“May the 4th be with you.” What started as pun warmly shared by fans has become a full-fledged Star Wars holiday: Star Wars Day, a special once-a-year celebration of the galaxy far, far away.
One of the earliest known records of “May the 4th” used in popular culture is in 1979, as described here by author Alan Arnold while he was chronicling the making of The Empire Strikes Back for Lucasfilm:
“Margaret Thatcher has won the election and become Britain’s first woman prime minister. To celebrate their victory her party took a half page of advertising space in the London Evening News. This message, referring to the day of victory, was ‘May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations,’ further proof of the extent to which Star Wars has influenced us all.”
Once the Internet allowed Star Wars fans around the world to connect with one another, May the 4th soon became a grassroots tradition each year, with fans online and offline proclaiming it “Star Wars Day.”
Celebrate Star Wars day with a few reads from your local library!
Star Wars: Last Shot by Daniel Jose Older – It’s been ten years since the rebel hero Han Solo last encountered Fyzen Gor. After mounting a successful rebellion against the Empire and starting a family with an Alderaanian princess, Han hasn’t given much thought to the mad inventor. But when Lando turns up at Han’s doorstep in the middle of the night, it’s Fyzen’s assassins that he’s running from. And without Han’s help, Lando–and all life on Cloud City–will be annihilated. [Availability: Tacoma Public Library, Pierce County Library, King County Library, and Seattle Public Library]
Dark Disciple by Christie Golden – The Jedi Council pairs brash Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos with infamous one-time Sith acolyte Asajj Ventress to target and kill the man responsible for so many war atrocities, Count Dooku himself. [Availability: Tacoma Public Library, Pierce County Library, King County Library, and Seattle Public Library]
Aftermath Series by Chuck Wendig – Chuck Wendig’s series, which focuses on the events after Return of the Jedi, will reveal some lingering questions and reveal a few mysteries we’ve had since the new movies have come out. Considering there has been quite a large span of time since The Force Awakens. The series also sets Wendig up for his Luke Skywalker series soon to be in the works. [Availability: Tacoma Public Library, Pierce County Library, King County Library, and Seattle Public Library]
Star Wars: From A Certain Point of View – This anthology brings together more than 40 authors for 40 stories. Each will be told from the perspective of background characters of A New Hope–from X-wing pilots who helped Luke destroy the Death Star to the stormtroopers who never quite could find the droids they were looking for. [Availability: Summit Libraries, Tacoma Public Library, Pierce County Library, King County Library, and Seattle Public Library]
Want a few titles for Revenge of the Fifth?
Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson – One of the most cunning and merciless officers of the First Order, Captain Phasma commands the favor of her superiors, the respect of her peers, and the terror of her enemies. But for all her renown, Phasma remains as virtually unknown as the impassive expression on her gleaming chrome helmet. [Availability: Tacoma Public Library, Pierce County Library, King County Library, and Seattle Public Library]
Darth Plagueis by James Luceno – Darth Plagueis, a Sith Lord who knows the Dark Side so well that he has power over life and death, joins forces with his apprentice, one-day emperor Darth Sidious, to try to dominate the whole galaxy. [Availability: Tacoma Public Library, Pierce County Library, King County Library, and Seattle Public Library]
Thrawn Series by Timothy Zahn – Traces the origins of Thrawn, one of the most ruthless warriors in the Galactic Empire, and the events behind his rise in the Imperial ranks. [Availability: Tacoma Public Library, Pierce County Library, King County Library, and Seattle Public Library]
Book of Sith: Secrets From the Dark Side by Daniel Wallace – Lost your copy of the Sith training manual? Don’t worry, you can borrow Darth Sidious’! He tracked down the writings of previous Sith Lords, and drawing from that knowledge wrote a sixth text–his own manifesto! You’ll discover the history and lore of the Sith, the ways of the Force and how to wield it, and the glories of the Dark Side. [Availability: Tacoma Public Library, King County Library, and Seattle Public Library]