Star Wars: The Very Beginning
The other day, I re-read Splinter of the Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster, the mother of all Lucas-shafted Star Wars Expanded Universe books (the overt Luke/Leia! Darth Vader who totters!). Amused, I figured I'd read the Lucas's original novelisation of A New Hope, too.
My copy of ANH is my dad's paperback copy from 1977 -- as evidenced by the back cover, which has the suggested UK price of 95p. The byline is equally amusing: Luke Skywalker challenged the stormtroopers of a distant galaxy on a daring mission -- where a force of life became the power of death! Except in all caps. *snicker*
In between the pages, I found a six-page article my dad had cut from Time International magazine, way back in May 1977. I figured such a blast from the past might be of interest, so I scanned the whole thing. Thumbnails under the cut:
(Click on the little pictures to read the article.)
The text is very interesting in retrospect -- the comparisons to other movies coming out in 1977 and the amusing image captions ("Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi in duel to death with laser-beam swords") that show how the Star Wars lingo hadn't entered everyday English quite yet.
If anyone's interested, the ANH novelisation contains some very intriguing stuff, e.g. a prologue, that shows how much Lucas's vision (or "vision") developed over the years. Multiple Emperors? You betcha. President Palpatine? Yes, sir. And of course, the overt Luke/Leia. Mwee hee!
* * * * *
Today is a day of rejoicing! To buy Pop-Tarts, I've had to go to Stockholm, but they've finally opened a shop here that sells both Vegemite and Americana like Oreos and Frenchie's mustard. At exorbitant prices, of course. My purchases:
* 1 box (10oz, so the small one) of Wheat Thins: €6.99 ($8.42)
* 1 box (8 pcs) of Pop-Tarts, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavour: €5.99 ($7.21)
In other words, sheer highway robbery. But, hell, I have Wheat Thins! I'm in heaven. I'm so going back tomorrow for more, and splurging on some Twizzlers while at it.
...damn. *stares at telly* Bree Van De Camp, I love you. I also desperately want to shag you across my oiled merbau parquet floors. Right now, plz.
My copy of ANH is my dad's paperback copy from 1977 -- as evidenced by the back cover, which has the suggested UK price of 95p. The byline is equally amusing: Luke Skywalker challenged the stormtroopers of a distant galaxy on a daring mission -- where a force of life became the power of death! Except in all caps. *snicker*
In between the pages, I found a six-page article my dad had cut from Time International magazine, way back in May 1977. I figured such a blast from the past might be of interest, so I scanned the whole thing. Thumbnails under the cut:
(Click on the little pictures to read the article.)
The text is very interesting in retrospect -- the comparisons to other movies coming out in 1977 and the amusing image captions ("Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi in duel to death with laser-beam swords") that show how the Star Wars lingo hadn't entered everyday English quite yet.
If anyone's interested, the ANH novelisation contains some very intriguing stuff, e.g. a prologue, that shows how much Lucas's vision (or "vision") developed over the years. Multiple Emperors? You betcha. President Palpatine? Yes, sir. And of course, the overt Luke/Leia. Mwee hee!
* * * * *
Today is a day of rejoicing! To buy Pop-Tarts, I've had to go to Stockholm, but they've finally opened a shop here that sells both Vegemite and Americana like Oreos and Frenchie's mustard. At exorbitant prices, of course. My purchases:
* 1 box (10oz, so the small one) of Wheat Thins: €6.99 ($8.42)
* 1 box (8 pcs) of Pop-Tarts, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavour: €5.99 ($7.21)
In other words, sheer highway robbery. But, hell, I have Wheat Thins! I'm in heaven. I'm so going back tomorrow for more, and splurging on some Twizzlers while at it.
...damn. *stares at telly* Bree Van De Camp, I love you. I also desperately want to shag you across my oiled merbau parquet floors. Right now, plz.