“Star Wars” has remained a lifelong obsession, informing my career path as a novelist, and writer-producer for television and film, in a capacity greater than any other pop-culture inspiration.

And so I write about it.

The Medium platform in which these pieces have been published has enabled me to freely indulge my thoughts on this 40+-year franchise.

The thoughts are mine and mine alone.

I’ve posted these articles online over a period of three years. During that time, the feedback has ranged from excellent to teeth-gnashing.

Among my general thoughts considered most controversial based on feedback have been the following:

“The Last Jedi” is a masterpiece, and “Rogue One” lags not too far behind;

The Disney films are not the disasters many proclaim;

The “Star Wars” prequels are flawed but necessary viewing, and “Revenge of the Sith” is near-Shakespearean in scope and tragedy;

The franchise as a whole deserves an honorary Oscar for revolutionizing mass media;

The rise of “Star Wars” (no pun, there) did not ruin the serious movie business;

J.J. Abrams performed a damn miracle with “The Force Awakens”;

George Lucas did not rape my childhood.

Get the picture?

Some of you may read no further based on the above.

But I think you should.

As would be expected, certain sectors of fandom are not fond of either me or my honest opinions. Others, however, see things my way.

I believe in being true to myself.

“Star Wars” is a (real-time) decades-spanning franchise that has gifted us or cursed us — depending on your point of view — with its share of winners and losers. To me, the feature version of “The Clone Wars” is the most unbearable “Star Wars” product of them all, followed very closely behind by “Attack of the Clones” and “The Phantom Menace” in that order.

My favorites in the saga are the original trilogy, “The Last Jedi,” “Revenge of the Sith” and “Rogue One.”

Regardless, the throughline inherent in the entirety of these films is extensive and carries over into other media such as novels, comic books, games, and television.

Canon is not just about the films anymore. Retconning is common practice with this franchise that many disdain and some tolerate as a necessary evil since the Disney purchase.

We need to accept it. It’s not going away.

Of course, Lucas himself frayed those edges first with his “Special Editions,” but I digress.

As to “Legends” not in the canon, let’s count those too, for this purpose, as a larger aspect of grand mythology.

In the real world, we have our legends and myths as well.

So take a read, PLEASE argue with me as to your thoughts, or agree with me.

It’s all good.

We may not see the likes of “Star Wars” again in our lifetime, so let’s have some spirited fun.

Most of all, enjoy it…