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How Star Wars Conquered the Universe
- The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 20 hrs and 41 mins
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How Star Wars Conquered the Universe
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Summary
In 1973, a young filmmaker named George Lucas scribbled some notes for a far-fetched space-fantasy epic. More than 40 years and $37 billion later, Star Wars-related products outnumber human beings, a stormtrooper army spans the globe, and “Jediism” has become a religion in its own right. Lucas’s creation has grown into far more than a cinematic classic; it is, quite simply, one of the most lucrative, influential, and interactive franchises of all time. Yet until now the complete history of Star Wars - its influences and impact, the controversies it has spawned, its financial growth and long-term prospects - has never been told.
In How Star Wars Conquered the Universe, veteran journalist Chris Taylor traces the series from the difficult birth of the original film through its sequels, the franchise’s death and rebirth, the prequels, and the preparations for a new trilogy. Taylor provides portraits of the friends, writers, artists, producers, and marketers who labored behind the scenes to turn Lucas’s idea into a legend. He also jousts with modern-day Jedi, tinkers with droid builders, and gets inside Boba Fett’s helmet, all to find out how Star Wars has attracted and inspired so many fans for so long.
Since the first film’s release in 1977, Taylor shows, Star Wars has conquered our culture with a sense of lightness and exuberance, while remaining serious enough to influence politics around the world and spread a spirituality that appeals to religious groups and atheists alike. Controversial digital upgrades and critically savaged prequels have actually made the franchise stronger than ever. Now, with a new set of savvy bosses holding the reins and Episode VII on the horizon, it looks like Star Wars is just getting started.
An energetic, fast-moving account of this creative and commercial phenomenon, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe explains how a filmmaker’s fragile dream beat out a surprising number of rivals and gained a die-hard, multigenerational fan base - and why it will be galvanizing our imaginations and minting money for generations to come.
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Critic reviews
"Taylor brings a genuine love of pop and nerd culture to this comprehensive retrospective on one of the 20th century's most popular film series.... Taylor has compiled an impressive collection of background research and insider info that any fan would be glad to own." (Publishers Weekly)
"Taylor's fan-boy enthusiasm coupled with his inviting narrative style make this a fun and informative read for sf enthusiasts, media studies and marketing students, film industry professionals, and aspiring Jedi Knights." (Library Journal)
"It's impossible to imagine a Star Wars fan who wouldn't love this book.... It really is hard to imagine a book about Star Wars being any more comprehensive than this one. It's full of information and insight and analysis, and it's so engagingly written that it's a pure joy to read.... There are plenty of books about Star Wars, but very few of them are essential reading. This one goes directly to the top of the pile." (Booklist, starred review)
What listeners say about How Star Wars Conquered the Universe
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- lee
- 04-03-19
great book
Love this book , wished it would never end.
so informative into the Universe of star wars.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Napalmtheelf
- 26-06-19
Worth every minute
Over the last 42yrs I've listened to, read, and watched everything I could find about Star Wars.
Yet this book still had some surprises.
This book is a tale of one man's ambition to create his dream, regardless of the cost to other creators, collaborators, fans, his family and even his health.
Its also sadly, a story of the same man changing his mind, making it up as he went along, dumping on people, selling out and in my opinion, undermining his own vision. Like hippies at Woodstock who grow up to be rabid capitalists, he started off young, idealistic, ambitious, naive and independent, to grow up to be the figurehead of possibly the most litigious, controlling and capitalistic corporations on the planet. Well...i suppose that changed since Disney got its hands on the franchise.
This book isn't the chummy Empire of Dreams. It tells you alot more than you might want to know.
But its not just about history and the film making process, though its focus on this subject is extensive. It's also about how the films touched everyday people, and in many cases changed their lives and careers forever.
It's the personal stories I liked the most, because like so many millions, I have my own.
In 1977 I was in hospital with a burst appendix and sepsis. I was 10 and on my local children's ward for six weeks which to a 10 year old, is a lifetime.
When I was admitted, the ward had been open for 70 years, and I was the first child to that date, to be allowed to have personal decoration on the wall above their bed.
That decoration was the original Star Wars poster.
Hell, I should have been in this book!
Personally, this is the best book on Star Wars as, not only a franchise but a cultural phenomenon that I've ever come across.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dean
- 18-03-15
Wow wee......what a ride! & most enjoyable
Great insight of the universe that is star wars.....facts and fun aside a true learning experience thanks
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pete Roberts
- 19-06-16
Great Listen.
Thoroughly enjoyable and listen. Great narration. Thought I knew everything about Star Wars but was delighted to find out I didn't.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ben
- 21-03-16
Incredible story of how Star Wars came to be
The incredible story of how George Lucas came to father the greatest space saga ever and fight to forever change Hollywood's studio system in the process. This Audiobook also takes an in depth look at the legalities which plagued Lucas throughout his career and how he overcame to become the most successful independent film maker to date. The book also covers the making of Lucas early film projects, the original Star Wars trilogy, the prequels and a look at the fan community.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- K Bright
- 13-05-16
Absolute must for Star Wars fans
I downloaded this not expecting much. Most behind the scenes stories or histories of film making tend to be a bit dull. This was not dull.
Lots of hype, disappointment, and some unfriendliness are all highlighted in this story.
It is a fantastic listen with some cleaver voice interpretations of people along the way.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Sean Kerin
- 10-01-19
Great read for fans of the franchise!
well written and read. gives lost of background in an unbiased way. a great way to pass the time.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 19-02-18
Fantastic book.
The book is fantastic. Full of interesting facts, humour and heart. I've just finished this, and could easily listen to it again. The first chapter alone, about the author's hunt to find a single person entirely unaffected by Star Wars is worth the price of the book alone.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- allan roy
- 16-12-22
Great listen. Very interesting
I’ve been going deep into Star Wars expanded universe recently but I love the behind the scenes stuff and this basically looks behind the curtain of Lucas film from start to finish. Brilliant listen
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Mark M
- 29-11-14
The history of Star Wars in 20hrs! Great value for money
What did you like most about How Star Wars Conquered the Universe?
This unauthorised history of The Star Wars franchise and its creator George Lucas. Taylor's look at how Lucas rose to fame and in doing so created the greatest movie franchise in history comes across as more subjective than the authorised 'Making of..." books which in itself makes for an interesting read. The book covers everything from Lucas' formative years through both star wars trilogies, divorce and selling of franchise lock, stock to Disney.
What did you like best about this story?
The story covers alot of the motivation behind Lucas' decisions with historical referencing as well as accounts from friends, colleagues, cast & crew creates a varied and in-depth picture as the story unfolds. The novel gives alternative views and explanations compared to Lucasfilms own accounts and also takes alook at the whole of Fandom. Including the formation and motivation of fan groups such as the 501st, and the controversy behind the fans reactions to the release of the Star Wars prequels.
Which character – as performed by Nick Podehl – was your favourite?
Keeping in mind the books running time is 20hrs Podehl's narration keeps it interesting, at times adding extra emphasis and emotion into his delivery to get the authors (and contributors) thoughts across helps to get the intended tone of the prose across.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It was a very interesting listen and one i hope to revisit. Loads and loads of facts
Any additional comments?
This is the most up to date recount of Lucas, and Lucasfilm and an interesting look at all corners of the star wars franchise.
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1 person found this helpful