William Shakespeare’s The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part The First
Hardcover | Kindle Edition
Written by Ian Doescher
Illustrations by Nicolas Delort
Inspired by George Lucas, William Shakespeare
Quirk Books
Release Date: April 7, 2015
Cover Price: $14.95

This month, just in time for The Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California, comes another Shakespearean parody of the Jedi variety. William Shakespeare’s The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part The First by Ian Doescher (with some help from George Lucas and William Shakespeare) merges Part I of the Star Wars saga with the language of Shakespeare.

Obi-Wan: I have a bad feeling about this, Master.
Qui-Gon: Yet sense I nothing. Wherefore art thou tense?
Obi-Wan: ‘Tis not about the mission – something else.
Elusive ’tis, aye, difficult to name.

We all know the story. A young slave boy is apprenticed by two Jedi knights, who believe he will fulfill the prophecy of restoring balance to the Force, amidst political machinations and a Sith rising. Sure, it was hard to remember that was the main idea, wading through Jar Jar and a little too much CGI, but it had classic Star Wars moments like “The Duel of the Fates” featuring Darth Maul (Ray Park) and his double lightsaber.

Enjoy this tale in iambic pentameter, for it has all the necessary aspects of any Shakespeare play – the betrayal, the hope, the tragedy. Even Jar Jar Binks sounds a little better in this language (although his lines are one syllable short than iambic pentameter on purpose).

Make sure you grab your copy and William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Trilogy Royal Imperial Boxed Set, which has William Shakespeare’s Star Wars, William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back, and William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return in one “fair” collection, so you can visit…

“In time so long ago, begins our play, in troubl’d galaxy far, far away.”

This book is necessary for any Star Wars fan’s collection.

Quirk Books Press Release:

O THREEPIO, THREEPIO, WHEREFORE ART THOU, THREEPIO?

Join us, good gentles, for a merry reimagining of Star Wars: episode 1 as only Shakespeare could have written it. The entire saga starts here, with a thrilling tale featuring a disguised queen, a young hero, and two fearless knights facing a hidden, vengeful enemy.

‘Tis a true Shakespearean drama, filled with sword fights, soliloquies, and doomed romance . . . all in glorious iambic pentameter and coupled with twenty gorgeous Elizabethan illustrations. Hold on to your midi-chlorians:”¨ The play’s the thing, wherein you’ll catch the rise of Anakin!