My first memory is sitting in the back seat of my parent’s car at the local drive-in. It was 1977, I was 3, and “Star Wars: A New Hope” was playing on the big screen. That image of Obi-Wan Kenobi facing Darth Vader on the Death Star is still there burned into my brain.  I was “hooked” into this galaxy far far away. It was everything I love about movies. As I got older I got to see the other two movies. I saw “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” when my brother’s best friend invited me to come over and see it on VHS, cause I never got the chance to see it at the theater, nor did I have a VCR. Then, for my birthday, I was allowed to go to the theater alone for the first time to see “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”. It was the second showing of the movie in 1984. I did not get to see it when it first came out, but that did not make it any less special for me.

Like most poor kids I didn’t have many toys, so I enjoyed what I had. My grandma bought me my first action figure, Obi-Wan Kenobi, the one with the “sliding out” lightsaber. As time went by I collected as many as I could, but I hit the jackpot one Christmas when Montgomery Ward closed out their toy department in my mall and my mom bought me a lot of star wars figures including the Millennium Falcon. As a huge Han Solo fan, the Falcon was the greatest gift ever. I so badly wanted To jump in the Falcon and fly off into space. She knew how much I loved Star Wars and did everything to make that Christmas special for me. As I got older I started collecting the Star Wars statues that line every shelf in my room.

I was introduced to roleplaying games and so “being the Star Wars nut that I am” I had to buy the game produced by West End Games. I didn’t get to play it much, but I started making characters I would like to play. Like Chaz T. Solo. Han’s son that he never knew about from his relationship with Bria Tharen. He was like his father (a smuggler) with a ship he called the “Peregrine Falcon.” From that, I started making up stories. I wanted to go back to the galaxy that inspired me and fueled my imagination. I later got the newer versions of the Star Wars roleplaying games by Wizards of the coast ending with the Saga edition.

In 1991, a friend of mine told me about a new book called “Star Wars: Heir to the Empire”, By Timothy Zahn. It was so awesome how he made you feel like you were watching the movies again. The characters were great and it made so much sense that the Star Wars universe would go in that direction. Of course, Timothy Zahn became one of my favorite writers. I don’t think any other writer captures the feeling of seeing the movies better than him. Not saying other Star Wars writers are not good, just that Zahn is my favorite. I have read over 90 Star Wars novels, some of which were awesome and others I try to forget.

When the Prequels hit the theaters I got excited, Star Wars was back. I was happy to see the old republic, the Jedi Order, and all the worlds. While most complain about the prequels, yes there are flaws and things I would change, but I still enjoy them. For they added so much to the “Universe”. From the amazing lightsaber duels to the general history of the galaxy, there is a lot to appreciate. As to what the Jedi order was like. What the Sith were like and how the Emperor gained power. But based on the complaints of many I thought that there would not be any more movies. Though most people who complained seemed to only have one argument (Jar Jar) and that irritated me cause he while he was overdone, he did not ruin the movies.

Now we have “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” I am torn. For the most part, I accepted “The Force Awakens”, though I really dislike the Starkiller base plot that was not well thought out. The main problem is that it left so many open-ended plots that we had to wait to see “The Last Jedi” to see if it was going to all make sense. To say the ball was dropped is an understatement. This galaxy far far away was destroyed and as I look back on what had inspired me and became a passion for me I can only ignore these movies. Because to accept them is to trash what was before. People who like these movies can’t have really paid attention to them. They broke the continuity and destroyed characters, not just Luke but in my opinion, they messed up Han and Leia too. Also, They failed to realize the importance of R2D2 and C3PO. (So if you don’t know what I am talking about ask your self why they were in every Star Wars movie George Lucas did.)

My life was very inspired by Star Wars. It played a big role in who I am as a writer and creator. But now I have to move on carrying the memories of what I grew up with, cherishing them and realizing that what was will never be again. I will create my own galaxy and try to inspire others as it inspired me. So thank you, George Lucas, for giving the world something so awesome. I will always love Star Wars, but I will not call what Disney is doing Star Wars. They are the expanded universe and therefore not canon to me.