Long ago, in a galaxy far far…Ok, let’s not do that eh?  The latest book to honour the ever expanding Star Wars universe, does, however, take us back to the beginning – or rather episode 4, which is the first film you saw in 1977.  Bear with me…

Ask yourself then if you can bear to relive the events that started it all for us, but through the eyes and experiences of various minor characters.  For this is what Arrow books would have you do as Star Wars – from a certain point of view comes to a galaxy near you.  Instead of one cohesive narrative, you are presented with no less than forty short stories told from the perspective of different personalities.  Some are peripheral to the main drama (no kidding – the monster from the trash compactor) and others more crucial, such as Grand Moff Tarkin.

Forty different authors tackle this enterprise, some more ably and on tone than others.  The result is a largely successful, sometimes sad, alternative account of the original cosmic fairy tale.  As with all the canon, your enjoyment will depend on whether you embrace the universe or not.  I can see Fanboy’s/girls divided over this.

It is then, what it is, although I might have an interest in seeing the original film again with these backstories rattling around as accompaniment.

Published in paperback by Arrow on 3rd May 2018 – £8.99

Chris Donaldson is the author of Not a Girl: Short tales for Dark days