The Last Starfighter

Bradford Walker reviews a classic film from Hollywood’s last pulp era:

We return once more to that period between the late ’70s and mid ’80s when that last flourish of old-school pulp sensibility arose in the form of feature films out of Hollywood done by then-rising names in the business. This time, it’s The Last Starfighter, another Space Opera made possible due to the success of Star Wars.

This film, like Tron, falls into that “Boy’s Own Adventure” style of adventure where our hero–although an adult–still speaks and acts like the boys this film is intended to entertain. That means the film’s style of presentation is in harmony with that audience also: earnest, sincere, and uncomplicated- but not simple.

The reason this is superversive is that this film’s story, as with many stories aimed at boys, is about the necessity of accepting responsibility- not just for yourself, but on behalf of those depending upon you. For an emerging generation of boys, soon to become men, this learning how to face difficult and dangerous realities even when you would rather run because if you don’t no one else will.

I was in the target demographic for The Last Starfighter when it first came out. I remember the film fondly, although bigger pulp-inspired franchises like Star Wars and Indiana Jones pushed it to the periphery of my attention. Bradford’s review has motivated me to give Starfighter another look, though.

Read the rest at Superversive SF.

Also, be sure to pick up the first issue of the new superversive sci-fi anthology series, Astounding Frontiers.

Reminder: Dragon Award nominations close on July 24th. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet, I invite you to consider my third Soul Cycle book The Secret Kings for Best Science Fiction Novel.

This story represents a huge leap forward for the author, better than any of his previous works. The story itself is one continuous rollercoaster, never boring filler material. After the previous two books, the pressure is on in this novel, and the author delivers beautifully. This book feels like one continuous boss fight with twenty stages. The tension and action never let up for more than a breath.

-Adam Smith

Get The Secret Kings for free here.

Nominate The Secret Kings for Best Science Fiction Novel here.