Book Review: William Shakespeare’s Star Wars
While stumbling through the poetry section of the library, I found this: William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher.
It felt like slow motion as I absorbed the meaning of the title and pulled the small book off the shelf. My inner geek leaped with joy. The original Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope written as a Shakespearean play? Could it be? I forgot all about finding a copy of Thoreau’s Walden, which is why I wondered into the poetry section in the first place. Mr. Thoreau can wait. I’ve already read it anyway. This was an opportunity to experience Star Wars in a new way.
As you may have guessed, William Shakespeare’s Star Wars is written entirely in iambic pentameter. If it’s been a while (or never?) since you’ve heard that phrase, “iambic” refers to the rhythm of the syllables (da-DUM) and “pentameter” refers to the number of times the pattern is repeated per line (five). Shakespeare is famous for it. Or, maybe he’s famous for his plays despite of it? In either case, it is most impressive (sorry!). To retell an iconic story like the original Star Wars film in any form is difficult enough. To tell it effectively in iambic pentameter borders on crazy. Ian Doescher nailed it. 
I enjoyed reading William Shakespeare’s Star Wars for three main reasons: the “aside” comments from the characters, the reinterpretation of classic Star Wars phrases and the Shakespearean attributes woven throughout. I’ll confess it took me a few pages to get into the rhythm of the dialogue, but once I did I was hooked. It made our everyday language seem positively boring by comparison. I get a similar feeling after watching anything British.
My favorite moments of the book are the numerous “aside” comments by the characters. Similar to Shakespeare’s famous soliloquies, Doescher uses the “aside” description as a way for his characters to tell us what they are thinking. Some of these insights you can easily anticipate, like Luke whining about his uncle at the beginning of story. Others are delightfully new, like anything from R2-D2. Throughout the play, R2-D2 speaks in “beeps” and “squeaks” as he does in the film. Through the “aside” comments, Doescher lets us know what R2 is really thinking. For example: “This golden droid has been a friend, ’tis true. And yet I wish to still his prating tongue!” C-3PO dishes his own sassy remarks “Be thou not technical with me; Or else thine input valve may swift receive; A hearty helping of my golden foot.”
Ian Doescher also does a brilliant job of rewriting classic Star Wars quotes in Shakespearean form. For example, “Help me Obi-Wan, You’re my only hope,” becomes “I beg thee, Sir. O help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, help. Thou art mine only hope.” Other reworked famous lines include Han’s “I have a feeling bad about this sound” or “One thing is certain: we shall thinner be.” He even reworks Leia’s “foul stench” quote, which is one of my favorite lines from the film for its ridiculousness. If you’ve seen Star Wars a zillion times like I have, these witty lines can make you smile.
From William Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher. Artwork by Nicholas Delort
The third reason I enjoyed the book so much are the tributes to Shakespeare woven throughout. The pen and ink illustrations, for example, depict characters in Shakespearean attire or famous scenes. Jabba wears a feathered hat. Luke gazes at a Stormtrooper mask like Hamlet’s skull. Other quotes are clearly lifted from Shakespeare’s plays, reading like a who-said-it trivia question. “What light through yonder flashing sensor breaks?” questions Luke Skywalker from the Millennium Falcon. Later Luke implores: “Friends, rebels, Starfighters, lend me your ears.” Quotes like these from Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar are plentiful. I suspect you could read the book multiple times and still catch something new.
Overall, I really enjoyed Ian Doescher’s William Shakespeare’s Star Wars. It’s creative, witty and fun. It’s also a small book, so you can finish it off quickly. I realize it won’t appeal to everyone, but if you’re a Star Wars fan that also happens to enjoy classic literature, then this book is made for you. After I finished this one, I looked on Amazon and realized Ian Doescher has published the entire saga. I may need to read The Empire Striketh Back just to see how he handles Yoda.
Until then:
To add, some magic to your world I try.
