Realizing that Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith turned 20 in 2025 can be a stark reminder of the passage of time. Yet, it's also a cause for celebration, as the film is set to return to theaters in May, part of Lucasfilm's anniversary festivities. Even more exciting, Matthew Stover's critically acclaimed novelization of Revenge of the Sith is getting a special 20th anniversary rerelease, which you can preorder now at Amazon.

Collider has announced that a new Deluxe Edition hardcover of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith will be available in October. This edition boasts new cover art, luxurious red foil-edged pages, a removable acetate jacket, and over 170 new annotations by Stover himself. This enriched version promises to offer fans an even deeper understanding of the story.

Tom Hoeler, Editorial Director of Fiction and Special Projects for Random House World, shared his enthusiasm: "We couldn’t be more excited to publish this incredible deluxe edition of the Revenge of the Sith novelization. It has been thrilling to work with author Matthew Stover and Lucasfilm to create a fully annotated edition that gives readers unprecedented insight into the creation of this masterpiece. Across nearly 50 years of Star Wars books, it stands alone, and even among film novelizations, its approach to adapting characters and story from screen to page is unique. Two decades later, this novelization is as essential, enduring, and influential – on readers and creators – as it has ever been. Bringing the book back to hardcover in a stunning deluxe keepsake edition is a perfect way to celebrate 20 years of Revenge of the Sith."

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Episode III - Deluxe Edition (Hardcover)

Priced at $60.00 on Amazon, this Deluxe Edition is a must-have for fans. For those yet to experience Stover's novelization, it's considered one of the finest Star Wars novels, often hailed as superior to the film. While it adheres to George Lucas' screenplay, the book enhances many scenes and subplots, offering a more profound exploration of characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku. Its unique second-person narration sets it apart from other Star Wars literature. Consider this powerful passage that reimagines Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader:

And you rage and scream and reach through the Force to crush the shadow who has destroyed you, but you are so far less now than what you were, you are more than half machine, you are like a painter gone blind, a composer gone deaf, you can remember where the power was but the power you can touch is only a memory, and so with all your world-destroying fury it is only droids around you that implode, and equipment, and the table on which you were strapped shatters, and in the end, you cannot touch the shadow. In the end you don't even want to. In the end, you do not even want to. In the end, the shadow is all you have left. Because the shadow understands you, the shadow forgives you, the shadow gathers you unto itself—And within your furnace heart, you burn in your own flame.

Contrast this with the film's depiction of the same scene:

This comparison underscores the value of delving into the novelization for a richer narrative experience.

The Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith novelization is currently available in paperback and audiobook formats, with the Deluxe Edition hardcover set to release on October 14. Preorder your copy on Amazon to secure this collector's item.

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