Author Archive: John Rivers
Neon Genesis Evangelion (anime review).
In 1991, Gainax, the anime studio that would later go on to create ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995), made an OVA entitled ‘Otaku No Video’. The story of a young man named Ken Kubo who falls in with some anime fans that go about changing his life. ‘Otaku No Video’ is notable for the moment early […]
Star Wars Mazes by Sean C Jackson (book review).
Are there many mazes in Star Wars? The labyrinthine corridors of the Death Star come to mind as do the dark caves that both Luke and Rey explore in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘The Last Jedi’. It’ s a subject that has fascinated author, illustrator and ‘Star Wars’ fan Sean C Jackson whose book […]
The Art Of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge by Amy Ratcliffe (book review).
I haven’t yet been lucky enough to visit Galaxy’s Edge, a slice of the ‘Star Wars’ universe carved out of Disney’s two major theme parks, Disneyland in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. The closest I got was on a trip to the former in 2018 when the world of Black Spire Outpost on […]
How To Speak Astromech With BB-8: A Communication Manual I.M Rollin and illustrated JAKe (book review).
‘How To Speak Astromech With BB-8: A Communications Manual’ is a follow-up to the ‘How To Speak’ books on R2D2 and Wookies, previously published by Chronicle Books and written and illustrated by JAKe, an artist who has not only worked on ‘Star Wars’ but also properties such as Titan Comics’ ‘Doctor Who’ series. Presented in […]
The Art Of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker by Phil Szostak, foreword by Doug Chiang (book review).
I’ll be honest, readers, I’ve put off reviewing ‘The Art Of The Rise of Skywalker’ ever since I emerged, blinking into the sunlight a year ago from a trip to the cinema (remember those?) and felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment. ‘Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker’ (2019), JJ Abrams’ final part of the Skywalker […]
Star Wars: The Jedi Mind – Secrets From The Force For Balance And Peace by Amy Ratcliffe and illustrations by Christina Chung (book review).
‘Mindfulness’, a recent term designed to cover a range of meditation and breathing techniques is big business, worth now at least $1bn. The proliferation of books, apps and online content has exploded in recent years and whereas older texts such as ‘The Tao Of Pooh’ (1982), Benjamin Hoff’s exploration of Taoism seen through the lens […]
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (book review).
‘Piranesi’ by Susanna Clarke, the long-awaited follow-up novel to 2004’s fantasy epic ‘Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell’ has finally arrived and is very much worth the wait. It is a haunting mystery with a winsome hero that creates a very compelling read. The set-up is deceptively simple. Piranesi has always lived in the House. This […]
The Moviemaking Magic of Star Wars: Ships + Battles by Landry Walker (book review).
In episode 2 of ‘The Mandalorian’, now streaming on Disney Plus in the UK, our eponymous hero finds his spacecraft disassembled, cannibalised and generally wrecked. The scene reminds viewers of one of the great features of the ‘Star Wars’ universe, the physical and mechanical nature of its spaceships. It’s on this subject and how creative’s […]
Industrial Light & Magic Presents Making ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story by Rob Bredow, Foreword by Ron Howard (book review).
‘Solo’ the story of how smuggler Han Solo and best friend Chewbacca got together and attempted a couple of heists was an odd movie in some ways. It arrived five months after the divisive yet brilliant ‘The Last Jedi’, wracked with stories of production issues, on-set acting coaching and the removal of original directors Phil […]
Women Of The Galaxy by Amy Ratcliffe, foreword by Kathleen Kennedy (book review).
‘Women Of The Galaxy’ by Amy Ratcliffe is a timely and welcome book celebrating the female characters who have entertained and enthralled us throughout the ‘Star Wars’ saga. It provides an in-depth look, both in story terms and behind-the-scenes, of the women who have stood up to the Dark Side or in some cases, fully […]
