I am C-3PO

Now let's be honest, if Anthony Daniels narrates the audio version of this book, then that's the only way you should be consuming this title. So that's exactly what I did. Let's also make something else clear from the outset, this book is for Star Wars fans only. Non Star Wars fans are going to find very little of interest here. Of course by the very nature of Anthony's career, the vast majority of this book covers his role in the Star Wars franchise. This book mercifully contains very little of Anthony's pre Star Wars career, which is just as well, because let's be honest, who cares right?

We soon get to the part where Anthony meets George Lucas for the first time and lands the role of C-3PO. Then we hear about his initial fitting for the iconic shiny gold suit. Apparently the suit was extremely uncomfortable. Anthony moans about it - a lot.

The book then covers filming of Star Wars in England and Tunisia, from Anthony's perspective of course. A lot of the filming process seems to involve malfunctions with Anthony's suit and/or malfunctions with the mechanics of R2D2. It's clear at the time that none of the actors really knew what this thing they were filming was, or clearly how successful it would be. 

Anthony talks about his frustration at being left out of press events and interviews at the time. The focus, rightly or wrongly, was on Mark, Carrie and Harrison. This would thankfully be rectified in later years when Anthony began to be included in such events. 

The book goes on to tell of Anthony's time filming on The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. There are more stories of problems with the suit and of Anthony's poor visibility inside it. Anthony also talks of his time filming the dire prequels. Suffice to say he had about as much fun filming them as any of us did watching them. He goes on to to tell of happier times filming the three most recent films, not least of which was a more comfortably fitting suit. He talks of his admiration and respect for Carrie Fisher and his sadness at her untimely passing.

Now let's talk about what's not in this book. There's no dirt. More specifically, there's nothing on Anthony's relationship with a certain co-star. It's no secret that Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker couldn't stand each other. And that's putting it mildly. The book does mention their relationship, but it's quickly glossed over. Anthony basically says it's true that they didn't get on, he wished they had, but that he's not prepared to talk further on the subject. Well of course that's his right not to elaborate, but part of me was hoping there'd be a bit more on their turbulent relationship. What's also apparent from this book is that Mr Daniels isn't shy when it comes to singing his own praises - his ego is on the large side. But again I don't think that's much of a secret.

Despite its shortcomings this is definitely a book that all good Star Wars fans should read. Actually don't read it - get the audio book. Anthony's narration is very good. It's almost as if C-3PO is reading to you. And in places Anthony even delivers C-3PO's iconic lines from the films.

For the sake of completeness and to be as fair as I could, I did try and get hold of R2D2's audio book for comparison, but sadly this was removed from sale due to its explicit content.