Suvudu Universe

How Star Wars Conquered the Universe . Chris Taylor. September 30, 2014. Basic Books. 488 pages. [Source: Review copy]

The Star Wars fandom is a worldwide community with various backgrounds and even more varying degrees of devotion and enthusiasm. There is a mixture of casual fans and fans who absorb Star Wars every second of every minute of every day. Whether you’re tuning in every once in a while or staying on top of the news at every moment, every Star Wars fan should pick up a copy of How Star Wars Conquered the Universe by Deputy Editor at Mashable Chris Taylor. To be honest, my knowledge of Star Wars barely scratches the surface. I care more for the characters, worldbuilding, and mythology than I do for behind-the-scene trivial facts. I’ve never been one to dig deeper and discover more about the movies. However, Taylor’s extensive exploration of the history of Star Wars and the impact it has had on popular culture makes for an eye-opening and entertaining read. Throughout the book, he also captures how the films have influenced the lives of various individuals, including Albin Johnson, the creator of the philanthropic 501st Legion.

Fans of the Making of Star Wars book series by J.W. Rinzler will also appreciate the in-depth research conducted by Taylor. Though detailed and seemingly overwhelming, the information presented is weaved into a very approachable and readable narrative. Since Star Wars is nearly 40 years old, I genuinely expected the book to be longer, especially after turning the last page in my desire to learn more. For me, every page contained with it a fascinating fact that expanded my growing knowledge of my beloved franchise. The chapter I enjoyed the most, “The First Reel,” not only captured the excitement and giddiness I first felt after watching the film on television, but it also painted the world as it was during the film’s first reel. Personally, I vividly remember sitting on the floor in front of the television set and being completely fascinated by what I saw. Having read this chapter, I now fully understand the creative processes and thoughts surrounding that point in time.

As we enter this new era of Star Wars, I found that the book portrayed a realistic future for the franchise. Unfortunately, the fandom is full of naysayers and people willing to deface Star Wars in order to make their opinions and sentiments known, but I continue to have faith in Lucasfilm, its new owner, and the creative decisions currently being made. Taylor calls December 18, 2015, the release date for Star Wars: Episode VII, a “glorious and terrifying day.” It’s an accurate description because the future for Star Wars has never felt more uncertain and secure at the same time–if that makes any sense. To close, for those looking to catch up with the history of cinema’s most iconic film franchise, this book will do the job adequately, touching on the topics old and new and the influences they’ve had on the population. Though the narrative felt slightly jumbled at times, this book remains a necessary item for any bookshelf.

How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is currently available online and at your local bookstores.