Customer Reviews

Star Wars: The Magic of Myth

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book attempts to explain Star Wars in the context of patterns found throughout the mythology and legends of various cultures. The success of the film, the book claims, is due in no small part to the fact that the film's story is a composite of all the things that make mythical stories endure as myths.

To my suprise, however, I found the book to be an excellent commentary on mythology itself - the book is almost as informative in pointing out elements that repeat themselves in mythical stories - the concept of the "hero's journey" - with Luke being our hero - mystical forests as a place of healing (Degobah), etc, as it is in relating these elements to the story of Star Wars.

This book was written to accompany an exhibit of the same name at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC, and I was fortunate enough to see the exhibit on tour in San Diego last year. While the exhibit itself was amazing, and filled with various props and spaceship models used in the film, this book is actually more informative than the exhibit and stands exceedingly well on its own.

I love the Star Wars films, though I am certainly no hard-core Star Wars buff. I feel that just about anyone who, like me, loves these films will get a lot of enjoyment from this book.

If you love star wars, and would love to see it analyzed seriously, but without being to heavy and dry, this is perfect for you. It discusses the correlations between myth and Star Wars, influences from around the world, etc. Its facinating, and beautifully laid out.

I don't wish to repeat the words of others, but want to agree that it is an incredible book; that is not only fun to read as a Star Wars fan, but it is very informative and thought provoking. I truly learned a lot about mythology and its application in our world. Read it, and you will appreciate the genius of George Lucas.

This book is a must if you're making the trek to Washington for the exhibit. It gives you a better understanding of the movies and is packed with history. The colorful photos starting from the actual movies to World War II make it a spectacular piece. The book may also be better than the exhibit. (which I've seen twice.)

Yup . . . there's a good reason for why this book has a perfect rating thus far (at the time I write this). It's just a very very good book. Well written, insightful, colourful, compelling. The parallels it draws between the Star Wars universe and mythology are wonderful.

I saw the exhibit in Washington, DC TWICE! It was so cool to see all the real space ships near this vision of another galaxy far, far away. The book is the perfect narrative to the exhibit and it is the ANSWER to not being able to get there if you live in another part of the world.

The images, text, and layout of this book take you on a journey like none before. A MUST HAVE BOOK to complete your collection of great STAR WARS merchandise.

This is a great book! It traces the influences of all sorts of myths, from the Greek, Roman, Norse, African and Asian traditons, on the story of the Star Wars Trilogy. The book also explores other influences such as the movie westerns, Nazi Germany, and other science fiction classics.

The book is wonderfully illustrated not only with images from the great mythic stories of the past, but with photos of from the films and of costumes on display in the Smithsonian's exhibit. Also worthy of note are all the conceptual drawings, including an early drawing of a feminine looking See-Treepio and Chewbacca looking like an "eight-foot-tall savage-looking creature resembling a huge grey bushbaby monkey with fierce baboon-like fangs."

I have also scene the exhibit in Washington and it is worth the trip to see and this book serves as an excellent companion to it.

This book, a reference to the exhibit in the Smithsonian in DC, tells how the STAR WARS Trilogy was created and why it melds so perfectly on our minds. Written scientificly, it is another side of Star Wars.