Perfect for Star Wars fans who think they already know everything On May 25, 1977, the world of science fiction, film, and pop culture was changed forever with the release of Star Wars . The beginning of this epic space opera franchise would inspire an expanded universe of creativity, including books, comic books, theme parks, and much more. With extensive back stories, lore, and author Dan Casey’s encyclopedic knowledge on the subject, this lively, detailed book explores the characters, storylines, and facts every true Star Wars fan should know. This guide covers the history of how a multibillion-dollar and beloved institution was born and went on to flourish. Dan Casey has collected every essential piece of Star Wars knowledge and trivia, including what infamous, cult classic TV movie introduced beloved bounty hunter Boba Fett, what Star Wars novel was released in 1976 before the first movie premiered, and what animal species is named after Han Solo. Whether you’re a fan of the original film trilogy, an avid reader of the books, or can’t wait to see what J. J. Abrams does with the next generation of movies, 100 Things Star Wars Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the perfect resource for all Star Wars fans looking to increase their knowledge of the storied franchise and look back on the most memorable moments of a galaxy “far, far away.” Dan Casey is a critic, a commentator, and an on-camera host who has appeared on Nerdist , StarWars.com, TOKYOPOP, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency , as well as FOX News’ Tech Take , AMC Movie Talk , and the Young Turk’s Nerd Alert . He is the author of 100 Things Avengers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die . He lives in Los Angeles. 100 Things Star Wars Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die By Dan Casey Triumph Books Copyright © 2015 Daniel Casey All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-62937-164-1 CHAPTER 1 A Galaxy Far, Far Away Everything changed on May 25, 1977. To the untrained eye, it was just another endless day in what seemed like a year that threatened to drag on forever. In the Netherlands, two days prior, a group of Moluccan terrorists seized control of a train and a school in the Netherlands, holding more than 100 children hostage. Two months prior, KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736 collided mid-air, killing 583 people in a horrific accident at the Tenerife airport in the Canary Islands; at the time, it was the deadliest accident in aviation history. In Dover, Massachusetts, residents reported seeing sights of an eerie monster dubbed the Dover Demon. On television, viewers were made to wrestle with their own demons as British journalist David Frost reopened old wounds with former President Richard Nixon in a four-night interview series. In short, the country — and even the world — felt as though it could use a new hope. On that Memorial Day weekend, that was exactly what they got, as a little-known sci-fi film called Star Wars opened in theaters and changed the course of cultural history. The lights in the theaters faded to black as the reel-to-reel roared to life. After the classic Chuck Jones cartoon short Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century played — something on which George Lucas insisted — the Fox fanfare filled the theater with its indelible drum roll and bright, piercing horns, heralding the arrival of something new. (In fact, this fanfare, originally created in 1933 by Alfred Newman, had fallen out of use by the time of Star Wars' premiere; it was another relic that Lucas insisted on reviving and appending to his baby.) Yet the fanfare was merely a preamble, a triumphant crescendo paving the way for 10 simple words in an icy blue font that would burn their way into the wrinkles of our brains: "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ..." This was the first indication that audience members weren't in for another run-of-the-mill sci-fi affair; these words had a fairy tale quality to them. That's because this wasn't "sci-fi" per se — it was space fantasy, a clever amalgamation of multiple genres to make an elemental tale of good and evil, light and dark, all set against a backdrop of the infinite. Of course, this thought barely had time to register for most viewers because suddenly the massive, yellow Star Wars logo filled the frame, accompanied by the thunderous arrival of John Williams' opening theme. Then, came the opening crawl, the sprawling wall of slowly scrolling text that crept up from the bottom of the screen, flying off into oblivion. (Note: the title Episode IV: A New Hope would not appear in the opening credits until the film's re-release in 1981.) On its first day, the film opened in just 32 theaters across the country, and was set to open in 11 more over the coming days. There had only been one trailer for the film that had come out the previous Christmas, which promptly disappeared until, like Jesus, it returned for Easter. In spite of what seemed like a relative non-presence, the film had record-b