Defending George Lucas: Why you can't take away the credit for the original Star Wars

George Lucas directing Star Wars

Considering he's the creator of the most popular movies ever made, George Lucas takes a lot of crap.

I've criticised him myself, particularly for his refusal to release the unaltered versions of the original Star Wars.

But a lot of the criticism goes way too far, and it seems to me that some myths are taking hold on social media. So today, Episode Nothing finds itself defending George Lucas. 

The best books about the original Star Wars: a guide

George Lucas's own library. A comprehensive Star Wars collection would surely be as big

Last week, we looked at Craig Stevens' new book The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain, and I recommended it to anyone interested in the impact Star Wars had, in the UK or elsewhere.

But what other books belong on the shelves of anyone interested in the original Star Wars the first time around?

Here's the first part of a chronological list of those I'd recommend. Watch for longer reviews of some of them in due course.

Book review: The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain by Craig Stevens

The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain by Craig Stevens

You might think that when it comes to the release of the original Star Wars, there are no stories left untold.

Well, author Craig Stevens has found some.

His book The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain chronicles the release, merchandising and promotion of Star Wars in the country where it was made. And whether or not you were around in the UK in 1977-78, I think you're going to like it.

Interview: Craig Stevens, author of The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain

  

The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain by Craig Stevens

There's a great new book coming out about Star Wars mania in the UK. And I don't think you'll even have to be British to like it.

Today, Episode Nothing meets Craig Stevens, the author of The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain.

Star Wars Annual No. 1: The UK gets the Marvel comic in colour ... or color

The cover of Star Wars Annual no. 1 from 1978

Episode Nothing looks at the first Star Wars Annual, from 1978.  It was the book which gave UK fans behind the scenes features about the film, plus a taste of something Americans had already had – Marvel's Star Wars adaptation in colour. (Or, if you prefer, color.)

The Star Wars Bookshelf #3: The Star Wars Storybook

The front cover of The Star Wars Storybook

Every Star Wars fan remembers the novelization of the original film, credited to George Lucas but in fact written by Alan Dean Foster. But it was not the only version of the story on the bookshelves back then.

The Star Wars Bookshelf #2: Splinter of the Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster

"The further adventures":
The US edition of
Splinter of the Mind's Eye 

When a Star Wars spin-off novel called Splinter of the Mind’s Eye: From The Adventures of Luke Skywalker appeared in 1978, there were two significant facts which most of us didn’t know about it. 

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.