It was a peach of a shot, and there's no mistake. But what if, through no fault of his own, Luke Skywalker had failed to destroy the Death Star? Let's say the torpedos he fired exploded just shy of the reactor, and the damaged but functional battle station put an end to the Rebel Alliance once and for all?

A New Hope was the first in Dark Horse Comics' series of Star Wars Infinities tales that change one element of a familiar plot and let events develop from there.

So let's say Luke fled the Rebel base with Han Solo and Chewbacca aboard the Millennium Falcon believing himself to blame for the Empire's victory and the deaths of his friends. But Princess Leia, among others, was captured attempting to evacuate the Yavin moon, and with no hope of escape, she falls victim to all of the many tortures and brainwashing techniques that Darth Vader and the Emperor can devise. Sure enough, she ends up working for them -- and Luke, now fully trained by Yoda and armed with the truth of his heritage, must face them all.

Chris Warner has written an exciting what if version of the popular movie that started it all. With no more movies in the works to keep fans interested, it's ideas such as this that will help keep the Star Wars franchise strong.

by Tom Knapp
Rambles.NET
3 September 2005