Star Wars falls under the subgenre of space opera, which features tales of interstellar heroism involving mighty spacecraft and superweapons. The narrative of Star Wars follows classic fairy tale structure, with a princess who must be rescued, a hero who sees her through a magical object, and completes a difficult task with help from friends with special skills to defeat an antagonist and restore harmony. Star Wars also reflects the science fiction concept of extrapolating contemporary society into futuristic worlds.

1. Star Wars & SF Genre The fundamental principle of any SF text is extrapolation. SF extrapolates features from our own society and transforms them into futuristic worlds . “ Good SF” argues that if A is the case it follows that B can happen. If human history does breed dictators, then Nineteen Eighty-Four can happen.

2. Star Wars & SF Genre SF is not so much a single genre – it is more of a cluster of overlapping sub genres. There are about 6 most familiar story types: Space Opera, Planetary Romance, Future Cities, Disaster Stories and Alternative Histories.

3. Space Opera Star Wars falls under the sub-category of Space Opera. Space Opera – “ Tales of interstellar heroics, usually involving mighty spacecraft and fearsome super-weapons.” David Pringle The Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Science Fiction

4. Classic Fairy Tale Narrative A Princess has to be rescued The hero often sees her in a magical object like a mirror He has to carry out a difficult task and is helped by friends with special skills He defeats the antagonist (supernatural adversary) and restores harmony.

5. Star Wars Narrative Princess Leia has to be rescued Luke sees Leia in a magical object like a mirror - R2D2’s projection. Luke is aided in his quest by friends with special skills - (Ben Kenobi, R2-D2, C3PO, Han Solo). Luke comes up against a supernatural adversary - Darth Vader Luke blows up the Death Star and restores harmony (temporarily).

6. Vivian Sobchack “ Star Wars and Close Encounters rally a cinematic exodus from the constraints, pollution and crime of the failed city…” Vivian Sobchack Cities On The Edge of Time in Alien Zone II (Ed Kuhn), Verso 1999.