Audiobook:

I found it unlistenably bad. ( )

It is fun reliving Star Wars through a different medium. The radio drama does a great job of capturing the essence of Star Wars. It is dialogue driven with sound effects, and so well done that you can easily imagine exactly what is going on. The voice acting is great. I love the extra additions to the movie that explain scenes that were not in the movie, but inferred. It was a great listen. ( )

This is one of my "guilty pleasures". At nearly 6 hours it greatly expands on the original film. The next paragraph is from Wikipedia.

"Star Wars is a 13-part (5hr51m) radio serial first broadcast on National Public Radio in 1981. It was adapted by Brian Daley from the original film, and directed by John Madden, with music by John Williams and sound design for Lucasfilm by Ben Burtt. The series fleshes out the storyline by adding a great deal of back story not in the film. The radio serials were made with the full co-operation of George Lucas, who for one dollar each sold the rights to KUSC-FM, the public radio affiliate at his alma mater, the University of Southern California. It includes original sound effects and music from the films."

I didn't know what to expect of a 6 hour radio adaptation of Star Wars but this is probably one of the best radio adaptations I've ever heard, in terms of cast, music and sound effects. The story is of course silly but still retains its ability to enthrall and captivate. The music score by John Williams is a major part of its appeal (I recommend listening to the score while flying). The plot is a bit convoluted which probably helps explain why it had so many fans going back to the theater 10 or 20 times to get all the chronology of events straight as they jump around through hyperspace and various rooms aboard ship.

I was 10 when it first came out in 1977, and while not a avid fan like some, I have re-visited it occasionally over the years and appreciate how a work of art can define a generation. More than a breakthrough in special effects it was a "New Hope" that was a break from the funk of the 1970s and helped set the tone for an optimistic 1980s (continued with 1978's Superman with Christopher Reeves). The Star Wars universe can be seen as a virtual embodiment of the American suburban landscape - unlike the world of the 1960s and early 70s, where race and class divided society, in the American suburb (and Star Wars universe) race is hardly an issue - see the alien bar scene and Wookie and the droids. Hard work and good deeds lead to rewards and advancement with no barriers (Luke's meteoric rise to fame), strong middle class values prevail throughout.

--Review by Stephen Balbach, via CoolReading (c) 2008 cc-by-nd ( )

Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels