From a Certain Point of View (Star Wars)

By: Renée Ahdieh, Meg Cabot, John Jackson Miller, Nnedi Okorafor, Sabaa Tahir

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Ashley Eckstein, Janina Gavankar, Jon Hamm, Neil Patrick Harris, January LaVoy

Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

Experience Star Wars: A New Hope from a whole new point of view.

On May 25, 1977, the world was introduced to Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, and a galaxy full of possibilities. In honor of the 40th anniversary, more than 40 contributors lend their vision to this retelling of Star Wars. Each of the 40 short stories reimagines a moment from the original film, but through the eyes of a supporting character. From a Certain Point of View features contributions by best-selling authors, trendsetting artists, and treasured voices from the literary history of Star Wars:

• Gary Whitta bridges the gap from Rogue One to A New Hope through the eyes of Captain Antilles.
• Aunt Beru finds her voice in an intimate character study by Meg Cabot.
• Nnedi Okorofor brings dignity and depth to a most unlikely character: the monster in the trash compactor.
• Pablo Hidalgo provides a chilling glimpse inside the mind of Grand Moff Tarkin.
• Pierce Brown chronicles Biggs Darklighter's final flight during the Rebellion's harrowing attack on the Death Star.
• Wil Wheaton spins a poignant tale of the rebels left behind on Yavin.

Plus 34 more hilarious, heartbreaking, and astonishing tales from Ben Acker, Renée Ahdieh, Tom Angleberger, Ben Blacker, Jeffrey Brown, Rae Carson, Adam Christopher, Zoraida Córdova, Delilah S. Dawson, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Paul Dini, Ian Doescher, Ashley Eckstein, Matt Fraction, Alexander Freed, Jason Fry, Kieron Gillen, Christie Golden, Claudia Gray, E. K. Johnston, Paul S. Kemp, Mur Lafferty, Ken Liu, Griffin McElroy, John Jackson Miller, Daniel José Older, Mallory Ortberg, Beth Revis, Madeleine Roux, Greg Rucka, Gary D. Schmidt, Cavan Scott, Charles Soule, Sabaa Tahir, Elizabeth Wein, Glen Weldon, Chuck Wendig

Narrated by a full cast, including:

• Jonathan Davis
• Ashley Eckstein
• Janina Gavankar
• Jon Hamm
• Neil Patrick Harris
• January LaVoy
• Saskia Maarleveld
• Carol Monda
• Daniel José Older
• Marc Thompson

All participating authors have generously forgone any compensation for their stories. Instead, their proceeds will be donated to First Book - a leading nonprofit that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to educators and organizations serving children in need. To further celebrate the launch of this book and both companies' longstanding relationships with First Book, Penguin Random House has donated $100,000 to First Book, and Disney/Lucasfilm has donated 100,000 children's books - valued at $1 million - to support First Book and their mission of providing equal access to quality education. Over the past 16 years, Disney and Penguin Random House combined have donated more than 88 million books to First Book.

©2017 Renée Ahdieh (P)2017 Random House Audio

No One has Raved About this yet?

Getting a secondary perspective on a New Hope adds so much incredible depth to the story and deepens the "relationship" SW fans may have on the film that started it all to an immeasurable degree.

If you are a SW fan and it has changed your life for the better you HAVE to get this audiobook!

And may I mention... it's canon...

15 of 15 people found this review helpful

A New View of A New Hope

What a fantastic collection of stories. Take a bunch of side characters who were bit parts in the original Star Wars movie and give them a story to tell. You remember those guys in the band playing the Cantina? Yeah, let's tell their story. Remember that little M1C6 droid who Chewbacca scared on the Death Star? Yeah, he has a story. How about the stormtrooper who Obi Wan used his Jedi mind powers to fool into believing that C3PO and R2D2 weren't the droids they were looking for? Fantastic continuation!
There are stories in here from a ton of angles, including Lando, Yoda, Obi Wan, and Mon Mothra, as well as that red R5 unit who blew up at Uncle Owen's farm and the monster in the trash room. These stories fill out a universe so well fleshed out already. Even things like the stormtrooper bopping his head on the door make sense now.
And the voices. Oh, the voices are so great. This book is just about the perfect book. What a great anthology of the Star Wars Universe's lesser known characters. I not only highly recommend this one but I, myself, will be listening to it several more times in the future.I have a new hope that they will do a project like this for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi in short order.

15 of 16 people found this review helpful

These are the Stories You’re Looking For

I’ve laughed, cried, gasped, snickered and smiled through this entire book and still want more. This is an ingenious idea to have the POV of so many characters whose appearances in the movie was minimal but whose contribution to the overall story was critical for the rebellion’s success. I hope they do this with Episodes 5 & 6 as well.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Very fun

An interesting look into the world of Star Wars outside of main story line; if not necessarily canon, still entertaining. The multitude of stories covered characters only glimpsed in the films but add a depth to the events of the main story line. Furthering the idea that the Force is intertwined and influences more than the reader may have originally thought.

Some of the stories dragged on a little longer and more repetitive than I would have liked and some of the voice acting was rather annoying to the point I almost skipped a story or two but thankfully stopped before I did.

All in all, a fun collection for any Star Wars fan than ever wondered, 'what's that guy's story?'

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

39 gems

The only complaint I have is with the story about the mouse droid. It might have been better to read but was unlistenable. Still the other 39 stories are good.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Well worth the time!

I have always been a fan of alternate viewpoints, and this is great. I don't care for all the stories, but that is what is great about an anthology of short stories. Some are great, some not so much, but overall the book is worth it.
Some of the voice actors are also better than others. But the fact that this is a full on production makes it wonderful. I have always wished that audiobooks had background music, and this does and more. Some clips from the original soundtrack, sound effects of laser blasts, howling wind, a hyperdrive, and voice modifiers for stormtroopers and Darth Vader. It is awesome!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Disappointing

I’m a huge Star Wars fan. Not over the top and wait in line dressed in costume, but love the story. I️ was super excited to find this book on audible. Then I️ started listening. Some of these stories were great. The first one might be the best. But then it really bogs down in Tatooine. Sole of the character voices were plain annoying to listen too. Later on the Death Star the mouse droid voice was also terrible. I had to fast forward through most of it. Still, in the end, I️ found the battle of Yavin exciting and ending on a good note.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Good story, great performance, but...

I enjoyed this, but some of the background sound effects are incredibly annoying. Especially the "aboard ship" electronic noises. It's a constant beeping and chirping sound that distracts from the excellent performance of the narrators.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Absolutely great. Must read for any star wars fan.

Great stories, fantastic performances. If you love star wars you will love this audio book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Indicative of Disney’s new Star Wars

I LOVED the Tales From books from the 90’s. This though. This falls so flat. They were so focused on writing forty stories for forty years that they didn’t stop to make sure the stories were actually good.

The voice acting and sound was great. And a handful of stories were actually good. But maybe ten. The series was riddled with continuity errors (like one book focused on pilots that didn’t fly in the Death Star Run because there weren’t enough ships. Two stories later it was about how they didn’t have enough pilots and had a hangar full of fighters and no one to fly them).

The main issue with the Audible version is the chapters. There is not indicator of when a book begins or ends, or even chapter titles. It made skipping the crappy stories impossible.

Overall, wait for this to be in a clearance bin at your local bookstore.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful