Posted on Nov, 1, 2005 - Library Journal

* - mean that it is a starred review

* Rubin, Michael. Droidmaker: George Lucas and the Digital Revolution. Triad
Pub. 2005. c.520p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-937404-67-5 [ISBN
978-0-937404-67-6]. $34.95. FILM

Before Star Wars creator George Lucas became one of today's most innovative
filmmakers, he was just a geek with visionary ideas and talent. A filmmaker
and educator, Rubin once worked in the computer division of Lucasfilm as a
technological consultant [before] Star Wars Episodes I, II, and III; here, he
recounts how Lucas bucked the Hollywood studios and made unique
contributions to the film industry, drawing on interviews with past and
present movers and shakers at Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Zoetrope studios. Like
Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg, Lucas worked with an eclectic
group of computer geniuses who helped launch a new era of filmmaking
techniques and took computer animation and editing to new levels. There are
many books on Lucas, but none quite like this one: the combination of
Rubin's insider information and research gives readers a view of how movies
came to incorporate digital advances. Complete with photos, it is a
fascinating book that any fan of Star Wars, Lucas, or technology will enjoy.
The accessible language is a big plus. Highly recommended.-Rosalind Dayen,
South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL