I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this given that I’m not particularly a movie person in general, and definitely not a sci-fi movie person in a more specific sense.

I certainly enjoy watching a movie here and there, but generally the “how the sausage gets made” of it all, and especially the business of Hollywood isn’t of much interest to me. But I thought this book was quite good, but in terms of being informative and being fun to read.

I’ve seen a few but not all of the films discussed here, but they’re all familiar titles, and the way that the author connects them to explain the early 1980s sci-fi boom is both intriguing and compelling. The style of the book is fairly conversational, which felt really right for the material, and while the author is clearly a huge film enthusiast and a historian of sorts, it doesn’t feel inaccessible at all if you’re not a film buff.

The Future Was Now by Chris Nashawaty is a must read for the movie buff. A nonfiction book filled with pop culture from the 80s that will take you down memory lane.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this gifted audiobook copy.

Tron
The Road Warrior
Poltergeist
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Blade Runner
The Thing
Conan the Barbarian
E.T.

If any of these films interest you, or you're curious about what Hollywood was like after Star Wars changed everything in 1977, definitely give this a look. Without diving too much into philosophizing or dense film theory, Nashawaty's accessible history entertainingly details how all eight of these now classic genre films came to be released within weeks of each other in 1982. Plenty of interesting trivia and a satisfying back and forth narrative that gives each film its due.

If you are looking for a non fiction read and love pop culture this is a must read. I learned so much with this book and I loved hearing the behind the scenes stories as to how the movies that built the sci-fi genre came to be and how in turn they have shaped the industry we have today.

If you are a movie fan looking for an engaging and uniquely impactful read, this is the book for you.

These are the movies that made me what I am, that helped guide my tastes and keep my standards so high. It's hard to believe that people couldn't tell them how brilliant they were, and it's fascinating to see how they evolved from idea to screen. I forget that people like Spielberg and Carpenter are just people because they're icons, and even they had to accept limitations and prove themselves.
My only complaint is that this book left me wanting more -- the writing is so smart, the narration energetic, and it's just too short. Maybe it would be fun if this author wrote more about the individuals.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

A fun, wild ride through the sci-fi films of the 1980s. Surfing on the wake of Star Wars, these films defined a generation. With stories of the great directors (including Lucas and Spielberg) and dazzling stars, Nashawaty takes us on a magical journey and inspires us to get out our blu rays, and search the internet for showings in independent cinemas. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook which was a real treat. Don't forget the popcorn!