Once upon a time, there was no Star Wars. And the people were sad. Movie experiences for fans of the science fiction genre were filled with a longing, a yearning, a desire for something more if you will, but they didn't know what. The replay on tv of an odyssey thru space with HAL the supercomputer and set in the futuristic world of 2001 was an enjoyable journey to be sure. The replay on tv of The Forbidden Planet had some interesting twists on the subconscious mind of man. But for the most part, sci-fi was relegated to television show re-runs across the land of the free and the home of the brave. There were re-runs of a show about space the final frontier, or something like that. The re-runs of Lost in Space were quirky but fun. Will Robinson was in danger! They were lost and searching for that little blue marble called Earth. I can't remember, did they ever find it? Were they ever not Lost in Space?

Then in May of 1977, the new dawn broke.

Star Wars arrived. And the people rejoiced. Rescued from the neverending re-runs of that saucer style Enterprise hurtling along its mission of exploring new worlds and new civilizations, the fans of the science fiction world were given Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Merchandising. The Force became a proper noun. Kenner action figures and TIE Fighters and X-Wings littered bedrooms and backyards everywhere, and the vroom vroom sound effects of a make-believe lightsaber duel could be heard on every schoolyard. It was a great time to be a little kid. Looking up at the stars in the expanse of the night sky became a journey of the imagination, and wondering on the mystical powers of the universe became a journey of the spirit. Luke Skywalker was the hero to all, and Princess Leia was, well, the Princess to all. Han Solo was cool. Darth Vader was even cooler.

Star Wars action figures and toys were everywhere. Allowances were spent to get action figures of each type. Had to have the action figures. Han Solo in Corellian gear. Han Solo in Hoth gear. Han Solo in Bespin gear. What about Han Solo in Endor gear? Good thing Darth Vader never changed, except when his head fell off, but that was alright because Kay-Bee Toys always had tons of Vader figures in stock. He was replaceable. But he cost like $3.49, or to put it in terms of a kid, he cost like one 'mow the yard' or maybe like two 'wash and wax the car'. Chores were necessary evils.

But then it all went silent. Star Wars was over and done, the story had been told. And the people were sad. The shelves no longer had the action figures in stock, or TIE Fighters, or Tauntauns, and the science fiction fans were returned to their previous existence, although the movies were somewhat better than before. There were Aliens and Predators and Terminators, all very cool, but there were no lightsabers or Jedi or Stormtroopers. That was most uncool. Gradually, the thoughts of Star Wars faded away as high school came and went. Couldn't use the Jedi mind trick to get a date with the Homecoming Queen, and free time (and money) was spent on anything with wheels and an engine. The action figures were buried in a box, lost in the basement, much like the Ark of the Covenant in a crate in a warehouse somewhere. The TIE Fighter that had survived so many backyard battles met with an unfortunate end, crushed by an avalanche of Christmas decorations. Go figure, an Imperial fighter defeated by a box of ornaments! Boba Fett just plain disappeared. Did he make a break for it? Did he hook up with my sister's Malibu Barbie? Or was he in the cockpit of the ill fated TIE? The world will never know.

College was next. A drunken haze for sure. There were sorority girls there. And there were calculus classes, differential equations, thermodynamics, and designs of machines - and somehow out of it all a bachelor's degree materialized. Job interviews asked about a GPA. When in doubt, it was always best to embellish. Dean's List? Yeah sure (uh yeah, for like a semester). Careers began, and incomes began to reach seriously taxable levels, oh, the days of chores were long gone.

But there were rumors. There was a script. New episodes were in the works, and they would be called Prequels. Another Star Wars Trilogy! And the people rejoiced. A flood of childhood memories returned, and the excitement grew to fantastical porportions. Episode I. Number One. Numero Uno. Every saga has a beginning, you better believe it baby! There were fans from the first go around in '77, and fans that had never seen a Star Wars movie released in theatres, and fans that were altogether new to Star Wars. There were fans everywhere. Fans of all kinds. Little fans. Big fans. Then when two Jedi appeared on the big screen, it sent a chill down the spine, and then the sight of old buddy Artoo brought a smile to the face. The podrace! Attack of Darth Maul, and the sight of how intense a lightsaber duel could really be. Holy crap that was cool. One love of my life (Brooke) met another love of my life (Star Wars), and as it has been said, "The circle is now complete."

Just like the Sith, something was lurking just beneath the surface of the Star Wars universe, among all those fans. Among some fans, fandom itself became measured and stratified. There were those who claimed to be "True" fans or "Hardcore" fans. They looked down their noses at the other fans, pretending aristocracy. There were false Fans. Fandom became a complex experience. There were rumblings of malcontent, even open despise for a certain clumsy Gungan. Poor outcast, he was, but still he was funny. The kids loved him, and some that weren't kids anymore thought his slapstick was amusing. Who couldn't help but laugh out loud when the bewildered Gungan got his head caught in the podracer's energy binder! Not only were the Gungans despised but the little furry Ewoks were berated (again) as well. Then the romantic scenes of Episode II were despised. And Obi-wan was criticized. And Order 66 couldn't be real. And Grievous wasn't tough enough. And Mace Windu lives dammit!

The Internet was both a blessing and a curse. Fans became spoiled. Imaginations were neglected as the folks at LucasFilm had to continually explain Star Wars to its Fans. Gaps in the plot had to be explained! Flaws in the continuity had to be explained! The special edition scenes were blasphemy! Who did the Flannelled One think he was, changing the beloved Star Wars Original Trilogy so willy-nilly like that. Scores of experts claimed they had a better storyline that Star Wars should have followed. Fans debated the 'facts' of Star Wars, and arguments erupted. Fans griped at other fans. Fans griped at the Flannelled One. Fans griped that they wanted more, then when more was to be given in the form of a tv series, fans griped about would that be good enough. Fans wanted everything their way. Fans said that they, not the Flannelled One, owned Star Wars.

STOP!

Tyler Hamrick (age 8) took the microphone at a Q&A at Celebration III in Indianapolis, Indiana. He addressed the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas, with only a sincere "Thank You." And that really sums it all up right there. Well said, Tyler. Well said. (from Insider #84 page 88)

Yes, Thank You, Mr Lucas.

I read a comment here on the blogs that related it best like this: "Star Wars is George Lucas' sandbox, and we all just get to play in it."

True that.