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What does the red pill really show you?
Neo's superhuman powers were only inside of The Matrix. The outside world offered a different reality.
27 May, 2020
Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
- The "red pill" came into prominence as a way to break free of mental slavery in the 1999 movie, "The Matrix."
- In a new essay, Julian Walker points out Neo's powers only worked inside of the simulation—reality is a different story.
- The red vs blue pill question is a pop culture phenomenon, often used in questionable circumstances.
<p>Pop culture always translates strangely, though it appears we've hit peak "Idiocracy." Earlier this month, Brad Parscale, Donald Trump's campaign manager, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/07/trump-campaign-manager-brad-parscale-death-star" target="_blank">compared</a> the incumbent's re-election campaign to the Death Star. Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/1258393730991751168" target="_blank">retweeted</a> his face on Thanos's body. In both situations, the dark lords do not triumph. Given <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/499690-poll-biden-leads-trump-by-11-points-nationally" target="_blank">current polls</a> these sentiments may be prophetic, though we have to wonder what the inciters are thinking.</p><p>Why the administration would use these particular images has been debated. Some believe they're "owning the libs" by forcing a conversation on their blatant ignorance of science fiction and comic book mythology. Thanos's creator, Jim Starlin, was not nearly as kind in his <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/2019/12/thanos-creator-trump-fool-campaign-video-1202196613/" target="_blank">assessment</a>, expressing consternation over a "pompous dang fool using my creation to stroke his infantile ego." </p><p>Starlin is not the only creator upset by the misappropriation of an archetype. On May 17, Elon Musk <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1262076474565242880" target="_blank">urged</a> his nearly 35 million Twitter followers to "take the red pill." Ivanka Trump giddily replied, "Taken!," prompting Lily Wachowski, co-creator of "The Matrix," to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/may/18/lilly-wachowski-ivana-trump-elon-musk-twitter-red-pill-the-matrix-tweets" target="_blank">express anger</a> over the usage of a term she coined. </p><p>Once a symbol enters public consciousness there's no telling where it ends up. Nazi Germany infamously co-opted the Sanskrit term, <em>svástika</em>, meaning "auspicious" or "conducive to well-being," for its genocidal program. Likewise, "<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/apr/14/the-red-pill-reddit-modern-misogyny-manosphere-men" target="_blank">redpilling</a>" first emerged in a toxic subreddit where men try to feel better about themselves by denouncing women, liberals, and everything else failing to live up to their basement-level standards. </p><p>In the warped imaginations of members of The Red Pill, the rabbit hole referenced by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) in "The Matrix" is an alternative world in which women run everything while men are mere subordinates. While it appears Musk was referencing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/may/12/elon-musk-tesla-reopening-lockdown-timeline" target="_blank">his plan</a> to reopen Tesla's Fremont-based factory against California state orders, his tweet's lack of context makes the sentiment ambiguous. The same holds true for Ivanka Trump's buy-in, a wink at Musk in his quest to rally commerce, plant workers be damned. </p>
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="67a1f8a3c14476fa2952a6d5c79ed854"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zE7PKRjrid4?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span><p>That's Julian Walker's take on this phenomenon. In a <a href="https://medium.com/@julianwalker111/the-red-pill-overlap-19ad346c62f0" target="_blank">Medium article</a> that's been circulating—garnering a <a href="https://twitter.com/erik_davis/status/1263615736603238400" target="_blank">retweet</a> from William Gibson and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAeWEAMjWr2/" target="_blank">praise</a> from Jason Silva—Walker recalls feeling validated by the red pill scene in the 1999 movie. Morpheus offers Neo (Keanu Reeves) an opportunity to break the bondage of mental servitude. Capped by the adrenaline-fueled screams of "Wake Up" by Rage Against the Machine, this theme inspired a wave of Gen Xers to combat the influence of Big Corporate Interests on Big Government.</p><p>As with many messages, the meaning was thwarted by none other than Big Corporate Interests, even if those interests are solar powered instead of crudely extracted. Strangely, as Walker points out, the red pill has been adopted by conspiracy theorists representing both alt-right circles and the leftist "wellness" community. Musk's equivocation speaks truth to power to keyboard warriors intent on combating the ills of vaccines, 5G, reptilian overlords, and coronavirus hoaxes. Ambiguity is always necessary when logical thinking and the clarity of proof are absent. It is the conspiracist's native tongue. </p><p>In his essay, Walker points out that Neo doesn't actually awaken to the prophesied new world. In fact, quite the opposite: "The reality that Neo wakes up to is actually super-vulnerable and weak." </p><p>Walker <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayyRQ8TZrz8&t=159s" target="_blank">went further</a> during our conversation last week. The red pill is a spiritual initiation common in mythological storytelling. Upon entering the Matrix, Neo comes into harmony and discovers an awareness of energy through the ancient discipline of martial arts. Inside of the simulation he develops the ability to flow like water, deflecting any dangers thrown at him. Walker continues, </p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"What usually gets left out and forgotten is that he only has that while he's in the simulation. When he's inside of the Matrix, he learns how to bend the rules of the Matrix. But the real world is horrible. When he's not inside of the Matrix, the reality he's been woken up to is really scary and dark." </p>
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzMyNjU3My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjQwNTUyNX0.8_LGyXJNvICdE9DWr9V6ngWEsWceimE4kleSUdQ6SIc/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C314%2C0%2C1337&height=700" id="a328e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f25ca3d4e412e6b5dfe557e0e65a9859" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Keanu Reeves in "The Matrix"" />
Keanu Reeves stars in "The Matrix"
1999 Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Film.
<p>In the Bhagavad Gita, the archer Arjuna experiences an existential crisis while on the battlefield. He's tasked to kill his friends and cousins in what he believes to be a useless war. Krishna tells him to man up. As the world's most famous bowman, Arjuna's duty is death. The godhead, revealing his terrible form to the stunned archer, says he creates and destroys life like a man puts on and removes clothing. </p><p>Designed to honor class and duty in Indian society, the message is clear enough: All men die, often while being churned through the mechanism of war. Arjuna draws his bow and becomes the hero—temporarily; he too dies before achieving the crown. Only his brother, Yudhisthira, reaches the door of Swarga Loka.</p><p>We cheer when Neo downloads Taekwondo, Kempo, and even Drunken Boxing, yet what Morpheus reveals is much more pedestrian—and much more powerful. As Walker writes, "The grim reality he wakes up to is sackcloth clothes on emaciated and frightened human bodies, in an industrial wasteland."</p><p>Neo is all-powerful inside of the Matrix, much like keyboard conspiracists in the safety of subreddits. As much time as some spend there, however, it's not reality. "The signifier of the red pill," Walker concludes, "has the content of whatever is projected upon it in terms of the person's perspective." When you wall yourself off from oppositional thought—as we used to call it, debate—the red pill becomes whatever you want it to be. </p><p>We won't shelter at home forever, though Big Tech makes it easy to shelter inside of your mind, at least until the archer comes for you. Interestingly, Arjuna didn't reach heaven because of his pride. He murdered his cousins and friends but could never overcome himself. He was, as Morpheus warned Neo, a slave in a system much bigger than he would ever be. There is no escape, only courage. Arjuna never reconciled that fact. </p><p>Neo recognized that knowledge gained inside of the Matrix has to be brought back to the real world—a world, today, <a href="https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6" target="_blank">marked</a> by the hundred-thousandth American death due to the novel coronavirus. The red pill opened his eyes to destruction and decay in society. Neo vowed to open the eyes of his peers upon his return. Strangely, he didn't promise them more cars. <br></p><p>--</p><p><em>Stay in touch with Derek on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/derekberes" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DerekBeresdotcom" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://derekberes.substack.com/" target="_blank">Substack</a>. His next book is</em> "<em>Hero's Dose: The Case For Psychedelics in Ritual and Therapy."</em></p>
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The future of space travel is starting right now
Astronaut Garrett Reisman talks NASA, SpaceX, and where we're headed next.
06 April, 2020
- 2020 is off to rocky start, but there are some exciting things happening on the space travel front.
- Private companies like SpaceX and Boeing have partnered with NASA to get American spacecrafts into space, back to the moon, and onwards to Mars.
- "I think in a hundred years first of all we're going to be celebrating 2020, so 2120 get ready for a big party," says astronaut Garrett Reisman.
Ask Sophia the Robot: What can AI teach humans?
Through experiencing time in a nonlinear way, can artificial intelligence provide us more perspective?
19 March, 2020
- Is Sophia the Robot, of Hanson Robotics, conscious? Not quite, she says. Instead, she reflects the consciousness of humans in the same way the moon reflects the light of the sun.
- While we don't know if humans possess free will, she advises us to act as if we do. We can benefit from this.
- So, what can humans learn from robots? Artificial intelligence can view the world in a way that's more objective, being present while still able to look toward the future and the past.
What the 3rd Star Wars trilogy was supposed to be about
Spoiler: Microbiomes in space!
21 December, 2019
Image source: Disney
- A recent interview reveals the visionary inspiration behind Star Wars.
- The story was originally an excerpt from the Journal of the Whills.
- The Whills were the force behind the Force.
<p><em>RELAX. THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS NO SPOILERS.</em></p><p><em><br></em></p><p>As the final trilogy of <em>Star Wars</em>—or the ninth segment of the <em>Star Wars</em> <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=ennead&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8" target="_blank">ennead</a>—takes flight, the curtain is coming down on the Skywalker saga. As the story was originally envisioned by George Lucas, however, the original plot line and conclusion would have been <em>very</em> different from the one presented in <em>Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker</em>. It would have been a dip into the genuinely metaphysical, and an exploration of a biological concept Lucas somehow intuited by 1973 and which science only recently identified: the microbiome. Lucas is often called a visionary—it turns out it's truer than many of us realized.</p>
The Force
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjE5NjY0NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwOTcxNzc4MH0.b2HHFBw1rAe1sUFfjvIfOU0hPGWl9T6o23zxoRuv-yQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="d786f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ba22974c1e8265a0a394fe6c11ce4ef7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Yoda.
Image source: Disney
<p>Whatever one thinks of <em>Star Wars </em>as movies, there's no denying that Lucas contributed to humanity something that transcends the <em>Star Wars</em> movies and their fans: the Force. The vaguely theological, unseen struggle between opposites—good and evil, darkness and light—has become a secular religion, if such a thing is possible. While few would say they actually <em>believe</em> in it, few would say that they <em>don't</em>, even if they call it something else.</p><p>In its original conception, it turns out the Force was the activity of microbiotic beings called the "Whills," who were the real, if hidden, heroes and villains of <em>Star Wars</em>. As Lucas has said, "The Whills, in a general sense, they are the Force." </p><p>Lucas recently revealed, "There's this world of creatures that operate differently than we do. I call them the Whills. And the Whills are the ones who actually control the universe. They feed off the Force."</p><p>Lucas planned for the third trilogy to largely leave the Skywalkers, etc. behind and shift the action down to where the story was <em>really</em> happening: the Whills' microbiome.</p><p>Disney said, um, nope, and wrote its own final trilogy without Lucas' involvement. And without the Whills. Says Lucas, "If I'd held onto the company I could have done it, and then it would have been done. Of course, a lot of the fans would have hated it, just like they did <em>Phantom Menace</em> and everything, but at least the whole story from beginning to end would be told."</p><p>Clearly, the beloved movie characters would have gotten a major demotion if we were to learn it's really the heroism of the Whills we're seeing.</p>Reading between the lines
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjE5NjY0Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMDQwNTk4OH0.7n664SyAI4nmEJb4YaXTXe8ii1mFFJjNr_XhSHfG7wg/img.jpg?width=980" id="3bfcf" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1695e62eb9d061a26a3255da974d93fc" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Full of mid-chlorians is young Annakin.
Image source: Disney
<p>Fans of the movies have long known something about the Whills. In early story notes, summaries, and script drafts that have been published, notably in <a href="https://amzn.to/34MGkoA" target="_blank"><em>Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays</em></a>, the Whills loom large as the central focus of the whole saga. It was, in fact, originally called <em>Journal of the Whills</em>, and was to be presented to the audience by an unseen narrator, a Whill:</p><p><em>"Originally, I was trying to have the story be told by somebody else; there was somebody watching this whole story and recording it, somebody probably wiser than the mortal players in the actual events. I eventually dropped this idea, and the concept behind the Whills turned into the Force." — George Lucas</em></p><p>Passing references to the Whills pop up here and there in the films released before Lucas sold the rights to Disney, particularly in the widely disliked first trilogy, released decades after the acclaimed second trio of films.</p><p>Critics and viewers alike rolled their eyes in <em>The Phantom Menace </em>when young Annakin Skywalker was found to have a high "mid-chlorian" count. Here, Lucas was laying the groundwork for the Whills: Mid-chlorians, he now says, were micro-organisms that served as conduits though which their host, say, a Jedi, could communicate with the Whills. The more mid-chlorians someone has, the more in touch with the Force that person is.</p>The Whills revealed
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjE5NjY0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5NjMwNjgzN30.Q7A9eY7_Ve688UgfEdsACcXuzrc7v8PQibqHQXySQcY/img.jpg?width=1245&coordinates=0%2C51%2C0%2C693&height=700" id="eee46" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7a9bf535ee4414db512a7277f474187d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />George Lucas
Image source: Art Zelin/Getty
<p>The central role played by the Whills in the <em>Star Wars</em> universe became clear only recently, thanks to an eye-opening interview Lucas gave director James Cameron as part of compelling AMC series <em>James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction</em>. The publishers of the <a href="https://amzn.to/2Q4UVGK" target="_blank">companion book</a> for the series, <a href="https://insighteditions.com" target="_blank">Insight Editions</a>, published an <a href="https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/zzvghryuxyimgbdxhjyk.png" target="_blank">excerpt</a> of Lucas' interview online.</p><p>In his interview, Lucas recalls the thinking that led him to the Whills back in the early 1970s. It's remarkably prescient regarding what science now describes as our personal <a href="https://depts.washington.edu/ceeh/downloads/FF_Microbiome.pdf" target="_blank">microbiomes</a>: "Back in the day, I used to say ultimately what this means is we were just cars, vehicles, for the Whills to travel around in. We're vessels for them."</p><p>Nothing much is known about how Lucas would have visualized the Whills, and we may never know, if even he does. Meanwhile, bringing Lucas' original <em>Star Wars</em> vision into focus is fascinating. When <em>Episode IV, a New Hope</em> first exploded into the theaters, it played primarily as a deliberate and hokey—if thrilling—tribute to the director's beloved Saturday-matinee sci-fi popcorn serials. Who knew its origin had been so profound?</p>
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9 of the best Star Wars gifts not named Baby Yoda
Baby Yoda merch is on the way, but these Star Wars gifts are available right now.
07 December, 2019
Image via LEGO on Amazon
- Since the launch of Disney Plus, the internet has gone crazy for Baby Yoda.
- Merchandise for the cute character was intentionally delayed, but there are other options.
- The items in this gift guide are for anyone who loves Star Wars or wants to learn more.
<p><br></p></div>
<p>Since the launch of Disney Plus and the premiere of <em>The Mandalorian</em>, <em>Star Wars</em> fans have been obsessed with one thing and one thing only: the asset, or as he is known to the internet, Baby Yoda. Not a lot is known about the character or his species, but the overwhelming cuteness has won the hearts of fans old and new, and they can't wait to get their hands on the merchandise.<br><br>Having successfully kept the character and by extension the puppet a secret leading up to the show, director Jon Favreau told <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/why-jon-favreau-chose-baby-yoda-we-dont-know-a-lot-details-his-species-1259164" target="_blank">The Hollywood Reporter</a> that he knew the risks of keeping Baby Yoda out of all pre-release marketing. "By holding back on that one product, we knew that we may have had the disadvantage of not having toys available day and date," he said, "but what we got in exchange was an excitement surrounding the character, because everybody felt like they discovered him together." <br><br>Pre-orders have begun to crop up for Baby Yoda plush dolls, T-shirts, and other licensed products, but <em>Star Wars</em> as a property is much bigger than one cute asset. The gifts on this list include toys of other adorable characters as well as resources for learning more information about a galaxy far, far away.</p>
This 'Star Wars' box set is worth it for the special features alone.
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="1PMQW61575687912" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Complete-Saga-Episodes/dp/B013GTX6JI?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B013GTX6JI" target="_blank"> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51SrUGvfzOL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Star Wars - The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI)</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Complete-Saga-Episodes/dp/B013GTX6JI?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B013GTX6JI" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$64.70</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$47.27</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$45.95</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Whether you're completely new to <em>Star Wars</em> or you've seen the films dozens of times, there's no better way to learn than to watch what director George Lucas and his collaborators created back in 1977. This box set features the first six episodic films, beginning with the original trilogy (<em>A New Hope</em>, <em>The Empire Strikes Back</em>, and <em>Return of the Jedi</em>) and including the prequels (<em>The Phantom Menace</em>, <em>Attack of the Clones</em>, and <em>Revenge of the Sith</em>). There are also over 40 hours of special features, including commentaries and documentaries that take fans behind the scenes of one of the most influential stories ever told. Sure you could stream the films on Disney Plus, but there are some things that everyone should own physical copies of.</p>There would be no Baby Yoda without Master Yoda.
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="U70GK51575687912" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Star-Wars-Collectible-Minifigure/dp/B07Q2N1SJV?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07Q2N1SJV" target="_blank"> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/517TwxOjJsL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">LEGO Star Wars: Attack of The Clones Yoda 75255 Yoda Building Model and Collectible Minifigure with Lightsaber, New 2019 (1,771 Pieces)</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Star-Wars-Collectible-Minifigure/dp/B07Q2N1SJV?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07Q2N1SJV" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$99.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">Too low to display</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>We still don't know how (or if) Yoda and Baby Yoda are connected beyond them being the same species, but that hasn't stopped everyone from referring to the new character by his predecessor's name. This official LEGO set lets you build the centuries-old Jedi Master using over 1700 pieces. A Yoda minifigure is included, as is an informational card that lists his age and his apprentices. </p>Porgs used to be the cutest creatures in the 'Star Wars' films.
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="CF2HS21575687912" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Jedi-Life-Sized-Interactive-Action/dp/B0759HS8GK?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0759HS8GK" target="_blank"> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41WjMDttvlL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">The Last Jedi: Life-Sized Interactive Action Porg Plush</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Jedi-Life-Sized-Interactive-Action/dp/B0759HS8GK?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0759HS8GK" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$29.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$20.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Introduced in 2017's <em>Star Wars: Episode VIII </em><em>The Last Jedi</em>, porgs are bird-like creatures native to the planet Ahch-To. Before <em>The Mandalorian</em>, porgs were widely considered to be the cutest animals in <em>Star Wars</em>, with fuzzy plushes like this one flying off the shelves. Some Baby Yoda merch is on pre-order until March 2020, but porgs are still adorable and their merch is available to purchase right now.</p>This highly anticipated new video game fills in gaps between two of the films.
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="34GP2E1575687912" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Jedi-Fallen-PlayStation-Sony/dp/B07DJX3W29?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07DJX3W29" target="_blank"> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51hbiHPzTaL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order - PlayStation 4</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Jedi-Fallen-PlayStation-Sony/dp/B07DJX3W29?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B07DJX3W29" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$59.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$59.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$53.50</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is the newest video game set in the Star Wars universe. Chronologically, the game takes place after <em>Episode III: Revenge of the Sith</em> but before <em>A New Hope</em>. It focuses on a young Jedi in training who, along with the rest of his kind, is being hunted by the Galactic Empire. <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/15/star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-review" target="_blank">IGN</a> rated the game a 9 out of 10 and praised Respawn's attention to detail, brilliant animation, and well-crafted story.</p>From Princess Leia to Rey, this book is devoted to the heroines of the saga.
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="AUJXZO1575687912" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Galaxy-Character-Encyclopedia/dp/1452166315?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1452166315" target="_blank"> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51comNfLbML.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy (Star Wars Character Encyclopedia, Art of Star Wars, SciFi Gifts for Women)</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Galaxy-Character-Encyclopedia/dp/1452166315?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1452166315" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$29.95</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$16.00</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$3.50</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>"Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy" by Amy Ratcliffe profiles over 75 women from all facets of Star Wars, including the films, comics, video games, and novels. It's the perfect gift for anyone who wants to learn more about dozens of dynamic heroes (and villains) who have contributed to universe and continue to make it feel real.</p>Get to know the man who started it all.
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="JPQ5G21575687912" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/George-Lucas-Brian-Jay-Jones/dp/0316257427?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0316257427" target="_blank"> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51iy6ikqM6L.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">George Lucas: A Life</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/George-Lucas-Brian-Jay-Jones/dp/0316257427?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0316257427" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$18.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$9.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$3.50</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>George Lucas is the architect that built <em>Star Wars </em>into what it is today and forever changed cinema. This biography by Brian Jay Jones tells Lucas' story from the mid-1940s up to 2016, one year after <em>The Force Awakens</em> released in theaters and one year before <em>The Last Jedi</em>. Extending beyond <em>Star Wars</em>, the book paints an almost complete portrait of who George Lucas is and how the work has shaped his life.</p>Test your knowledge and gain much more from over 1,800 trivia questions.
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="S8OR5I1575687912" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Trivial-Pursuit-Knowledge-Instructions/dp/B01BOV68O0?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01BOV68O0" target="_blank"> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51pvngUdZWL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Hasbro Trivial Pursuit: Star Wars the Black Series Edition - Test Your Knowledge with Over 1,800 Easy To Extremely Difficult Questions for Ultimate Fans - 2-4 Players - Instructions Included</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Trivial-Pursuit-Knowledge-Instructions/dp/B01BOV68O0?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01BOV68O0" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$39.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$21.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Ranging from easy to extremely difficult, this version of Hasbro's Trivial Pursuit includes questions about all of the saga films to-date. Designed for 2-4 players, the game is all about testing your fandom while also teaching you more than you ever thought you would know about <em>Star Wars</em>. Grab a few friends or family members and see which of you is really one with the Force.</p>Dive deeper into the science beneath the science fiction.
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="8SEVBW1575687912" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Science-Star-Wars-Scientific-Behind/dp/1944686282?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1944686282" target="_blank"> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41NToOYXEYL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">The Science of Star Wars: The Scientific Facts Behind the Force, Space Travel, and More!</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Science-Star-Wars-Scientific-Behind/dp/1944686282?SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1944686282" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$14.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$8.08</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$2.33</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>A pioneer in science and science fiction studies, author Mark Brake tackles questions in "The Science of Star Wars" that most fans never knew they had. What would it cost to build a Death Star, why are Wookiees hairier than humans, and could we actually live on a gas giant planet like Bespin? Grab a copy of the book for these and more interesting explorations.</p>Control the movements of your own adorable droid.
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="EBWKYH1575687912" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sphero-Battle-Worn-Droid-Force-Collectors/dp/B01LY8FPKS?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01LY8FPKS" target="_blank"> <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51JGdAWzB6L.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Sphero Battle-Worn Bb-8 Droid with Force Band & Collector's Edition Black Tin by Star Wars</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sphero-Battle-Worn-Droid-Force-Collectors/dp/B01LY8FPKS?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAJGTABWIBL2VADPUA&tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01LY8FPKS" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$199.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$129.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Most of us will never own a fully functional Astromech droid like BB-8, but this app-enabled version from Sphero is the next best thing. Steer the adorable ball using the interface on your smartphone, or turn on the autonomous mode and watch it come to life in your living room. </p><p><em>When you buy something through a link in this article Big Think earns a small affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting our team's work.</em></p>
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