Authored by Mary Henderson, Star Wars: The Magic of Myth served as a companion reference for the exhibition sharing its title, which was displayed at the Smithsonian Institute. Bantam Spectra released it to the public on November 3 of 1997.
Mirroring the exhibition, the book employs Joseph Campbell's highly influential work, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, as a blueprint for a frame narrative of the original trilogy. It traces Luke Skywalker's heroic path, starting with his "Call to Adventure" initiated by C-3PO and R2-D2 in A New Hope, and culminating in the "Freedom to Live" achieved when his belief in his father results in the latter's redemption from the dark side of the Force during Return of the Jedi.
The character arcs of Han Solo, Princess Leia, and C-3PO are also explored within its pages. Furthermore, the book draws numerous parallels between Star Wars and other mythological systems, including Greek mythology, the Arthurian legend, the Volsunga saga, and Inca mythology.
Moreover, Henderson delves into the visual elements of Star Wars, drawing connections between costumes, characters, and set designs and their counterparts in the real world.