For other uses, see Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope (disambiguation). For other uses, see

"Soon to be a spectacular motion picture! From Twentieth-Century Fox!" ―First Edition, back cover tagline [src]

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, formerly titled Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, is a Legends novel written by Alan Dean Foster. It adapts the film of the same name, and it was based on the screenplay by George Lucas. The novelization was first published on November 12, 1976 by Ballantine Books, prior to the film's 1977 release.

A sequel, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, was written by Foster and published in 1978. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was later collected in The Star Wars Saga (1983) and Star Wars Trilogy (1987).

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Publisher's summary Edit

Luke Skywalker challenged the stormtroopers of a distant galaxy on a daring mission—where a force of life became the power of death!

Farm chores sure could be dull, and Luke Skywalker was bored beyond belief. He yearned for adventures out among the stars—adventures that would take him beyond the furthest galaxies to distant and alien worlds.

But Luke got more than he bargained for when he intercepted a cryptic message from a beautiful princess held captive by a dark and powerful warlord. Luke didn't know who she was, but he knew he had to save her—and soon, because time was running out.

Armed only with courage and with the light saber that had been his father's, Luke was catapulted into the middle of the most savage space war ever…and he was headed straight for a desperate encounter on the enemy battle station known as the Death Star!

Development Edit

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster, based on writings from George Lucas. It was first published by Ballantine Books under the title Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, and it was released on November 12, 1976. The novel's first edition features cover art by Ralph McQuarrie, and many later printings feature cover art by John Berkey.[1]

Continuity Edit

Differences from the film Edit

The novelization was based on the screenplay of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, and it has several minor differences from the final film. Some differences include:

Differences from later works Edit

The novel also has instances that were retconned by later works. The book's prologue quotes from the Journal of the Whills, and it says that Emperor Palpatine was merely a figurehead controlled by the Imperial bureaucracy. Additionally, some words are spelled differently; "Wookiee" is spelled as "Wookie", and "Hutt" is spelled as "Hut".

Media Edit

Editions Edit

American Edit

International Edit

Cover gallery Edit

American Edit

International Edit

Appearances Edit

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Bibliography Edit

Notes and references Edit

See also Edit

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