Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker

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**Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker**
also **Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope**

Author	George Lucas
Country	USA
Language	English
Era	Rebellion
Series	Film Novelizations
Canon	G
Subject(s)	Star Wars
Genre(s)	Science Fiction
Publisher	Del Rey
Released	Hardcover: 29 August 1995 Paperback: 12 November 1976
Media Type	Hardcover & Paperback
Pages	Hardcover: 272
Size and Weight	Hardcover: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches 1.4 pounds Paperback: 4.2 ounces
ISBN	Hardcover: ISBN 0-345-40077-1 Paperback: ISBN 0-345-26061-9
Followed by	Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind's Eye

Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker is the title of a science fiction novel credited to George Lucas (but actually ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster^[1]) and first published on November 12, 1976 by Del Rey.

The book, which was based upon Lucas' original screenplay for the first Star Wars film, has been published under several titles, first as Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, later as simply Star Wars, and most recently as Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope reflecting the retitling of the film that occurred following the announcement that Lucas would film the first three episodes of the Star Wars Saga.

This book was published about six months before the original Star Wars movie was released, which means it was probably written some months prior. At that point, the source material for this story in particular, and the whole Star Wars universe in general, was still somewhat fluid. As a result, it is interesting to note a few points where the story in the book differs from the story that ended up in the movie.

A few scenes are included that were filmed but not included in the final cut of the movie, most notably Luke's scenes with his friends at Tosche Station. These scenes in particular give the character of Luke a different feel at the outset--more ambiguous in regard to the Empire. Lucas likely felt it would be better to present Luke as a more definitely "good" character from the beginning.
Various small details, such as the callsigns used by the Rebels in the Death Star assault, are different.
The general style of the storytelling is perhaps suited to a more mature audience; in particular some violent scenes are depicted in detail much more graphic than that used in the movie.