Shakespeare: Meant to be Listened To

Do you like Shakespeare, particularly when performed? Do you like Star Wars? Then pick up this dramatization already!

While the 'Shakespeare's Star Wars' series is definitely Shakespeare-Lite (it's got the right form and syntax, but is missing much of the bard's metaphoric language that makes his work both so rich, and so frustrating!), it's clear the author is an expert on the subject matter. It's the kind of thing you listen to because it keeps you laughing - many parts are just downright goofy (for example, the space slug's soliloquy), and clearly not meant to be taken seriously. If you don't like Shakespeare the gimmick will likely wear out its welcome, but with few exceptions I found it kept me grinning until the last minute.

A final note: the voice actors were perfect for their roles. I read the first play in this trilogy, and I must say - audiobook is absolutely the way to go. Fifteen bucks well spent.

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These are the books you've been looking for

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars – The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher is the sequel to William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, a retelling of George Lucas’s space saga in the style of William Shakespeare. I would strongly recommend picking this up as an audiobook rather than ebook or hard copy – Random House Audio’s production is top notch with an excellent cast. It is far more like a radio play than an audiobook and the excellent cast does a wonderful job of telling the story.

What I liked

The source material. The original Star Wars trilogy is a darn good story. It contains a lot of strong themes which would have been as relevant in Shakespeare’s time as today: love, betrayal, youthful impetuousness, struggle against tyranny. Doescher therefore has a strong base on which to base his adaptation. It also isn’t too jarring, for example, when Han rails against Lando’s betrayal in Shakespearean language as it is a theme and emotion found in many of Shakespeare’s works.

Yoda. On my first listen through I was a little disappointed that Yoda didn’t sound too different from the other characters. In the movies, he has a unique speech pattern and I was hoping that this would be reflected in Empire Striketh Back. It was only on reading Doescher’s commentary that I realised Yoda was speaking in haiku! Darn I wished I’d picked that up first time. This is intended to reflect Yoda’s role as Luke’s master – or sensei – in the mystical force giving an eastern feel to it. Brilliant. Appropriate and brilliant.

The production. Random House Audio has gone full out to make this a radio play rather than an audiobook. We have a strong cast, sound effects (including the iconic swish of the lightsabres) as well as snippets of John Williams’ memorable soundtrack. It all combines to make it a wonderful listen.

Doescher’s Notes and Commentary. I the ebook edition I also possess, Doescher adds some commentary explaining some of the creative decisions he made while writing Empire. This, combined with the teachers notes provides a fascinating new insight into the book.

What I didn’t like

There was nothing, I tell you, nothing i disliked about The Empire Striketh Back. I already have The Jedi Doth Return on pre-order. As the trailer says “these are the books you have been looking for.”

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Even better this time.

This one was even more brilliant than the last. The wampa, AT-ATs, and Ugnaughts had me in tears of laughter. The climax of the film is done well and is still captivating in this format. If you made it through the first one and enjoyed the experience this one won't disappoint. Again, you MUST listen to the audiobook. It's wizard.

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Can I rate this higher

Any fan of Shakespeare and Star Wars is going to fall in love with this whole series. OMG.. it's so fun, the story is there, but the language is all new with a Shakespearean twist. The narration is AWESOME!!! I really can't find anything about this series I didn't like. Again, the characters all came to life with distinct voices - yet familiar. Even the wookies and droids. I am going to start the next one ASAP. I wish the entire series had this treatment.

Seriously why have you not bought it yet? Steer you wrong, I would not.

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Liked the first one? You'll love the sequel.

I had a blast with Verily, A New Hope, and multiple listens gave me something new to appreciate in that venerable old tale. I'm guessing you did too, otherwise why would you be seeking this one out? The Empire Striketh Back proves to hit the same marks. On the surface, it's just fun. The actors clearly had as much fun performing it as I did listening. Combine that with the John Williams music and the classic sound effects, it's hard not to love this. Where else will you hear dialogue for a wampa, a space slug, and an AT-AT walker?

As with the original, I want very much to see this performed on a stage in an all-out production. A work like this just demands the full treatment.

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If You Loved the First One

Would you consider the audio edition of William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back to be better than the print version?

Yes, I would because it is written as a play and therefore, is better when performed (either on stage or in audio form).

What did you like best about this story?

Yoda.

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

The things that were singing in Cloud City. I don't know what they were called but it was great.

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

I was totally taken by surprised by the singing and had to stifle my laughter because we were listening to this while I waited for my daughters to go to sleep.

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Yoda was built for this! Plus a little hint...

Every play a Beatles album backwards? Here's a trick I did with this and the following story. Read the author's note at the end of the book first and then read the book knowing what the other is trying to depict with each character and scene. The series is truly quirky yet flawless and has a great flow that will make you want to listen to all three books.

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What I didn't like: NOTHING

Even though I am a huge Star Wars fan (and have six different Star Wars costumes in my closet to prove it) and also love Shakespeare, I approached this mashup with trepidation. I thought, well, I’ll get the first one because my geek cred will suffer if I don’t check this out. But the audio version of “Verily, A New Hope” was so damned good that I immediately downloaded the other two installments and ended up binge-listening to all three in less than a week.

What I liked:

Soliloquys that reveal the characters’ inner thoughts (especially the space slug!!)
Storm Troopers as comic relief (particularly one section where they sound like two geeky fanboys as they speculate about the possible reasons why every structure the Empire builds has a huge chasm next to the pedestrian walkways)

Singing Ugnaughts

C3PO’s “Seven stages of war” speech (an alternate take on the “seven ages of man” speech from As You Like It)

The voices of the actors, each perfectly suited to the characters, but particularly Obi-wan

Han and Leia as Romeo and Juliet

What I didn’t like: NOTHING!

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Goofy Fun with a Blast of Class!

This is a hoot and a half, taking an entertaining tone while seriously tackling what this classic science fiction epic would sound like in iambic pentameter (with haiku thrown in for reasons which are explained in the end).

The many actors and sound effects provide a full sonic experience along with the excerpts from the iconic John Williams score, however the author's use of asides to flesh out the characters provides fascinating windows into the souls of sentient beings great & small.

Verily much looking forward to the next installment!

Something Different

If you love Star Wars, you'll love this take on Empire. Still the same story, but made interesting again though the use of Shakespearean language and writing. Well worth the price!