I took my time coming to this one, but The Star Wars Archives is a fantastic read. Over the decades, countless books and articles have been written about the making of the original trilogy. But The Star Wars Archives, overseen and edited by Paul Duncan may very well be the definitive retelling.

There are interviews, previously unseen stills, production art, storyboards and more. It’s an indepth and fascinating read that drew me in. It pulled me into the wonder of those films. It reminded me of how excited I got when I saw each film, and devouring Starlog magazines to get tidbits on how th films were made.

The pictures and art provided follow the film’s narrative, while the text sticks to production order, and it’s unputdownable. Duncan is able to propel the reader through the making of each film, Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Return of the Jedi. I especially liked how Duncan takes us through the various drafts, and we get glimpses of what could have been.

The book not only offers hints at those things, but shows the organic nature of storytelling and the technical nature of the effects.

I loved this read. Shortly after I started it, all I could hear was John Williams’ iconic score in my head, and I could recall the excitement and joy of the toys, the cards, the comics, and the sheer joy of sitting in the theatre and watching the opening crawl of each film for the first time.

Each film is explored in depth, and there are interactions with all of the major players. We move through the drafts, the pre-production, filming, editing, special effects, post-production and release. It ends up being a very satisfying read as I turned each page, discovering secrets, reliving treasured memories, and seeing how these beloved films came together.

This one is a must for all Star Wars fans. It doesn’t matter how much you know, what books you’ve read, the way this book is compiled, what it holds between its pages, and the way it tells the stories we know, and think we know. It’s a great exploration of three iconic films that has since shaped countless generations.

Taschen books are incredibly well put together, gorgeously and lovingly designed, and filled with hundreds of images. I’ve already added some of their other books to my collection. This is a stunning tome that celebrates the making of beloved films. And man, now I just want to settle in and watch The Original Trilogy yet again.

Load em up, and may the Force be with you.