Writing Star Wars: "The story of Mace Windy"

The opening of George Lucas's handwritten
"idea fragment" that became Star Wars

"This is the story of Mace Windy [sic], a reviered [sic] Jedi-bendu of Ophuchi,as related to us by CJ Thorpe, padawaan learner to the famed Jedi."

George Lucas actually wrote that sentence. 

Wars-weary: The production of Star Wars and how George Lucas's stress made for a great movie

How not to dress for a heatwave:
Chewbacca's fur is combed on
the set of Star Wars

Here in the UK, we've been experiencing a heatwave. Or at least, what passes for one in Britain. So what better time to reflect on the summer of 1976, when Britain was sweltering in the most famous heatwave of modern times – and a young film director was struggling to make a science fiction movie.

Perfect finish – the final scenes of Star Wars

The Rebellion lines up all the troops – including 
a few strangely lifeless ones to make up 
the numbers – as it salutes the heroes

One of the blogs I most enjoy is John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV. John recently ran a list of his Top 10 Science Fiction Movie Endings and invited readers to submit their own lists.

The Star Wars Bookshelf # 1: Star Wars – From The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, the novelization by George Lucas/Alan Dean Foster

The US paperback of the Star Wars novelization, which introduces
"The year's  best movie"

For half a million people in the US, the plot of Star Wars contained few surprises when the film came out in 1977 – ­ because they already knew it as a novel.

The release of Star Wars: You never forget your first time

At last: Ads like this announced the long-awaited 
opening of Star Wars in the UK regions

I don't suppose anyone has ever forgotten the first time they saw Star Wars.

Life before Star Wars. There really was one.

Jimmy Carter, Sonny & Cher, Frost/Nixon, Annie Hall, Laverne and Shirley: America at 
the time Star Wars was released in 1977

A few facts about the world into which Star Wars arrived in 1977.

Just what the internet needs – another Star Wars blog

Star Wars before it was Episode IV: the original opening crawl

Yes, this is another blog about Star Wars.

But it's about Star Wars the film, not the franchise.

Specifically, it's about the original film as it was in 1977, before it was Episode IV of anything. These were the days when it was just – as the early trailers put it – "the story of a boy,a girl and a universe".