William Shakespeare's Star Wars

By: Ian Doescher

Narrated by: Daniel Davis, Jonathan Davis, Ian Doescher, January LaVoy, Marc Thompson

Length: 3 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Multi-Voiced Performance, 2014

Return once more to a galaxy far, far away with this sublime retelling of George Lucas's epic Star Wars in the style of the immortal Bard of Avon. The saga of a wise (Jedi) knight and an evil (Sith) lord, of a beautiful princess held captive and a young hero coming of age, Star Wars abounds with all the valor and villainy of Shakespeare's greatest plays. 'Tis a tale told by fretful droids, full of faithful Wookiees and fearsome Stormtroopers, signifying...pretty much everything.

William Shakespeare's Star Wars will astound and edify Rebels and Imperials alike. Zounds! This is the audiobook you're looking for.

©2013 Ian Doescher (P)2013 Random House Audio

To Thine Ears, Brilliance This Doth Be!

I had a blast reading the book. Now to hear it performed, it's even better. Mashups like this usually don't impress me because most don't go for broke and waste time winking at themselves. This... this is greatness incarnate, and I daresay the Bard would approve.

A full cast of pros playing it straight and yet still coming across with a Monty Python edge, the classic sound effects and music... it's comedy gold. I can't imagine how many times they had to stop recording in the attempt to not bust a gut. I haven't laughed this hard in ages, and I think I spooked my co-workers this morning.

Perhaps to tell a greater truth.

What made the experience of listening to William Shakespeare's Star Wars the most enjoyable?

Hearing the asides from R2-D2. I have wondered for 30 years what that little rustbucket has been saying, and I found out. I nearly drove off the road doing so, but I found out.

What was one of the most memorable moments of William Shakespeare's Star Wars?

The aside from Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first act. When you hear it, you will understand.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Daniel Davis filled the role of Narrator perfectly, despite my misgivings at the beginning that Star Wars (of all things) didn't need one.

The Shakespearean stage directions were fun. I have been saying 'Exeunt Droid' for three days, much to my wife's chagrin.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, if I had been presented the opportunity, I would have. Probably best that I didn't. It might have killed me.

So happy this book came along

If you could sum up William Shakespeare's Star Wars in three words, what would they be?

This was so great to listen to - but beware - laughter will happen even will driving

What did you like best about this story?

The way it was put together - the characters - the Shakespeare references

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

R2D2 was the best - that cast was incredible

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed for the whole first part of the book - and the second part - it was great - and I don't always like music or sound effects in other books, it was perfect in this book - especially enjoyed R2D2

Any additional comments?

I am giving this as a gift to 3 people and I have a couple of folks wanting to get it for themselves. Wish I could give it more than 5 stars

To be, or not to be?

The author must have seriously considered the question when he sat down to write. Could a Star Wars book work in Shakespearean English? Should I even waste the time trying?

I, for one, am glad Ian Doescher decided to do it, because it's GREAT! The characters have their own thoughts revealed in ways they aren't done in the movie, which leads to a twisted understanding of characters like R2-D2; apparently, he's not a happy-go-lucky droid: he's conniving and manipulative, even if it is for the better good.

The narrators did a great job with the character voices, and some of them got the intonation just right, despite the fact that they were speaking in Shakespeare-era English.

As both a Shakespeare fan and a Star Wars junkie, I'm excited to share this one with my kids, in the hopes that it will get them interested in the Bard before they have to read his real stuff in junior high!

'Tis a fine conceit--but no more

I downloaded this book on the strength of the very clever idea behind it, together with the brief preview sample. Unfortunately, Ian Doescher can't write quite well enough to see his inspiration through. In a way he's set himself up, by advertising this as a work by the greatest playwright of the English language. Very few could write to that standard. What we have here is a few formal elements of Elizabethan verse, with very little substance. It's a shame. Shakespeare gave us some amazing villains (King Lear's Edmund comes to mind), and a truly vile yet tragic Darth Vader might have been cut from that cloth. Doescher's Vader is pallid. Another part of the problem is that the dialogue hews too close to Lucas's original. And let's face it, George Lucas may be a visionary, but his dialogue is notoriously weak. In the original series, this fact was masked by inspired casting. Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guiness, and James Earl Jones could coax melody from a lawn mower. But we don't have them in this recording. Lucas's dialogue is not notably improved by the insertion of archaic verb forms, the occasional inverted word order, and an surfeit of asides and short soliloquies. The amusement value of hearing words like "droid" and "blaster" amidst this tortured syntax soon wears thin. If you like Star Wars but don't really know or don't care about Shakespeare, this may be for you. Or not. It's certainly not for me.

And why do we have a "chorus?" Jeez, is this supposed to be Shakespeare, or Sophocles?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This was really fantastic. The narrators of all the Star Wars audiobooks came together to perform William Shakespeare's Star Wars, and it was the best thing ever. At first I was meh on it, but carrying on, I soon to grow to love this performance. Ian Doescher poked so much fun into the Star Wars film in the form of Shakespeare (the "Han shot first" scene among others) that I couldn't help but laugh really hard in public.

Though only about 3.5 hours, it is worth EVERYTHING SECOND & CREDIT for it. I can't wait for "The Empire Striketh Back."

Incredible!!!!!

What did you love best about William Shakespeare's Star Wars?

a fun and exciting romp in the stars with the bard!

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Han or Obi Wan

Any additional comments?

the ONLY detractor to the book is R2-D2 saying beep and boop. the story would have lost nothing if the sound effects of his speech had been added. still and absolutely fan-freaking-tastic I hope that empire and Jedi are soon to follow!!

BEST PURCHASE EVER!!!

Where does William Shakespeare's Star Wars rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

For a super fan of Star Wars, this is the best purchase I have ever made from Audible.

What did you like best about this story?

It followed the original storyline but had a little bit more humor.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The narrators were awesome, especially Marc Thompson (who does Han Solo's voice). Hearing Han Solo do William Shakespeare was hilarious!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Moved? No, not really. Just very enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

I will listen to these three books over and over and over!!!

Wonderful writing and performance

In short, this is the most brilliant piece of writing I have read in a long time. I am a big fan of the original trilogy Star Wars movies and it’s just incredible how well they work in Shakespearean language. Doescher studied Shakespeare and is also a big sci-fi geek and his understanding of both media comes across very well. The dichotomy of the sci-fi content in old fashioned language adds a real interest to the writing. It’s also a heck of a lot of fun to play “spot the (adapted) Shakespeare quotation.” For example, we have “Alas, poor stormtrooper, I knew ye not” referencing Hamlet’s thoughts on Yorrick.

I have both the audiobook (narrated by a troupe of Shakespearean actors including the author himself) and I strongly recommend experiencing William Shakespeare’s Star Wars in audiobook format rather than the written word. The cast really brings it to life.

Silly and interesting.

Where does William Shakespeare's Star Wars rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Not very high but very well done.

What was one of the most memorable moments of William Shakespeare's Star Wars?

The Death Star Battle.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Marc Thompson's voice work was excellent.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I hoep they make more of these.

Verily; A great reteling.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ben Kenobi. His rewritten diolog was the most fun to compare to the original and the small retcons added are a good way of tying the series together in a more believable fashion.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The scenes with Like on Tatooine. the slow, character based scenes work particularly well in the Shakespearean format.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It filled me the same excitement that Star wars used to give me as a boy.

Any additional comments?

I'm so glad this exists. I'd never have thought of it but the two things work so well together.

All the galaxy's a stage

This is a marvelous idea, taking the script of star wars and rewriting it in the style of Shakespeare is inspired.

surprisingly excellent listening.

funny, great story and character improvements, if possible, and just a great find all around!

How could you not love this?

I cannot believe the voices, they are pretty much spot on! did the author use AI or actuql voice actors because Luke and C-3PO sounded exactly like their movie characters,

A really interesting idea that stuck to the original movie while adding a lot of humour. C-3PO was absolutely hilarious!

Brilliant and fun

Imaginative and enjoyable, with a fantastic performance by the narrators. Never considered a retelling of Stars Wars in a Shakespearean fashion, but they pulled it off.

Loved it

Really enjoyed this original format of retelling. Was great to hear the narrators from Darth Plagueis and Darth Bane novels back again as well

extremely fun to listen to

extremely well written and really fun version of star wars to listen to. superb

A New Hope Cometh

it's Star Wars, what can I say. would love to hear Ian McDiarmid read it and other cast members

Beep Boop What a Book

I've honestly never really felt taken with Star Wars, untily partner began watching what is now well known as "The Baby Yoda Show". I didn't know any background or references that he did, but any time I tried to watch a film I just could not get into it. who's have thought my first tow dip into the Star Wars Universe would be via Shakespeare!!! I've loved Shakey since I was quite young, and am very familiar with the language and writing style so it was easy for me to follow. The writer here has done a fantastic job of capturing humour, and including gestures towards things fans love the most (like a little mention of Luke being unable to be more dedicated to Leia even if she was his sister... hahaha. spoilers. she is his sister but he doesn't know yet, just us.) All characters narration was well rounded and easy to believe. Special mention to the R2D2 actor, who's narration made me smile and laugh every single time. beep book whistle squeek.

An idea that rapidly outlives its welcome

This was such a good idea, or so it must have seemed to the author. Use the idioms of Will Shakespeare to retell a story that has entered completely into modern culture. Unfortunately, there are several drawbacks. Firstly, the first Star Wars' film suffers from its clunky dialogue and a plot ridden with holes. Adapting it was always going to further expose these limitations. Next, there is an over-use of what can best be described as Shakespearean stock-phrases, awkwardly stitched into the narrative. The tone is also uncertain, veering wildly from the comic to the melodramatic.

The combination rapidly becomes tedious. Fortunately. it's short. Not recommended.