Book Review: The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

This book is finally out after being postponed for a few times. It's actually 362 pages, slightly thicker than the previous book, The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film, which is already a massive book. It seems that no paperback edition is available yet at the launch.

Once again, I'm marveled by the amount of information packed into the book by author J.W. Rinzler. I can't even begin to imagine the amount of research and effort is needed to put everything together, after the movie was screened 30 years ago.

The book details the arduous journey in the making of the film from the first story conference up to screening, and to the film awards won after that. The writing is excellent, filled with all sorts of stories and quotes. You get to read about the technical aspect of creating the movie, the little tricks used to create something believable on screen - see how they use fiber optics for lighting spaceships, painting the backgrounds, fixing up Yoda, and much more including production diaries of how they shoot.

The pages are also loaded with concept art, sketches, storyboards, memos, film stills and photos. All well reproduced, very detailed. There are lots of fun stuff happening behind the scenes captured on camera.

While the book is pricey, yes, it's well worth the money. With so much material, it will take more than one sitting to go through them.

Definitely a "must have" for any Star Wars fans.

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Note that in the previous book, they took out some content from the paperback edition. Not sure if it's going to happen here again.

The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - 01

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The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - 13

The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - 14

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The book published by LucasFilm:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it |Amazon.co.jp | Amazon.cn

The book published by Aurum Press:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it | Amazon.co.jp | Amazon.cn

French edition L'empire contre - attaque. Le making of:
Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it | Amazon.es

This book was borrowed from Basheer Graphic Books for review purposes. You can order the book from them. Check with Basheer on Facebook or visit their website.

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5 Comments

Hi Parka Thanks again for a

Hi Parka
Thanks again for a great review and book flik-thru.
It looks amazing- I can't wait to see it in person.
I have the orignal making of ESB - Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back by Alan Arnold.
Its old and worn but is hands down one of the best "Making of..." books I have ever read.
I'm sure this one will beat it for the photos and concept art though.
Cheers
Inger

The first one was a cool,

The first one was a cool, great book. This one's a bigger book, and at the rate I'm reading it, I'll be done sometime in spring, but it's comprehensive and full of facts, and the behind the scenes photos and artwork are amazing. I only wish some of the better known Ralph McQuarrie productions paintings were bigger (some are only thumbnail size in the book)... but overall an amazing book. A definite must for any Star Wars fan.
Can we expect another one for Return of the Jedi in three years?

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