How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor
Also we talk about the books How Star Wars Conquered The Universe: The Past, Present, And Future Of A Multibillion Dollar Franchise, By Chris Taylor; you might not find the printed books below. Numerous compilations are provided in soft documents. It will precisely give you more perks. Why? The very first is that you may not have to bring guide almost everywhere by fulfilling the bag with this How Star Wars Conquered The Universe: The Past, Present, And Future Of A Multibillion Dollar Franchise, By Chris Taylor It is for guide remains in soft documents, so you can wait in gizmo. Then, you could open up the device almost everywhere as well as check out guide appropriately. Those are some couple of benefits that can be got. So, take all benefits of getting this soft file publication How Star Wars Conquered The Universe: The Past, Present, And Future Of A Multibillion Dollar Franchise, By Chris Taylor in this web site by downloading and install in link supplied.
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor
Best Ebook PDF Online How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor
In 1973, a young filmmaker named George Lucas scribbled some notes for a far-fetched space-fantasy epic. Some forty years and $37 billion later, Star Wars–related products outnumber human beings, a growing 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 incredibly, 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. Providing portraits of the friends, writers, artists, producers, and marketers who labored behind the scenes to turn Lucas’s idea into a legend, Taylor 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 in far-flung countries and spread a spirituality that appeals to religious groups and atheists alike. Controversial digital upgrades and poorly received prequels have actually made the franchise stronger than ever. Now, with a savvy new set of 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 young filmmaker’s fragile dream beat out a surprising number of rivals to gain a diehard, multigenerational fan base—and why it will be galvanizing our imaginations and minting money for generations to come.
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor - Amazon Sales Rank: #101011 in Books
- Published on: 2015-10-06
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.25" h x 1.28" w x 5.50" l, 1.59 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 512 pages
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor Review “An excellent look at the genesis of Star Wars.... The book is loaded with tidbits about the creation of the films, worth the price of admission alone…[Taylor’s] put together a volume that's honest and interesting — and one that's completely reignited my passion for Star Wars.”—io9“[A] tour de force.... Taylor's research is staggering, and even fans who believe they know all there is to know about the film franchise will find much to learn—and savor.”—Associated Press“An unconventional approach that serves to bring a spark of life that might otherwise go missing from a straightforward commercial or cinematic look at Star Wars.”—Washington Post“Chris Taylor’s expansive and entertaining study is welcome—and timely, arriving on the eve of the movie saga’s next chapter.”—Financial Times“Even obsessives will likely find much that's news to them ... worthy of being savored ... amusing ... reveals what a huge role serendipity played in Star Wars.”—New York Post“Delivers a payload of information… you will find intense emotions in its observations of a battle for autonomy within corporate cinema, and to the public that swoons for Lucas’ products.”—San Francisco Chronicle“Here, finally, is a book that, in its very title, separates the tough from the wusses when it comes to exactly the kind of pop-culture consumption, digestion, regurgitation and entrail-reading that behan with George Lucas’s space fairy tale. The amusingly hyperbolic (but serious) title, with its cheerily fevered (but serious) assumption of agreement with the premise and delightfully blinkered (but serious) conviction in the importance of the topic, distills everything one needs to know about the kind of insanely microresearched and breezily written book this is.”—New York Times Book Review“Exhaustive… [a] thorough account… those of us more casually in tune with the Force will find more than a few tasty nuggets.”—Wall Street Journal“Taylor...is one of a rare breed: the clear-eyed enthusiast who approaches the franchise with an unbeatable mixture of seriousness and levity, effervescence and scholarly rigour. Star Wars is unlikely to get a better book any time soon.”—New Statesman (UK)“How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is welcome as a comprehensive insight into the messy way big films are conceived—and with what blend of inspiration, improvisation, intensity, determination, compromise, error, and luck they are finally ejected into the void.”—Quadrapheme“At its heart, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is a love letter to a franchise that has become entrenched in contemporary culture in more ways than we could possibly count …A history of the Star Wars franchise packed with trivia and anecdotes that will delight any fan.”—Shelf Awareness for Readers“A fascinating study of pop culture, business and our need for myth.”-Huffington Post“An immensely readable look at the worldwide impact of the Star Wars saga over the decades.”—McClatchy“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)“A smart, engaging book…welcome reading for fans of Star Wars—or, for that matter, of THX 1138.”—Kirkus Reviews“[A] terrific new book…”—Huffington Post“This is a wildly entertaining book, and if it’s not the definitive history of the making of Star Wars, I don't know what is. But it’s more than that: it tells a rollicking good story about storytelling itself, about the intersection between art and commerce, and paints surely the most complete and deeply felt portrait of George Lucas to date.”—Dave Eggers, author of The Circle and A Hologram for the King“Chris Taylor's colorful biography of Star Wars, the franchise that shaped modern culture, is more than just a geek's delight. It is a creativity manual—and shows how the relationship between films and fans can stimulate innovation.”—Walter Isaacson, author of The Innovators: How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution and Steve Jobs“Smart. Eloquent. Definitive. This is the book you’re looking for.”—Lev Grossman, author of the New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy“It’s impossible to overstate the cultural, social and even political impact of Star Wars. It started as a balm for a people racked by moral confusion, a juvenile bolt hole for a nation with shattered self-esteem, but the blast wave of enthusiasm and love it inspired was to engulf the planet. Culturally speaking it is, quite simply, the Force. Chris Taylor’s affectionate and hugely entertaining book tracks the phenomenon from inception to dominance and with a wry smile, asks us to ‘look at the size of that thing!’”—Simon Pegg, actor and Star Wars fan“George Lucas didn't only create an iconic film franchise, but also a mind-virus that’s infected the imaginations of billions of people around the world. Chris Taylor delivers an exuberant forensic analysis of the phenomenon in How Star Wars Conquered the Universe—a must-read for any fan, film buff, or student of modern culture.”—Brad Stone, author of The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon“Every Star Wars fan should pick up a copy of How Star Wars Conquered the Universe.... Taylor’s extensive exploration of the history of Star Wars and the impact it has had on popular culture makes for an eye-opening and entertaining read… this book remains a necessary item for any bookshelf.”—The Wookiee Gunner“This is the best nonfiction Star Wars book I’ve read and it will appeal to more than just the Star Wars super fan.”—GeekyLibrary“Chris Taylor not only manages to put a fresh spin on an old story, but also takes readers on a memorable trip through the past, present, and future of Star Wars fandom.... I don’t know of any other book that takes such a comprehensive and in-depth look at fandom.”—Far Far Away Radio“Even if you’re a Star Wars savant, it’s a fun read.... Hell, give it to your friends and family who are casual fans – they’ll be sure to get a kick out of it as well.”—Clubjade.net“Chris Taylor’s How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is the definitive guide to the first forty years of the Star Wars galaxy. Part biography, part history, part fanboy gossip, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is an accessible, fun read for any lover of Star Wars.”—Ian Doescher, author of the William Shakespeare's Star Wars trilogy“Whether they read the novelization of the first Star Wars before the film came out, like me, or were blown away by Revenge of the Sith, anyone touched by the most enduring space fantasy mythology of the past two generations will thrill to Taylor's passionate telling of the saga behind the saga: How a lonely tinkerer from a backwater town changed the world via interplanetary heroism. To Star Wars obsessives and those wanting to understand modern pop culture: this is absolutely the book you are looking for.”—Brian Doherty, author of This Is Burning Man“Finally, fans get the full history! The Force is strong with Chris Taylor, who gives us enough stories and juicy details to impress even Darth Vader. This book belongs in every Star Wars collection.”—Bonnie Burton, author of The Star Wars Craft Book and You Can Draw: Star Wars
About the Author Chris Taylor is the deputy editor of Mashable, one of the world’s largest independent news websites. He has covered the intersection of business and culture for two decades as a writer and editor for Time, Business 2.0, Fortune Small Business, and Fast Company. He is a graduate of Merton College, Oxford and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Where to Download How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor
Most helpful customer reviews
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful. A wonderful, in-depth look at the Star Wars phenomena, its creator and fans By A Mayne When I first heard about Chris Taylor’s book, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe, I was hesitant to pick it up. After all, I’d read just about all the biographies on George Lucas I could find and considered myself an amateur expert on the history of the film franchise. Ever since my brother and I sat on the floor of the Portland Public library and watched a behind the scenes documentary on the making of the original movie, I was fascinated by the world building behind the movie that’s my earliest memory. What could this book possibly tell me I didn’t already know? It turns out, quite a lot.Taylor’s book opens up with a trip he took to a reservation where Star Wars is about to be screened for the very first time dubbed in the Navajo language. This is one small glimpse of the effort he’s gone to get the true story of the film franchise. Taylor doesn’t just reprint old answers to questions. He digs deeper, sometime uncomfortably pestering people – such as the case of Darth Vader actor David Prowse (now suffering from dementia) – in order to reconcile lingering questions about what really happened.Taylor painstakingly traces the evolution of Star Wars script in its many, many iterations; the earliest of which are barely recognizable. For aspiring writers or creators it’s worth reading the book for this alone. Seeing how truly bad the greatest narrative franchise could have been (and never reaching the screen), reinforces the fact that great works don’t come from sudden flashes of brilliance, but is an agonizing process of reiteration after iteration.Unlike Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs that felt like it was written by a very reluctant writer who never really understood his subject and glossed over pivotal points in his life because they didn’t fit the narrative he’d predetermined, Taylor’s story is genuine. While at the onset we know it’s about Star Wars, and really Lucas, our understanding of the man grows deeper as we follow the creation of his empire. Lucas’s strengths and flaws are on full display, but we come away loving him all the more for what he achieved. He’s not a mythic god that conjured up Star Wars at the snap of his fingers. As Taylor shows, when Lucas tried to capture that magic again, with his heart a less into it and without the enthusiastic help of his peers, we got the prequels.The story that unfolds isn’t just a play-by-play of how the films were made. Besides Lucas’s journey, Taylor reveals the cultural impact and tells the stories of fans who walked out of the theaters changed by what they’d seen. For example, we get an inside look of the 501st, one of the largest costumed organization in the world, that’s gone from being a lone man in a Stormtrooper suit to a global organization that’s been ambassadors for Lucasfilm and appeared in everything from car commercials to escorting their spiritual creator, George Lucas in parades. We meet R2D2 builder clubs and find out how a couple of fans found their way to working on the set of Episode 7.Taylor analyzes why Star Wars fandom is special. While Harry Potter devotees (such as myself) may feel the same way towards Hogwarts as our own alma maters, there’s something about that galaxy far, far away that draws us back again and again.He covers an impressive amount of ground in the Star Wars universe: Everything from the Alan Dean Foster Splinter in the Mind’s Eye novel in the 1970’s that could have been the movie we got in an alternate universe where Star Wars was a mediocre success, to the launch of the new Star Wars cartoon series, Rebels. Taylor digs up the fullest accounting of the Star Wars Holiday Special I’ve heard to date (It was originally conceived as a backdoor pilot for a television series!).I recommend this book with the utmost amount of enthusiasm. Even if you have no interest in the Star Wars, but consider yourself a creator, it’s a wonderful biography of one of the most successful filmmakers of all time with a detailed behind the scenes analysis. As a historical biography, it’s probably the most well-written, originally researched one I can recall. It’s one thing to dig up interviews from old copies of Starlog magazine, it’s another level of dedication entirely for an author to put on a Boba Fett suit and stroll through a convention and see the fan reaction firsthand.I’m excited to see what Chris Taylor writes next, even if it has nothing to do with wookies or galaxies far, far away.As a side note, I listened to the book on audiobook format wonderfully narrated by Nick Podehl.The small, small print…My one tiny note, and it’s a very minor one at that, is a chapter towards the end. Taylor mentions George Lucas’s wish that Star Wars would inspire a generation to want to explore space and claims that it fell short of that. While he explains NASA’s malaise of purpose, he overlooks the exciting things happening in the private space industry in conjunction with NASA. When Lucas expressed his hope that a young Star Wars fan would grow up to colonize Mars and “try to find a wookie,” I was expecting Taylor to mention SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk. Musk, is a huge Star Wars fan, not only has he expressed a desire to colonize Mars and dedicated his fortune to that purpose, the rocket he currently sends to resupply the International Space Station is called the Falcon, as in the Millenium Falcon. Think on this for a moment: Elon Musk is a privateer doing cargo runs with a ship called the Falcon. Two weeks from this writing, Musk plans to try to land the first stage of the Falcon on a barge, making it reusable. What does he call the four stabilizers that pop out for landing? X-Wings. You can’t find a greater example of fandom than a man naming his billion-dollar rocket fleet after the Millenium Falcon and developing X-Wings to make the dream of reusable spacecraft a reality. This is just a footnote I’d add to an amazing book.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful. a cathartic fan experience By Arnold I posted a review on the Far, Far Away Radio blog. Please check it out there. In the meantime, here are my conclusions:Ultimately, I found reading How Star Wars Conquered the Universe to be a cathartic look back on my own fandom. It helped me reflect critically on my relationship with Star Wars. Like many others, I remember seeing Star Wars for the first time; looking for action figures in the toy aisles; waiting on line for The Phantom Menace; reading about the sale to Disney; and mourning the cancellation of The Clone Wars. As much as I’ve enjoyed the roller coaster ride, I haven’t always liked the directions the franchise has taken. However, I’ve now come to accept that my fandom is simply a part of a much larger story. Star Wars is about more than the type of special effects, the continuity of the story, or even the merchandising. It’s about the experience of participating in a common mythology. Everybody has his or her own personal Star Wars experience; this is the first book I’ve read that tries to capture THE common Star Wars Experience. Definitely recommended.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Must read for any fan of film, culture, or Star Wars! By Dan Z I first became acquainted with How Star Wars Conquered The Universe when I heard Chris Taylor interviewed on the excellent Full of Sith. I was instantly struck with Taylor's passion, knowledge, and insight into the Star Wars universe, and found myself wanting to learn more about this book. Anyone who has paid any sort of attention to Star Wars knows that the trials and tribulations of George Lucas to get his space fantasy off the ground and into that zeitgeist of popular culture not so far away were every bit as exciting and chaotic as his protagonist, Luke Skywalker. Just as Star Wars delivered on a galactic scale, so to does How Star Wars Conquered The Universe. It is safe to say that not only is the book must read material for Star Wars fans, but it is an incredible amount of fun as well.Countless books have been published about Star Wars, whether it's the making of the film, schematics of particular Corellian vehicles, or legends of the characters we know and love. What sets How Star Wars Conquered The Universe apart from so many other tombs is the style in which the book is written. Part biography, part history, part cultural analysis, part narrative, part film sociological exploration of the impact of film, and all engaging; the book achieves all of these things in intellectual fashion, without being pedantic or stodgy. If I were designing a film curriculum, this book would be required reading on my syllabus.The opening section, "Introduction: A Navajo Hope", starts off with the story of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, translated into the Navajo language, and presented in Window Rock, Arizona. Even the staunchest cynic of the Star Wars phenomenon could not help but be enraptured by the way Taylor engages the reader with the tale. It is enchanting to see how Star Wars engages even Navajo audience in Arizona, but it is equally enthralling to experience Taylor's prose in crafting the tale, and subsequent chapters reveal similar writing prowess. Star Wars is forever, and it has never been better transcribed as such for audiences.The book also is a kind of road map to fandom as well, covering the rise of the 501st, the Droid Builders, fan website and bloggers, and any part of fandom that Star Wars has touched. As mentioned above, you really will learn all about how Star Wars conquered our universe, as the behind the scenes of how fandom has been impacted by George Lucas is incredible, even to longtime fans. There is much to be decimated, even if you have been following along from 1977. The behind the scenes on Albin Johnson, founder of the 501st were fascinating, as I had no idea as to where this wonderful organization started.In essence, Taylor provides context for so much of what make Star Wars tick, and what makes it ubiquitous for popular culture. Nowhere is this truer than in the telling of George Lucas' life. This could easily be subtitled 'The Biography of George Lucas', and was easily my favorite part of How Star Wars Conquered The Universe. His earliest influences, the near fatal car crash in his early life, making the films, his professional and personal struggles; it's all there. Absolutely riveting, and Taylor's prose keeps you engrossed all the way.It's also refreshingly honest. It takes a sincere look at the criticism of the Prequels, without resorting to mudslinging and name calling, and had me reflecting on the films in different ways. The same can be said for the Special Editions, and all of the topics still debated in fandom. Taylor makes his position known without presenting an agenda; it's an educated, informed opinion that challenges what you may think about each category. He never forgets to inject the right amount of charm either, which helps you to enjoy and to think, without taking yourself, or the topic, too seriously.Whether you are a newcomer, a Star Wars aficionado, or just someone who wants to learn about the cultural impact of film, How Star Wars Conquered The Universe is the book for you. I can say, with no reservation, that it is my favorite non-fiction Star Wars book that I have ever read. Each chapter could easily be a book unto itself, and in Taylor's capable hands, each would be a best seller unto itself. In addition to seeing new Star Wars films on the big screen, my new hope is that we will see much more from Taylor concerning Star Wars. This truly is the book you're looking for.5 out of 5Dan Zwww.coffeewithkenobi.com
See all 86 customer reviews...
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor PDF
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor iBooks
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor ePub
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor rtf
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor AZW
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor Kindle
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor
How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, by Chris Taylor
