LAIR OF THE DARK SIDE. CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF 'SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE'!

Danger and darkness await Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa within the ruins of a long-lost Mimban Temple, as the evil Darth Vader emerges from the shadows to claim the Force-powered Kaiburr crystal for the Empire, and exact his revenge on the bold Rebel Alliance leaders that destroyed the Death Star, in this truly gorgeous original art by Ralph McQuarrie, that has since become the stuff of artistic history, for the 1978 Del Rey book cover of SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE-then the first all-new original novel featuring the main STAR WARS characters, written by Alan Dean Foster and approved by George Lucas- to generate continued interest in the saga in the eventual build-up to the next feature adventure, which was then a few years off. The Expanded Universe of STAR WARS had well and truly begun!

The new adventure was a huge success internationally, as seen her with its UK Sphere Books release media publicity.

Originally published on the February 12th, 1978, next month's STAR WARS INSIDER, celebrating the classic book's 35th Anniversary, has an exclusive original transcript meeting between George Lucas and Alan Dean Foster from 1977 about the book and what it should be about, that will surely prove a terrific read!

And don't forget our original, highly detailed AFICIONADO ARCHIVE from a few years back on the book and its later DARK HORSE comic adaptation: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRX3hFdUpvWFFyTk0/edit?usp=sharing

Note: To see the PDF in its best viewing quality, please download the file to your desktop.

2015 UPDATE: The 'Star Wars' Sequel That Never Happened

CLASSIC IMAGE: TO SAVE A WORLD...

Despite his reputation as a maverick, Qui-Gon Jinn, as played by Liam Neeson, remains one of the Jedi Order's finest members, as his bravery and compassion help Queen Amidala and her people win the fierce Battle of Naboo, during the Prequel launching events of EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE.

Check out the AFICIONADO ARCHIVE covering the story that ultimately leads into the events of EPISODE I, the novel CLOAK OF DECEPTION, here:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRZGZTc2RyWmllSTA/edit?usp=sharing

Note: to see the PDF in its full quality, it's best to download the file directly to your desktop.

CLASSIC ART: AN EVOLVING FANTASY

Another great variation of the late John Berkey's unused movie poster art for STAR WARS in 1976/77, one of which ended up as the world famous cover of the novelisation by George Lucas (ghost written by an uncredited Alan Dean Foster).

Check out our previous AFICIONADO ARCHIVE on that original novel, and its differences to the classic movie, here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVROUhFN3p2T1Fja2s/edit?usp=sharing

ROTJ AT 30: JEDI OBSERVER!

In the forest of Endor, a concerned Luke watches as his sister recklessly jumps aboard a speeder bike in pursuit of Imperials, in a B/W image from RETURN OF THE JEDI sent to KENNER TOYS for visual reference in 1982/83.

With the possible return of Mark Hamill and Luke Skywalker to the next STAR WARS Trilogy, how about checking out this classic career feature on the actor, by Ian Trussler, here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRY1J0emJKNUhvTjg/edit?usp=sharing

Watch Hamill circa 1983 (I think on the set of the GOOD MORNING BRITAIN ITV breakfast show) talking about the future of Luke Skywalker in 2011 here: Mark Hamill discusses Star Wars Episode VII -Luke Skywalker in the Sequel Trilogy - YouTube

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE PREDATOR STALKS!

Dr. David West Reynolds dons the Boba Fett costume for all-new photos used for publicity and merchandise promotions.

Boba Fett gets ready to use some of his lethal weaponry in a posed publicity image taken post RETURN OF THE JEDI, presumably for the numerous marketing and licensing requirements with the reemergence of the STAR WARS saga from the nineties onwards.

Find out more about the origins of Boba Fett, and his place in the Classic Trilogy, with these AFICIONADO ARCHIVES PDF features, featuring lots of rare behind the scenes imagery.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRRllpNUtrRFp1RGM/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRODk1VUljVlpkcU0/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRVE1GbHM0OW5pa28/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRRFNCLTdfUG5WWDA/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRLUNrQlJtbWE4SVE/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRTlh0VFJSUHFPLUE/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRMkc2TFdTQ1FfS1k/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVReDZSaTZXUndNZjQ/edit?usp=sharing