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Star Wars

Alternate meaning: Strategic Defense Initiative Star Wars is the name of a science fantasy movie and literary franchise, based on the ideas of writer/director George Lucas, which consists of numerous prequels, sequels, and literary adaptations. The movies revolve around the transition between the Galactic Republic and the Galactic Empire, as well as the galactic civil war which erupts between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire in an epic struggle between good and evil. The story is set "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away." The phrase appears at the opening of every Star Wars novel, motion picture, and video game. Table of contents showTocToggle("show","hide") 1 Overview 2 Star Wars Movies 3 Star Wars Books 4 Star Wars Comic Books 5 Star Wars Characters 6 Star Wars Places 7 Star Wars Species & Races 8 Star Wars Organizations 9 Lists 10 See also 11 External links 12 References Overview The Star Wars story has been presented in a series of American movies, which have spawned dozens of books. The Star Wars mythos is also the basis of many toys and games. Though the films and books are set in outer space and employ common science fiction motifs, the plots are humanistic in nature. Star Wars is an outstanding example of the space opera sub-genre of science fiction. It has been noted that it is almost impossible in the United States to go for a full day without hearing some reference to Star Wars. This is a testament to the extraordinary popularity that the Star Wars films have enjoyed. (Only Star Trek has a comparable popularity in American popular culture.) However, whereas Star Trek takes a seemingly rational, scientific, enviornmentalic, preachy view to storytelling, Star Wars has a strong 'mythic' quality to it, with individual heroes and villains in the style of Campbellian myth. The strong human appeal of the Star Wars story probably accounts for its enduring popularity; it has also been postulated that this popularity is based on nostalgia. Many Star Wars fans first saw the films as children, and their (for the time) revolutionary special effects and simple, Manichean story made a profound impact. The Star Wars films show considerable similarity to Asian Wuxia "Kung Fu" films, as well as Roman mythology. Lucas has stated that his intention was to create in Star Wars a modern mythology, based on the studies of his friend Joseph Campbell. He has also called the first movie's incredible similarity to the film Hidden Fortress (Akira Kurosawa) an "homage." A notable feature of the Star Wars films is that they portray a world full of grime and technology that looks like it has been used for years, not the sleek, futuristic world typical of earlier science fiction films. In one of his many interviews on the making of Star Wars, Lucas told of rubbing the new props with dirt to make them look weatherworn. It is tempting to speculate that this break from traditional science fiction film influenced the cyberpunk genre that emerged around 1984. The Star Wars franchise goes beyond the five already released films. Bantam Books has for quite some time been publishing officially-sanctioned Star Wars novels. The novels are officially part of the Star Wars universe and they feature characters from the films, as well as others that are not from the films. The legacy of Star Wars is continued in this manner in between the releases of the films. Some fans consider the novels to have better stories than the films themselves. The original Star Wars (A New Hope) has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. In 1978 Lucas sued the creators of Battlestar Galactica for its alleged similarity to Star Wars. Star Wars Movies Listed in order of story time:
  • Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (19 May 1999)
  • Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (16 May 2002)
  • Star Wars Episode III (scheduled release 19 May 2005)
  • Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope original title was Star Wars; the first Star Wars movie to be released (25 May 1977)
  • Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (21 May 1980)
  • Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (25 May 1983)
  • Episodes IV - VI were re-released in remastered forms, with additional special effects, changes in some scenes and computer generated characters inserted. The changes met with mixed critical reaction, and a minor controversy remains over George Lucas' refusal to re-release the original 70s and 80s versions on DVD. However, the remastered versions are to be released on September 21, 2004. With the release of the prequels many minor elements of plot and character were changed from the first trilogy. Some of these elements were changed in the rereleases to become more consistent; others were not. The recurring leitmotif of the Star Wars Imperial March is one of the best known movie musical themes. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was filmed at Leavesden Film Studios in England. See also: Revisionism in Star Wars Star Wars Books The six Star Wars movies offer the basis for which dozens of books have been written. Many of the books have been officially authorized by LucasFilm, and are often published by Bantam Books. The stories told by these books extend from a time long before The Phantom Menace, to a time long after The Return of the Jedi. Books authorized by Lucas are written by fans of the films, and are part of a collection known as Expanded Universe. The Expanded Universe has been making its way through a revolution as of late in the New Jedi Order (NJO) series, which recently was wrapped up in The Unifying Force. The NJO has told the story of the galaxy's horrific invasion by the extragalactic Yuuzhan Vong, and has seen the passing of many heroes, such as Chewbacca and Anakin Solo. Other books include such titles as The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide, which detail things about the Star Wars universe, and the films, in a "non-fiction" style. Star Wars Comic Books Comic book adaptations have been created for each of the movies, and other comic books and series of comics have been written detailing events not contained in the movies. See also: Star Wars Comic Books Star Wars Characters See also: List of Star Wars characters for a more extensive listing Anakin Skywalker  | Boba Fett  | C-3PO  | Chewbacca  | Darth Maul  | Darth Sidious  | Darth Vader  | Han Solo  | Jabba the Hutt  | Jango Fett  | Jar Jar Binks  | Lando Calrissian  | Luke Skywalker  | Obi-Wan Kenobi  | Padme Amidala  | Palpatine  | Princess Leia  | R2-D2  | Yoda Star Wars Places Alderaan  | Bespin  | Corellia  | Coruscant  | Dagobah  | Endor  | Hoth  | Naboo  | Tatooine  | Yavin 4 Star Wars Species & Races Abyssin | Adarian | Anx | Aqualish | Arcona | Barada | Bimm | Bith | Bothan | Celegian | Chiss | Clawdite | Coway | Dashade| Defel | Droid | Dug | Duros | Elom | Ewok | Falleen | Gamorrean| Geonosian | Givin | Gotal | Gran | Gungan | H'nemthe | Humans, (Stormtroopers) | Hutt | Ishi Tib | Ithorian | Jawa | Kaminoan | Klatooinian | Mimbanite | Mon Calamari | Myneyrsh | Neimoidian | Nikto | Noghri | Paonidd | Psadan | Quarren | Rodian | Saffa | Selonian | Snivvian | Squib | Sullustan | Thennqora | Toydarian | Tusken Raider | Twi'lek | Ugnaught | Vaathkree | Wampas | Weequay | Whiphid | Wookiee | Wraith | Yuuzhan Vong | Yuzzumi | Star Wars Organizations Galactic Republic  | Galactic Empire  | Confederacy of Independent Systems | Kuat Drive Yards  | Jedi  | Rebel Alliance  | New Republic  | New Republic Senate  | Sienar Fleet Systems  | Sith  | Trade Federation Lists See also External links References

    The above article is adapted from from Wikipedia All Wikipedia article text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License




    Survivor's Quest (Star Wars) by TIMOTHY ZAHN

    The Unifying Force (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 19) by JAMES LUCENO

    The Final Prophecy (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 18) by Greg Keyes

    Last Stand on Jabim (Star Wars: Clone Wars, Vol. 3) by Haden Blackman

    Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Prima's Official Strategy Guide by David S. J. Hodgson

    Revised Core Rulebook (Star Wars Roleplaying Game) by Bill Slavicsek

    Shatterpoint: A Clone Wars Novel (Star Wars) by MATTHEW WOODRING STOVER

    The War of Souls Trilogy Gift Set: Dragons of a Fallen Sun, Dragons of a Lost Star, Dragons of a Vanished Moon (Dragonlance Series) by Margaret Weis

    Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 12) by Aaron Allston

    Traitor (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 13) by Matthew Woodring Stover

    Force Heretic III: Reunion (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 17) by Sean Williams

    Force Heretic II: Refugee (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 16) by Shane Dix

    A New Threat (Star Wars: Boba Fett) by Elizabeth Hand

    Victories and Sacrifices (Star Wars: Clone Wars, Vol. 2) by Haden Blackman

    Ylesia (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order) by Ballantine


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    Note again ... some material here is adapted from from Wikipedia All Wikipedia article text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

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