The Starbird Files

This morning the moment we’ve all been waiting for finally arrived, and I have to say straight out of the gate that I absolutely loved it, and having Ewan McGregor back is really special. Getting into the episodes, I would have liked more sad Kenobi, but what we got hit hard so I’m pleased, and I think we’ll gradually get more throughout the series. Ben has restricted his use of the force in order to hide and fulfil his duty and see him fighting his urge to help repeatedly. We see him try to commune with Qui-Gon several times but he is unlikely to succeed in his present state not fully connected to the force and he strains to save Leia, as if using a muscle he has long neglected. But perhaps as the series progresses and he uses the force more, reconnecting, he will eventually see his old master. I saw several people (including Star Wars Sessions) suggesting that Leia being in danger would be what got him to leave Tatooine and Luke, but I have to admit I did not think this would happen,...

The Star Wars Archives 1977-83 by Paul Duncan (Taschen) Like me you may have had book envy over The Star Wars Archives 1977-83 since it’s release in 2018 but not been able to justify the cost. So imagine my delight when I stumbled across this smaller version in my local bookshop when we came out of lockdown. The Taschen 40th Anniversary edition was published in February this year and costs just twenty pounds, but how does it compare to the original XL version? Where the original is 33 x 48cm and 620 pages, this new edition is 22 x 16cm and 512 pages, so what is missing I hear you cry? Well according Paul Duncan himself, the opening chapter about George Lucas early life has been condensed and added to the Episode IV chapter, some appendices were removed and there are only around 500 images compared to 1,200 in the original.  I say only, but the number and breadth of color plates is stunning, from Ralph McQuarrie concept art and design sketches by the costume and prop departments...