The Star Wars movie sequel we never got to see

[samurainoir]

http://www.looper.com/14433/star-wars-movie-sequel-never-got-see/

For me, this is a really compelling childhood memory of the Scholastic Book Club flyer that described Splinter of the Minds Eye as the story that was originally going to be the Star Wars sequel. I convinced my mom to let me order the book, and couldn't wait for it to arrive. It was likely one of the first "grown up" novels I ever read.

Of course this did kind of impact the way you viewed the Official Sequels. The sexual/romantic tension between Luke and Leia was made pretty explicit, which heightens the Ick factor of Return of the Jedi's revelations.

No Han or Chewie in this story, which was one thing that kind of surprised me.

and we finally got to see the Luke/Vader lightsaber fight that we were hoping to see in the original Star Wars film. and not in the unexpected manner it unfolded in Empire Strikes back.

[LonnieFisher]

I read that before Empire Strikes Back came out and that's why I didn't like the movie as much as I should have. It still bothers me because I was such a big fan. Changing it to be Luke and Lea and Vader all related was what ruined the series for me. I really liked the Mind's Eye story.

[The Bat]

Good book! Read that when I was a kid.

[phil]

I was in junior high when it came out and enjoyed it because it was a new Star Wars story. It was good but seemed kind of low key compared to the original film which back then was all we had. I was disappointed that Han and Chewbacca didn't apear since they were my favorite characters. Even then it was known that the story was proposed as a potential low budget sequel if the first film didn't do all that well. It could have made an interesting film but I doubt it would have lead to anymore. It's an interesting "what if" take on the Star Wars universe and definetly worth reading.

Looking back its interesting that it's Leia reaching for the light saber.

[Hedji]

We are lucky it didn't go that way. Splinter was written as a Television movie, with a low budget. That's why the jungle location was the extent of the planets they visit, and why there was no Han or Chewie.

I too am fond of the book, for the nostalgia of the early expansion of the SW universe, and of course the wonderful McQuarrie cover art, which fuels the, ahem, mind's eye.

[cjefferys]

Oh man, I loved that book, I bought it when it first came out and must have read it a billion times. It also introduced me to Alan Dean Foster, I read tons of his stuff, I especially liked his Star Trek adaptations of the animated series (the "Log Books") and his SF film adaptations (eg. Alien, Outland, etc.)

[Bruce Banner]

I too read it when it first came out. Still have my well worn old paperback copy on my bookshelf.

Foster also ghost-wrote the original Star Wars novelization for Lucas.

It was cool that they got him to write the novelization for The Force Awakens, too.

[acrovader]

We are lucky it didn't go that way. Splinter was written as a Television movie, with a low budget. That's why the jungle location was the extent of the planets they visit, and why there was no Han or Chewie.

I too am fond of the book, for the nostalgia of the early expansion of the SW universe, and of course the wonderful McQuarrie cover art, which fuels the, ahem, mind's eye.

Actually, I read somewhere, Lucas commissioned Alan Dean Foster to write a sequel to Star Wars (this was before 'A New Hope' was tacked on) that would eventually be made into a low-budget movie, reusing many of the same sets from the 1977 film. This was before Star Wars set the box office on fire. Thank heavens Star Wars was a smash hit, because we would've been saddled with this as the sequel instead of 'The Empire Strikes Back'. The rest is history.

[Hedji]

You are correct. But I have heard that it would perhaps have been considered for television also. Setting it in the jungles of Mimban meant they'd be able to re-use Yavin set elements for the ancient temples.

[huedell]

I convinced my mom to let me order the book, and couldn't wait for it to arrive. It was likely one of the first "grown up" novels I ever read.

I didn't read it until the 90's... when I was starved for SW stuff. I'm convinced I would've reveled in the book's story if I would've read it in 1978-9.

I've followed SOTME in SW fandom ever since. Seems to get a bad rap overall... and seems that many believe it's incompatible with what came later. I disagree.

In fact, I think this is one "EU" book that should've always been canon... pre and post Disney acquisition.

Of course this did kind of impact the way you viewed the Official Sequels. The sexual/romantic tension between Luke and Leia was made pretty explicit, which heightens the Ick factor of Return of the Jedi's revelations.

There seems to be a negative take on this (as well as the ESB "kiss"). I don't see it that way. The "ick" factor, in reality, aids in validating the "sibling" twist ... I mean, as a storyteller, what better way to mask the "there is another", "telepathy w/Leia", etc., etc. than a Luke/Leia/Han love triangle.... and interestingly enough SOTME thoroughly gives time to addressing the romantic tension/love triangle AND (albeit, like many things in the old SWU, unintentionally) it puts Leia up against Vader "Rey" style... decades before (i.e. no real Force training, beauty against the beast---who is a family relative to boot)

No Han or Chewie in this story, which was one thing that kind of surprised me.

I remember longing for a Han appearance, but, of course, now knowing what I know, Harrison Ford's attitude made it so that Lucas wasn't going to complicate things for himself... a good gamble that obviously would have paid off if Ford was successful but SW wasn't.

and we finally got to see the Luke/Vader lightsaber fight that we were hoping to see in the original Star Wars film. and not in the unexpected manner it unfolded in Empire Strikes back.

I was totally hopeful to see Luke battle Vader in SW... and, I, like Luke himself, was humbled with his lackluster saber battling in ESB (I've since grown to accept it!).

SOTME is ancient history in an alternate SW universe... but it'll always be canon to me.

[Nostalgiabuff]

you know, I have never read this book. weird since I read pretty much every other EU book that came out. I really need to go get this one and read it

[JRT!]

Or you could read the comic they did of this book. Think it was a four issue mini series from Dark Horse. The tpb should still be available. I read both,and they were both good reads.

J-R!

[samurainoir]

you know, I have never read this book. weird since I read pretty much every other EU book that came out. I really need to go get this one and read it

well to be fair, I don't think the proper EU really got going until Zahn's original Thrawn Trilogy, and then got ramped up by the time they did the multimedia push with Shadows of the Empire. Up until the big Star Wars revival of the 90's it was just Splinter of the Mind's eye, the three Han Solo books, and the Lando books.

[SKotK]

well to be fair, I don't think the proper EU really got going until Zahn's original Thrawn Trilogy, and then got ramped up by the time they did the multimedia push with Shadows of the Empire. Up until the big Star Wars revival of the 90's it was just Splinter of the Mind's eye, the three Han Solo books, and the Lando books.

Ah, but don't forget the Marvel comic line. And the newspaper strips. And the role-playing game. And...

New Official HS logo.jpg

Oh wait, that last one was canon.

--SKot

[apes3978]

IChanging it to be Luke and Lea and Vader all related was what ruined the series for me.

I never liked the way they did that either... It felt "tacked on", especially since there was nothing in the original "Star Wars" film that would even indicate that Vader was Luke's father: I suppose I can see why they did what they did with those two in "Empire", as a "cliff-hanger" of sorts but *to me* the whole Leia/Luke sibling thing really felt tacked on...