Hello fellow Wookieepedians! Recently, we had the opportunity to chat with Dan Zehr. This interview is the third installment in an interview miniseries with the authors of Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy, to explore some of their insights on the project.
Many thanks to him for sitting down with us!
Q1: How did you first get into Star Wars as a fan?
A1: I remember seeing commercials for Star Wars when I was a boy. We weren't allowed to see PG movies when we were growing up (it was the late seventies), but my cousin told my mom that it was ok for kids to see. We went to the theater several times but it was always sold out. Finally, after being told many times there were no tickets available, we went and saw the original film at a drive-in movie theater in New Orleans, Louisiana. I have been hooked ever since.
Q2: Who is your favorite character in Star Wars?
A2: Darth Vader. He is the most compelling and nuanced.
Q3: On a title like Star Wars Encyclopedia, what is it like working alongside several authors?
A3: It is a great honor. I respect my peers both as friends and as a fan of their work so it inspires me to raise my game, so to speak, when writing my sections.
Q4: How does this book differ from other things you have worked on?
A4: This book is less analytical than The Star Wars Book. It is more focused on succinctly describing the character arcs of iconic characters and narrowing down key aspects of planets, vehicles, and weapons. It's a great responsibility to be in charge of synthesizing the key aspects of so many integral aspects of Star Wars.
Q5: What’s your research process like for a book of this type? (Especially with the added emphasis of working in content from many types of media.)
A5: Disney+ is an invaluable tool for a book like this. I can readily pull up a specific scene and look at it from many different perspectives. Plus, my bookshelf at home has a lot of wonderful resources from the history of Star Wars publications.
Q6: Do you have any favorite entries you wrote?
A6: Any time I can write about Din Djarin or Grogu I am happy!
Q7: Were there any fun “Easter eggs” or pieces of lore you were able to include in the book?
A7: I tried to keep it pretty close to what you see or experience in a Star Wars story. I only get to play in this wonderful galactic sandbox.
Q8: If you could tell your younger self that you were able to contribute to the Star Wars lore and galaxy, how do you imagine they would react?
A8: I would have been overwhelmingly excited and honored beyond belief. And as it turns out, that is exactly how I do feel!
Q9: If people would like to keep in touch with you and your works, what social media platforms can they find you on?
A9: You can find my podcast and social media at www.coffeewithkenobi.com and my Star Wars books on my Amazon author page.
