How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise Hardcover – September 30, 2014

“[A] tour de force… Taylor's research is staggering, and even fans who believe they know all there is to know about the film franchise will find much to learn—and savor.”
—Associated Press

“[Taylor] delivers tasty nuggets worthy of being savored, like a human sacrifice being digested in the Great Pit of Carkoon, for a thousand of years…”
—New York Post

“Delivers a payload of information… you will find intense emotions in its observations of a battle for autonomy within corporate cinema, and to the public that swoons for Lucas’ products.”
—San Francisco Chronicle

“[A] thorough account.”
—Wall Street Journal

“At its heart, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is a love letter to a franchise that has become entrenched in contemporary culture in more ways than we could possibly count …A history of the Star Wars franchise packed with trivia and anecdotes that will delight any fan.”
—Shelf Awareness for Readers

“Every Star Wars fan should pick up a copy of How Star Wars Conquered the Universe… Taylor’s extensive exploration of the history of Star Wars and the impact it has had on popular culture makes for an eye-opening and entertaining read… this book remains a necessary item for any bookshelf.”
—The Wookiee Gunner

“This is the best nonfiction Star Wars book I’ve read and it will appeal to more than just the Star Wars super fan.”
—GeekyLibrary

“An immensely readable look at the worldwide impact of the Star Wars saga over the decades.”
—McClatchy

“Chris Taylor not only manages to put a fresh spin on an old story, but also takes readers on a memorable trip through the past, present, and future of Star Wars fandom… I don’t know of any other book that takes such a comprehensive and in-depth look at fandom.”
—Far Far Away Radio

“Even if you’re a Star Wars savant, it’s a fun read…Hell, give it to your friends and family who are casual fans – they’ll be sure to get a kick out of it as well.”
—Clubjade.net

“Taylor brings a genuine love of pop and nerd culture to this comprehensive retrospective on one of the 20th century's most popular film series… Taylor has compiled an impressive collection of background research and insider info that any fan would be glad to own.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Taylor’s fan-boy enthusiasm coupled with his inviting narrative style make this a fun and informative read for sf enthusiasts, media studies and marketing students, film industry professionals, and aspiring Jedi Knights.”
—Library Journal

“This is a wildly entertaining book, and if it’s not the definitive history of the making of Star Wars, I don't know what is. But it’s more than that: it tells a rollicking good story about storytelling itself, about the intersection between art and commerce, and paints surely the most complete and deeply felt portrait of George Lucas to date.”
—Dave Eggers, author of The Circle and A Hologram for the King

“It’s impossible to imagine a Star Wars fan who wouldn’t love this book…It really is hard to imagine a book about Star Wars being any more comprehensive than this one. It’s full of information and insight and analysis, and it’s so engagingly written that it’s a pure joy to read…There are plenty of books about Star Wars, but very few of them are essential reading. This one goes directly to the top of the pile.”
—Booklist (starred review)

“A smart, engaging book…welcome reading for fans of Star Wars—or, for that matter, of THX 1138.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Chris Taylor's colorful biography of Star Wars, the franchise that shaped modern culture, is more than just a geek's delight. It is a creativity manual—and shows how the relationship between films and fans can stimulate innovation.”
—Walter Isaacson, author of The Innovators: How a Group of Inventors, Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution and Steve Jobs

“Smart. Eloquent. Definitive. This is the book you’re looking for.”
—Lev Grossman, author of the New York Times bestselling Magicians trilogy

“It’s impossible to overstate the cultural, social and even political impact of Star Wars. It started as a balm for a people racked by moral confusion, a juvenile bolt hole for a nation with shattered self-esteem, but the blast wave of enthusiasm and love it inspired was to engulf the planet. Culturally speaking it is, quite simply, the Force. Chris Taylor’s affectionate and hugely entertaining book tracks the phenomenon from inception to dominance and with a wry smile, asks us to ‘look at the size of that thing!’”
—Simon Pegg, actor and Star Wars fan

“George Lucas didn't only create an iconic film franchise, but also a mind-virus that’s infected the imaginations of billions of people around the world. Chris Taylor delivers an exuberant forensic analysis of the phenomenon in How Star Wars Conquered the Universe—a must-read for any fan, film buff, or student of modern culture.”
—Brad Stone, author of The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon

“Chris Taylor’s How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is the definitive guide to the first forty years of the Star Wars galaxy. Part biography, part history, part fanboy gossip, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is an accessible, fun read for any lover of Star Wars.”
—Ian Doescher, author of the William Shakespeare's Star Wars trilogy

“Whether they read the novelization of the first Star Wars before the film came out, like me, or were blown away by Revenge of the Sith, anyone touched by the most enduring space fantasy mythology of the past two generations will thrill to Taylor's passionate telling of the saga behind the saga: How a lonely tinkerer from a backwater town changed the world via interplanetary heroism. To Star Wars obsessives and those wanting to understand modern pop culture: this is absolutely the book you are looking for.”
—Brian Doherty, author of This Is Burning Man

“Finally, fans get the full history! The Force is strong with Chris Taylor, who gives us enough stories and juicy details to impress even Darth Vader. This book belongs in every Star Wars collection.”
—Bonnie Burton, author of The Star Wars Craft Book and You Can Draw: Star Wars

Chris Taylor is the deputy editor of Mashable, one of the world's largest independent news websites. He has covered the intersection of business and culture for two decades as a writer and editor for Time, Business 2.0, Fortune Small Business, and Fast Company. A graduate of Merton College, Oxford and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he lives in Berkeley, California.