In this entertaining and informative work, former NASA scientist and Star Wars fan Jeanne Cavelos explores the scientific possibilities and questions raised by the Star Wars films and books. From Star Wars: A New Hope to The Phantom Menace, Cavelos leaves no stone unturned in her attempt to question the basic scientific principles underlying the technology of America's most popular science fiction series. Enlisting the aid of leading experts from today's cutting-edge scientific disciplines, Cavelos writes in an accessible, easy-to-read style that will appeal to both young science enthusiasts and the most wizened scholars.