Wookie books: the science fiction that inspired George Lucas's Star Wars

Star Wars made science fiction a cultural phenomenon, but the film’s origins lie in other texts, and ancient myths conceived a long time ago, in civilisations far, far away

It’s remarkable how many science-fiction fans hate Star Wars. To those who like their SF grounded in science, Star Wars is reprehensible “skiffy” in the pejorative sense, a flight of fantasy cloaked in science-fiction’s clothes. For most under-40s, Star Wars is where their love of sci-fi began, but for those who remember the genre’s golden age, George Lucas’ blockbuster creation isn’t quite so original.

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