The idea for the original From a Certain Point of View garnered tons of attention for its nearly endless possibilities to reshape such classic films, giving them new life even 40 years after their debut. Thankfully it seems to be a tradition, at least for now since the prequels won’t have the opportunity for another 20 years (and let’s not even talk about how old I’d be when the sequels would hit the milestone…), to take the original trilogy films and retell them from new, interesting, and unexpected points of view, which brings us to From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Stronger across the board in its stories, with more consistently engaging tales and original or surprising points of view, and a far more coherent structure from one tale to next, From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back does not fall short of its source material, doing it justice by being such a great and memorable sequel.
When I say From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (FACPOVTESB) is stronger than the original FACPOV, I’m not quite sure if it has to do with the batch of authors arrayed for it or the expanded potential thanks to the film’s expanded scope over A New Hope, but I found myself consistently enjoying tales throughout, with nary a miss, disappointment, or bore. There were a few tales in FACPOV which fell short of their premise/promise (“Bump”), or went on far too long for their own good (“The Kloo Horn Cantina Caper”), and I was able to put together a list of my Top 5 without too much debate (6, since the Dr. Aphra tale was far and above my favorite). When trying to pick a Top 5 here with FACPOVTESB, bringing it down under a Top 10 was a near impossibility. I’m not saying I absolutely loved every tale, but this time around there was only one I truly didn’t quite like, but I found the other 39 well worth the time to read. My list of favorites will of course be much different than everyone else’s (there’s a joke somewhere in there about certain point of views…), though I feel like overall there’s more to enjoy and appreciate this time around. The author list is more diverse, which is saying something compared to the first’s, the amount of non-white or LGBTQ+ representation is far greater, as in if there’s a love angle to a story it’s more often a queer romance than not, while the animal/droid/cave POVs offer very unique takes on certain memorable moments in the film. FACPOVTESB has longer tales overall, and instead of meandering, they take full of advantage of their page-count, though plenty of tales skew shorter and were often stronger regardless. Likewise, the cohesion across tales is much appreciated, from the early running joke about betting pools on Han or Leia, how stories flowed through the film in a more orderly, sensible manner helped propel me through to the next tale, while connections to the previous FACPOV prove to be sequels of their own. It all adds up for a richer, deeper experience, which digs deeper into the cracks and seams we don’t see in the film, offering fresher and more unique ways to view moments, often forever changing scenes 40 years old.
So now we’ll jump into my Top 10 favorite tales, in order of appearance in the book, followed by mini-reviews for the remaining tales (also in order they appear in the book), with my closing remarks shortly after. Out of the 10 I originally picked as my most anticipated, 7 made the cut, with 3 others sneaking in:
“A Good Kiss” by C.B. Lee {4/40}: I enjoyed the first few tales before C.B. Lee’s “A Good Kiss,” but it was the first one to really wow me. It made me laugh, shout in excitement, and never quite look at the Rebellion’s time on Hoth the same way again. A lot of my reaction stems from how relatable Chase Wilsorr is, stuck in a menial job, hoping for it to mean something/work his way up to more important assignments, be remembered for something, and of course fumbling through the early parts of liking someone. Chase appears in the film, during Han and Leia’s fight in the Hoth corridors, strolling through the middle of them carrying a box, and the small portion of his story that’s spent on the moment is freaking delightful, and would’ve been enough to make this tale great all alone, but it’s the overall story for Chase, and how he finds importance, and love, that make this a real highlight. It’s also one of the first, of many, with LGBTQ+ representation, and how effortlessly its included here and other tales makes its lack of inclusion in the films even more glaring.
“A Naturalist on Hoth” by Hank Green {12/40}: Hank Green’s “A Naturalist on Hoth” took me by pleasant surprise, as the idea of someone focused on the natural aspects of a planet instead of the big, important moment around them for the Rebellion didn’t seem like my shot of spotchka. Oh boy, was I wrong and damn glad to be, as Kell’s POV really offered something I now wish we’d get more often. His expedition to Hoth, understanding the planet’s history and how its ecosystem works so beautifully, only for the Rebellion’s base to muck it all up (also seen in “Hunger”), provided a different way to consider the worlds our heroes hop between, a way that made me sad how they affect them much like we do and destroy our own. I’d love to have more stories told from this type of perspective, learning how these unique and memorable planets formed or allow for such strange and interesting creatures to thrive or die on, and it’s all thanks to this tale.
“Rendezvous Point” by Jason Fry {15/40}: FAVPOCTESB’s first long tale, “Rendezvous Point” by Jason Fry, never overstays its welcome, focusing in on Wedge Antilles’ time taking over and forming Red Squadron while Luke is away on Dagobah. Fry channels the Legends X-Wing authors and novels (which Chris has only just begun in his Legendary Adventures series!) as if he was writing their prequel, laying the groundwork for a canon version, but one that could also mesh well with Legends. There’s lots of good humor throughout, including a classic level prank from Wes Jensen, as well as a wonderful nod towards an (in)famous phrase from the Legends series regarding a pilot from a surprising species. Beyond that, the Wedge within its pages feels grounded within this very specific moment of time, making references to the new past given to him and his time in Star Wars Rebels, while laying the ground work for what’s to come. I also enjoyed Mon Mothma’s inclusion, as she was surprisingly absent for this novel/film when you think about it, though what sticks with me longest is the new character introduced, the “Contessa,” and all the potential hidden within the mysteries surrounding her and her past.
“Amara Kel’s Rules for TIE Pilot Survival (Probably)” by Django Wexler {17/40}: The kinetic energy of “Amara Kel’s Rules For TIE Pilot Survival (Probably),” by Django Wexler, is infectious and fitting for a tale about a TIE pilot, even if her rules make her take it cautiously to maintain ‘veteran’ status. There’s plenty of humor in how her rules are presented, just a look at the title should give you a hint, but I most enjoyed how Amara Kel has to adjust her rules on the fly, or her adherence to them, as she finds it increasingly hard to follow them. It was a great look at a less fanatical Imperial character, of the grunt level, and how they deal with their disposable status while trying to survive just like anyone else. It’s also another great tale for LGBTQ+ rep!
“This is No Cave” by Catherynne M. Valente {20/40}: Catherynne M. Valente’s Space Opera was a big highlight in my reading for last year for its creative galaxy and gut-busting humor, and once I saw she was writing “This Is No Cave,” a tale told from the exogorth aka space slug’s POV, my anticipation for the tale shot through the stratosphere. “This Is No Cave” didn’t disappoint in the slightest, in fact beating my expectations, for its bizarre, unique, and memorable depiction of an exogorth’s life cycle. Sy-O and its journey will forever be on my mind when watching TESB now, especially its hilariously misplaced expectations for the arrival of Han, Leia, Chewie, and Threepio in the Falcon. It also featured mynocks often, at one point calling them butterflies, and we here at the Manor couldn’t be happier about such positive representation. But another tale even had a better usage for mynocks…
“Lord Vader Will See You Now” by John Jackson Miller {21/40}: RAE SLOANE! Written again by John Jackson Miller! I’ve been a very big fan of RAE SLOANE since A New Dawn in 2014, and how they’ve charted her journey through novels, short stories, a video game, and a comic has presented the character with tons of nuance and a storied career to watch unfold. “Lord Vader Will See You Now” is the latest in a long line of excellent appearances for Sloane, adding to her register of competency and shrewdness, making me itch even more for another novel with her, specifically as she sets the stage for what becomes the First Order. Most importantly (not really), Sloane’s continued rise in the Empire is all thanks to the humble mynocks, which play a pivotal role in helping her reverse a recent demotion; we’re getting the respect and importance we deserve! Anyways, Sloane’s got stones, even around Darth Vader, and it makes me love her even more, which might be the real reason she gets un-demoted. Plus, all the little references to her past stories, from the Kanan comic to A New Dawn, were great touches that reward her fans.
“Vergence” by Tracy Deonn {22/40}: I’m still reeling from “Vergence,” by Tracy Deonn. Diving into the cave’s ‘consciousness’ is a mesmerizing and twisted experience, as it grows and learns and manipulates the fear of those who visit it. Yoda’s interactions with the Cave, which are surprisingly numerous after he comes to Dagobah, and what he’s ultimately doing hits like a wallop, both for the reader and for the cave, allowing “Vergence” to stay on your mind long after you finish. If I was forced to pick an absolute top favorite, this would be the one.
“Tooth and Claw” by Michael Kogge {23/40}: Talk about another pleasant surprise, “Tooth and Claw” by Michael Kogge, featuring Bossk shortly before he arrives on the bridge of the Avenger to hear the bounty for the Millennium Falcon from Darth Vader, engaged until its very end. From its insight into Wookiee and Trandoshan culture, and diving a bit more into Bossk’s own past, to the numerous twist and turns that keep you guessing, this was a surprisingly layered tale for one I typical chalked up as a one-note character. I don’t want to give away any of the surprises, but I’m eager to have more stories expanding and exploring what unfolded within!
“Faith in an Old Friend” by Brittany N. Williams {33/40}: I was down to two for my final choice of Top Ten and L3-37’s story just barely edged out Obi-Wan Kenobi’s, simply because we’ve had Obi-Wan tales before and L3 deserves far more love and recognition after her debate-worthy fate in Solo: A Star Wars Story. What has she been up to since then? How is she coping with her new life? What would happen if she saw Lando again? Brittany N. Williams tackles all this and more in “Faith in an Old Friend,” finally giving us a glimpse into her life as part of the Millennium Falcon. While L3 doesn’t seem to be coming out of the Falcon anytime soon, as there was a little nod to her still in the ship thanks to Jason Fry’s The Last Jedi novelization, this handles how/why she’s not out already while retaining some sense of agency for the character. On top of that, Williams’ makes it feel like Phoebe Waller-Bridge is playing the character again, as she captures the actress’ distinct style, mannerisms, and voice with aplomb, to the point even though the audiobook doesn’t include her making a guest appearance, she already did when I read this one in my head. This one really made me laugh and truly cry, leaving me wanting far more for L3 all over again, even though it helps ease the original pain.
“The Man Who Built Cloud City” by Alexander Freed {37/40}: I’ve been a long-time fan of author Christopher Moore, whose delightfully absurd books have brought me much enjoyment and laughs over the years, and the main character of “The Man Who Built Cloud City,” by Alexandeer Freed, reminds me a lot of one of Moore’s recurring characters: the Emperor of San Francisco. Both suffer delusions of grandeur, both are ‘homeless,’ and both are tolerated staples of their chosen homes (Cloud City and San Francisco, respectfully). Their delusions of a more glamorous life and world are so ingrained, they can’t accept much else, but whereas Moore’s character often gets into funny shenanigans, Freed’s King Yathros falls into a more tragic tale, with glints of hope. In the lead up to FACPOVTESB’s release, they teased this tale having fairy-tale qualities, but to me it read more Shakespearean, though overall it was a great change of pace for Freed, leaving me to hope he gets different assignments like this in the future (though Alphabet Squadron: Shadow Fall is his best book and one of the top novels in recent memory).
And now some brief thoughts on the remaining stories, all in order of appearance (minus the 10 above):
“Eyes of the Empire” by Kiersten White {1/40}: A solid enough start the collection, setting the tone and scope of how these stories provide new eyes (literally, in this case) on familiar moments.
“Hunger” by Mark Oshiro {2/40}: The animalistic nature of the POV, from the Wampa’s thoughts on how humans could survive at all to reclaiming its home after the Rebellion leaves, was refreshing and unique.
“Ion Control” by Emily Skrutskie {3/40}: Toyrn Farr’s commitment to her job, and how she sees a kindred spirit in Leia, flesh out this background character to a degree I really enjoyed, making me hope we get more time with her soon. This starts the running joke about Han and Leia and everyone just over their flirting already.
“She Will Keep Them Warm” by Delilah S. Dawson {5/40}: Something with the Black Spire novel didn’t sit right with me, and then I read these two important Twitter threads from Black and POC Star Wars fans and it was far worse than I expected. The uneasiness continues in “She Will Keep Them Warm,” as I can’t quite accept the Tauntaun POV as the author’s attempt at a Tauntaun POV and not be a stand-in for something else. I just Hope I’m wrong…
“Heroes of the Rebellion” by Amy Ratcliffe {6/40}: This not making my Top Ten after it being on my Top 10 Most Anticipated tales doesn’t mean “Heroes of the Rebellion” isn’t good, it just lost out to a few others. Ratcliffe’s fiction prose debut was a great view on the Rebellion’s heroes, while it ends on a very hope-filled message. Lots of references to Jyn Erso’s famous “Rebellions are built on hope,” line throughout FACPOVTESB, and it all starts here.
“Rogue Two” by Gary Whitta {7/40}: A fitting tale for Gary Whitta, writer of Rogue One! Much like his last story bridged Rogue One to A New Hope (even more than the movie did), this continues to explore the impact of those events, including why there’s Rogue Leader and Rogue Two, no Rogue One. Beyond some interesting details on adapting the speeders to Hoth or his thoughts on Luke, there’s some fun humor around betting pools (again!) and a great and fitting Leia appearance.
“Kendal” by Charles Yu {8/40}: One of a few Honorable Mentions (meaning it almost cracked the Top Ten), as Yu’s talented prose expanding on those literal last breathes of Admiral Ozzel really crescendos into his final one.
“Against All Odds” by R.F. Kuang {9/40}: While I didn’t cry like I expected, that’s a good thing, because instead this tale is both sad and uplifting, recounting Dak’s final days with the Rebellion and peppering it with the character’s unending sense of hope.
“Beyond Hope” by Michael Moreci {10/40}: Even the troopers in the ditches wondered why they were even out there shooting their little blasters at the AT-ATs, but Moreci explores it with humor and gravitas, focusing on the rallying cry of Jyn Erso as well to help a doubter understand hope.
“The Truest Duty” by Christie Golden {11/40}: I don’t entirely know if I enjoyed this on its merits alone, as Christie Golden’s way of tackling Maximilian Veers’ confident, assured POV in “The Truest Duty” keeps the story compelling, or because I’m so damn excited to see how @VeersWatch reacts to it once he reads it. But I know one of those things made the ending even more exciting than expected! UPDATE: @VeersWatch’s reaction is one of the purest moments in fandom this year; check his full thread to see the big reveal hidden in the story (which now has its own Wookieepedia page!)
“The Dragonsnake Saves R2-D2” by Katie Cook {13/40}: Short and delightful, this one’s comic is the better of the two (so far)!
“For the Last Time” by Beth Revis {14/40}: I can’t honestly say I know why Piett has always interested me, but Revis’ dive into his haughty mind suddenly made it clear from how he handles a certain revelation regarding Darth Vader.
“The Final Order” by Seth Dickinson {16/40}: Another Honorable Mention, this story turns unnamed Imperial officer who dies aboard Star Destroyer in the Hoth system’s asteroid field to an intense and deep exploration of a man whose career has been anything but uneventful, with a name you won’t soon forget the next time you watch the film. Also, there’s a wonderfully sneaky Legends reference, to a moment that itself references Lord of the Rings, and I am so here for more of it!
“The First Lesson” by Jim Zub {18/40}: Plenty of important connections to Yoda’s previous FACPOV story, which helps build into his choice to test Luke the way he does, while hearing him mention certain prequel characters and compare Luke to them was a welcomed delight.
“Disturbance” by Mike Chen {19/40}: We need a Palpatine novel pronto, as this explores some of the more chilling aspects of the Sith apprentice/Master relationship and the Emperor’s impressive depth of abilities. It also changes how one views the conversation between him and Vader once the latter exits the asteroid field, while it lays the groundwork for what’s to come both in this film and the trilogy after.
“STET!” by Daniel José Older {24/40}: The formatting on this alone, which doesn’t look as good on Kindle as it does in the physical version, makes for a hilarious and enjoyable tale, even if I wasn’t always 100% sure what was going on. I think the old Dug waiter might be one of my favorite characters out of the whole book, while the notes from the editor droid really standout. Also, will be curious to see how the High Republic reference fits in with the upcoming stories.
“Wait for It” by Zoraida Córdova {25/40}: Far better than Boba’s FACPOV tale, toning down the 50’s gangster by a mega-ton, the way Córdova heavily connects to The Clone Wars and the recent comic helped flesh out his trajectory a bit.
“Standard Imperial Procedure” by Sarwat Chadda {26/40}: Practice what you preach is an important mantra to follow and this doesn’t shy away from the pitfalls of avoiding ones own advice.
“There is Always Another” by Mackenzi Lee {27/40}: Lost narrowly to L3’s story to be in the Top 10, so this is basically #11. Obi-Wan is so ready to be done with the Skywalkers, but they keep pulling him back in, giving us another tale where laughing, and crying, are hard to avoid. How he tries to lie to himself about not caring about the Skywalkers is such an excellent examination of his love for Anakin, his big dumb friend.
“Fake It Till You Make It” by Cavan Scott {28/40}: It’s Cavan Scott, writing more canon Jaxxon…what more do you need to know!? The meta-ness regarding the assumptions of the galaxy against Jaxxon and the Lepi and our own past of mocking him, was a sneaky, excellent touch by Scott. Definitely left me wanting more prose Jaxxon!
“But What Does He Eat?” by S.A. Chakroborty {29/40}: Sous Chef Chris, my fellow writer at the Manor, gets a shoutout in the tale (not really) as this chef has a Sous Chef too! Joking aside, I really enjoyed this tale for Lando and Torro’s conversations about Cloud City and Torro’s reality check to her sous chef when Gersolik wonders if they should poison Darth Vader. But yes, it also made me hungry!
“Beyond the Clouds” by Lilliam Rivera {30/40}: Isabalia has her eyes to the sky, thinking of a life of adventure and bounty hunting, but there are those around her trying to help her see she could be better than a lowly hunter. Seeing Cloud City from its less opulent side reveals it’s not all glitz and glamour for all Lando’s citizens.
“No Time for Poetry” by Austin Walker {31/40}: Walker manages to dive into IG-88’s swiveling head to great effect, from how he feels about organics or prepares simulations to kill his new partner Dengar when he’s annoyed with him, this tale is Odd Couple-levels of yes, please, more.
“Bespin Escape” by Martha Wells {32/40}: Ugnaught society is layered and dense, maybe too dense to cause themselves trouble in the middle of an evacuation, but “Bespin Escape” certainly changes how you view their important to the city.
“Due on Batuu” by Rob Hart {34/40}: Willrow Hood runs again! This was a lot of fun, especially with the references to ice cream and Hood’s Legends backstory, and certainly lives up to the hype.
“Into the Clouds” by Karen Strong {35/40}: Jailyn’s desire to be more than daddy’s clean-up crew for their Tibanna gas tycoon life is a short but compelling read, as Strong manages to pack in some heady conversations about acceptance oneself over adhering to what everyone else wants you to be.
“The Witness” by Adam Christopher {36/40}: Stormtrooper Deena Lorn’s struggles with the pain and torture she’s helped inflict, and coming to terms with her decision to leave the Empire, takes a little more nuanced approach to defectors some stories gloss over. How Vader’s conversation with Luke during their duel, which she accidentily stumbles into, helps her with her choice was an interesting way to frame such a famous scene. Bonus fun fact: The TK number for Lorn is the same as Bria LaVorgna‘s in the 501st costuming league, which is such an awesome shout-out to a fantastic fan from both the Tosche Station and the official site’s blog!
“The Backup Backup Plan” by Anne Toole {38/40}: Another Honorable Mention, this one started off a little hard to follow but shortly I was along the ride for all its fun twists and turns. One of the few tales I wished was longer!
“Right-Hand Man” by Lydia Kang {39/40}: There was humor within, but there was a deeper, more psychological focused conversation that I feel I only scratched the surface of while reading it. I especially like the droid’s insight to Luke’s pain after Cloud City, as well as his thoughts on Luke and Leia’s reaction to one another changing since Hoth.
“The Whills Strike Back” by Tom Angleberger {40/40}: These meta-heavy endings, as someone is picked by the Whills to inscribe the tale of Star Wars into their journels, is an excellent way to end each FACPOV! It’s an absolute blast to read, while that Holiday Special reference is on-point. Can’t wait to see what Angleberger cooks up for Return of the Jedi‘s in three years!
The art/social cards are thanks to Chris Trevas!
- Mynock Mentions: Out of 40 stories, the mynock, first introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, makes only 4 appearances. At 10%, its doesn’t look like the strongest showing from the heroic and selfless mynocks, but they play pivotal roles in at least two of the stories where they are mentioned. In “This Is No Cave,” the exogorth considers the mynocks to be butterflies, which is poetically sound and definitely needs to be added to the their Wook page, while their role in giving Rae Sloane the upper hand over Admiral Piett shows they know a great character when they see one.
Overall, From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back is an even better showing than the original, offering more memorable and unique characters/events, exploring the Saga as a whole in new lights, and providing tons of diversity in all its representation.
+ Consistency in quality
+ Cohesion between tales
+ Broader representation
+ Mynock redemption 😉
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no charge in order to provide a review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.