This just in from Del Rey:

DEL REY TO OFFER FREE TWO-WEEK DOWNLOAD OF FIRST BOOK IN STAR WARS™: LEGACY OF THE FORCE

As a special gift to STAR WARS fans, Del Rey will be offering Book One in the series, STAR WARS: LEGACY OF THE FORCE: BETRAYAL, as a free downloadable PDF, audio book, and eBook. This promotional offer will run for two weeks, from 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, until midnight on Tuesday, May 13. The free download, which can be shared, e-mailed or printed, will be available on www.legacyoftheforce.com.

A New York Times bestselling series, LEGACY OF THE FORCE introduces readers to a new era in the STAR WARS universe and features the beloved characters from the original trilogy, answering the questions of what happened to Han, Luke and Leia after the conclusion of STAR WARS: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.

Book Nine, the final book in the series, STAR WARS: LEGACY OF THE FORCE: INVINCIBLE, will go on sale as a Del Rey hardcover on May 13. Book Eight, REVELATION, reached the #1 spot on The New York Times paperback bestseller list.

Del Rey has partnered with booksellers to provide the free download. A1Books.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Booksense.com, Borders.com, Deepdiscount.com, the eBook Store from Sony, Overstock.com, and Powells.com are making the file available to their customers.

“This giveaway is a great way to introduce the legions of Star Wars fans to our books,” commented Christine Cabello, Deputy Director of Marketing at the Random House Publishing Group, who oversaw the execution of this initiative. “We also expect that it will build awareness and excitement for the on-sale date of the final book in the series, INVINCIBLE.”

Del Rey will be supporting the free download with a major online marketing campaign including an announcement in the STAR WARS e-newsletter, promotion on StarWars.com, and banner advertising.

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UPDATE: Shane writes in to let us know that Hyperspace members can get this download, as a PDF only, from the Hyperspace Fanclub Kit online.