The Science of Star Wars: An Astrophysicists Independent Examination of Space Travel, Aliens, Planets, and Robots as Portrayed in the Star Wars Films and Books by Jeanne Cavelos

The Science of Star Wars: An Astrophysicists Independent Examination of Space Travel, Aliens, Planets, and Robots as Portrayed in the Star Wars Films and Books Reviews

• 
  Dessi

  THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH FUN!
  
  "Wait Dessi seriously, are you calling a book trying to look scientifically at a made up world that is obviously going to prove how silly and nonsensical and impossible that world is, *fun*?"
  
  HECK YES.
  
  See, Cavelos is a huge nerd big Star Wars fan. So against what you might think, this book doesn't go through Star Wars point by point just to say "in conclusion, this would never happen". She considers many expert arguments, including her own, to explain why something would be likely to happen or not, and what conditions would be necessary for it. Nothing is deemed impossible. Maybe that's overly optimistic in the future of science as we know it, like some readers suggest, but shouldn't science be overly optimistic?
  
  Of course, the book is heavy on science, but even if I didn't fully understand some concepts, it still felt easy to read. And fun - did I say it was fun? The thing for me was, I like science, but I'm still a lay person and I don't spend enough time reading up on scientific developments. This book, using something fictional I enjoy, let me in on a lot of real life information I didn't know about - and it also reminded me just how creative science is, how creative it *needs* to be, by default.
  
  Since this book dates from 1999, I really would love an updated version from this author, both to include more recent scientific discoveries and the new information about the GFFA we've received since then (the book was written before TPM was released, although the author still managed to include TPM in some of the chapters. Yes, she tackled the midichlorians question!)
  
  I only take half a star back for some spelling mistakes - guess the editor was not a SW fan.
• 
  Paperclippe

  Well, you can't blame a book for being written too soon.
  
  Everything about this book is good from the concept to the research to the presentation of information. But despite its only being ten or so years old, so much of it is already invalid - we already have walking bipedal robots (see Asimo) and our understanding of much of physics is changing by the minute, as well as future-thinking perspectives on space travel.
  
  But like I said, you can't blame a book for being written too soon. And even though the afterward does manage to squeeze in those god forsaken midi-chlorians, I'd recommend this book to any science-seeking Star Wars fan with the caveat that they do their own research as well since so much has changed since the book's publication.
• 
  Robert Holm

  This is obviously very dated (having originally been published two decades ago), and it's also marred by an overly reverential attitude towards paranormal nonsense and woowoo in chapter five. Some chapters have the usual predictions of new technologies that are "just around the corner" - 20 years later and still no sign of these technologies. And the printing is low quality, with some sections of the text against a dark background that makes it look like bad photocopying, hardly what you'd expect from a professionally published book.
• 
  Tamara

  Got a little science-y for this non-scientist to follow in the physics of the Force section. But otherwise intriguing for a Star Wars fan.
• 
  Holly Evans

  The most famous sci-fi universe dissected using real world science (as we know it today), written by a scientist who loves sci-fi. What's not to love?
• 
  Mickey

  This was a surprising book for me, in that sections that I thought I would really enjoy were not interesting me and the sections that I thought that I would have to slog through were incredibly enjoyable. Since I had such an uneven response, I think I'll take it section by section.
  
  Section One: Planetary Environments
  
  I was happy to see that my Intro to Astronomy class that I took in my sophomore year of college was still with me, but this was not a very interesting section for me. It did a good job of presenting the basic outline of planet structure and the necessities for life. This section had less room for interesting tidbits than other sections.
  
  Section Two: Aliens
  
  This was a great section. Starting at the beginning with a look at the Star War universe and giving us a reorientation into the variety of life on our little planet, the author focuses on discussing the possible evolutionary development of several of the alien forms in Star Wars.
  
  Section Three: Droids
  
  This was actually the section that I was dreading. Robots don't interest me in the least. However, I found the explanations as to the problems of emotional impairment and particularly the section of understanding and evaluating human speech to be fascinating. Her drawing connections to those who have suffered brain damage in the areas that control those parts was apt and well done. I also enjoyed the in-depth analysis of the three main droid characters: Threepio, Artoo, and Vader.
  
  Section Four: Spaceships and Weapons
  
  I tried with this section. I just could not get into it. The only thing I liked was the short subsection dealing with Han's 'parsec' mistake. Sometimes apologists can be so inventive.
  
  Section Five: The Force
  
  I was disappointed in this section, probably because I was hoping for a good look at blending mysticism with science. I don't think the author failed to deliver on that as much as she had other goals in mind. I did enjoy the brief subsection on hypnosis and some of the explanations for the abstract notions were very good.
  
  
  All in all, I thought that this was a great book. It relates scientific concepts well and is obviously well versed in the Star Wars universe.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Robert

  I must say I enjoy reading this book . I am not much of a science person but I love Star Wars . Jeanne Cavelos writes the book more for Star Wars fans the scientists, and that is a good thing . She uses examples from the film, she makes science fun to read . The book is broken down into 5 parts .
  
  
  
  
  1) Planetary Life : She writes about all the planets in Star Wars , how life might of started on them , or even if life could start on them . I like her take on each of the planets . I did feel she may have spent a little to much time on Tatooine . Buit it still was interesting to read .
  
  
  
  
  2)Aliens : She talks about the different aliens , what type e would meet in space . There a vary interesting section on The Hutt .
  
  
  
  
  3) Droids :why R2D2 and C3PO act the way they do , how far are we away from robots like R2D2 and C3PO . and how far away we are from bionic limbs like Darth Vader.
  
  
  
  
  4) Spaceships and weapons : She writes how a ship can travel near or faster then light . How there could be Antigravitational vehicles may work . She covers LASERS and Light Sabers .( sadly she does not say how one might build a Light Sabers)
  
  
  
  
  5) The Force : She goes into how Jedi might use the force and the ways that it could be done .
  
  
  
  
  All in I liked this book It a good read , the part about the Force got a bit to Science for me in places . I would like to see her write an update for the book , she only covers four of the films . Pules we learned so much since the last film has come out on March 18th, 2005. I am looking forward to reading her book The Science of the X-Files.
  
  
  
  
  Read on and may the Force be with you
• 
  Cindy

  This woman is obsessed with Star Wars. I mean, seriously, beyond anyone I've ever known, obsessed with Star Wars. It's not obvious right at first, although on the flyleaf it told about how the author decided to become an astronomer after watching Star Wars for the first time. But as I was reading the book, I realized this was a whole different magnitude of fandom. She has obviously watched the movies hundred of times, and read every single book in all the series, at least once. But the reali giveaway was when she referred to Jar Jar Binks as "a loveable goofball." OK, that is just not normal.
  
  But about the book - it wasn't quite what I expected either. It takes the whole Star Wars thing so seriously, and tries to seriously account for every aspect of the movie - the planets, the lifeforms, and so on. There wasn't enough tongue in cheek for me to be able to pay attention to the science. Only recommended for real Star Wars geeks.
• 
  Jane

  The Science of Star Wars is sciency. Very sciency. As in, way over my head sciency.
  
  I like Star Wars and am intrigued about what might be possible in Earth's future as humans continue to develop technology and scientific concepts, so I did find parts of it interesting. I think a true Star Wars fanatic would appreciate it more than I did. The author even talks about the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special (which she describes as "so awful it's fascinating").
  
  The author clearly knows her science. A lot of similar information about planetary environments can be found in Peter D. Ward's book Rare Earth, which I really enjoyed. The book is a little dated, as it was published before any of the Star Wars prequels (so long before the newest Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens).
  
  Recommended for astrophysicists and huge Star Wars fans.
  
  
• 
  E.A. West

  The Science of Star Wars is a fascinating book, full of insight into the whys and hows of the Star Wars universe. My favorite chapter was the last one, which tried to explain the Force using what we currently understand about physics and biology. The only complaint I have about the book, and this is just a matter of personal belief, is that the author tried to explain things solely from an evolutionary point of view. Some of the "mysteries" mentioned in the book could be easily explained by the existence of God and creation rather than evolution. The book was well-written, however, and the information contained in it explained in an easy-to-understand format that kept me reading with interest despite the obvious difference in beliefs between myself and the author.
• 
  Chris

  Although the science has changed dramatically since its publication, this is still an interesting read. As a casual science enthusiast I found the book to be a really good introduction to concepts, like string theory, and made the ideas approachable.
  
  The author also has a friendly, casual style of writing that is easy to read and has lots of humour injected to keep things light, especially in the really heavy sections.
• 
  Eric

  The Science of Star Wars was a great book to hear on tape because it wasn't the kind of thing that I usually will pick up to read and devote a lot of time to finishing. It was, however, far more interesting than NPR. The science is shaky, more like speculation than observation, but still Star Wars made an entertaining vehicle for exploring quantum physics and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
• 
  Jessica McKendry

  this book was AMAZING!!!!! I learned so much about the theory of relativity, and quantum mechanics! As a Star Wars fan, I always thought that Star Wars would be a really cool future, but never actually thought it possible!! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in any type of science or just looking for a great read!
• 
  Steven Stencil

  damn good book, do not have to be a nerd or fan to read. do not have to be into sciens/physics just some good information. well thought book and great time killer, even if you read it here and there a must own.
• 
  Maribeth

  Great book!
• 
  David

  
  http://www.hardsf.org/HSFRScie.htm
  
• 
  ManOfLaBook.com

  I am not a huge, or even big Star Wars fan (heck, I didn't even like the first one), but I loved this book. A great concept, very well done. I could not put it down.
• 
  Scott

  Very fun way of looking at physics and biology via the Star Wars universe!
• 
  Ned Leffingwell

  A nice, readable volume of pop science. I recommend this to hard core Star Wars fans, nerds, and trolls wanting to win arguments on the internet.
• 
  Abraham Ray

  great science book about star wars!