cover image Star Wars FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Trilogy That Changed the Movies

Star Wars FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Trilogy That Changed the Movies

Mark Clark. Applause, $24.99 (402p) ISBN 978-1-4803-6018-1

Clark, author of two previous books in the FAQ series, both about Star Trek, falls short in this attempt to write a definitive resource on the original Star Wars trilogy. He takes readers from George Lucas's original influences%E2%80%94mythology and sci-fi serials, mainly%E2%80%94to the conception, production, and reception of the films, all the way to merchandising, parodies, and knock-offs. The intent is to create a one-stop shop for original trilogy trivia, saving fans the trouble of consulting multiple texts. Indeed, there is an incredible amount of information here. However, the book seems to have been rushed out the door too quickly in order to precede the forthcoming Star Wars movie. The prose is clunky and dotted with typos. Clark misspells character names, loses track of Star Wars lingo, and even gets some basic facts wrong%E2%80%94one actor's listed age is off by 16 years. There are also some unnecessarily mean-spirited comments; a remark about Carrie Fisher's drug addiction is particularly flippant. That said, the book is packed to overflowing with all things Star Wars, and for some dedicated fans, that will be enough. (Aug.)