STAR WARS: FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW

Rashomon Mothma

released OUT NOW! 459 pages | Hardback/ebook/audiobook Authors Various Publisher Century

it must have seemed like the best idea since blue milk: take 40 characters from the Star Wars universe – no matter how obscure – and explore their backstories via short stories that reimagine moments from the first film, seen through their eyes. 40 fresh perspectives on iconic scenes. What could go wrong? George Lucas’s universe is teeming with life: what better way to celebrate it than to give voices to the people, creatures and droids we know so well on the outside, but never got to know on the inside?

That’s one point of view. Another perspective is that some stories are best left untold. Far from expanding Lucas’s universe, this collection reduces it.

Take Christie Golden’s “The Bucket”, told from the viewpoint of one of the Stormtroopers who apprehended Princess Leia in the opening moments of A New Hope. The story brings humanity to a character best left without it. It feels like an attempt to bring the original trilogy in line with The Force Awakens – suggesting there are several Finns running around the galaxy, ready to remove their helmets in search of a better life. It’s a tweak that manages to make both the original trilogy and JJ Abrams’s reboot feel less special.

This isn’t a unique example. Cavan Scott’s “Time Of Death” is based on the premise that we’re sharing Obi-Wan’s first moments of the afterlife, but wastes time explaining why he called Vader “Darth” and not Anakin. Worst of all, Tom Angleberger’s “Whills”, which should be an exploration of the saga’s mythology, is a lame gag about writing the opening crawl.

Basically, move along – these aren’t the stories you’re looking for. Sam Ashurst

“Added Muscle” is told from Boba Fett’s perspective. Jon Hamm plays the iconic character in the audiobook release.