plays, acting on a small scale, and comparing literature to find common ground between genres. I've also always thought part of the brilliance of the Star Wars cycle was its Campbellian Power of Myth.
The performances are based entirely on those of the original actors (the whole project was made in cooperation with Lucasfilm Ltd) and are good enough for me. It was so enjoyable, as I got through some busy days, then embarked on a drive to Tennessee to see my sister, to have these stories as my companions. I remembered that it's important to be brave. It matters that good wins over evil, and sometimes I wish that the heroes and villains in this world were a little more starkly drawn and easy to identify.
I loved that the author added in commentary and hilarious scenes that would mostly resonate with those of us who watch special features and read companion novels, but also remind all of us Star Wars fans not to take ourselves too seriously.
Perhaps most importantly, I remembered how much I loved Han Solo. He really was so much more interesting than Luke. To listen to him, as a classic dark horse, soliloquize about Leia with depth and subtlety, was truly a delight. I always knew he had it in him.
Give these a chance if you meet any of the above criteria. And even if you don't. Let go. reach out with your feelings.
The performances are based entirely on those of the original actors (the whole project was made in cooperation with Lucasfilm Ltd) and are good enough for me. It was so enjoyable, as I got through some busy days, then embarked on a drive to Tennessee to see my sister, to have these stories as my companions. I remembered that it's important to be brave. It matters that good wins over evil, and sometimes I wish that the heroes and villains in this world were a little more starkly drawn and easy to identify.
I loved that the author added in commentary and hilarious scenes that would mostly resonate with those of us who watch special features and read companion novels, but also remind all of us Star Wars fans not to take ourselves too seriously.
Perhaps most importantly, I remembered how much I loved Han Solo. He really was so much more interesting than Luke. To listen to him, as a classic dark horse, soliloquize about Leia with depth and subtlety, was truly a delight. I always knew he had it in him.
Give these a chance if you meet any of the above criteria. And even if you don't. Let go. reach out with your feelings.
August 7, 2014
Oh how I LOVED this collection!! I can't imagine sticking with it in print, but it is an audio delight! The actors cast to read the audiobooks are reminiscent of the movie actors - Luke is appropriately whiny and Han sounds great. My only "eh" casting was for Lando, as he sounded a bit cowboy-ish at times, and a bit like Stephen Moyer doing his southern accent as Bill on "True Blood." I loved the soliloquies that several characters have (interesting insights into characters) and the casting of R2-D2 as a trickster a la Puck.
This would be a fantastic introduction to Shakespeare for teens.
This would be a fantastic introduction to Shakespeare for teens.
December 27, 2014
Pure delight! I've always said Shakespeare should be seen and heard, not read, and for anyone who has seen the original Star Wars trilogy (and is the anyone who hasn't?), this is as good as seeing and hearing. It's played like a radio play with a narrator, Shakespearean stage directions, frequent asides (both amusing and revealing), and even songs--just wait! Imaginative use of story, characters, and language, clever, and excellently performed. How good is it? I still cried when Darth Vader died, and I can see endless hours of amusement identifying lines and play references. Not to be missed--for fans of Shakespeare, Star Wars, parodies, and entertaining storytelling.
January 30, 2015
Delightful in audio form. Not to miss for Star Wars fans.
May 14, 2022
I like this set. I'll be honest, I liked Shakespeare's Avengers more, but I think maybe some of that is because the space battles and such in Star Wars just don't lend themselves to the format quite as well as the fight scenes in Avengers do. In the first book especially (Verily, A New Hope) the chorus singing their way through the action sequences just didn't sit right with me. This did get better in the second and third volumes (The Empire Striketh Back and The Jedi Doth Return) with the characters speaking about what was happening, so that was a real improvement, though it still just didn't seem to work quite as seamlessly as with the Avengers. That said, there was a lot to love about these books. I really liked that the author gave certain characters their own quirks of language where they couldn't have the same special speech patterns as in the films. For example, Yoda spoke in haiku, the Ewoks had their own little rhyming scheme, and Boba Fett spoke in prose. Overall, I did enjoy the series and probably will read it again.
June 14, 2017
The perfect gift for someone who loves Shakespeare and Star Wars in equal measure. A pure delight to read (though I did find my mind wandering on occasion because I know the stories so well)- Doescher adds some depth to characters like Lando Calrissian, as well as some delightful cognitive dissonance in Darth Vader. The choices for switches away from iambic pentameter for some of the characters (Yoda's haikus in particular, as well as Boba Fett's prose) add much enjoyment to this. Additionally, R2D2's role as the fool is endearing, and his frustrated asides about C-3PO are uproarious at points. Trading quatrains between Leia and Han once they fall in love is also a stroke of brilliance. As noted in the acknowledgements, R2D2's ending monologue has an Easter egg that is super easy to crack, but fills me with excitement nonetheless.
April 25, 2019
A full twist on Star Wars, Ian Doescher does an excellent job of emulating Shakespeare's style and adapting the Original Trilogy for the Elizabethan stage.
I used these books as a teaching tool when introducing Shakespeare. Often times students find the language of Shakespeare to be the largest obstacle between them and understanding the text. By starting with a story that they already know well, and using that to familiarize the class with the language tools of Shakespeare (iambic pentameter, asides, soliloquies, etc.) , students can become more comfortable before diving into the main subject of his plays. Additionally, you can have some pretty good fun with the students doing their best Yoda voice.
I used these books as a teaching tool when introducing Shakespeare. Often times students find the language of Shakespeare to be the largest obstacle between them and understanding the text. By starting with a story that they already know well, and using that to familiarize the class with the language tools of Shakespeare (iambic pentameter, asides, soliloquies, etc.) , students can become more comfortable before diving into the main subject of his plays. Additionally, you can have some pretty good fun with the students doing their best Yoda voice.
July 16, 2018
This is basically the Star Wars movies told in iambic pentameter per William Shakespeare and for some reason it works.
I highly recommend listening to the audiobook to get the full experience. The voice actors did an amazing job of getting the rhythm of the verses right that it brought out the story.
I haven't seen the original Star Wars in a while so I can't tell you if he stayed close to it but it was fun and a fresh take on the movies, especially the scene with Jabba the Hutt.
I highly recommend listening to the audiobook to get the full experience. The voice actors did an amazing job of getting the rhythm of the verses right that it brought out the story.
I haven't seen the original Star Wars in a while so I can't tell you if he stayed close to it but it was fun and a fresh take on the movies, especially the scene with Jabba the Hutt.
February 13, 2025
An amazingly unique rendition of the original trilogy that started one of the most beloved media franchises ever.
Whether you are a lover of Ewoks and Rancors or of Leer and Hamlet, there is something in this series for everyone. The purposeful usage of poetic technique and speech patterns is amazing (spoiler: my favorite was Yoda).
Whether you are a lover of Ewoks and Rancors or of Leer and Hamlet, there is something in this series for everyone. The purposeful usage of poetic technique and speech patterns is amazing (spoiler: my favorite was Yoda).
June 9, 2018
Amazing! I listened to this book on CD (I couldn't find the actual book but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't exist because it makes better sense to listen to it). The voice actors are excellent! It's truly genius to combine Shakespeare and Star Wars.
December 2, 2017
On a whole, this set is hilarious. The final book is less funny, but, overall, it's a great read and ultimately a fun time.
December 15, 2017
Star Wars in iambic pentameter - gotta love it!
February 16, 2018
Even if you don't know or *gasp* like Star Wars, I think this book is great- especially if you listen to the audio version.
Beep beep whoosh weeeeeeee beep beep
Beep beep whoosh weeeeeeee beep beep
April 4, 2019
great audio cast!! I LOVED IT!!
July 1, 2019
I truly believe that if you want to enjoy these books, you need to do the audio. It makes a world of difference to hear all of the different characters.
April 15, 2024
Fantastic.
April 28, 2015
There's been a lot of (justified) criticism of George Lucas' cheesy writing style, and there's some trepidation about how JJ Abrams will handle the new sequel. So who could produce a Star Wars script that exceeds expectations?
How about Shakespeare?
That seems to be the idea behind Ian Doescher's "William Shakespeare's Star Wars Trilogy," a deliciously witty reimagining of the Star Wars saga in glorious iambic pentameter. While obviously a very funny spoof ("Now is the summer of our happiness/made winter by this sudden, fierce attack"), it's also a very well-written and eloquent experiment in pseudo-Elizabethan verse.
Anyone who has paid attention to pop culture in the last fifty years knows the main story already -- two droids land on Tattooine, give a message to old Ben Kenobi, he trains the plucky hero Luke Skywalker to be a Jedi, there's a guy in a dark helmet who (spoiler) turns out to be Luke's dad, Luke snogs his sister by accident, a few Death Stars blow up, and so on. If you know none of this, then please join the rest of the world.
A lot of people don't realize that, pre-copyright laws, Shakespeare actually was the master of taking preexisting stories (some fictional, some not) and sculpting them into the classic stories we know and love today. Yes, Shakespeare was the original producer of remakes, reboots, and "re-imaginings." Wrap your brain around that.
So the idea of him writing a somewhat less awkward Star Wars screenplay isn't actually that hard to imagine. And Ian Doescher... well, he does a really, really good job of bridging parody and actual sort-of-kind-of Shakespearean verse in this. He's clearly studied Shakespeare's writing, and rather than just adding a few prithees and "eths" to the preexisting screenplay, he actually reworks almost every line in it. Well, except for Chewie and R2D2. There's only so many ways you can translate "Auugh!" or "Beep."
One example? Like Shakespeare in his time, he includes the stage directions in the actual text ("I turn to thee, thou rebel. Aye, I lift/Thy head above my own") and asides to the audience ("O news that fills my heart with utter dread!").
And he writes whole swaths of dialogue that have no parallel in the original, but are the kind of things that Shakespeare would probably have done in his own time ("How strange this hand, which feeleth like my flesh/Yet is such stuff as droids are made of"). It has lots of witty little moments and fun in-jokes that make it even funnier (ghostly Obi-Wan reflects that "’Twas well I spoke/Not of the midi-chlorians to Luke,/For then he would have endless questions still"), as well as some fun moments (R2D2 is very eloquent when he's not talking to other characters).
While fun as a novelty, "William Shakespeare's Star Wars Trilogy" is also a very cleverly-written reworking of a classic space opera.... in the style of a classic playwright. Clever, witty and funny, and of interest to even casual Shakespeare nerds.
How about Shakespeare?
That seems to be the idea behind Ian Doescher's "William Shakespeare's Star Wars Trilogy," a deliciously witty reimagining of the Star Wars saga in glorious iambic pentameter. While obviously a very funny spoof ("Now is the summer of our happiness/made winter by this sudden, fierce attack"), it's also a very well-written and eloquent experiment in pseudo-Elizabethan verse.
Anyone who has paid attention to pop culture in the last fifty years knows the main story already -- two droids land on Tattooine, give a message to old Ben Kenobi, he trains the plucky hero Luke Skywalker to be a Jedi, there's a guy in a dark helmet who (spoiler) turns out to be Luke's dad, Luke snogs his sister by accident, a few Death Stars blow up, and so on. If you know none of this, then please join the rest of the world.
A lot of people don't realize that, pre-copyright laws, Shakespeare actually was the master of taking preexisting stories (some fictional, some not) and sculpting them into the classic stories we know and love today. Yes, Shakespeare was the original producer of remakes, reboots, and "re-imaginings." Wrap your brain around that.
So the idea of him writing a somewhat less awkward Star Wars screenplay isn't actually that hard to imagine. And Ian Doescher... well, he does a really, really good job of bridging parody and actual sort-of-kind-of Shakespearean verse in this. He's clearly studied Shakespeare's writing, and rather than just adding a few prithees and "eths" to the preexisting screenplay, he actually reworks almost every line in it. Well, except for Chewie and R2D2. There's only so many ways you can translate "Auugh!" or "Beep."
One example? Like Shakespeare in his time, he includes the stage directions in the actual text ("I turn to thee, thou rebel. Aye, I lift/Thy head above my own") and asides to the audience ("O news that fills my heart with utter dread!").
And he writes whole swaths of dialogue that have no parallel in the original, but are the kind of things that Shakespeare would probably have done in his own time ("How strange this hand, which feeleth like my flesh/Yet is such stuff as droids are made of"). It has lots of witty little moments and fun in-jokes that make it even funnier (ghostly Obi-Wan reflects that "’Twas well I spoke/Not of the midi-chlorians to Luke,/For then he would have endless questions still"), as well as some fun moments (R2D2 is very eloquent when he's not talking to other characters).
While fun as a novelty, "William Shakespeare's Star Wars Trilogy" is also a very cleverly-written reworking of a classic space opera.... in the style of a classic playwright. Clever, witty and funny, and of interest to even casual Shakespeare nerds.
April 21, 2018
I don't think I've ever enjoyed an audiobook more than I did this one. I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan but love Star Wars. Needed something to listen to in my car during my commute. This was very entertaining and fun to listen to. Not sure it would be as enjoyable reading the actual book. This had several narrators, music and sound effects. It's totally the Star Wars story told in Shakespeare's language.
February 20, 2016
This was delightful. I'm more in the camp of appreciating Shakespeare rather than actually enjoying his style, but every time I slid a CD into the player, I got a stupid grin on my face that didn't go away until the disk ended. You can tell that the author loves both Shakespeare and Star Wars - lots of little jokes and playing with the material. It has this sense of playfulness and this irreverent "why not?" attitude.
There are so many things to enjoy, like the stormtroopers who hilariously comment on the play's proceedings, and hearing Luke complain about power converters in iambic pentameter. Probably my favorite little thing was how the movies were converted into something that could be staged as a play. Darth Vader walks on stage dangling a rebel by the throat (presumably a dummy, as you couldn't do this to a real actor on stage). The result was that I didn't see the movie as I was listening - I saw how the movie would be performed on a stage.
I also got the sense that I was experiencing Shakespeare in a way that was probably common for audiences in the 16th & 17th centuries: as a beautiful version of a beloved, well-known story. Listening to my favorite moments be transformed into lyrical verse opened my eyes to what that must have been like for audiences of the past.
I'm not a fan of reading plays, so I picked up the audio book (really an audio drama). The voice actors do a great job, and it has music and sound effects from the movies. Not to mention a Globe Theater emcee - I don't know if that's in the books, but it it was great little introduction to each play.
There are so many things to enjoy, like the stormtroopers who hilariously comment on the play's proceedings, and hearing Luke complain about power converters in iambic pentameter. Probably my favorite little thing was how the movies were converted into something that could be staged as a play. Darth Vader walks on stage dangling a rebel by the throat (presumably a dummy, as you couldn't do this to a real actor on stage). The result was that I didn't see the movie as I was listening - I saw how the movie would be performed on a stage.
I also got the sense that I was experiencing Shakespeare in a way that was probably common for audiences in the 16th & 17th centuries: as a beautiful version of a beloved, well-known story. Listening to my favorite moments be transformed into lyrical verse opened my eyes to what that must have been like for audiences of the past.
I'm not a fan of reading plays, so I picked up the audio book (really an audio drama). The voice actors do a great job, and it has music and sound effects from the movies. Not to mention a Globe Theater emcee - I don't know if that's in the books, but it it was great little introduction to each play.
April 13, 2021
A very entertaining revisit of the Star Wars saga. Shakespeare quotations were well placed and easily recognizable; made me smile when I did. Hey nonny-nonny!
February 25, 2016
These are great i just love them you already know the story but dost thou know it in Shakespeare. These are a great addition to anyone's star wars collection.
It is your familiar for me childhood favorite star-wars re-imagined and brought back with a new twist. I was taking a Shakespeare class when i heard about these not really knowing what to expect i bought the set. And boy oh boy i am glad i did.
I was a tab bit nervous that it would just blow over my head and i wouldn't have a clue what was going on but they are really simple to understand and make for a really fun read.
The Shakespeare language/English is superb it is amazing how much time Doescher must have put into it. These always get a conversation started when people see them by now i think i have loaned the set out at least 5 times and only heard great things.
To sum everything up these are great i loved the story( i mean who doesn't) but the fact that you already know the story and context make the Shakespeare that much easier to understand. These would be a perfect gift for yourself or anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare or Star wars it might just give a Star wars fan the want to go learn Shakespeare.
It is your familiar for me childhood favorite star-wars re-imagined and brought back with a new twist. I was taking a Shakespeare class when i heard about these not really knowing what to expect i bought the set. And boy oh boy i am glad i did.
I was a tab bit nervous that it would just blow over my head and i wouldn't have a clue what was going on but they are really simple to understand and make for a really fun read.
The Shakespeare language/English is superb it is amazing how much time Doescher must have put into it. These always get a conversation started when people see them by now i think i have loaned the set out at least 5 times and only heard great things.
To sum everything up these are great i loved the story( i mean who doesn't) but the fact that you already know the story and context make the Shakespeare that much easier to understand. These would be a perfect gift for yourself or anyone who is a fan of Shakespeare or Star wars it might just give a Star wars fan the want to go learn Shakespeare.
Read
April 24, 2015Brief annotation
Book talk:
"In time so long ago begins our play,
In star-crossed galaxy far, far away."
Yes, that's right. It's William Shakespeare's Star Wars, by Ian Doescher! Now you can impress and/or annoy your friends by reenacting your favorite Star Wars moments in glorious iambic pentameter.
Hear ye some famous examples and tell me, who said it?
"O help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, help.
Thou art mine only hope.
O help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, help.
Thou art mine only hope."
(Princess Leia of Alderaan)
"--True it is,
That these are not the droids for which thou search'st."
(Obi-Wan Kenobi)
"I find thy lack of faith disturbing."
(Darth Vader)
"Forsooth, a great disturbance in the Force
Have I just felt."
(Obi-Wan Kenobi)
"Thou truly art in jest. Art thou not small
Of stature, if thou art a stormtrooper?"
(Princess Leia, to Luke)
"I sense the Force in this one here, almost
As if I did my younger self espy."
(Darth Vader)
"Beep, beep, meep, squeak, beep, beep, beep, whee!"
(R2-D2)
(Luke's soliloquy)
"Alas, poor stormtrooper, I knew ye not"
Book talk:
"In time so long ago begins our play,
In star-crossed galaxy far, far away."
Yes, that's right. It's William Shakespeare's Star Wars, by Ian Doescher! Now you can impress and/or annoy your friends by reenacting your favorite Star Wars moments in glorious iambic pentameter.
Hear ye some famous examples and tell me, who said it?
"O help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, help.
Thou art mine only hope.
O help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, help.
Thou art mine only hope."
(Princess Leia of Alderaan)
"--True it is,
That these are not the droids for which thou search'st."
(Obi-Wan Kenobi)
"I find thy lack of faith disturbing."
(Darth Vader)
"Forsooth, a great disturbance in the Force
Have I just felt."
(Obi-Wan Kenobi)
"Thou truly art in jest. Art thou not small
Of stature, if thou art a stormtrooper?"
(Princess Leia, to Luke)
"I sense the Force in this one here, almost
As if I did my younger self espy."
(Darth Vader)
"Beep, beep, meep, squeak, beep, beep, beep, whee!"
(R2-D2)
(Luke's soliloquy)
"Alas, poor stormtrooper, I knew ye not"
July 19, 2015
What a joy it was to hear this marvelous mashup acted and sung with sound effects as an audio production. Ultimate Geek Out for this fan of both William and George and now Ian!
From “The Jedi Doth Return” Act V, Scene 3, lines 125-131
LUKE But nay, thou shalt come with me. I shall not
Desert thee, but shall save thee yet.
ANAKIN —O, Luke,
Thou has already done. Thou knewest right—
Thou knewest what I was, for still there was
Some good within me aching to be free.
Tell thy sweet sister this: that thou wert right.
[Anakin Skywalker dies]
LUKE O Father, fare thee well where’er thou goest,
And flights of Jedi sing thee to thy rest
From “The Jedi Doth Return” Act V, Scene 3, lines 125-131
LUKE But nay, thou shalt come with me. I shall not
Desert thee, but shall save thee yet.
ANAKIN —O, Luke,
Thou has already done. Thou knewest right—
Thou knewest what I was, for still there was
Some good within me aching to be free.
Tell thy sweet sister this: that thou wert right.
[Anakin Skywalker dies]
LUKE O Father, fare thee well where’er thou goest,
And flights of Jedi sing thee to thy rest
August 17, 2015
This was amazing! I own a physical copy of "Star Wars: Verily A New Hope," but when I saw the audio book featuring all three novels at my library, I jumped at it. It is so much more fun to listen to this as it has various actors reading the parts, so it's more like viewing than reading. There are songs, and poems, and soliloquies, and some of the characters speak in specific literary patterns, just as in Shakespeare's plays, plus Ian Doescher robs from Shakespeare wholesale, using various lines from Shakespeare to frame the soliloquies of many of the characters. If you know the core "Star Wars" films, and you've read Shakespeare, you will love this!
November 26, 2014
This is an excellent listen on audio. Ian Doescher takes the classics that we are all familiar with and adapts them pretty faithfully to Shakespearian format. Listening to them in the car on my way to and from work was just so enjoyable. The performers are so similar in voice to their movie counterparts. I don't know. I just thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. If only all Shakespeare was this enjoyable!!! Give it a listen, even if you aren't a Star Wars fan. You won't regret it!
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