7 Questions with. . . Dan Wallace

You write books about all different pop culture subjects. How do you keep it all the universes straight?  
What, you mean Spider-Man doesn't carry a lightsaber? I'm a huge genre fan and have written for universes including Star Wars, DC, Marvel, Indiana Jones, and Supernatural, but the universes feel so distinct that I can't imagine ever getting too confused. It's like learning multiple recipes. The blueberries go in the pancakes, not the pizza, even though they're both circular breadstuffs. Great, now I want pancakes.

You're one of the authors of the forthcoming Star Wars Year by Year. Which period of time did you focus on? Did you learn anything new?
I wrote what was arguably the hardest time period: 1984-1996, a.k.a. "The Dark Times." Seriously, this was the period when Star Wars was at its lowest ebb, when there were no movies to sustain it and when  particularly around 1989-1990  the public was very close to forgetting about that "Star Wars fad" altogether. But what I discovered when unearthing this era was the fact that Star Wars was far from dead. Dozens of things kept the embers alight, including toys, comics, roleplaying games, Disney's Star Tours, video games, collectable plates and even the Ewoks in Ice Capades. Because fans have their favorites a lot of this stuff went ignored, but it all helped keep the franchise primed for its eventual resurgence.

What's your favorite character in the Star Wars universe?  
Lando Calrissian is very underrated. He combines the roguishness of Han Solo with the style sense (and gambling skills) of James Bond. He's also a con man. He's like Face from The A-Team. I would love to read an untold Lando adventure where he wasn't running a mining operation but instead running a long con.

Also worth noting is See-Threepio, a character I have a real fondness for who I think is often misunderstood. He's only incompetent if he's dropped into the middle of a war zone! In a peaceful, diplomatic setting, See-Threepio should be able to school everybody.

You're a great Facebook status updater. What does social media mean to the pop culture universe? Does it making being a fanboy too easy?
Today's social media isn't new, just easier, which helps strengthen the social glue connecting writers and fans. But in truth there's never been much of a barrier when it comes to the sci-fi, fantasy, and comics genres. In the mid 90s you could interact with creators on Usenet or on message boards, which was largely replaced by blogging, which has largely been replaced by Facebook and Twitter. Going back further, I've been re-reading comics from the 1930s through the 1980s and am struck by how vibrant the letter columns are, with editors engaging in a give-and-take with their most passionate fans. And of course there have always been conventions, which have only gotten bigger as the amount of social media connections increase. So I love the new tools  I always love the new tools  but think the industry deserves credit for being way out in front of this particular trend.

Yoda vs. a velociraptor. Who wins?
Neither would die. Yoda would never kill an animal that was simply hunting for food, and the velociraptor wouldn't even land a claw on Yoda  remember how the guy pinwheeled his way through a platoon of clone troopers in Episode III? (And if you forgot, Google "Yoda and clone trooper premium format statue" for a reminder and a look at the geek totem I covet most.) No, Yoda would tame the velociraptor and ride it into battle as a mount.

What's the last book you read?
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I read them both in one weekend and can't wait for book three. Ever since I discovered Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game" I've loved the mini genre of the deadly contest, so much so that I don't think I've ever read a story in this genre that I haven't enjoyed, from Batoru Rowaiaru (Battle Royale) to The Running Man to DC Comics' unloved but secretly awesome Countdown: Arena (which pitted Victorian Batman against vampire Batman).

What are you working on now?  
The Jedi Path is a book from becker&mayer! coming out this summer, which resembles a "lost journal" containing the teachings of the galaxy's greatest Jedi Masters with annotations scrawled in its margins handwritten by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Luke Skywalker, and others. Also due out this year from DK is The DC Comics Chronicle, which focuses on the publishing history of DC from 1935 to today in a similar manner to Star Wars: Year by Year. I tackled the Golden Age, which covers the 1930s and 1940s and includes everything from Superman's debut in Action Comics #1 to Batman selling war bonds to help defeat the Axis powers. It's a beautiful book and a perfect look at a legendary company on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.

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