Star Wars on Trial: The Force Awakens Edition

BenBella Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Star Wars on Trial: The Force Awakens Edition is a critical examination of this huge science fiction universe, dramatized and set in a mock courtroom. I chose not to take this book too seriously; after all, who can when the judge is a droid? I can surmise that I enjoyed it more than those who took these arguments to heart. The idea that Star Wars is really pure fantasy in a science fiction setting was ridiculous to me, as anyone who went to the theater in 1977 to see the epic blockbuster Star Wars: A New Hope can attest. As the first mainstream science fiction movie, the ideas and concepts were brought down to a reasonable level so that all viewers could enjoy the genre. When it comes down to it, the passionate debate that the franchise has sparked in this book proves that Star Wars in total has made a lasting impact. Although some characters are more beloved than others, the entirety of the Star Wars universe has changed the way that most people view science fiction. I recommend Star Wars on Trial, with the understanding that readers will not take this as a strictly serious debate and enjoy the insider tidbits and passionate discourse.

Thanks to Netgalley!

I'm not normally a reader of non-fiction unless I'm in a hardcore research mode, but I wanted this solely because I'm a fan of both David Brin and Matthew Woodring Stover. It really had nothing at all to do with the arguments one can fling at the SW universe, whether to attack or defend.

To do so is a very deep rabbit hole, indeed.

Fortunately, it turned out to be rather amusing to hear Stover intimate that Brin was a Sith Lord in disguise and to show that Stover is an unabashed apologist because he got paid for the novelization of Ep 6. (As well as a number of EU novels.)

But that isn't all! I genuinely enjoyed most of the coherent arguments and definitely enjoyed the incoherent ones. I think I'll always enjoy the reading of the movies as the revelation that we live in a real holographic universe and Lucas is just trying to show us the path, and that the Jedi are just exploiting the bugs in the software universe to hack and exploit it. Bingo! I can't enjoy the movies more than THAT interpretation. :)

But really, seeing the movies as a comedy in the old sense, that we enjoy them because it evokes a real sense of JOY? That resonates with me, too.

I couldn't care less that the movies are monsters of science inaccuracy. Even if I understand science, and I do, it doesn't always make for stories that resonate, and often put too much burden on any tale to make anyone want to read it, let alone watch a movie about it. Did anyone see Gravity? Did anyone see anything other than a bunch of action sequences and silence? Yeah, that's because it was scientifically accurate, and to bring anyone's attention to that fact would kill the tension. :)

But when it comes to the argument that women are consistently stripped of agency through the story arcs, I have to agree. Simply. Easily. Leia was treated poorly as a character, but Amadala's treatment was deplorable.

Fortunately for the rest of us who have actually seen the new movie, I rejoice in the new direction, and pray that Rey continues to be badass throughout the next two movies. Prove that the valid complaint had taken root and will grow into something truly marvellous. :)

This book came out right after Ep 6, and was given only a minor update *before* the release of Ep 7, so don't expect an cogent and relevant arguments either way that includes the new movie.

I would have LOVED that, but timing is everything, and this was aimed primarily at the fanboys and fangirls who love to think about the franchise, and the best time to capitalize on that is in the tension before the film.

Of course, now that the new movie is such a success, I hope to see more. :)

Two supposed experts—never heard of them—argue as to why Star Wars is so great and why it isn’t. There’s a droid judge. Other people I’ve never heard of testify—the original meaning, not the urban slang—to that effect with their own essays, and then get cross-examined.
I’m surprised by how much of this tediousness I enjoyed. Helps that there was plenty to laugh at, especially between the councilors. I managed to annoy myself by thinking one side had a great point and then instantly the rebuttal had me thinking, “That’s true too!” I loved that the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles was mentioned, as all of George Lucas’s catalog was fair game.
But let’s be honest: this is an old book masquerading as a current edition, supposedly given a makeover due to the new movie. Not true. With renewed interest in the series they could have simply been honest about it.

You have to be very interested in Star Wars to appreciate this book. Essentially, Star Wars On Trial is a bunch of hardcore Star Wars fans discussing (not really discussing, more like arguing) different aspects of Star Wars, like plot holes.

Their are 9 different 'charges' that have been argued.

The Politics Of Star Wars Are Anti-Democratic And Elitist;
While Claiming Mythic Significance, Star Wars Portrays No Admirable Religious Or Ethical Beliefs;
Star Wars Novels Are Poor Substitutes For Real Science Fiction And Are Driving Real SF Of The Shelves;
Science Fiction Filmmaking Has Been Reduced By Star Wars To Poorly Written Special Effects Extravaganzas;
Star Wars Has Dumbed Down The Perception Of Science Fiction In The Popular Imagination;
Star Wars Pretends To Be Science Fiction, But Is Really Fantasy;
Women In Star Wars Are Portrayed As Fundamentally Weak;
The Plot Holes And Logical Gaps In Star Wars Make It Ill-Suited For An Intelligent Viewer; and Considering All The Factors Above, Overall, Star Wars Has Been Damaging To Science Fiction Readers, Writers and Moviegoers.
Even though it is called 'The Force Awakens Edition', Star Wars On Trial does not contain ANYTHING to do with The Force Awakens.

I did enjoy Star Wars On Trial, and some of the points raised are quite valid; but since I found it misleading regarding 'The Force Awakens', overall it could have been better.