The Audio Experience
There are two times of stories available in audio. The most common is the novelizations. These may or may not be abridged. The second type is the audio drama. These are modern versions of the old radio serials, complete stories with different actors for different character voices and sound effects.
The Audio Novelizations
These may or may not be abridged and are read by one actor. The early Bantam book versions were okay, but the sound effects were vastly improved in the Del Rey versions. The latter also had less or better done abridgement. Not all books are available in audio format, although the movie novelizations available. The original trilogy novelizations have sometimes been confused with the Radio Drama versions.
Star Wars The Clone Wars, Wild Space
by Karen Miller,
Audio Book Sample.
The Audio Dramas
These began with National Public Radio's version of Star Wars, before Episode IV A New Hope was added to the title. Not only did they dramatize the movie with a wide selection of voice actors and sound effects, they added to it. They took a two plus hour movie and turned it into thirteen hours. They continued the tradition with The Empire Strikes Back. After a long gap, they finally finished Return of the Jedi. Since then, only Dark Horse, the comic and graphic novel publisher has continued. They dramatized some favorite book graphic novels into the format. Unfortunately, not all of these series were finished either.
- Star Wars
- The Empire Strikes Back
- Return of the Jedi
- Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic
- Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith
- Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire
- Dark Forces: Rebel Agent
- Dark Forces: Jedi Knight
Star Wars Movie Dramas include:
- The first adventure involving Bail Organa. Leia and he seek information from an Imperial officer and trouble ensues.
Luke's flight through Beggar's Canyon, as well as the missing scenes with Biggs Darklighter, the friend who joined the rebels.
Alternate scene where Luke first encounters Biggs when he first joins the pilots, as well as meets his new commander.
The first hints on Han Solo's past.
Extended scenes on Luke's rescue by Han on Hoth.
Luke creating his new lightsaber.
Star Wars Tales of the Jedi Sample
Treats and Tidbits
- Brian Daley, author of The Han Solo Adventures, adapted the movies to radio. He died of cancer on completion of Return of the Jedi.
The movie Radio version featured many actors: including Anthony Daniels (C3PO) in all of them and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) in the first two.
The Tales of the Jedi series had three graphic novels. Unfortunately only two were turned into audio dramas.
Dark Forces was a series of novellas based on the popular video game featuring Kyle Katarn. Their are subtle differences between the books and audio drama versions.
Heir to the Empire and the rest of the Thrawn trilogy Audio Books by Timothy Zahn are read by : Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles) and Anthony Daniels (C3PO)
The Star Wars Audio Dramas are published by Highbridge Audio.