From AudioFile
Science often does not lend itself to audio. Listening takes too much concentration, and it's difficult to reread sections. But this is different. The material is no less difficult-but the author has broken it down into easy-to-follow pieces. The author, a former NASA scientist, uses various aspects of the Star Wars movies to explore serious scientific topics-for instance, the likelihood of atmospheres similar to Earth's developing on other planets, as well as sophisticated robotics. The reader's pacing makes it easy to follow the author's points. The listener will come away with a much enhanced view of astrophysics, planetary biology and other topics. R.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Not So Long Ago, Not So Far Away
Even though I was only 11 years old when I first saw Star Wars, I had two reactions to the scene of Luke Skywalker zipping across the Tatooine desert in his land speeder. I first thought, "Cool! I want one of those." My next thought was, "How does that work? Every hovercraft I've ever seen creates a seal between the craft and the ground to contain the air." I was a precocious child.

Silly me. It wasn't hovering at all. It was defying gravity — a significantly more complicated feat, but one that easily explains the lack of a hovercraft skirt. And according to Jeanne Cavelos in The Science of Star Wars , such an antigravity vehicle would need only to carry around a cargo of "exotic matter" equal to its own mass to counteract the planet's gravity. "Exotic matter" — the real term for "any material that pushes objects apart, that has in essence repulsive gravity or antigravity" — it turns out, is a theoretical probability. Sure, science has never detected, let alone seen or confined, any of this negative matter (not to be confused with antimatter), but on paper, it's out there. So while on earth we are a long, long way from flying without worrying about Bernoulli's principle, maybe a more technologically advanced civilization millions of light years away has mastered antigravity.

The possibility of worlds as fantastical as Tatooine, of ships like the Millennium Falcon hitting light speed, of light sabers, truly intelligent robots, and socially evolved alien species is the beauty of books like The Science ofStarWars . Adding even a hint of science fact to the far-out science fiction of George Lucas makes it all that much more magical.

And as she did in The Science of the X-Files , Cavelos packs a lot of facts into The Science of Star Wars . Breaking down the fictional Star Wars realm into chapters on "Planetary Environments," "Aliens," "Droids," "Spaceships and Weapons," and "The Force," Cavelos draws on geology, astronomy, cosmology, ecology, biology, computer science, physics, astrophysics, and psychology (to name just a few) to apply the latest scientific thinking to topics as diverse as the Jawas' glowing eyes and the gait of C-3PO.

Star Wars is escapist mythology. But after decades of development, it is also a well-thought-out and rich alternative universe. The Science of Star Wars makes the details of that unreal world more real than you may have imagined.

—Greg Sewell

FROM THE PUBLISHER

How possible is this galaxy "far, far away"?

In this entertaining and informative work, former NASA scientist and Star Wars fan Jeanne Cavelos explores the scientific possibilities and questions raised by the Star Wars films and books. From Star Wars: A New Hope to The Phantom Menace, Cavelos leaves no stone unturned in her attempt to question the basic scientific principles underlying the technology of America's most popular science fiction series. Enlisting the aid of leading experts from today's cutting-edge scientific disciplines, Cavelos writes in an accessible, easy-to-read style that will appeal to both young science enthusiasts and the most wizened scholars.

This is science at its best. Here you'll learn: the principles of quantum physics as exemplified by the Millennium Falcon; the latest technological advances in the field of robotics; how close we are to creating our own R2-D2 — and C-3PO — like robots; Einstein's theory of relativity and how it affects space travel in the films; all about wormholes, black holes, hyper drive, and so many other mind-blowing scientific facts. The perfect gift for the budding young scientist, science enthusiasts everywhere, and all Star Wars fans, The Science of Star Wars is a fantastic book that even Yoda would love.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The opening in May of the new Star Wars film has hardcore fans in a frenzy. Timed to release with The Phantom Menace, this book follows in the tradition of The Physics of Star Trek and Caveloss own The Science of the X-Files. The author examines five major areasplanetary environments, aliens, droids, space ships and weapons, and the Forcein sufficient detail to satisfy even knowledgeable fans. Take Lukes desert home world, Tatooine. When Star Wars first came out, scientists doubted the existence of planets in other solar systems, but since 1995 several have been found. Could a planet form around a binary star? Yes, but due to gravitational forces only if the stars were very far apart or very close, so as Luke gazes out at his two suns setting, he sees an accurate portrayal of a binary system. Most of the Star Wars aliens fare equally well. The Wookies keen sense of smell, for example, would give them an alternative means of communication so that they might need to vocalize only with grunts and howls. Can the force be with you? Physicist David Bohm posited a quantum potential force that would interpenetrate and bind together everything in the universe, but only Yoda knows if we can direct it with our minds. Caveloss engaging style makes this book a treat, with no science background necessary. (May) FYI: The Science of the X-Files has been nominated for a 1998 Bram Stoker Award in the Nonfiction category.

School Library Journal

YA-Cavelos, an astrophysicist, mathematician, writer, and teacher, examines the science behind George Lucas's popular series of movies, comparing his fictional universe with the universe as we currently understand it. She points out that in the two decades since the debut of Star Wars: A New Hope, science has come much closer to making Lucas's vision a reality. Rapid interstellar travel is theoretically possible. Extraterrestrial life is apparently more abundant than previously thought. Robots seem to need emotions to learn and interact effectively with humans. There may even be-dare we say it?-a Force. The writing is clear and geared toward readers with "no particular science background" although some is necessary. The author lightens the jargon with humor, and her examples for scientific principals and phenomena are apt. For example, Schrodinger's paradox is illustrated not by a cat in a box, but by Princess Leia in a cell. This book will appeal to the many fans of the films.-Susan Salpini, Purcellville Library, VA Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Booknews

Cavelos has taught astronomy at Michigan State and Cornell, trained astronauts for NASA, and written about the science of the television series . She is also a great fan of the movies. She explains to non-technical readers how the course of science might soon intersect with such fantasies as interstellar travel, robots capable of thought and emotion, habitable alien planets, bizarre intelligent life forms, high-tech weapons and spacecraft, and advanced psychokinetic abilities. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Christian Science Monitor