May the Force be with you! Up for auction is a vintage softcover copy of Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, written by George Lucas (ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster). Published by Ballantine Books / Del Rey.
Item Details & Condition:
Printing Info: This is the Ninth Printing from July 1977 (carrying the original December 1976 First Edition text block). Released right at the height of original 1977 Star Wars mania, making it a true period-accurate collectible from the year the film premiered! Featuring iconic cover art by John Berkey.
Ninth Printing (July 1977): Because the movie became an unprecedented, massive cultural phenomenon, booksellers couldn't keep copies on the shelves. Ballantine Books rushed out massive numbers of reprints to meet the explosive demand. This specific copy was printed in July 1977—just two months after the movie's release. Even though this is the 9th time the book was sent to the printing press, collectors call it a "first edition state" because the internal text block and publishing information match the early printings of that initial release window before major text revisions or layout overhauls happened in later years. It represents a true piece of original 1977 theatrical release merchandise!
Format: Paperback / Softcover
ISBN: 0-345-27392-3
How does this book vary from the movie????
Because the 1977 Star Wars novelization (ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster) was based on early drafts of George Lucas's screenplay while the film was still in production, it features several fascinating differences, including deleted scenes, alternative character descriptions, and early conceptual ideas:
The Opening: Instead of the iconic "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." and the famous yellow text crawl, the book opens with the phrase "Another galaxy, another time" and includes a unique political prologue called Journal of the Whills.
Deleted and Extended Scenes: The book includes scenes that were filmed but cut from the final theatrical release—most notably, early sequences featuring Luke Skywalker hanging out with his friends at Tosche Station on Tatooine.
Jabba the Hutt: Decades before Jabba appeared as a giant alien slug in Return of the Jedi (or the Special Edition re-release), the 1977 novel describes him as a human gangster.
Character and Setting Details:
Obi-Wan Kenobi lives in a cave instead of a desert hut, and he smokes a pipe.
Chewbacca is described as having bright, yellow eyes.
Luke's landspeeder features an enclosed cockpit rather than an open one.
Darth Vader and the Emperor's political setup differ slightly, reflecting early ideas about the fall of the Old Republic.
Alternative Names and Call Signs: Luke flies with "Blue Squadron" during the Death Star trench run instead of Red Squadron, making his call sign "Blue Five".
Condition Notes: This vintage copy shows standard shelf wear appropriate for its age, including surface creases and edge wear on the covers. Additionally, there is previous owner handwriting ("Brian Goldstone") written neatly on the inside front cover page and the back cover.
A fantastic piece of vintage 1977 Star Wars pop-culture history for any fan or retro collector. Please review all photos closely for exact condition details.
Shipping: Shipped securely via USPS Media Mail. Don't miss out on adding this classic to your collection!