Title: A New Hope
Author: Alan Dean Foster
Pages: 216
Time: 0 ABY

Introduction
No introduction needed for this novel. It's the classic, the first, the beginning. It's why Star Wars is so great. I have been looking forward to reading this novel from the beginning of my journey through the EU. Not everyone is positive about it and they have some good points, I still loved the novel however and I'll explain why.

Novel quality
It would be useless to explain the story here to you, if you don't know it you wouldn't (shouldn't!) be reading this review anyway. I'll focus on the parts that make the novel different from the movie. Most important is the view on the thoughts and actions of the main characters we get. It doesn't really add a lot, but I really liked the approach that was taken to characters such as Obi-Wan and Darth Vader, they do and say things that really add to the story and somehow enhance the look on the saga. This change in the way we see the characters also makes you form en even better connection with them than before. Like I said, don't expect anything sensational, but character-wise it is definitely an improvement.

What the novel also does great is describe the action scenes. It his here where we see that George Lucas really didn't have the technology available to everything he wanted to. Many of the action scenes feel a bit more like the PT than we are used to. They feel more dynamic and would have made the movie even better if they could have been put in the movie the way they are described in the novel. There are points during the reading that you wish they could redo those scenes with the same actors, or perhaps even redo the movie. You quickly get over that notion however once you consider the greatness of the OT. It does however, in my opinion, prove Mr. Lucas right that he tries to update and polish the movies every time he gets the chance. Anyway, let's just conclude that it makes the novel worth reading.

Down-sides? Well, the story is indeed a bit short and it does add relatively little to the overall storyline. There are also some minor differences with the movies that could annoy movie purists. Main point basically is that the novel in itself isn't that great, it's great because of everything that you know is going to happen and because of the classic nature of it, that you will think of it as great. Overall however it does add enough to the movie to make it worth your time, even if the novel itself isn't that great. Let's face it, any Star Wars fan should have read this novel, even if it was the worst novel ever written. Luckily it isn't.
Rating: 65/100

Personal Tilt
What do you expect me to say? I love this novel just because it is just what it is, the novelization of A New Hope. It is a must-read for any Star Wars fan. Don't complain about the shortness of the story and don't complain about differences from the movie. This is a classic! Pick it up and enjoy the classic first Star Wars feeling!
Rating: 90/100

Overall rating: 75.0/100

- - - -

See my Book review summary for other reviews and a my personal top ten.