Title: A Galaxy Not So Far Away: Writers and Artists on Twenty-five Years of Star Wars
Editor: Glenn Kenny
ISBN: 0-8050-7074-5
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, LLC
Copyright: 2002
Reviewed by Reihla.
Browsing the rather sparse collection of Star Wars-related literature at my local bookstore I happened across A Galaxy Not So Far Away, a series of essays put together by Premier magazine editor Glenn Kenny. I scanned the book and stumbled onto “Becoming Darth Vader” by Lydia Millet. Clearly Ms. Millet shared my belief that Star Wars saved Hollywood from immersing itself in stark realism and brought fun back to the theaters. She even acknowledged that it heralded the return of hope to a then-hopeless American culture. When she went on to label Darth Vader a poised, elegant aristocrat who served as a metaphor for the loss of humanity I was hooked. I had to see what the other 15 novelists, journalists, filmmakers, and critics had to say.
Of the reminiscences chronicled in this book, some are positive, some are openly negative. Others, the majority, fall into a range between the two extremes. A few bear a striking resemblance to a meeting of “Star Wars Fans Anonymous” complete with rambling personal explorations of the author’s first encounter with Star Wars. As an avid fan I heartily enjoyed the more positive essays, but I have to admit that I also found the negative essays surprisingly thought-provoking. As with any anthology, I considered a few works to be gems and an equal number to possess few, if any, redeeming qualities. It is worth noting that often the language and themes are mature and definitely not geared towards the younger audience.
Aside from Ms. Millet’s essay other excellent selections are: Jonathan Lethem’s poignant description of seeing Star Wars twenty-one times the summer his mother was dying of cancer, Todd Hanson’s startlingly funny and unexpected defense of The Phantom Menace, and Erika Krouse’s discussion of the Jedi code in relation to her own exploration of martial arts. More often than not, the writers deliver fond personal recollections and comparisons that most Star Wars fans can identify with. On a more general note, they all give a clearer understanding of the way Star Wars has affected our culture. The best work by far in this regard was self-proclaimed “media assassin” Harry Allen’s inference that hip-hop in its present form might not exist if it weren’t for Star Wars.
I won’t call this “a book no Star Wars fan should miss” because, frankly, it isn’t for everyone. All of these writers are pop culture enthusiasts and many are professional critics. They don’t always take the safe and easy road to say what they want to say and aren’t afraid to offend in order to get their point across. Still, if you happen to be fond of exploring the way Star Wars films have altered our society’s views on entertainment, art and culture, I’d say this book is for you.
