May 4, 2018 9:00 AM

The Fourth Awakens

This Star Wars Day, check out some of our best recent stories about everyone’s favorite galaxy.

01
The Wired Guide to Star Wars
From the making of George Lucas’ 1977 classic to the recent Disney-led rebirth—and yes, even that ill-fated holiday special—this mega-compendium is all the background you’ll ever need.
02
14 Star Wars Gifts for Your Favorite Jedi or Sith
There’s more to life than just toys of course—so we rounded up a holiday wish list for the Star Wars fans in your life. Books, Porg stationery, and even a chiffon starship-pattern blouse.

03
Star Wars and the Quest For the Forever Franchise
In 2015, *The Force Awakens* became the first new Star Wars movie since Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012—but it wouldn’t be the last. A revealing look at the new architects of cinema’s biggest universe.
04
The Best Last Jedi Toys You Can Buy
Every May is Star Wars Day, but every September brings Force Friday, where a new year’s worth of Star Wars toys and games are unveiled. The most recent crop has everything from massive Lego kits to buildable, programmable droids.

05
What Rogue One Teaches Us About the Rebel Alliance’s Military Chops
For the Rebels to get to the Death Star in the first place, they needed the plans—which is where *Rogue One*, the first Star Wars “anthology” movie, comes in. But how effective was the Rebels’ plan? This military analysis gets into it.
06
Architects and Engineers Shove a Lightsaber Through the Death Star’s Bad Design
Speaking of the Death Star: why the hell would you design a massive war machine with such an accessible weakness? We rounded up experts to get into the structures many, *many* flaws.

Comments

Everything you ever wanted to know about Lucas, Leia, and the eternal resonance of a hero's journey in a galaxy far far away.

Adam Rogers

14 Star Wars Gifts for Your Favorite Jedi or Sith

With The Last Jedi around the corner, the Star Wars season of giving is upon us.

Brendan Nystedt

You Won't Live to See the Final Star Wars Movie

If the people at Disney have anything to say about it, the past four decades of Star Wars were merely prologue.

Adam Rogers

What Rogue One Teaches Us About the Rebel Alliance's Military Chops

They're scrappy, but could use a cleaner chain of command.

Angry Staff Officer

Architects and Engineers Shove a Lightsaber Through the Death Star's Bad Design

The plans get stolen, transmitted to Princess Leia, hidden on an R2 unit, and allow the Rebels to triumph. They’re also terrible.

Sam Lubell

Quell the Heat With Our Favorite Window Air Conditioners

These are the AC units we’ve trusted to cool our homes for months, if not years.

Matthew Korfhage

The Best Duffel Bags for Commuters and Chronic Overpackers

Need to schlep some stuff? These field-tested duffels can handle your baggage.

Louryn Strampe

No Grill Left Behind: How to Make Dumb Grills Into Smart Grills

You don’t need to buy a smart grill to make perfect meat. You can buy a dumb grill and send it to school with smart upgrades.

Matthew Korfhage

All the Best Vacuum Cleaners We’ve Ever Tried

Looking for all our top recommended vacuums? Here are our favorites in every style we’ve tested, from stick vacs to robot vacuums.

Nena Farrell

The Best Wireless Chargers to Refuel Your Phone (or Watch)

Stop fumbling for cables in the dark. These WIRED-tested stands and pads will take the hassle out of refueling your phone, wireless earbuds, and watch.

Simon Hill