Delusions of Grandeur:
A Star Wars Novels Recap Podcast
It is a time of revolution.
A long time ago, George Lucas created a galaxy far, far away—one that’s captured countless imaginations. And sometime around 1990, he realized that people who could not stop thinking or yelling about Star Wars movies would probably pay money to read Star Wars books in their free time. He was right. The first batch of extended universe (now known as “Legends”) novels were born.
What’s in these books, you might ask? Absolutely everything. A complicated galaxy, where the Empire remains a very real threat even after Palpatine is gone. Every single character who appeared on screen in the ‘70s and ‘80s for more than five seconds shows up—some with detailed backstories and rich inner lives. And these novels aren’t afraid to ask the hard questions: is it possible to maintain a massive and diverse interspecies democracy? Is the Jedi order worth restoring? Does Luke Skywalker know what hot chocolate is? You can see why these became instant New York Times best sellers.
Through no fault of their own, our two hosts fell headfirst into this strange and wonderful universe as children, and they haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Emily and Kelly grew up before Star Wars returned to the big screen—when novels were fans' only hope. Now, they're re-reading them with fresh eyes for plot twists, new characters, and surprisingly apt socio-political themes. Delusions of Grandeur is a podcast about the good, the bad, and the truly bizarre stories of the Star Wars novels.
Prologue
Emily & Kelly fell in love with Star Wars because it was exciting and relatable. It gave them their first insights into justice, fascism, relationships, belief, displacement, sacrifice, and power. Star Wars has never been so cool…or so primed for critical analysis.
Your Hosts
Emily is an audio producer with a specialty in explaining academic concepts for general audiences. Her work has appeared on KALW, WBEZ, Life of the Law, & BackStory & often explores the unusual moments that illuminate truths about our shared pasts and presents. She's the senior producer of Sacred & Profane, a podcast that explores how religion affects our daily lives. She hails from the same sector as George Lucas.
Kelly is an audio producer & editor whose beat is usually American history & social justice. With more than a decade of experience, her work has appeared on NPR, the BBC, Luminary Originals, & Slate. She developed & was the senior producer for Seizing Freedom & American Prodigies. She has a graduate degree in philosophy & is getting a Master's in library science, so is capable of bringing the nerd when it's needed.