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Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is the novelization of the film of the same name. It was written by Donald F. Glut and based on a story by George Lucas. It was first published in paperback by Del Rey on April 12, 1980.

Publisher's summary[]

Luke, Han and Princess Leia's story didn't end with the destruction of the Death Star—it continues in The Empire Strikes Back.

Though they had won a significant battle, the war between the Rebels and the Empire had really just begun.

Now, several months later, the Rebels have established an outpost on the frozen wasteland of Hoth. But even on that icy, backwater planet, they could not escape the evil Darth Vader's notice for long.

Soon, Luke, Han, the princess and their faithful companions were forced to flee, scattering in all directions—the Dark Lord's minions in fevered pursuit!

Continuity[]

The novelization has a number of differences from the film:

  • The novel has more scenes with the probe droid and its journey to locate the Rebel base on Hoth. One of them is the droid's encounter with a wampa, which attacks it. The probe droid reacts by disintegrating the creature with its blaster.
  • Han Solo never says, "And I thought they smelled bad on the outside." He does however mention that if he doesn't get the shelter built in time, "Jabba won't need those bounty hunters."
  • General Veers is killed when a Rebel snowspeeder crashes into his Imperial walker, blowing it up.
  • Yoda has blue skin, which was originally intended for his character design, instead of his recognizable green skin.
  • Han and Leia's kiss is not interrupted by C-3PO, but Chewbacca witnesses part of the scene.
  • There are only five bounty hunters aboard the Executor; 4-LOM is omitted, and Zuckuss is a "human type" instead of a Gand.
  • When greeting the Millennium Falcon on the landing platform, Lando Calrissian's entourage includes aliens.
  • The Ugnaughts are throwing scrap into a pool of molten metal instead of putting them onto a conveyor belt that carries them into an incinerator. Chewbacca also has far less trouble in forcing them to relinquish Threepio's parts.
  • Vader's lightsaber during the cave scene on Dagobah is blue rather than the usual red.
  • Han does not say "I know" in response to Leia's "I love you." Instead, Han reassures Leia that he will be back.

Reception[]

The novelization sold two million copies within the first week of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back's theatrical run.[1]

The novel appeared in the New York Times Paperback Best Sellers list from May 18, 1980 to September 4, 1980. The description given was "THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, by Donald F. Glut. (Ballantine, $2.25). More about 'Star Wars': fantasy fiction."[3]

Mass Market
Date Position
May 18, 1980 4
May 25, 1980 5
June 1980 6
June 8, 1980 8
June 15, 1980 5
June 15, 1980 7
June 29, 1980 5
July 6, 1980 5
July 13, 1980 5
July 20, 1980 6
July 27, 1980 7
August 3, 1980 8
August 10, 1980 7
August 17, 1980 9
August 24, 1980 12
August 31, 1980 14
September 7, 1980 7
September 14, 1980 12

Media[]

Editions[]

American[]

International[]

Cover gallery[]

American[]

International[]

Appearances[]

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