Nearly a decade ago, a trio of fans began to compile material for the United States filming locations of the original Star Wars trilogy. In addition to locations used in the movie, the information includes other Lucasfilm places of interest, such as the Presidio in San Francisco where Industrial Light & Magic is located. The Yoda statue in the courtyard is open to the public, as well as a visitor’s center where many Lucasfilm books and collectibles are on display.
Since this book is not being published by Lucasfilm, the trio (Adam R. Parr, Carl Cunningham, and John Klinger) have created a Kickstarter page to help with marketing costs. They describe the book, titled In a galaxy not so far away: The Star Wars Filming Locations of the United States:
“This book was not written in a lab or a library; it’s based on our first-hand experience & extensive field work. It’s based on our travels, our research, our photography & our documentation. We’ve been to all the locations multiple times and have put together a book which has no rival. It provides detailed routes & directions, reference photographs & illustrations, beautiful original location & scene artwork, maps, travel tips, personal experiences, historical background info, photographic suggestions & much more. It is very much a complete & exhaustive reference, and a perfect addition to any Star Wars book collection.”
Reward levels are offered for anyone who pledges money towards the project, beginning at the lowly amount of one dollar. Rewards for larger amounts include location photo and art prints, signed copies of the book, and, for the ultimate pledge, a guided tour of the Death Valley locations.
In a galaxy not so far away acts as a tour guide for any fan wanting to follow in the footsteps of the beloved characters of the saga. (Just be sure to walk single file, to hide your numbers). Full color pages include written directions, GPS coordinates, and travel time. Want to see where the Ewoks lived and sang Yub Nub? Instructions to Redwood National Park are at your disposal, along with how to gain access to the beautiful serenity of the forest. I would have tried to go there myself during my recent visit to California, but there simply wasn’t time. I settled for the next best thing, the Muir Woods, and there may or may not have been pictures of Ewok action figures taken against the forest backdrop. Maybe.
Also included is the Road to Jabba’s Palace and the Mos Eisley Overlook (you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy).
If you’re a fan, I encourage you to check out the Star Wars Road Trips facebook page and the Kickstarter page and show your support. Only two days are left, however.
But remember, the Jundland Wastes are not to be traveled lightly.