From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi (Star Wars)

I'm a big fan of the "From a Certain Point of View" books. I own the other two in the series. When I saw that a new one was being released, I jumped at the chance to buy it. "From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi" is a short story anthology written about the characters and events from George Lucas's "Return of the Jedi."This book is not only fun, but it's creative, too. In this anthology, authors came together and used their creativity to write some pretty neat stories. With this book, we start out on the wild sands of Tatooine, visit Jabba's Palace, and eventually make our way to the remote Forest Moon of Endor. These stories feature exceedingly well-written characters who are relatable and interesting at the same time. It definitely feels like these stories just add further depth to "Return of the Jedi."This was a delightful read overall. I also enjoyed the narration of this book. Whenever I buy the new book in this series, I purchase a Kindle book as well as the Audible audiobook. The narration is fantastic and I love how they incorporate the beautiful music of John Williams into the short stories at key moments. This is a fantastic anthology book.

Ratings are out of 5 stars.There are too many stories that flash back to the past.OTOH, I gave six stories a 5-star rating, including both the longest stories. That's more (or equal to) the other two books combined, none of which I think were the longest stories in those books."Any Work Worth Doing" (5)Jerjerrod is relatable! He is a physical person, needing physical schematics and being hands-on with the work. I like how he takes Vader’s words and makes them work for what the Emperor wants."Fancy Man" (2.5)Max Rebo remembers his past, which is sometimes tough to differentiate from the present. I don’t like the use of the word “ass.” I felt like this was a story."The Key to Remembering" (1)EV-9D9 thinks that she gets a kink in her cervical mount? What? That made it a 0.5 but the rest, which I went through quickly, is okayish enough to bring it up. Barely. EV-9D9 is awful and I never want to read anything again from Olivia Chadha."Fortuna Favors the Bold" (3.5)Bib Fortuna has a list of things he hates, and Jabba is at the top. It’s a good segue into BOBF."Dune Sea Songs of Salt and Moonlight" (5)Never knew who Jess was until now, but she is in the movie. She wanted to be in a band while her boyfriend wanted to race, and now she is indentured to Jabba. But she is more than a dancer, and she and the others she trusts devise fun plans on how a Hutt can be killed. Then her boyfriend learns of her fate, and Leia comes around, and for being one of two stories more than 30 pages long, it’s also a great one."The Plan" (4.5)We get Malakili’s backstory (including the fact that he didn’t raise the rancor this time around), and how he ended up Jabba’s beastmaster. It was a great story, getting into his mind…and his mentor’s regarding The Plan to feed a Jedi to some beast for magical abilities."Reputation" (4)This was a decent short about Boba working for Jabba and being told to not take it personally when the Hutt puts a bounty on Fett’s head after Han was stolen by Crimson Dawn. It ends just before he gets knocked into the sarlacc."Kickback" (3.75)Some guard named Sion is happy to be working for Jabba because it means a steady job that keeps his (very greedy) family happy. But he gets kicked into the sarlacc."Everyone's a Critic" (4)Oddly enough, I didn’t mind this story about Salacious Crumb and how he came to be with Jabba. I like that he still has to make Jabba laugh once a day to stay alive. I laughed at the end."Satisfaction" (3)Mediocre story about Sy Snootles reflecting on being in the Max Rebo Band and her life on Tatooine."My Mouth Never Closes" (3.5)I love the title. And while getting the sarlacc’s POV is interesting (like that it is one of the few of its species that doesn’t like me), a few things rubbed me wrong, didn’t feel right. Tatooine was a jungle?[Are we FINALLY off Tatooine?! I can’t believe more than 25% of this takes place there]"Kernels and Husks" (2)I can’t believe I’m giving a Jason Fry story a 2/5, but there you go. Some Imp named Sim remembers a guy he killed during the Clone Wars and now he likes killing."The Light That Falls" (3.5)Bright-Eyes, a dragonsnake on Dagobah, senses an imbalance as Yoda dies."From a Certain Point of View" (4)I’m so glad not everything is dialogue from the movie. I really like Obi-Wan’s POV and love how he sees Anakin’s fighting style in Leia’s diplomacy, and Anakin’s physicality in Luke."No Contingency" (4.75)Mon personally retrieves data on the Emperor’s whereabouts because “a leader can’t lead if they will not also sacrifice.”"The Burden of Leadership" (5)I am really enjoying Lore’s writing from Lando’s POV. I like seeing him consider different possible versions of his present while realizing that he could never ask someone to make the decisions he is. Because he didn’t become Baron Administrator because he looks good in a cape, and is an actual leader who understands its burdens. My biggest issue was the lack of semicolons, but that wasn’t enough to drop the ranking."Gone to the Winner's Circle" (4)TK-15, one of the two troopers following Luke and Leia on Endor and is a former experienced outlaw racer. Unfortunately for him, it’s not enough to save him from Luke’s lightsaber."One Normal Day" (5)Wicket! Kneesa! Woklings! On a day that he wants normalcy, adventure finds Wicket when the sky people come.I need to rewatch Ewoks."Divine Intervention" (4.5)Shaman Logray and Teebo feel as if their Golden One deity has abandoned them, but while Logray wants to steer his people in one direction to still follow the god, Teebo is obstinate. At least, until Logray catches sight of the Golden One. Then 3PO trips, but Logray still puts into action a plan…that has me chuckling at the end."The Buy-In" (4)This is about Norra who is upset that she has missed so much time with Temmin (he’s 15, which really places Aftermath because I remembered it as being further out) and that she hasn’t found Brentin. Instead of making a message for Tem, she plays sabacc with her fellow pilots, and classic Wes flirts with everyone."The Man Who Captured Luke Skywalker" (4)Commander Altadan Igaris the one to whom Luke goes to surrender to Vader. He had fought alongside Jedi during the clone wars, and understands the cost of battle.I find it quite interesting that the Death Star can illuminate the night. I am tickled that the Imps find that the Endor moon eats people."Ackbar" (4.5)I am so happy to get a comic that isn’t one page!"The Impossible Flight of Ash Angels" (2)Arvel Crynyd is an A-wing pilot who has flashbacks to different times in his past that set his current path."Ending Protocol" (2)Imp Trooper Riz and her partner Gir are walking through the forest of the Endor moon. Riz recalls when her commander was shot in front of her and I thought it was part of the current story.And she second-guesses a lot about the Empire."The Last Flight" (1)Some Red Squadron pilot named Sila Kott also has flashbacks to her past. I found the entire story pointless."Twenty and Out" (4.5)Death Star gunner Corr Lerrann is in his last week after 20 years of service with the Imperial Navy. His post-retirement plan is to develop safety rails. Later, his friends see just how needed they are."The Ballad of Nanta" (4.5)Nanta is an Ewok who wants to know the answer to everything and is set on the path of being a Storykeeper. He sets some of his stories to music. Yes, he considers the past but more about how it shapes the present and helps Nanta dream the story and ballad of the final battle with the Golden One’s people against the Skull Ones. The end has a hard punch."Then Fall, Sidious" (4.25)These are the last 10 thoughts of Emperor Palpatine and how he reflects on how Luke is “a Jedi, like his father before him,” except not."Impact" (4.5)This story backtracks from the time the Executor impacts against the Death Star II to about a day or two before, namely through the eyes of Bridge Officer Kasva Jhoff. I like how it was set up."Trooper Trouble" (3.5)Although this isn’t the longest story, it ends up dragging. And then it has words like “ass” for no reason, and “Huzzah,” though I am very glad that stronger language than ass is redacted. TK-423 keeps a journal from the time he starts on the Death Star II, and while not every entry is there his main complaints are no caf, no pay, and a droid who spends its time tormenting the trooper. Some troopers want to protest the treatment (just pay and caf; the droid is only out for 423) but then the rebels come."To the Last" (2.5)Piett for some reason can’t get Ozzel out of his head and then thinks about his childhood and then is glad to be killed by the rebels because he did what was right [and wasn’t killed by Vader?]."The Emperor's Red Guards" (3.75)This POV is from one of the two Red Guards the Emperor orders out. He wishes he could always see how the Emperor deals with his enemies and thinks of how Luke will be turned. He only disobeys orders for the first time and goes in when he hears Palp’s yells cut off…and his faith is shattered."Wolf Trap" (2)Hoyel is a trooper captured by the Ewoks. It was very chilling when another prisoner tells Hoyel the Ewoks are eating them. He flashbacks to the past and of an injured wolf that gives him inspiration. It bored me about halfway through."The Extra Five Percent" (3)Karie Neth is the new Yellow 9 and her best friend (I just wish best friends stayed best friends in these stories, my word) has given her boosters an extra 5% which likely saves her from the shock wave when the DSII blows up. I liked Lando even acknowledging her survival."When Fire Marked the Sky" (3.75)It wasn’t bad but I felt like something was missingWedge doesn’t turn off. He thinks he’s lucky, not “just that good.” Then he has to think about what it will actually mean to live."The Chronicler" (5)This is the second of the two longest ones and I’m so glad that neither disappoint.Dora Mar has an eidetic memory and has just been made a Chronicler by Mon Mothma. Her friend Tele, also with an eidetic memory, is one too (again, can we please have friends be friends). Dora though has to interview Han (who leave early but makes her think of the sun), Luke (who is more introspective than she expected and makes her think of a calm but confusing moon), Lando (who is flirty, always making a comparison to a game of cards, and makes her think of a magnetic field), and Leia (who is unyielding and straight, wanting ALL people to be part of the story). Despite Dora’s romantic side, her final notes and story mirror just how deep and true this short is."The Veteran" (4.5)Dexter Jettster is OLD. he remembers the Nihil?! He looks after his neighbors and knows just how dangerous the upcoming weeks on Coruscant will be, whether or not Palpatine is actually dead (and he doesn’t believe he is). The end was beautiful."Brotherhood" (4.75)Vader–Anakin–sinks into the void of the Force but refuses the peace because a moment of Light doesn’t make up for two decades of Dark. He knows he needs to atone for much and gets to talk to Obi-Wan about it. While I don’t like the remastered version to include Hayden (as much as I love Hayden), Chen did a good job explaining it here."The Steadfast Soldier" (2)Pryde is with FS-421 (who I remember from another FACPOV book) and doesn’t want to believe Vader is dead. And he is hopped up on death sticks."Return of the Whills" (5)I love how the two are finally on board! This was a great continuation of the Whills and end to the compilation.

Like its predecessors, “Star Wars – From A Certain Point of View” and “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – From A Certain Point of View,” this book collects short stories from 40 different authors telling the story of Episode VI of the Skywalker Saga from the perspective of those adjacent to the main action. It features the talents of Saladin Ahmed, Charlie Jane Anders, Tom Angleberger, Kristin Baver, Olivie Blake, Akemi Dawn Bowman, Emma Mieko Candon, Olivia Chadha, Gloria Chao, Mike Chen, Adam Christopher, Paul Crilley, Amal El-Mohtar, M.K. England, Jason Fry, Adam Lance Garcia, Lamar Giles, Max Gladstone, Thea Guanzon, Ali Hazelwood, Patricia A. Jackson, Alex Jennings, Mary Kenney, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Sarah Kuhn, Danny Lore, Sarah Glenn Marsh, Kwame Mbalia, Marieke Nijkamp, Danielle Paige, Aura Pohl, K. Arsenault Rivera, Dana Schwartz, Tara Sim, Phil Szostak, Suzanne Walker, Hannah Whitten, Fran Wilde, Sean Williams, and Alyssa Wong.In following the basic plot of “Return of the Jedi,” most of the early stories focus on Jabba’s palace, thus recalling Kevin J. Anderson’s edited anthology, “Tales from Jabba’s Palace,” which came out in 1995. Phil Szostak’s story begins the process of renaming Max Reebo’s music from its traditional name to “jatz,” though they still allude to the original name with the line, “it came to be known by many names, some less palatable than others” (p. 21). Mary Kenney’s story from the perspective of Wicket Wystri Warrick references the events of “Caravan of Courage” and “Ewoks: The Battle for Endor” (p. 231). Meanwhile, Suzanne Walker gives Norra Wexley her own chapter set during the Battle of Endor, connecting to the “Aftermath” trilogy and helping to retroactively establish her role in the Alliance fleet (p. 267). Alyssa Wong’s story confirms that Ewoks ate the Stormtroopers (p. 438). Emma Mieko Candon’s story focuses on Wedge prior to the Battle of Endor, with references to his and Lando Calrissian’s appearances in “Star Wars Rebels” (p. 464). The story also ties into the first issue of the “Shattered Empire” comic series (p. 471). Both Thea Guanzon (p. 63) and Danielle Paige (p. 477) expand the definition of rebellion and show how the women in Jabba’s palace found their own ways to resist. Paige has Leia neatly summarize the purpose of this book, where even characters who are not part of the Empire nor the Alliance “are part of the story” (p. 500). Finally, Adam Lance Garcia uses Dexter Jettster to tie together threads from the High Republic through the Clone Wars and finally the Empire, putting the history of the “Star Wars” galaxy into perspective (p. 512).The book neatly rounds out this 40th anniversary celebration of the “Star Wars” Original Trilogy with stories that deepen those seen on film. Fans will enjoy the alternate perspectives as well as the references that connect this to other “Star Wars” media beyond the films.

Excellent read just like the first two "certain point of views"

I loved the first 2, 3rd one was perfect

Ich fasse mich kurz: STAR WARS Romane und Anthologien gibt es nun wirklich wie Sand am Meer (bzw. Sterne im Weltall), und neben viel unnötigem Käse sind natürlich auch einige Highlights darunter... und die FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW Anthologien gehören für mich definitiv zu den Highlights, alleine schon wegen seines Grundkonzepts.Das gesamte Konzept, den "Nebenrollen" der klassischen Trilogie mal die Bühne zu überlassen und aus ihrer Sicht geschriebene Kurzgeschichten zu präsentieren geht wirklich gut auf - und die Ideen sind auch in diesem dritten Teil der Reihe wirklich gut. Egal ob einer der imperialen Scouts auf Endor von seiner Vergangenheit erzählt oder der Sarlacc einige wichtige Fehlvorstellungen über sich graderückt, hier bekommt man einige denkwürdige Einfälle präsentiert.Natürlich ist all dies nicht immer "kanonisch" im Sinne des "Expanded Universe", aber wen interessierts? Widersprüche zu den Filmen der klassischen Trilogie, und um die geht es hier ja, konnte ich nicht ausmachen...Sicherlich gibt es wie in jeder Anthologie bessere und schlechtere Beiträge, und während ich manche Ideen sehr stark finde sind manche eher "naja", insgesamt ist aber auch dieser dritte Teil von FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW definitiv empfehlenswert.

This book series is an interesting addition to the original Star Wars Trilogy movies, with some stories relevant, others moving and some... just plain weird. Return Of The Jedi's certain point of view -just like the movie itself- might be a little over the top in some places, however it does make a pleasant read for the most part.I had pre-ordered this book, with little data known yet, and ended up with the USA-version of the book, which -on the shelve- is a lot smaller then the UK-versions I previously bought for Star Wars and Empire. If you want them to be the same size (like I do) be sure to order the correct one! There are currently two versions of the english hardcover edition on Amazon Netherlands. I have placed a new order for the UK version, just so the books are in line with each other on the shelve (as opposed to the current one in the pics)