The Cephalopod Coffeehouse: December 2014

Welcome one and all to the Cephalopod Coffeehouse, a cozy gathering of book lovers, meeting to discuss their thoughts regarding the tomes they enjoyed most over the previous month.  Pull up a chair, order your cappuccino and join in the fun.  If you wish to add your own review to the conversation, please sign on to the link list at the end of my post.

Title: The Empire Strikes Back
Author: Donald F. Gult

via Wookieepedia

When asked for my favorite movie, I generally dodge the question by saying I have three: The Empire Strikes Back, The Philadelphia Story and The Usual Suspects.  But for as much as I prefer the latter two on an intellectual level, my heart shall always belong to Empire.  I was a big fan of fantasy and science fiction from a young age and the galaxy far, far away has long been the most potent mythology in filtering my worldview.  The first Star Wars film is a genuine classic but the second is the reason why the franchise is what it has become.  With the introductions of the diametrically opposed Yoda and Emperor Palpatine, the battle between the forces of good and evil was clearly outlined.  And with the ending twist, one of the greatest in all of cinema, my concept of villain was chucked out the Cloud City's exhaust vent.

Obviously, it's easy to enjoy a book when I already have a deep affection for the story.  Reading the novelization offers new perspectives on an old friend.  For the most part, the book is very close to the movie but there are subtle differences in details.  Yoda is blue in the book whereas he's green in the movie.  Darth Vader's light saber is also a different color: blue instead of what would become standard Sith red.  The dialogue is not always identical either.  For instance, the classic exchange between Han and Leia as he's descending into the carbon freeze chamber - "I love you." "I know." - is absent from the book.

More significant are the qualitative contrasts in the portrayal of the characters emotional states - clearly spelled out in the book but conveyed differently on screen.  In particular, the budding romance between Han and Leia is more thoroughly developed and, if anything, more tender in the novelization.  

The book is no substitute for the movie but I imagine it would be enjoyable for most fans of the franchise. 

Please join us and share your own review of your best read from the past month.  This month's link list is below.  I'll keep it open until the end of the day.  I'll post January's tomorrow.  Meetings are the last Friday of each month.  Next gathering is January 30th.