Star Wars: The Force Awakens(novelization)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is thecanon novelization of the2015 filmStar Wars: Episode VIIThe Force Awakens. The novel was written byAlan Dean Foster and first published byDel Rey onDecember 18, 2015 as an eBook. A hardcover first edition of the book was published onJanuary 5,2016, and a paperback edition was published onSeptember 27, 2016. The paperback edition includes the short stories "Bait," also by Foster, and "The Perfect Weapon," byDelilah S. Dawson.

Publisher's summary[]

More than thirty years ago,Star Wars burst onto the big screen and became a cultural phenomenon. Now the next adventures in this blockbuster saga are poised to captivate old and new fans alike—beginning with the highly anticipatedStar Wars: The Force Awakens. And alongside the cinematic debut comes the thrilling novel adaptation byNew York Times bestselling science fiction master Alan Dean Foster.

Set years afterReturn of the Jedi, this stunning new action-packed adventure rockets us back into the world of Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Luke Skywalker, while introducing a host of exciting new characters. Darth Vader may have been redeemed and the Emperor vanquished, but peace can be fleeting, and evil does not easily relent. Yet the simple belief in good can still empower ordinary individuals to rise and meet the greatest challenges.

So return to that galaxy far, far away, and prepare yourself for what happens when the Force awakens....

Plot summary[]

Over here! Help! Please, help! This article's plot summary is in need of attention. It may be missing or require expansion. Please improve the plot summary however you can and remove this notice once finished.

Development[]

Foster stated that working on the book was "as much fun as the script itself, which harkens back to the spirit of thefirst three films" and that it feels as if no time had passed since he wrote thenovelization ofStar Wars: Episode IVA New Hope and the novelSplinter of the Mind's Eye.^[6]

The novelization was first published as an eBook onDecember 18,2015, the same day as the film itself.^[1] A hardcover first edition was published onJanuary 5,2016.^[2] The unusual publishing schedule was arranged directly byThe Walt Disney Company withDel Rey, who agreed to forego holiday sales of print copies of the novel to prevent sensitive plot details from leaking. David Moench, a spokesperson for Del Rey, expressed that the publisher would have preferred to put out the hardcover edition on the same day as the film but understood the importance of preserving the secrecy. WhenJ.J. Abrams, the film's director, was contacted byThe Wall Street Journal regarding the story, he stated that he was not previously aware of the decision but looked forward to reading the novel.^[7]

Continuity[]

The novel contains several differences to the film and scenes that do not appear in the final film:

The novel opens with a scene of Leia Organa thinking about the events of the past and about having sent an exceptionalResistance pilot,Poe Dameron, to try and find her brother, Luke Skywalker. This is followed by the opening scene of the movie, in which theFirst Order forces on approach toJakku. During theattack on Tuanul,FN-2003 is killed by blaster fire from one of theTuanul villagers instead by blaster fire of Dameron as in the film.FN-2187's failure to shoot the villagers is thought by one of his fellow troopers to be due to a "blaster jam," explaining why CaptainPhasma orders him to turn in his weapon to be checked by technicians.

AtNiima Outpost, rather than refusing outrightUnkar Plutt's offer of 60 portions forBB-8,Rey instead bargains up. She ends up agreeing to sell him for 100 portions, but then retracts the deal and gives Plutt a piece of her mind. This burns her bridges with him, but earns her respect from many of the villagers.

In the novel, Leia sends her personal envoy,Korr Sella, to persuade theGalactic Senate to act against the First Order.

A scene depicts Dameron's encounter with a scavenger on Jakku and his escape from the planet following the crash of the stolenTIE fighter. This sequence was revisited in thecomic bookPoe Dameron 26, although it presents some inconsistencies.^[8]

On board theEravana,Razoo Qin-Fee is given some lines of dialogue, unlike in the film.Bala-Tik's lines are also extended. When arathtar chasesHan Solo, Solo kills a member of theGuavian Death Gang instead of theKanjikluberTolomar Reez.

AtTakodana Castle, just after Finn's decision to try and flee the conflict, Plutt and some of his henchmen arrive and attempt to abduct Rey and BB-8. Rey tries to shoot him with the blaster Han gave her, but she has not taken thesafety off, and she is quickly disarmed by Plutt. Rey is rescued by the intervention of Chewbacca, whom Plutt aggravates by poking at his wounded shoulder. Chewbacca responds by ripping off Plutt's arm. This scene was shot, but ultimately cut from the film. During Rey'sForce vision, she hears a voice say, "Stay here. I'll come back for you," and "I'll come back, sweetheart, I promise."

WhenStarkiller Base destroys theHosnian system, it is described as utilizing "dark energy" acquired from the sun. The destroyed planets and moons become miniaturesupernovae rather than slag. During a conversation between Kylo Ren and Supreme Leader Snoke, they discuss Darth Vader and his downfall, which they agree was due to "sentiment."

Finn tells the Resistance that Starkiller base uses its sun to channel dark energy, which temporarily blocks it out, rather than saying the star itself is drained until destroyed. A scene depicts Finn and Rey stealing a snowspeeder while on Starkiller Base. This starts a snowspeeder chase sequence. The chase was one of the scenes that was filmed but cut from the movie. Later, Kylo Ren leads a small group of stormtroopers to the crashedMillennium Falcon while on Starkiller Base. Ren boards theFalcon and reflects on his life before he turned to thedark side.

When Rey uses the Force to retrieveSkywalker's lightsaber,Kylo Ren quietly says to her, "Itis you."

A Resistance medic informs Rey that Finn will be okay despite his injuries at the hands of Kylo Ren. Rey and Poe Dameron meet and introduce themselves to each other after themap to Luke is completed. This scene was filmed but ultimately deleted from the final cut.^[9] In the films, they do not meet until the end ofStar Wars: Episode VIIIThe Last Jedi.^[10] The depiction of their first meeting inThe Last Jedi was a suggestion thatStar Wars: Episode IXThe Rise of Skywalker original directorColin Trevorrow made toRian Johnson for his then plans for Episode IX.^[11]

Media[]

Editions[]

• ISBN 9781101965504;December 18,2015;Del Rey; US eBook^[1]
• ISBN 9781101965498;January 5,2016; Del Rey; US hardcover^[2]
• ISBN 9781101885550; January 5, 2016; Del Rey; US hardcover, Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition^[12]
• ISBN 9781101966990;September 27, 2016; Del Rey; US mass market paperback^[3]

Cover gallery[]

Placeholder cover US hardcover Back cover Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition US paperback Czech -Síla se probouzí French -Le Réveil de la Force German -Das Erwachen der Macht German 2023 reissue Russian -Звездные войны: Пробуждение Силы

Appearances[]

Sources[]

• "Blaster" —Star Wars Insider 163
• How theLast Jedi Novelization Connects to a Galaxy ofStar Wars Books and Comics onStarWars.com(backup link)

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• The Force Awakens (Star Wars) onPenguin Random House'sofficial website(backup link)
• The Force Awakens (Star Wars) (B&N Exclusive Edition) onBarnes & Noble'sofficial website(backup link)