I know what you are thinking. What is this ridiculousness? Ian Doescher’s book imagines the answer to a question I’d wager everyone wishes they had been thinking: what if William Shakespeare had written Star Wars? The result is, of course, William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope. It’s as hysterically awesome as you could wish, and if you think about it, it’s not such a strange idea: surely if any film series is Shakespearean in scope, with its complicated villains, scene-stealing minor characters, and emphasis on Fate, then Star Wars certainly is.
I don’t think I need to review the plot, and let’s face it: no one is reading this book for the plot—it’s for the fun of the Shakespearean language used to tell a familiar tale. I will say this: the dialogue in this book is quite a lot better than the dialogue in the movie.
Sprinkled throughout, too, the reader familiar with Shakespeare’s plays will find allusions to Shakespeare’s own writing as well.
I love Luke’s soliloquy as he gazes at the two setting suns. But even more than that, I love his rumination over the Storm Trooper he has just killed.
Alas, poor stormtrooper, I knew ye not,
Yet have I ta’en both uniform and life
From thee. What manner of man wert thou?
A man of inf’nite jest or cruelty?
A man with helpmate and with children too?
A man who hath his Empire serv’d with pride?
A man, perhaps, who wish’d for perfect peace?
Whate’er thou wert, good man, thy pardon grant
Unto the one who took thy place: e’en me. (124-125)
There are also some fun in-jokes for Star Wars fans:
Sprinkled throughout is some great line art by Nicolas Delort. I am particularly fond of this picture of Grand Moff Tarkin:
The asides, monologues, and soliloquies give a great deal of insight into characters’ motivation, particularly that of R2-D2.
My daughter gave me this book for Christmas 2013, and I’m only sorry I waited so long to pick it up. I will certainly now read William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back and William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return. I really can’t wait to see how Doescher handles Yoda.
If you love Shakespeare and you love Star Wars, you really can’t lose with this book.
Rating:
Superb idea, definitely one of those you wish you’d thought of first! I assume you’ve already given Pride and Prejudice and Zombies a whirl?
Incidentally, none of the pictures on this post show up correctly, at least for me. And I’m curious to see how he treated the Han Shot First moment!
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I tested them in another browser and also my iPhone, and I can’t duplicate the problem. You might try a different browser or check your settings. I suspect there are some settings or other issues at play here. I am familiar with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but I haven’t read it. I not really into the whole zombie thing.
Indeed, the pictures show up fine on this machine. Curious… Still, great to see the illustrations, looks like a nicely produced volume.
I do love Shakespeare and Star Wars, though I admit I have been dubious about the wisdom of combining the two. But with your recommendation, I’ll see if I can get this at the library.
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Jenny, I do think you’d enjoy it. It’s pretty funny.