This week we talked with graphic designer and music producer Trevor Waldorf about the Star Wars expanded universe, how to get people reading into adulthood, and fond childhood memories of Internet espionage.

00:40 - What makes Star Wars compelling?

02:56 - Video games and the depth of the Star Wars universe

07:13 - Star Wars movies have to live up to an incredible amount of hype

11:00 - The Clone Wars and straddling the line between children’s and adult media

14:58 - Does reading Star Wars books lead you into a love of Sci-fi in general?

18:23 - New Adult and the struggles with getting young readers to enjoy literature into adulthood

21:34 - Going from Muse magazine to Scientific American

23:48 - Popular Mechanics, model rockets, and a movement away from a culture of building things

25:10 - Advantages of building things in cyberspace compared to meatspace

30:04 - Internet communities including infiltration and espionage on the flashcard website Quizlet

35:00 - Generationally mixed and professional communities online

38:39 - It’s hard to predict how things will affect kids

42:18 - Kids books are branded so heavily for children it can feel difficult to transition into more adult reading

46:29 - Is it possible to write a book series that stars as children’s or young adult novels and evolves into more adult literature?

52:05 - There should be more books targeted towards adult with adult themes, but at an easier reading level

54:36 - The Young Adult genre can be defined by the ability to be made into both personality tests and fanfiction

1:00:00 - Conclusion and short book recommendation On the Edge of Reason

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