Star Wars: Review: How to Speak Droid with R2-D2

By Urma Droid

Chronicle Books, out now

An invaluable guide to understanding your R2 unit.

If you’re one of those people who need to know whether your R2 unit is telling you it’s all clear, or that pressing the button next to you will cause the Death Star to explode, then this is the book for you. If you’re one of the people who’d like to be among that first select group, then you’ll enjoy this too.

Provided complete with a selection of 10 sounds that a mini R2 plays for you, this compact book has some wonderful illustrations from JAKe (sic), which start with a caricature of Leia and R2-D2, but then become progressively more imaginative. If you’ve wondered how a private eye version of Yoda, or a housekeeping Wookiee might look, then wonder no longer – all will be revealed.

Although the primary market will be the younger audience, adults will enjoy many of the alternate phrases which are provided, although they may want to find a way to “replace” the batteries in the speaking R2 before too long!

Verdict: A fun novelty Star Wars item which should feature in a number of Christmas stockings. 7/10

Paul Simpson