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Shakespeare will meet Star Wars again in Ian Doescher's 'The Empire Striketh Back'

Doescher tells the famous sci-fi tales in iambic pentameter in his book series.

'The Empire Striketh Back' will be released this March.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

The Force will soon be with Shakespeare – again.

Writer Ian Doescher released the book “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope” this past summer through Quirk Books, the publisher also behind such works as “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” The book was licensed by Lucasfilm, the production company founded by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas.

As one can guess from the title, “Shakespeare” featured Doescher’s interpretation of the classic sci-fi story told in Shakespearean language. After the book sold well (it landed at number five on IndieBound’s Hardcover Fiction bestseller list for the week of Aug. 29 this summer), Doescher is following up with “William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back,” based on what many fans consider to be the best “Star Wars” film. “Striketh” will be released this March. A third installment based on the third movie, “Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return,” already has a publication date for this July.

“I do think any modern storyteller is influenced by the stories we all grow up with and become familiar with, our shared cultural narratives,” Doescher said, according to Quirk Books. “Shakespeare’s plays are a part of that tradition, so George Lucas was probably influenced at least somewhat by Shakespeare, as well as Twain, Dickens, Melville, etc.”

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