title: Using the Force: Creativity, Community and Star Wars Fans (Updated Edition)
author:  Will Brooker 
description: "This is a wonderful book. Will Brooker provides a wealth of badly-needed evidence, which will be of great use to anyone interested in ongoing debates about the relation between cultural production and consumption, the place of media in identity formation, and the ways in which meanings are produced from texts. The book is intelligent and informed, and is supremely careful only to make claims which are supported by the evidence it presents. It shows that it is not only possible, but vitally important, for academics to have a detailed knowledge of the texts and communities they are writing about, if they are to provide reasonable analyses of the ways in which they function. Above all, this book is beautifully written, and extremely readable."Alan McKee, Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies<br /><br />"Timely and provocative.enthusiastically written.In 10 well-crafted chapters, Brooker manages to capture the original excitement surrounding the film's 1977 premiere while dissecting how and why the enthusiasm endures.Brooker's clear prose sings.[his] obvious dedication to his project makes Using the Force a must for fans and a necessary read for students of pop culture."The Austin Chronicle
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  ![image](images/00002.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  For David “DJ” Richardson  
  Good friend
  
  
  
  
  
  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  
  
  Many people contributed to this book in ways large and small. I would like to
  give special thanks to the following: Andria Hayday for her support,
  critiques, and many suggestions; James Luceno for brainstorming and ideas;
  Enrique Guerrero for his thoughts on the Chiss; Shelly Shapiro and Sue Rostoni
  for their encouragement, skillful editing, and especially for their patience;
  all the people at Del Rey who make writing so much fun, particularly Keith
  Clayton, Colleen Lindsay, and Colette Russen; all of the people at Lucasfilm,
  particularly Howard Roffman, Amy Gary, Leland Chee, and Pablo Hidalgo. And, of
  course, to George Lucas for sharing his galaxy with us all.
  
  
  
  
  
  DRAMATIS PERSONAE
  
  
  > Alema Rar: Gorog Night Herald (female Twi’lek)
  
  
  > Ben Skywalker: child (male human)
  
  
  > C-3PO: protocol droid
  
  
  > Cal Omas: Galactic Alliance Chief-of-State (male human)
  
  
  > Corran Horn: Jedi Master (mal