A Galaxy Not So Far Away: Writers and Artists on Twenty-five Years of Star Wars

A Galaxy Not So Far Away is a collection of essays that set out to seriously explore the vast landscape of the Star Wars cultural phenomenon. Premiere magazine editor Glenn Kenny has complied 18 well-crafted pieces from a wide array of pop culture aficionados, including ribald filmmaker Kevin Smith and Onion satirist Todd Hanson.

The pieces range from serious scholarship to self-deprecating geek confessionals. Some--such as "Pale Starship, Pale Rider: The Ambiguous Appeal of Boba Fett" by Tom Bissell--tend toward the esoteric minutiae of fandom, and are sure to please the rabid devotee. But most are kindly universal and range far beyond the spacey subject matter into more human territory. Thankfully, most of the writers don't take themselves too seriously as they make the jump to hyperspace. Thus, the collection is a pleasure to read and an interesting foray into the passionate media culture surrounding the Star Wars universe. Overall, an excellent intellectual exercise for anyone who has ever found escape in a galaxy far, far away. --Jeremy Pugh