Mythgard Institute is offering 2 FREE online lectures in their Guest Speaker Series, but virtual seating in the webinars is limited, so be sure to visit the Mythgard Institute Guest Speaker series site to register.

Here’s more info (from the Mythgard site):

David Brin will give his talk “Can Science Fiction Change the World?” for the Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 6:00 pm ET

Amy H. Sturgis will give her talk “The Jedi, the Cowboy, and… Thomas Edison?: Pulp Science Fiction and Star Wars” for the Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 3:00 pm ET.

Synopsis: What images come to mind when you think of Star Wars? Luke Skywalker watching the twin suns set on Tatooine? Princess Leia with a blaster in her hand and buns on her head? The glow of a lightsaber in the darkness? These visuals convey volumes, and they spring in part from a common origin.

One of the keys to the worldwide success of Star Wars is that the saga draws from a variety of global sources, both classical and contemporary. Join Dr. Amy H. Sturgis as she discusses one particular tradition that has left its indelible imprint on the Star Wars franchise. How did pulp science fiction evolve? What is the relationship between this genre and the Western? And how can tracing the pulp ancestry of Star Wars give us new insights on key moments and messages across the Star Wars canon — and quite possibly shed light on the forthcoming film The Force Awakens? Star Wars fans and newbies alike are welcome!