This is a nerd post. It treads fanboy ground, and where fanboys go, angels fear to tread.

Star Wars is not science fiction.

There. I said it. I don't expect backlash, since my audience is limited and a portion of it would care more about what I did on Sunday night then my geeky thoughts on a movie series. Let's face it though - the last time I had a substantial post, it was ALSO about a movie.

Obviously, you can't say "Star Wars is not science fiction" and not back it up. Fortunately, this contention is neither new nor groundbreaking, so I can cite sources. (CAN. Not will) But it's something I want to write about.

First of all, we have to define science fiction. Here's what the wikipedia science fiction entry says "In defining the scope of the science fiction genre, we speak of the effect of science or technology, or both, upon society or persons". And here's where Star Wars breaks down. Star Wars isn't about any of that. There are elements of that - the line "That's not a moon, it's a space station!" leads to the examination of the introduction of a superweapon, the Death Star, into a society in rebellion. But this also is a perfect illustration of why Star Wars isn't science fiction - while this makes a wonderful fable, science fiction would examine the effect this had on guerilla warfare - either the galvanizing (or cowing...) effect the use of such a weapon would have on terrorists/freedom fighters.

Instead, Luke Skywalker uses the Force to shoot the Death Star in a weak spot, like David's faith guiding his aim in hitting Goliath in the eye with his slignshot, in causing its destruction. Any effect this monster of technology is to have on society is subsumed by the Boy's Own Adventure of Luke becoming a fighter pilot in a grand rebellion. The science of Star Wars doesn't have a background, instead it exists to play up the fantasy of Star Wars while simultaneously covering up its closer relations to something like The Lord of the Rings, the prototype for much of modern pulp-style fantasy. Hell, Star Wars has more in common with Indiana Jones than Star Trek. Star Wars and Indy concern themselves with the adventure. Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings are about the battle with the Dark Lord. Star Wars and Star Trek? They both have spaceships.

Star Trek examines the society of the future through the lens of the crew - much of the best Trek ("Errand of Mercy," "The Inner Light," and the last half of Star Trek: Deep Space 9, for example) concerns itself with societal change. Star Wars is less concerned with it's thematic structure, and more with the adventure and fantasy. Obviously, it connects with us in a primeval way by following Joseph Campbell's mythological structure of the hero's journey, which in itself bears thematic connotations. But Star Wars never approaches the purview of science fiction - instead, it is a space-opera fantasy.