Starlog Magazine #48 – 5th Anniversary Spectacular, July 1981 (George Lucas Interview, Empire Strikes Back)

The issue that defined a generation of sci-fi fandom. Starlog Magazine #48 is the landmark 5th Anniversary Spectacular from July 1981 — one of the most sought-after issues in the entire Starlog run. This issue features an exclusive George Lucas interview, a full-color Empire Strikes Back SF Film Review spread (Darth Vader, Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO, Yoda, Millennium Falcon), Harrison Ford coverage for Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Heavy Metal Movie, Buck Rogers, Altered States, Space Art by Vincent DiFate, SF Comics, Outland, TV Movies, SFX Interviews, Special Previews, Space Science, Index to Starlog, Celebrity Greetings, and a 5th Anniversary Contest with 100 winners. More pages, more color — Starlog at its absolute peak. Sleeved for protection.

What’s Included:

• 🌟 Starlog Magazine #48 — 5th Anniversary Spectacular / July 1981 / complete issue
• 🎥 Full-color Empire Strikes Back SF Film Review spread / Exclusive George Lucas interview / Harrison Ford Raiders of the Lost Ark coverage

Publication Details:

• 📰 Publisher: Starlog Group / Issue: #48 / July 1981 / 5th Anniversary Spectacular
• ✍️ Featured: George Lucas (exclusive interview), Harrison Ford (Raiders of the Lost Ark), The Empire Strikes Back, The Heavy Metal Movie, Buck Rogers, Vincent DiFate Space Art, Altered States, Outland, SF Comics
• 🗓️ Barcode: 0 71896 49142 / Complete interior pages with full color spreads intact
• 📚 Condition: Used — collectible/reading grade vintage sci-fi magazine

Why Collectors Love It:

Starlog #48 is not just a magazine — it’s a primary source document of the golden age of sci-fi cinema. July 1981 sits at the exact intersection of Star Wars (Empire had just dropped in 1980), Raiders of the Lost Ark (released June 1981), and the peak of the sci-fi magazine era. The exclusive George Lucas interview alone makes this issue essential for any Star Wars or Lucas collector, and the full-color Empire Strikes Back film review spread with original production photos is the kind of content that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else in this format. The 5th Anniversary Spectacular designation makes this one of the landmark issues in the entire 17-year Starlog run. A genuine piece of pop culture history.

Condition Notes:

Used. Cover shows light wear and some spine stress consistent with its age. Interior pages complete and in good readable condition — sleeved for protection. Please review photos for specific condition details.

Perfect For:

Starlog collectors, Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back memorabilia hunters, George Lucas fans, Harrison Ford / Raiders of the Lost Ark enthusiasts, 1981 sci-fi cinema historians, vintage magazine collectors, and anyone who knows July 1981 was the greatest month in sci-fi history!