Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu

Recently I decided to read another classic SW-novel once again: 'Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu'.

Compared to the beloved 'Han Solo Adventures' of Brian Daley, the three novels by L. Neil Smith have received less of attention throughout the years. In fact, they have hardly received any attention at all. The only two characters that surpassed their presence in the novels are Vuffi Raa and Rokur Gepta. I took the time to read the book properly and to note any name or terminology that appeared in the novel for Yodapedia, the Flemish / Dutch SW Wikia.

I must admit I still remember the overall story of the book, but I had forgotten about details such as the Dinosaurs, Hall and how Lando was pulled into searching for the Mindharp. Basically 'Mindharp of Sharu' is a pretty good novel. It features a inexperienced Lando who's hardly capably of landing the Falcon, but who already can shape the turn of events during any Sabacc match.

'Mindharp' is even written in a smaller microcosmos that Daley's novels about Han and Chewie. Those took place in the Corporate Sector and the Tion Hegemony, but Lando's adventures all take place in The Centrality and in 'Mindharp', Lando only visits the Oseon and the Rafa System. In 'Stars' End' Han and Chewie visit six systems. But Smith manages to create a great microuniverse in the Rafa System and it doesn't bother one bit. Compared to the modern EU novels where planets are destroyed as often as it rains on the equator, that's a big difference and I do prefer the low profile books anytime!

Another particular funny and interesting issue is how many earthly animals are mentioned in the novel (albatross, sardine, dinosaur and elephant) and how many weird exclamations are used like 'By the Eternal' and 'Entropy'.

Like I mentioned before, there are hardly any additional sources about the Lando Adventures. A sourcebook by West End Games was intended to appear, but when WEG lost the licence, the plans went up into smoke. So what's left is 'The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons' where we get a profile on Rafa V , a few tiny bits (but some great illustrations) in 'The Essential Chronologies' (both original and 2nd edition) and 'The Essential Atlas' which as a great map of The Centrality and a short explanation of the most important systems.

The Atlas makes a great combination with the superb article 'A Campaign Guide to the Centrality' in 'Star Wars Gamer 5' by Michael Kogge. For an article, it does an amazing job and has almost everything, except a map of the region. So the Atlas and the article make one great team. The article is the closest thing to a Sourcebook we have about Lando's adventures and I fear we might never again dig into them once again, which is a shame considered the amount of attention new EU novels sometimes receive.
http://nl.starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Lando_Calrissian_and_the_Mindharp_of_Sharu

Snivvian Roster

Snivvians are one of my favourite species in the SW-saga. Here's a roster of all the Snivvians appearing in the movies and television spin-offs.

* Geezum: Is the Snivvian Scout that can be seen in Jabba's Palace and on the Khetanna. (pictured on the right)

* Katt Mol: Is the Snivvian (who wears the classic red jumpsuit) who was captured by Garnac and dropped on Wasskah. Mol was killed by Ratter.

* Rachalt Hyst: Is the female Snivvian that can be seen in 'The Holiday Special'. So she's the figure that was used as a model for the original (small) Snaggletooth figure of Kenner. Sounds like Ackmena used to call her 'Zutmore'.

* Sinrich: Was an infamous Bounty Hunter during the Clone Wars who invented the Holographic Disguise Matrix. Sinrich was killed in Moralo Eval's Box on Serenno.

* Takeel: Bounty Hunter simpleton and the brother of Zutton and has a hunchback. Takeel wears a red shirt. Can be seen in the Mos Eisley Cantina and in the streets of Mos Eisley.

* Wiorkettle: A male Snivvian that worked on Cloud City for Planet Dreams Inc. Often seen with his friend Treva Horme.

* Zutton: Brother of Takeel, owner of the Longest Winter. Zutton is the 'Blue Snaggletooth', but in fact he's wearing more of a greenish skirt in the Cantina. Has less hair than Takeel and also has a hunchback. Can be noticed in the Cantina.

Vintage Kenner Ugnaught

It's always difficult to choose a favourite among lots of favourites! I've been a fan of Vintage Kenner Star Wars ever since I got my first 4 figures in the eighties. I mostly played with Vintage Star Wars, Masters of the Universe and toy cyclists in my childhood. Though I totally loved Masters of the Universe (I still do), Star Wars ultimately triumphed and at the end of the eighties I looked for every item that carried the name 'Star Wars'.

When I played with the vintage toys my favourite figures were Han Solo Trench Coat, Lando Calrissian General Pilot, Biker Scout, Bossk and Boba Fett. Since just a few playsets were released in Belgium, I started to construct playsets out of carton for my figures. I created Jabba's Palace, a Freezing Chamber, Endor playground and even Cloud City.

Many years have gone by and I must admit that throughout the years my perspective on the figures changed. When I was a kid I really wanted my figures to be soldiers or guards. I almost never used figures like 'Imperial Dignitary' (Sim Aloo), the Power Droid or Max Rebo. All they  did was stand or sit somewhere. I didn't really understand why Kenner made these characters and while other figures (such as the Rebel Fleet Trooper) were never made. While some choices still sound a bit weird weird to me, I have come to understand that Kenner was really courageous to create figures as the 'Death Star Droid' or Anakin Skywalker. My favourite Vintage figure is one of these figures that couldn't didn't fight in the movies.

The Ugnaught has become my favourite Vintage figure during the last couple of years. He's visually very interesting. It's a small(er) porcine alien, with a grey jumpsuit, white/grey hair and two tusks. He comes with two unique accessoires: a white toolcase and with an apron. So he's one of the few Vintage figures that came with two accessoires instead of one. His white toolcase certainly is a strange accessoire for a figure, but it appears in the movie!

What's also interesting about the Ugnaught is the variation of colors of the apron. Basically you have a purple and blue colored apron, but I've seen many variations of colors between the two main variations. The Ugnaught I owned as a kid had a purple apron, but I've come to understand that the one with the blue one is the more common variation.

The Ugnaught was released in 1981 in the second large wave of TESB figures (along with Dengar, Lobot etcetera). I guess Hasbro made him because he's one of the few alien characters in TESB. And there was no limit on the amount of Ugnaughts you could have, just like you could buy more than one Jawa. I doubt if many kids had more than one Ugnaught though. He also came with the cardboard Cloud City playset of Sears and was also released at Sears Canada on that weird looking black card (http://theswca.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=42007). The Ugnaught on the Sears card is extremely rare and there might just be only a couple of them still attached to their cards.

I try to collect Vintage Ugnaughts whenever I get the chance, preferably complete with toolcase and apron. I have an Ugnaught on TESB, RotJ and TriLogo card. My Ugnaught tribe will probably continue to grow :)

Did Maul use a Sith-variant of the 'Jedi Ghost'-skill to stay alive?

I've always been interested in Jedi Spirits and in the skill that was needed to accomplish this special feat. It was already mentioned on the 'Behind the Magic' cd-rom that Obi-Wan used a special skill that he learned from Yoda to preserve his spirit after his physical death.


In the prequels we learned that Qui-Gon Jinn was the first of the modern Jedi to accomplish this, at least partially. Qui-Gon didn't have enough time to learn the skill to appear as a spirit, but he was able to keep his conciousness in order to communicate with Yoda and with Obi-Wan. This is what Qui-Gon said about this skill in the script of 'Episode III': "The ability to defy oblivion can be achieved, but only for oneself. It was accomplished by a Shaman of the Whills. It is a state acquired through compassion, not greed."


Because of this, it seems to me like it's impossible for a Sith to use this very same skill, since a Sith will always act out of greed and self preservation. Darth Plagueis was able to extend life, but he certainly didn't use this particular skill, since he was able to influence Midi-chlorians. I believe that Darth Maul may have used a Sith version of the 'Jedi Ghost' to stay alive after his 'death' on Naboo.


Jedi Ghost / Spirit:
- Act out of compassion and sacrifice their lives
- Spirit has been kept 
- Physical body is 'destroyed' and cannot be used anymore ("If you choose to face Vader, you must do it alone. I cannot interfere" Obi-Wan Kenobi)
- Based upon the power of the spirit


Sith:
- Act out of greed to stay alive
- Spirit is completely broken (= mad) 
- Physical body can still be used, even if it has received the most horrible injuries
- Based upon the power of the physical body


The skill Maul could have used was based on his control of pain. Maul could sustain a massive amount of pain. Maul wanted to stay alive, no matter what the consequences would be. So in order to keep his body functioning, he gave up his spirit and totally lost his mind and memory while doing so.


The skill Yoda and Obi-Wan used (as did the Father on Mortis) was based on a conscious decision. They all chose to die (Yoda could have died earlier, but he waited for Luke) and they didn't die out of greed. They were able to keep their mind, but lost their physical body in the process.


So the Jedi skill was based on serenity of the spirit, while the Sith skill was based on the raw prowess of the physical pain (body).

Klatooinian roster from the movies and television

Klatooinians were a mammalian species created for 'Return of the Jedi'. Their background was expanded for the first time in 'Galaxy Guide 12: Aliens - Enemies and Allies' by West End Games. The best known member from the movies and television is Barada, who was named (like many other Klatooinians) after Barada M'beg, the Klatooinian who settled the legendary agreement with the Hutts. Most Klatooinians from the movies are considered background characters. A lot of them appear in 'Attack of the Clones', but few have been given a proper name. The Klatooinians have been used as well in 'The Clone Wars'. 


* BARADA: One of Jabba's Skiff Guards who was responsible for the maintenance of the Repulsorlifts. Got killed by Luke during the Battle of Carkoon. Sometimes mistaken for Kithaba. Barada wears a white vest and an orange bandana. He can be seen on the 2nd Skiff.

* CASTAS: One of the Bounty Hunters who sided with Boba Fett during the Clone Wars. When Castas began to doubt their actions, he got himself killed on Florrum by Aurra Sing.

* CHOKK: One of Jabba's bodyguards during the Boonta Eve Classic in 32 BBY. The days before the race, he was seen around Mos Espa.

* GAMAL WIRONICC: Was created by Decipher on a CCG card, but he looks 100% like Umpass-stay. Therefor, this character can not be considered to be a different Klatooinian. Maybe his name can be used for a retcon in the future.

* KITHABA: An assassin (and musician) who served as a Skiff Guard during the Battle of Carkoon. He was eaten by the Sarlacc. Kithaba cannot be mistaken for Barada. He wears a yellow vest and a red bandana. He can be seen on the first Skiff.

* TARADOS GON: A Jedi who died at the Battle of Geonosis, despite the fact that he was one of the last Jedi to survive the battle in the Petranaki Arena.

* UMPASS-STAY: A bodyguard of Jabba the Hutt and a drummer in Jabba's Palace.

For more about the Klatooinians, check Yodapedia

Luke's Blaster during the Yavin 4 Ceremony

First created on Dec 07, 2006

Hasbro got it all wrong when they gave the most recent (2007) Luke Yavin IV Ceremony a DL-44 Blaster Pistol. Luke wasn't wearing a DL-44 at all during the ceremony at Yavin 4. Luke was wearing a Drearian Defender Sporting Blaster, just like the one Princess Leia used aboard Tantive IV.

Evidence 1: 
Here are some promotional pictures of Luke using a Drearian Defender. Don't recognise the outfit? That's because Luke doesn't wear his yellow ceremonial jacket:
Luke aiming
Luke & the Drearian Defender 

Evidence 2: 
The movie, of course. Let's have a look at some screenshots. You can detect the Drearian because of its extended barrel.
Luke 1 
Luke 2
Close-Up

This could confirm the Drearian Defender's status as a weapon of status and sometimes used as a ceremonial weapon.
I hope you enjoyed this short blog entry and maybe you even learned something you never noticed before.

About Had Abbadon, Sicemon & Ton-mummd: Drafting the planets

In this entry I've mentioned names of planets and locations that have appeared in drafts for all the Star Wars Movies. Most of them are - at this moment - no part of the Star Wars Lore. But some of them have found their way into the established Star Wars lore (Dac, Chatos and Utapau being the prime example). I have added new names, with the exception of Utapau because it had been used twice in a draft but never actually been used until 'RotS'. 

I used sources as the Annotated Screenplays & the Insider's Guide cd-rom to complete this blog.

- Academy of Chatos: Leia was to study in this academy - IV (!)
- Aquillae: Neva Kee was supposed to hail from this planet - I (!!)
- Aquillae: Was once the home of Kane Starkiller. Eventually became Tatooine - IV 
- Besspin-Kaaleita: A possible Rebel Base at the end of the movie being a garden world with 2 stars - V 
- Bestpenkoleta: Idem
- Bestpenkoluta: Idem
- Chuba: Dud Cullindaros was supposed to hail from this planet - I (!)
- Core Caves: This was the core of Utapau - I 
- Corell: Another name for Corellia - IV
- Corelli: Another name for the planet Corellia - IV
- Dac: This was the original name of Calamari - VI (!) 
- Fresnel: Mygeeto city - III 
- Geonasis: A draft name for Geonosis - II
- Granicus: This planet became Alderaan, then capital of the Empire - IV 
- Granita Cluster: Hoth was located in this area - V 
- Great Rift: The outer edges of the galaxy - IV 
- Green Moon: Small moon orbiting Had Abbadon. Also known as Moon Base 1 - VI 
- Had Abbadon: Was the capital of the Empire. Turned out to be Coruscant - VI (!)
- Hutt Spaceport: The Falcon was stationed here after Han en Chewie escaped from Jabba - VI 
- Jus-Endor: Another name from Green Moon - VI 
- Kazzook: A name for Kashyyyk - HS 
- Ketbrae: Gas Giant that changed into Bespin - V 
- Kettlebrae: Idem
- Kuroland: A desert on Townowi - IV
- Mazta: Another name for Polis Massa - III 
- Moon Base 1: Code name for the Green Moon - VI 
- Mustafa: An early name for Mustafar - III 
- Naboo City: This was the capital of Utapau - I 
- Nocturne: This was the place where the Opee Sea Killer lived on Utapau - I 
- Ogana Major: This planet became Alderaan & Ogana changed into the name Organa - IV 
- Ogana System: Contained Ogana Major - IV 
- Ophichi: Backwater planet where Han Solo fled - IV 
- Ophuchi: Rebel friendly planet - IV 
- Ophuchi: Mars Guo was supposed to hail from this planet - I 
- Ord Padrove: Boles Roor was supposed to hail from this planet - I 
- Outlands: A group of worlds at the edge of the Empire. The worlds were known as the Dark Planets - IV 
- Oxon: This was the capital of Utapau - I (!) 
- Polis Mazta: An early name for Polis Massa - III
- Sicemon: This was a grassworld where the Alliance gathered before the final battle - VI 
- Sise System: Contained Sisemon. Did this name influence the name Sise Fromm? - VI
- Siseman: This was a grassworld where the Alliance gathered before the final battle - VI 
- Sloth Pit: An early name for the Pit of Carkoon - VI 
- Sullest: This was a planet where laser swords were created. Changed into Sullust for 'RotJ' - IV 
- Ton-mummd: Was a possible Rebel Base at the end of the movie. Another grassworld - V 
- Townowi: Became Aquillae. Could this have influenced the name Towani? - IV 
- Townowi System: Contained Townowi - IV 
- Ttaz: Was a rocky desert world. It possibly became Geonosis in 'AotC' - V
- Utapau: Eventually became Naboo - I (!)
- Utapau: This was Tatooine in the drafts - IV (!) 
- Valker: In this area on Utapau, the Gungan army fought against the TF Army - I 

(!) Has later been retconned into Source / SW Lore
(!!) Aquilae with one 'l' is Source

From Warwick to Jhoff on Pesmenben IV: nuances between the movie and the novel 'Return of the Jedi'

Originally created on Jul 17, 2007


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.

I read the novel of 'RotJ' several times many years ago. I had a neat Dutch edition that featured storyboards from the movie. It was nice to read the novel again and I was surprised to find several nice additions and differences to the movie. Especially several deleted scenes will catch your attention.

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.

Gank Killers who had Dormo-Shocks on Triton Moons: nuances between the novel and the movie: TESB

Originally created on Apr 04, 2007


In this blog I'll compare 'Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back' with the novelisation of Donald F. Glut. 

Some time ago, I added the blog entry about the discrepancies between the novel and the movie 'A New Hope' (http://blogs.starwars.com/teekay-421/65). It turned out that the novelisation of Episode V doesn't differ that much from the actual movie. Glut may be a known and respected author; it seems he (had to?) stayed close to the final screenplay of Lawrence Kasdan. Nevertheless, the novel is still a nice read and it has some nice memories attached to it for many among us, I believe.

CHAPTER I
* The book says that Echo Base has been established for a month on Hoth when the movie starts.
* Grammar: When Luke is about to be attacked by the Wampa he mutters: "Son of a jumping...". Another Star Wars curse.
* In the book, the Viper Probe Droid appears after the Wampa had ambushed Luke.
* Jabba the Hutt is spelled correctly in the novel, compared to the spelling of his name in the novel of 'ANH'
* Terminology: Han Solo: "I'm going to pay off Jabba before he sends any more of his remotes, Gank Killers, and who knows what else. Gank Killers are favoured hunters by Huttese Crimelords. In 'A Guide to the Star Wars Universe', they are sourced as hailing from the 'Dark Empire' comic book, while in fact they appeared more than 10 years before the publication of that horrific EU monster.
* In the book, Han and Leia argue more in the southpassage. After Han says he can arrange Leia to be kissed by a Wookiee, the discussion goes on about Leia's feelings and about Han having 'the breeding of a Bantha'.

CHAPTER II
* You will find an amusing duel between a Wampa and the Viper Probe Droid in the book.
* When Luke hangs in the Wampa cave, he hears the voice of Ben Kenobi talking to him. "Think of the Lightsaber in your hand". Here is what the novel has to say about Ben's voice: "... it was that soothing spiritual presence which occasionally visited Luke in moments of stress and danger..."
* In the book, Ben's spirit that appears a bit later has more to say. He urges Luke to remain conscious and that he has to survive because he is the only hope.
* Astrology: When Han's Tauntaun freezes to death he mutters: "Deader than a Triton Moon". Triton is a planet located in the Mayagil Sector (Clack'dor VII).

CHAPTER III
* Code: 'Sector four-six-one-four by eight-eight-two': The location of Luke and Han according to Zev Senesca.
* When Luke is in the Bacta Tank, he mumbles about Yoda. "He doesn't make sense to me either, Chewie," Han replied.
* Terminology: "Commander Skywalker has been in dormo-shock but is responding well to the Bacta" is the diagnosis of 2-1B.
* Deleted Scene: In the novel 2-1B removes the protecting pad from Luke's face. This scène was filmed but not used in the movie.
* In the novel Han uses the expression: "You look strong enough to wrestle a Gundark" instead of "to pull the ears off a Gundark".
* Echo Station 38 is the Station where the Viper Probe Droid is discovered. In the novel they have contact with Echo Base. "What the ...? Oh no!"
* When the images of the Probot have reached the Executor, Darth Vader sees a different image than in the movie. In the novel he sees Snowspeeders instead of the Shield Generator.

CHAPTER IV
* In the novel it is Captain Need who says: "Our first catch of the day" and it is the Avenger that gets zapped by the Planetary Ion Cannon. In the movie the ISD is the Tyrant commanded by Captain Lennox.
* Code: In the Rebel briefing that Leia gives to Rogue Group she adds: "Code One Five will be transmitted when evacuation is complete".

CHAPTER V
* During the Battle of Hoth, the AT-AT Driver reads a different distance to the power generator than in the movie. In the novel it is "Six-Four-One". In the movie it is "17,28".

CHAPTER VI
* Vehicle: When a collision in the Echo Base blocks the passage for Leia to her transport, Han talks into his Comlink: "Transport C One Seven!". It seems this was the code for Thon's Orchard; the Rebel Transport Leia was destined to take.
* In the aftermath of the Battle of Hoth, two characters perish in the novel that are still alive in the chronology: Maximilian Veers and Derek Klivian (Hobbie). Hobbie crashed into Veers' cockpit. This is not correct and is considered a continuity error since Hobbie is one of the pilots during the Battle of Endor.
* In the novel, there is an added part where Piett actually has landed on Hoth and informs Vader that seventeen Ships have been destroyed. Vader says he really wants the Millennium Falcon.
* Technology: During the Falcon's escape from Hoth, Threepio notices something else is in need to be fixed than in the movie: "I noticed earlier that the entire main para-light system seems to have been damaged".

CHAPTER VII
* Threepio calculated other odds for successfully navigating an asteroid field in the novel: 2467 to 1. In the movie they're even slimmer with 3720 to 1.

CHAPTER VIII
* In the novel Vader receives twenty Holographic messages from Imperial Officers on the Executor.
* Technology: While preparing the repair the Falcon, Han says to Leia: "How are you with aMacrofuser, Your Holiness."
* When Luke meets Yoda for the first time, the small Jedi Master gives a glimpse of the future in the novel. When Luke says he's stranded because he cannot get his ship out, Yoda comments: "Have you tried? Have you tried?"
* In the novel it is Chewbacca who witnesses the kiss between Han and Leia in the Falcon. In the novel they even kiss twice.
* In the novel the voice of Ben Kenobi gives Yoda more reasons to accept Luke as his apprentice: "We've come this far. He is our only hope."

Chapter IX
Some of the scenes that differ most from the movie take place on Dagobah during Luke's training. 
* For instance, Yoda starts with throwing a metal bar at Luke that he has to slice in two with his Lightsaber. At his first attempt, Luke fails.
* Fauna & Flora: "...Yoda chewed on his Gimer Stick, a short twig with three small branches at the far end."
* The introduction of the Bounty Hunters has always been one of my favorite parts in the novel. It mentions every one of them, except 4-LOM. 
** Bossk: whose soft, baggy eyes gawked at Vader with huge bloodshot eyes.
** Zuckuss & Dengar: Two human types, battle-scarred by innumerable, unspeakable adventures. When Zuckuss is called a 'human type', there is no wonder that he was often mistaken for Dengar in the beginning.
** IG-88: a battered and tarnished chrome-colored droid.
** Boba Fett: He was dressed in a spacesuit, the kind worn by evil warriors defeated by the Jedi Knights during the Clone Wars. This probably could refer to the Battle of Galidraan that took place in 32 BBY, ten years before the Clone Wars.

CHAPTER X
* Another example of Yoda's expanded training are Seeker Droid balls that Yoda uses to test Luke. At first he uses two of them next he adds two more.
* During these tests, Yoda delivers the speech about the 'Dark Side of the Force' he says in the movie while sitting in Luke's backpack when he runs through the Dagobah jungle.
* In the novel, two Stormtroopers take away the corpse of Needa instead of two Naval Troopers.
* In the novel Threepio has already been shut down in the Falcon when it's hanging behind the Avenger.
* Sports & Gambling: The novel mentions 'Sabacc'. Han Solo: "A Tibanna gas mine. Lando won it in a Sabacc match, or so he claims..."
* Luke still has to run with Yoda on his back but it takes place much later in his training than in the movie. While running he slices another metal bar into four pieces.

CHAPTER XI
* In the novel, the Falcon is welcomed on Cloud City not only by Lando, Lobot and the Wing Guards but also by aliens and droids...
* In the novel Luke's vision about Cloud City doesn't happen when he's standing upside down. He first successfully completes this training and then goes into a meditation where he sees the city in the clouds.
* At the end of Luke's training, Luke cooks for Luke and himself in Yoda's hut. He fell asleep in front of the house but woke up and uttered Yoda once more that he had to leave to safe his friends.

CHAPTER XII
* When Han and Leia kiss goodbye in the Freezing Chamber, Han doesn't use his famous reply "I know". Instead he says "Just remember that, because I"ll be back". That's because Ford came up with the 'I know' line when they had to film the scene on set.
* In the novel, the deal with Vader is even worse for Lando because Vader is keeping a detachment of his troops on Cloud City, which he never did in the movie before Lando decided to revolt against the Imperials.
* In the novel, the duel between father and son starts differently. Luke utters the words: "Lord Vader. I feel your presence. Show yourself."

CHAPTER XIII
* Code: Lando uses "Code Force Seven", meaning the Wing Guards and Lobot overpowered the Imperials that escorted them back to Vader's ship. 
* Vader speaks when he throws machinery at Luke. In fact he almost uses the same words as later in the duel: "You are beaten. It is useless to resist. You will join me or you will join Obi-Wan in death."
* Tijdens het duel krijgen Luke en Vader een bericht te horen via een intercom: "Fugitives heading toward Platform 327. Secure all transports. All security forces on alert."
* In the novel Luke falls from the weather vane and the Falcon picks him up while falling.
* Technology: When trying to repair the Falcon once more, Lando asks Chewie to the check the secondary deviation controls.
* In the novel, Luke and Vader do not have contact with their minds after Bespin when Luke rests in the Millennium Falcon.

CHAPTER XIV
None

The novel of 'TESB' sure brings back a few things. It doesn't differ that much from the movie and it doesn't add many new things. Most interesting is probably Luke's time on Dagobah because of the small and larger changes in it. If there is something I forgot to mention, please let me know.

Sompeetalay