"If you love (or maybe even hate) Star Wars and like to think beyond simply what is painted on screen, this is a good book for you. You'll certainly not look at the movies in the same way again." — Amazon.com review
Benbella Books, 2006 & 2015
Scroll down to purchase STAR WARS ON TRIAL.
film & media queries
Vince Gerardis
Created-By Agency
email: rightsqueries@gmail.com (with cc: to davidbrin@sbcglobal.net)
what hath George Lucas wrought?
"Are we being taught, gradually but inexorably, to turn away from the whole modernist agenda? The concept that science, society, citizenship and faith are things that go well together, contributing to the good of everybody? Or that there was once a good idea — to replace arbitrary leader-worship with democratic institutions that we can all hope to share?" — Star Wars on Trial
Is George Lucas' Star Wars the most significant, powerful myth of the twentieth century or a morally bankrupt military fantasy? Will J. J. Abrams' twenty-first century contribution to the Star Wars series avoid, repeat, or correct the mistakes of the originals? These are just a few of the questions Star Wars on Trial: The Force Awakens poses.
In Star Wars on Trial, two dozen wonderfully articulate authors 'testify' either for the prosecution or the defense. Is SW fantasy disguised as science fiction? Does the series spread doom-pessimism about democracy? Has it been a let-down since 'The Empire Strikes Back'? Does it even make any sense? Be prepared for a wild, extravagant 'trial' — brash and entertaining and downright fun!
Brin's original Star Wars critiques
In interviews and articles, David Brin is often asked to comment on movies, particularly science fiction and fantasy movies. The most infamous of these was the series he wrote about Star Wars for Salon Magazine. He's posted his thoughts on the response to the serieson this site.
Hear also his interview for WIRED Magazine. Seems the accompanying article and headline re-ignited the ire of the Star Wars fans!
Want to learn more? See this interview at Science Technology Future.
purchase Star Wars on Trial
Amazon.com US: paperback and Kindle ebook
Amazon.ca Canada: paperback and Kindle ebook
Amazon.co.uk UK: paperback and Kindle ebook
#AmazonCommissionsEarned
Apple Books US: iBook
Bookshop.org US: paperback
indiebound.org US: paperback
Kobo.com US: ebook
Mysterious Galaxy San Diego: (Kobo) ebook
CONTENTS
Introduction by David Brin
Introduction by Matthew Woodring Stover
Opening Statements:
For the Prosecution: David Brin
For the Defense: Matthew Woodring Stover
Charge 1: The politics of Star Wars are anti-democratic and elitist.
For the Defense: Keith R. A. DeCandido
Charge 2: While claiming mythic significance, Star Wars portrays no admirable religious or ethical beliefs.
For the Prosecution: John C. Wright
For the Defense: Scott Lynch
Charge 3: Star Wars novels are poor substitutes for real science fiction and are driving real SF off the shelves.
For the Prosecution: Lou Anders
For the Defense: Laura Resnick
For the Defense: Karen Traviss
For the Defense: Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Charge 4: Science fiction filmmaking has been reduced by Star Wars to poorly written special effects extravaganzas.
For the Prosecution: John G. Hemry
For the Defense: Bruce Bethke
Charge 5: Star Wars has dumbed down the perception of science fiction in the popular imagination.
For the Prosecution: Tanya Huff
For the Defense: Richard Garfinkle
Charge 6: Star Wars pretends to be science fiction, but is really fantasy.
For the Prosecution: Ken Wharton
For the Defense: Robert A. Metzger
For the Prosecution: Bruce Bethke
For the Defense: Adam Roberts
Charge 7: Women in Star Wars are portrayed as fundamentally weak.
For the Prosecution: Jeanne Cavelos
For the Defense: Bill Spangler
Charge 8: The plot holes and logical gaps in Star Wars make it ill-suited for an intelligent viewer.
For the Prosecution: Nick Mamatas
Closing Statements:
For the Prosecution: David Brin
For the Defense: Matthew Woodring Stover
The Verdict
a brief intro to science fiction author DAVID BRIN
To learn more, visit his books page, or see his "about me" page or detailed biography.
novels
David Brin's science fiction novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula and other awards. At least a dozen have been translated into more than twenty languages. They range from bold and prophetic explorations of our near-future to Brin's Uplift series, envisioning galactic issues of sapience and destiny (and star-faring dolphins!). Learn More
shorter fiction
Short stories and novellas have different rhythms and artistic flavor, and Brin's short stories and novellas, several of which earned Hugo and other awards, exploit that difference to explore a wider range of real and vividly speculative ideas. Many have been selected for anthologies and reprints, and most have been published in anthology form. Learn More
Contrary Brin blog
Since 2004, David Brin has maintained a blog about science, technology, science fiction, books, and the future — themes his science fiction and nonfiction writings continue to explore. Learn More
social media influencer
Who could've predicted that social media — indeed, all of our online society — would play such an important role in the 21st Century — restoring the voices of advisors and influencers! Lively and intelligent comments spill over onto Brin's social media pages. Learn More
scientist
David Brin's Ph.D in Physics from the University of California at San Diego (the lab of nobelist Hannes Alfven) followed a masters in optics and an undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Caltech. Every science show that depicts a comet now portrays the model developed in Brin's PhD research. Learn More
transparency expert
Brin's non-fiction book, The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy?, continues to receive acclaim for its accuracy in predicting 21st Century concerns about online security, secrecy, accountability and privacy. Learn More
speaker & consultant
Brin speaks plausibly and entertainingly about trends in technology and society to audiences willing to confront the challenges that our rambunctious civilization will face in the decades ahead. He also talks about the field of science fiction, especially in relation to his own novels and stories. To date he has presented at more than 200 meetings, conferences, corporate retreats and other gatherings.Learn More
future/tech advisor
Brin advises corporations and governmental and private defense- and security-related agencies about information-age issues, scientific trends, future social and political trends, and education. Urban Developer Magazine named him one of four World's Best Futurists, and he was appraised as "#1 influencer" in Onalytica's Top 100 report of Artificial Intelligence influencers, brands & publications. Past consultations include Google, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and many others. Learn More
