Forsooth, this be a fine day, whether you find yourself a humble moisture farmer or an ever so scruffy herder of nerf! The latest installment of Ian Doescher’s Shakespearean Star Wars books is available to pre-order and… it… looks… AMAZING!
The spot-on titled William Shakespeare’s The Force Doth Awaken brings the events of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens to life with all the iambic pentameter you knew was missing in the theatrical version. The latest in what’s becoming a long line of, let’s say, “Bard-ified” Star Wars stories was brought to our attention via a recent post on io9 and we just can’t help but love the Elizabethan version of BB-8 on the cover. Starwars.com interviewed the book’s designer and art director, Doogie Horner, who commented on giving the fanciest of droids the cover and how they initially considered Rey and/or Kylo Ren for it but didn’t want to take away their distinct styles from the film.
For anyone wondering just how the book combines Shakespeare with a galaxy far, far away–the official description says it all:
Experience The Force Awakens as a Shakespeare play, complete with Elizabethan verse, Shakespearian monologues, and theatrical stage directions! As the noble Resistance clashes with the vile First Order, Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, Kylo Ren, and BB-8 are pulled into a galaxy-wide drama—in iambic pentameter! Star Wars fans and Shakespeare enthusiasts alike will enjoy the authentic meter, reimagined movie scenes and dialogue, and hidden Easter eggs throughout. Chewbacca speaks! Leader Snoke gives a soliloquy! And the romance of Han Solo and Leia Organa takes a tragic turn that Shakespeare would approve of. All with woodcut-style illustrations that place Star Wars characters into an Elizabethan galaxy. The story may take place in a galaxy far, far away, but you’ll be convinced it was written by the Bard.
There’s a lot to unpack there but just in case you skimmed… CHEWIE SPEAKS!
Our only hope is that people take these books and put on real theatrical versions. In fact, we need the likes of Sir Patrick Stewart and Lin-Manuel Miranda to spearhead this effort.
What are your thoughts on The Force Doth Awaken? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Image: Penguin Random House
