In this blog I'll compare the novelisation of 'RotJ', written by James Kahn and the movie. I have also created other blog entries regarding the novels of the other classic movies. This has completed the classic circle.
CHAPTER I
* Deleted Scene: In the novel, you will find the deleted scene where Luke hides his lightsaber into Artoo's cargo compartment.
* In the novel Threepio just mentions that 'Lando Calrissian never returned from Jabba's Palace'. Threepio knows that Chewbacca isn't missing in action and will ask himself why Chewbacca couldn't deliver the message to Jabba.
* In the novel three instead of two Gamorreans meet the Droids in the Palace Hallway. The book also states that Gamorreans harbour a deep hatred towards Droids, something that hasn't been explored that much in later source.
* The novel says that Jabba's hair has fallen out due to several diseases.
* EV-9D9 introduces herself as 'Chief of Cyborg Operations'
* In the movie EV-9D9 says she has need for Artoo on Jabba's Sail Barge. The novel even explains why she does because why would Jabba be in need of Astromech Droids. It seems that lately, several Astromech Droids from the Hutt had disappeared and most likely stolen for parts'.
* The novel mentions Max Rebo as being a 'blue, flop-eared Jizz-wailer' (no idea why this word is banned)
* The book says that Han Solo had been frozen in Carbonite for 6 Tatooinian months.
Named members of Jabba's court: Bib Fortuna, Salacious Crumb, Oola, EV-9D9-, Boushh, Max Rebo, Yak Face, Ishi Tib, Barada, Weequay & Hermi Odle
CHAPTER II
* Another interesting note. Jabba says to Luke when he confronts him in the Palace: "I was killing your kind when begin a Jedi meant something'.
* The Rancor is being compared as having the size of an elephant, an animal that does not exist in the SW galaxy.
* In the novel the Gamorrean who falls into the Rancor pit with Luke (who was later given the name Jubnuk) also fires at the Rancor with a Blaster.
* Deleted Scene: In the novel, the scene where Luke grabs the grid in the Court Room can be found. Pictures of this scene exist. Jawas mashed Luke's fingers with their rifles in the novel.
* When fighting the Rancor, Luke remembers Ben saying that pure evil was always self-destructive at the end. Luke realised the Rancor wasn't truly evil.
* The novel compares the Rancor's skull crushing to an axe slicing through a watermelon.
* The novel gives a nice description of Barada and the Weequay that accompany Luke & co on the Skiff. Strangely enough, the Klatooinian on the first Skiff has been renamed Kithaba afterwards. It's still a mystery to me why a prime source such as the novel was discarded regarding the Barada - Kithaba switch.
* Pesmenben IV: Lando mentions Pesmenben IV as being the location where he pulled a con on an Imperial Governor and his lithium carbonated dunes.
* Deleted Scene: In the novel, Ephant Mon (with Salacious Crumb) and Ree-Yees argue about a point of quark warfare and Threepio serves as a translator. At the end Ephant gets smacked. This is in fact a deleted scene, only in the filmed sequence it's Saelt-Marae who replaces Ephant Mon.
*When having to drink from Jabba's glass as a slave, Leia remembers the tortures of Darth Vader aboard the first Death Star.
* Luke compares his possible death on Tatooine as being: 'born and bred in a Bantha patch'.
* The novel mentions that Luke constructed his lightsaber in the hut of Ben Kenobi.
* In the novel, Jabba the Hutt dies before Boba Fett flies into the Sarlacc.
* In the novel, Boba Fett speaks another line to Solo: "Get out of my way, you blind fool' before Solo fires him into the Sarlacc's mouth.
* When Salacious Crumb is picking Threepio's eyes, he gets assistance from Hermi Odle in the novel. Artoo zaps Odle who jumped out of a window.
* Artoo and Threepio are picked up by a Electromagnet of the Skiff when they were stuck in the sand.
CHAPTER III
* Deleted Scene: The famous sandstorm scene, still takes place in the movie. It confirms that the heroes arrived in the Falcon, Luke's X-Wing and a two-seater Y-Wing (BTL-S3). Han thanks Luke and Lando for coming to his rescue.
* When Artoo once more joins up with Luke, Threepio says "Make the Maker bless you" to his companion.
* In the novel, we read how Luke actually walks to Yoda's hut.
* The novel explains that it was Yoda who forbade Ben Kenobi to tell Luke the truth about his father.
* The conversation with Ben Kenobi is interesting in the novel. It mentions the lava fight ("Your father fell into a molten pit").
* Luke's Mother & Leia: The novel also mentions pieces of what happened to Leia. This is not exactly how it happened in 'Revenge of the Sith'. Ben explains: "When your father left, he didn't know your mother was pregnant..." Anakin knew Padmé was pregnant, he just didn't know how many children she was pregnant with.
* Owen is Ben's brother: One of the most remarkable things about the novel is that it Ben says that Owen was his brother and that's why he gave Luke to Owen and Beru. Before Episode II was released, it was considered cannon.
* Ben also explains some nice information regarding Alderaan and the Organa family. He also says that Leia was instructed to contact him whenever she found herself in deep troubles.
CHAPTER IV
* The novel does mention Palpatine as the name of the Emperor while the movie does not. This is of course interesting, regarding the role of Palpatine in the prequels. It also gives a short history on how Palpatine became Emperor: "Through fraud, clever promises, and astute political manoeuvring, he'd managed to get himself elected head of the Council. And then through subterfuge, bribery and terror, he'd named himself Emperor." I think we can see this does concur with what happened in the prequels in general.
* Several types of ships are named in the Rebel Fleet: Corellian Battle Ships, Sullustan Cargo Freighters, Calamarian Tankers, Alderaanian Gunships, Kesselian Blockade Runners and Bestinian Skyhoppers. Strangely enough, all these planets exist in the novels of the movies and often the ships remind us of other existing types (Gunships, Blockade Runners, Skyhoppers).
* Mon Mothma's background is mentioned in the novel as being a Senator, just as Palpatine and Bail Organa.
* In the novel, Lando explains his adventures during the Battle of Taanab and the bandits from Norulac.
* Ackbar is stated as being the specialist regarding Imperial Defence Procedures.
* Controller Jhoff is mentioned in the novel, a character that is neglected by other sources. He's the Imperial Controller who deals with the Tydirium.
* In the novel, the Tydirium arrives in Sector Seven and it is identified as belonging to theLambda-class.
* Han uses the name of 'Sanctuary Moon' as well while in the movie, only Palpatine names Endor like that.
CHAPTER V
* When the Imperial Scout wants to kill Luke on Endor and races towards him when Luke has crashed his Bike, Khan compares this with a matador and his bull. Another example of real-life elements that were incorporated in the novel.
* Deleted Scene: Kahn still uses the scene where Vader strangles an Officer aboard the Death Star. This however is not Jerjerrod as in the filmed deleted scene.
* In the novel, Han meets up with the Rebel Commandoes at '0-30'. In the movie this is '0-300'. The novel says Han speaks with the Commando who is second-in-command. That would make him Major Bren Derlin.
* Wicket reminds Leia of her stuffed Wookiee doll she had as a child.
* Kahn compares Wicket as a Teddy bear... another real-life term.
* In the novel, only one Imperial Scout confronts Leia and Wicket.
* Leia remembers her father and her mother, Minister of Education. It's unclear whether Leia remembered her foster mother or her real mother in the novel. Of course we now know it has to be Breha.
* An Ewok cuts Han's arm when the fell out of the net.
CHAPTER VI
* Artoo is being freed before Threepio released his 'power' in the Ewok Village
* Chirpa's pet iguana and advisor is mentioned in the novel.
* During Threepio's story he tells the Ewoks about the Civil War, Luke, Leia and Han speak as well on behalf of the Rebel Alliance's cause.
Named Ewoks in the novel: Teebo, Wicket, Paploo, Logray, Chirpa and ... Warwick! Now I must admit, I had totally forgotten about him. This is truly a judge to Warwick Davis but it's no typo cause Kahn uses Warwick once more in the novel (read on ...)
CHAPTER VII
* Vader says "Ben once though as you do". This is impossible since Vader doesn't really know that Obi-Wan Kenobi was called Ben Kenobi on Tatooine. And if he found out, he would never use that name.
* In the novel, four Ewoks accompany the Strike Team to the bunker. The Ewoks are: Wicket, Paploo (as in the movie), Teebo and Warwick ! Yep, it's Warwick again !
* Han remembers the Spice Vaults of Gargon as another heavily guarded place they once got into.
* When Han sees the four Scouts guarding the bunker he says: "With just those guards this should be easier than breaking a Bantha".
* Chewbacca subdues the last remaining Scout in the novel. In the movie, Han lures him towards the Commandoes.
* Palpatine knows about Obi-Wan Kenobi and more important about Yoda's existence and even Yoda's death. When you know what happens in 'RotS', this scene gets a lot more importance.
* Deleted Scene: In the novel, the Rebel Strike Team faces Stomtroopers inside the Bunker. The progress of the Strike Team in the bunker was also filmed but never used.
* In the novel, three X-Wings crash into the Death Star's still operational Shield.
* Admiral Ackbar gets the news: "Admiral, we have enemy ships at Sector RT-23 and PB-4". In the movie it's just Sector 47.
* Also interesting to note is a quote used by Lando. This quote was absent from the classic edition but it appeared in the Special Edition! Lando says "We're sure in the middle of it, now".
CHAPTER VIII
* In the novel, the Liberty is mentioned as the first victim of the Death Star's Superlaser.
* A very interesting subplot in the novel that is missing in the movie is that Palpatine orders Jerjerrod to blow up Endor if the Shield was destroyed.
* In the novel, Teebo sounds the alarm instead of an unnamed Ewok in the movie.
* For a moment it seems that Teebo and Wicket died in the battle for it says that they both crashed. But later, it seems they are healthy Ewoks! In the novel it's Teebo and Wicket that accompany Chewbacca in the AT-ST cockpit instead of the still unnamed Ewoks in the movie.
* In the novel, Vader receives Luke's lightsaber when Luke is hiding in the depths of the Throne Room and he refuses to fight his father. When he turns into his rage, Luke grabs the saber with the Force out of Vader's grip.
* In the novel, Luke manages to repel the Force Lightning of Palpatine at first.
CHAPTER IX
* The Empire's Main Communication Ship is mentioned and destroyed in a passage absent from the movie. Blue Leader perishes in that battle. Blue Group is never mentioned in the movie. The large hangarless Destroyer, retconned later as the Tector-class Star Destroyer, is also present as 'the belly of the Imperial leviathan'.
* In the novel, it's Green Leader himself who accompanied Lando and Wedge in the Death Star. He escapes as ordered by Lando. In the movie it's Jake Farrell who escapes from the Death Star.
* In the novel, there is an interesting part when Jerjerrod is turning the Death Star's Superlaser towards Endor as was commanded by Palpatine. It reminds us of the sequence in 'ANH'. When everybody was panicking, Jerjerrod kept his cool and concentrated on destroying Endor. This would finally seem to make up for his more coward like character.
* When Luke takes off Anakin's mask, Anakin remembers the wonders of nature, his wife and his friend Obi-Wan Kenobi. Anakin also wished he had met Yoda to thank him for training Luke ... well that's another funny thing that happens when you make movies in a non-chronological order.
* In the novel, the appearance of the Jedi spirits is not as obvious as in the movie.
At the end, it turned out that the novelisation of 'Return of the Jedi' contains a lot of deleted scenes, some new names and some additions to the movie. Like the other novels, I advise it to every fan.
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