n this sequel to Star Wars: The Original Radio Drama, Luke Skywalker (Hamill) and the Rebel Alliance have set up a secret base on the ice planet Hoth. Desperate to get his hands on Luke, the emperor's evil right hand Darth Vader (Brock Peters) has commanded his fleet to find the rebels at all costs. To that end they have dispatched thousands of imperial probe droids to all quadrants of the galaxy.
Meanwhile, smuggler Han Solo (Perry King), helps the rebels while waiting for his ship to be repaired. Han is torn between his growing love for the rebel leader Princess Leia (Ann Sachs) and the need to pay off a crime lord who has put a bounty on his head. Like any good smuggler, Han decides to look out for his own self interests, but his leave-taking is cut short. Luke hasn't returned from his last mission on the surface of Hoth, and Han is the only one willing to go out and find him.
After barely escaping the clutches of a deadly Wampa ice creature, Luke has become stranded on the ice plains of Hoth. With night closing in Luke sees a vision of his old friend and teacher, Obi Wan Kenobi (Bernard Behrens), who was killed by Vader. Obi Wan tells Luke to travel to an uncharted planet and seek out a Jedi Master named Yoda (John Lithgow) to complete his training. But before that can happen he must find some way back to the rebel base, then fend off a surprise attack by the Empire. And that's just the beginning...
From the big screen to the short wave
SF Author Brian Daley, who scripted all three of the Star Wars radio dramas for National Public Radio, stays close to home in this second installment of George Lucas's famous trilogy. In Star Wars he added many scenes and characters to flesh out the considerably shorter plot Lucas had written for the silver screen. Here he still works to extend Lucas's efforts, but he seems content to embroider the original material rather than add new cloth of his own. The result is a considerably richer tapestry that allows the original work to shine through but still gives Daley room to iron out the wrinkles left by Empire's breakneck pace.
The actors, too, seem content to work with the molds Lucas created rather than trying to remake their characters. Both Sachs and King, who struggled to find their voices in the first radio drama, have settled in nicely. And not enough kind words can be written about John Lithgow's performance of Yoda. The only sour note in the cast is Brock Peters, who is clearly taking his role as the Dark Lord of the Sith a bit too seriously.
Peters aside, this is an outstanding radio adaptation, especially considering that the original movie relied heavily on special effects to wow its audience. As with the first adaptation, the music and sound effects in Empire are unparalleled, striking a high note from the outset that is sustained until the end. Taken together this is a breathtaking piece of work, and it's difficult to imagine how the producers will maintain such high quality through the final installment.
