[ARC Review] Secrets of the Force by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman

Release date: July 13, 2021
Format: eARC
eARC provided by: St. Martin's Press

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Secrets of the Force: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Wars is the ultimate collection of stories covering the entire history of the Star Wars franchise, featuring recollections and tidbits from some of the biggest names in Star Wars lore: directors, authors, producers, actors, and George Lucas himself. And while Secrets of the Force is centered on tales from a galaxy far, far away, there’s so much cinema history packed into this volume that any sci-fi cinephile will surely enjoy the journey as well. 

I love Star Wars, and have been reading Star Wars novels since the 90s, but I was wary that I would have a hard time getting into a written oral history of the franchise. All my worries were for naught, and I quickly fell into the narrative, each new voice adding a new level and dimension to a history only they know. 

This oral history was certainly thorough. Starting at the dawn of New Hollywood and how that gave way to summer blockbusters like Star Wars, the editors take the reader all the way past the sequels and to the current television series like The Mandalorian and The Bad Batch. Not only is this volume as up-to-date as it can be, but each topic and area of franchise history is thoroughly explored from multiple angles. There is even discussion about The Star Wars Holiday Special, which I was not expecting to be included or mentioned given how Lucas generally pretends that television special never happened. 

Whether you are a new Star Wars fan looking to explore the galaxy for the first time, or a fan from way back wanting to relive some memories from a new perspective, this new oral history is a fantastic addition to the Star Wars lore. The numerous voices contributing to the volume all seamlessly weave together to tell a history as grand as the Star Wars saga itself. Light on references or hard facts but heavy on personal experiences from those who lived the adventure, Secrets of the Force: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Wars is entertaining, educational, and a must-read pure delight for the Star Wars fan in your life.

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy of Secrets of the Force in exchange for an honest review.