It is once again time to add iambic pentameter to the galaxy far, far away. William Shakespeare and Star Wars may not seem like a natural combination, but author Ian Doescher managed to weave the worlds together in William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, published by Quirk Books. The unlikely mash-up received much praise, and now Doescher has returned with the next installment, William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back.

Just like The Empire Strikes Back, the book sequel begins on the frigid wasteland of Hoth. Doescher matches the film scene by scene; he watched the DVD and referenced the script as he wrote to get everything just right. Though most of the book is in iambic pentameter and true to Shakespeare’s style, Doescher also sprinkles in prose and haikus. The haikus are specifically for Yoda; Doescher explains: “Ultimately, haiku seemed like a fun choice because even though it’s not very Shakespearean, it’s a form of speech that breaks the mold (as Yoda’s speech is in the movies), and Yoda also has that sort of wise, Eastern sensibility of a great sensei.”

Still not sure what to think? Get a taste of “The Empire Striketh Back” with our exclusive excerpt; it enters stage front and center below.

William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back will be available on March 18th. Give us a shout in the comments if you’re planning to purchase the tome from your local book shoppe.