Book Review: Darth Vader and Son by Jeffrey Brown

Star Wars was the first movie I ever saw in the movie theatres when I was a child.  It was 1977 and I was five years old, and that film opened mind to the world of imagination and role playing in a way that I had never experienced.  Oh, it was so hard to choose who to be!  Princess Leia was probably the first really strong adult female role model I encountered, but I also longed to be Han Solo, Darth Vader, and even (oddly) a Stormtrooper. 

Fast forward to graduate school in the 1990s when the original Star Wars film had its re-release in the theatres.  My friends and I stood in line to get tickets to make sure we could all attend the first showing.  Oh, the glory of watching it together on the big screen. I think The Force is as fine a theological statement of the 20th century as any, and I think that The Empire Strikes Back is about as perfect and definitive as the middle portion of a trilogy can be.

So it was to my delight and surprise that my Chronicle sales rep, Nanci, introduced me to a new book called Darth Vader & Son by Jeffrey Brown.  It's filled with great cartoons of Luke and Darth Vader, and most of the images incorporate at least one direct quotation or paraphrase from the various films.  My rep tells me that George Lucas liked the book so much that he gave permission for his trademark to be used in publication.  If you're a parent or a Star Wars fiend (especially the latter), you'll want to look through this book.  It's as groovy as the smooth stylings of the Mos Eiseley band!