Star Wars, as Written by Shakespeare

The best part about being assigned Romeo and Juliet in 9th grade was the teacher showing us Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film adaptation of the classic work by William Shakespeare. Oohing and aahing over the comely cast (and their surprisingly revealing attire) was much more fun than poring over a play that took twice as long to read because of the unfamiliar way in which it was written. But what if Shakespeare had written the play about Star Wars instead of star-crossed lovers?
 

That is precisely what Ian Doescher has imagined. The Portland, Oregon-based author has completely rewritten the Star Wars saga in the stylistic manner of the Bard. The results are not only amazing enough to cause Star Wars fans to geek out, but the book was written cleverly enough to rise to the level of literary parody. Here is a sample of Doescher's masterful reinterpretation:

The incredible Elizabethan illustrations by Paris, France-based artist Nicolas Delort enhance what is already a spectacular book. 

William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher was released just last month by Quirk Books. With 170-plus pages of verse-spouting Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and the other now-iconic characters in George Lucas's series, this is the Shakespeare I wish I was assigned in high school.

Above images from Quirk Books

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10 Best Fictional Libraries in Pop Culture

Many of pop culture's most memorable moments have taken place in libraries. Although these libraries tend to be fictional, they still feed the imaginations of fans of Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and more.

The mighty Jedi Temple Library.
Image via http://flavorwire.com

Ten of the best fictional libraries in popular culture were listed by Flavorwire. Among them is the Jedi Temple Library, which fans of Stars Wars know of from reading the spin-off novels based on the popular film series.

The Jedi Temple Library is a circular structure that holds a wealth of Jedi wisdom within its vast halls. Located near the main floor of the Jedi Archives of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the library is a destination for Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and others of the Jedi Order seeking knowledge.*

Another unforgettable library in pop culture is the one in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Perched perfectly atop a Hellmouth, a portal for supernatural activity, the Sunnydale High School Library is a crucial resource for Buffy and her vampire- and demon-slaying friends. It's staffed by the indispensable Giles, the librarian who supplies the texts - and the weapons - that they need.

Other fictional libraries mentioned in the Flavorwire article are Lucien's library in Neil Gaiman's Sandman, the Hogwarts Library from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, The Library in Doctor Who, and of course, the Beast's library from the Beauty and the Beast animated film.

To see all 10 fictional libraries - with pictures - go to the Flavorwire post HERE.

* A nod to Wookieepedia, the Star Wars Wiki.