Star Wars: A New Hope The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy

I borrowed The Princess, the Scoundrel and the Farmboy because that’s such a great title.

It takes an interesting approach, telling the story from Leia’s perspective, than Han’s, than Luke’s. This means Obi-Wan gets remarkably little screen time and important events that happen to Luke early on are covered in retrospect.

I think this works - for this retelling. A reader who has already seen the film will be able to fill in any gaps, while a reader who hasn’t will be able to watch the film later and still be surprised. Even if it is only by “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for”.

The Princess, the Scoundrel and the Farmboy doesn’t quite feel like A New Hope to me, but I suspect that’s because the only thing that show more actually does is the original novelisation, which I read when I was young and impressionable - and before I’d seen the film. So I’m really not the right person to ask...

Another officer stepped up beside him, struggling to master his smirk at her words. He was younger than Tarkin, his face stirring some memory at the back of Leia’s mind. Admiral… Motti. Wonderful. No wonder the Death Star was so big - it needed to be to house some of the largest egos in the galaxy. show less

A good introduction to the Galaxy Far, Far Away...

Bracken does a very nice translation of "A New Hope" into a well paced YA retelling. By shifting from Leia to Han to Luke, she gives a nice parallax (tri-parallax) of viewpoints. Using the movie and the radio drama as her starting point, this provides a nice entry point to Star Wars to a younger generation. No, no surprises if you know the story, but a good book all the same.

The is a new novelization of the original Star Wars film adapted for younger audiences (albeit the original novelization is something I enjoyed as a kid and this is something I enjoy as an adult so those specifications are rather loose). Bracken uses the movie script, the 1981 Star Wars radio drama, and her own imagination to retell Star Wars: A New Hope in three parts: first from Leia's point of view from her capture by Vader to the destruction of Alderaan, the story picks up with Han from the cantina to their escape from the Death Star, and Luke holds the point of view for the final third of the movie.

Since everything is seen from the point of view of one of these three characters, scenes from the movie such as those involving R2-D2 show more and C-3PO and Darth Vader and other imperial leaders are left out, while the part of Luke's story from the early part of the movie is only told in conversations and Luke's memories. But what is lost is made up for by the rich detail of each character's inner life and perspectives, as well as scenes that aren't in the movie (my favorite involves Luke going through an X-Wing simulator test with Wedge Antilles).

I can't imagine that there are many people who would come to this book with no previous knowledge of Star Wars but I think it would be a treat for that reader, while stilling allowing a lot of surprises if they eventually see the movie. The audiobook is enhanced by familiar John Williams music, sound effects, and voice acting by the narrators Soler and Thompson. This would make an excellent accompaniment to a long family road trip. show less

Alexandra Bracken's Star Wars: A New Hope The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy retells the story of A New Hope from the points of view of Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker. The narrative moves chronologically from character to character, with Leia's story focusing on her from the beginning through the destruction of Alderaan. Han's story begins just after Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke's interaction with Dr. Evazan and Ponda Baba on Mos Eisley and continues through the escape from the Death Star. Finally, Luke's story begins with the group's arrival on Yavin IV and concludes with the Death Star trench battle.
Bracken ably retells the story and uses the different perspectives to offer more insight into characters, even drawing show more upon some of the deleted scenes of Luke at Anchorhead to fully establish his character. As this was published in 2015 as part of Disney's build-up to The Force Awakens, it features certain details that were later contradicted. For example, Bracken has Leia contemplate how she got the plans at the beginning and there are, naturally, slight differences between what she wrote and what Rogue One later portrayed. She also has Wedge Antilles say that he was never part of the Imperial forces and joined the Rebellion "to right the wrongs they inflicted on us and the people we love" (pg. 266). Star Wars: Rebels later showed that Wedge did defect from the Imperial flight academy. These are minor issues and only changed due to later content. They do not impact the meaning of Bracken's story.
A flowing narrative coupled with concept sketches and paintings from Ralph McQuarrie make this one of the more interesting retellings of A New Hope. At points, it is similar to the Star Wars Journal series of books from 1998 and 1999 as it delves into these character's motivations. A good read both for younger readers and adults looking to reconnect with the characters. show less

An enjoyable retelling of Episode IV, The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy is most engaging when Bracken has a little room to fill in the missing moments of the narrative. And as always, it's Luke's story that I find the most compelling.

I love Star Wars and have since the first time I ever saw it. How does one write a review of one of the most iconic and influential, at least to me, stories of all time? What I will do is try.
I felt refreshed listening to a familiar, yet new, version of the classic. The book was broken up into three aptly named parts that didn't overlap. The Princess part was told from the point of view of Princess Lia. Starting with her ship being boarded by Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers. To being held captive and tortured by Vader and the interrogation droid and the destruction of her home world Alderaan. The next part was The Scoundrel. Told from the point of view of Han Solo. Picking up in the cantina in Mos Eisley. Moving through his meeting show more of Obi Wan and Luke to the infiltration of the Death Star and ultimately the death of Obi Wan. The final part was The Farm Boy. Taking us through the escape of the Death Star to it's ultimate destruction. Alexandra Bracken didn't try to reinvent anything. She simply added the thoughts and insights from each of the parts main characters. While also filling in some story that was not explicitly mentioned in the original. For example, she told us of Lea's backstory of being on the senate, we get to find out that Han Solo isn't quite as two dimensional as many think he is, and that like had to go through trials before being allowed to fly an X-Wing with the rebels.If you are a Star Wars fan and are open to story that you know, yet you only know the surface. You should really check Star Wars: A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy out. You just might be pleasantly surprised as I was. show less

ABR's original The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Being a huge nerd, I love Star Wars and have since the first time I ever saw it. After reading this in the synopsis, "Alexandra Bracken delivers a captivating retelling of Star Wars: A New Hope like you've never experienced before", I had to know more.

So here I am left with a dilemma, how does one write a review of one of the most iconic and influential, at least to me, stories of all time? Answer is I wouldn't even try.

What I will do is tell you about how I felt listening to a familiar, yet new, version of the classic.

The book was broken up into three aptly named parts that didn't overlap. The Princess part show more was told from the point of view of Princess Lia. Starting with her ship being boarded by Darth Vader and the Stormtroopers. To being held captive and tortured by Vader and the interrogation droid and the destruction of her home world Alderaan. The next part was The Scoundrel. Told from the point of view of Han Solo. Picking up in the cantina in Mos Eisley. Moving through his meeting of Obi Wan and Luke to the infiltration of the Death Star and ultimately the death of Obi Wan. The final part was The Farm Boy. Taking us through the escape of the Death Star to it's ultimate destruction.

I am very happy that Alexandra Bracken didn't try to reinvent anything. She simply added the thoughts and insights from each of the parts main characters. While also filling in some story that was not explicitly mentioned in the original. For example, she told us of Lea's backstory of being on the senate, we get to find out that Han Solo isn't quite as two dimensional as many think he is, and that like had to go through trials before being allowed to fly an X-Wing with the rebels.

If you are a Star Wars fan and are open to story that you know, yet you only know the surface. You should really check Star Wars: A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy out. You just might be pleasantly surprised as I was.

Marc Thompson's performance was absolutely uncanny, flamboyant and extraordinary. Somehow he has figured out a way to almost flawlessly mimic all of the characters of Star Wars that we know and love. Simply said he nailed it! He performed all of the male roles throughout the story and was the primary narrator for the final two parts. Rebecca Soler did a fantastic job too. She performed all of the female dialog in the audiobook and was the primary for the first part. I cannot think of any other voice actors that could have pulled off as much magic as these two.

Audiobook purchased for review by ABR. show less