Description
Debates on the authenticity of the Star Wars franchise and the hero-or-villain status of George Lucas are at the heart of these essays by bestselling science-fiction authors. The incredible popularity of the movies has led to the formation of strong emotions within the science fiction community on the strengths and flaws of the film, exemplified here by David Brin’s attacks and Matthew Woodring Stover’s defense of the movies. This intense examination of the epic works addresses a broad range of issues—from politics, religion and the saga’s overall logic to the impact of the series on bookshelf space as well as science-fiction film. The question “Is George Lucas a hero for bringing science fiction to a mass audience or a villain who doesn’t understand the genre he’s working for?” is discussed before a final “Judge’s Verdict” on the greatness—or weakness— of the franchise is reached. Contributors include:
- Lou Anders
- Bruce Bethke
- Jeanne Cavelos
- Don DeBrandt
- Keith DeCandido
- Richard Garfinkle
- John Hemry
- Tanya Huff
- Scott Lynch
- Nick Mamatas
- Bob Metzger
- Adam Roberts
- Kristine Katherine Rusch
- Laura Resnick
- Bill Spangler
- Karen Traviss
- Ken Wharton
- John C. Wright
About the Authors
David Brin’s bestselling SF novels have won Hugo, Nebula and other awards and have been translated into 20 languages. His 1989 thriller
Earth foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and the Web. A 1998 movie was loosely adapted from his Campbell Award winner
The Postman, while
Foundation’s Triumph brought a grand finale to Isaac Asimov’s famed Foundation universe.
Kiln People portrays people using “home copiers” to be in two places at once. David’s nonfiction book
The Transparent Society deals with openness, security and liberty in the future; it won the Freedom of Speech Award of the American Library Association. After decades of intensive textual analysis, literary historians have finally reached a consensus that
Heroes Die,
Blade of Tyshalle,
Caine Black Knife, the Barra & Co. novels,
Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Traitor,
Star Wars: Shatterpoint and
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith were in fact not written by Matthew Woodring Stover at all, but by another man of the same name.
