History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The New Essential Chronology to Star Wars

Average customer rating:

Good, but not great
I dont give 5 stars reviews
Good Start To Star Wars
Fantastic
The history of the "Star Trek" universe up to 36 A.B.Y.

The New Essential Chronology to Star Wars
Daniel Wallace
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345449010
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Book Description

At last, it’s the ultimate history of the spectacular Star Wars saga, lavishly illustrated and in full color for the first time.

With the completion of Episodes I, II, and III, the epic story that’s captivated millions can now be told in its entirety, from the time of the primordial Knights of the Old Republic and the Clone Wars to the birth of the Empire, from the destruction of the Death Star to the adventures of the New Jedi Order.

Beautifully illustrated by Mark Chiarello, Tommy Lee Edwards, and John Van Fleet, Star Wars: The New Essential Chronology offers the comprehensive and official chronicle of that extraordinary galaxy so far, far away. Herein you’ll find

• the most exciting and climactic events from all epochs of Star Wars–those explosive turning points in the shaping of the galaxy
• a gripping account of the controversial Clone Wars–the treachery that fueled them and the terrifying aftermath
• profiles of the key players in the history of the Star Wars galaxy, along with all the most popular heroes and villains from every movie, book, comic, TV special, game, and cartoon

Follow Anakin Solo’s perilous journey as he wrestles with the dark side; behold the black soul of each Dark Lord of the Sith, from Darth Sidious to Darth Vader; experience the fiery space battles that decided the fates of entire planets; and witness the ferocious invasion of the seemingly invincible Yuuzhon Vong.

The training of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the invasion of Naboo, the capture of Princess Leia, the Battle of Yavin, the lightsaber death duel between Organa Solo and Beldorion the Hutt–all of the key events are captured and preserved for all time in this drama-filled Stars Wars chronicle.

Customer Reviews:

Good, but not great.......2007-10-08

I purchased this book for a Star Wars class this semester and I must say it is a satisfactory guide to the history of Star Wars. There is a lot of content but they all lack in detail. The pictures are fine but some of them look too Lord-of-the-Ringsish. But overall, easy, fast read.

I dont give 5 stars reviews.......2007-08-29

I almost never give a 100% review to anything. Movies, Games, books, whatever. THIS is THE essential chronology for Star Wars. Its written like a history book for star wars which I find completely fascinating. As well it has a galaxy map which brings so much insight to events surrounding the lore of star wars. There is nothing I don't like about this book and if there is a more complete chronology out there I would like to know about it.

Good Start To Star Wars.......2007-06-26

I would have been alot happier with this book, if the author, while describing the Star Wars history, gave a reference to each event as it took place in each book and movie.A lot of what takes place in the history of Star Wars are the poorly cross referenced serial novels that make up 90% of the Star Wars Universe.If the author just gave the title of each book,as it takes place in the Star Wars Universe, and then gave a description of the events in each book,(and movie)- this book would have been great.Instead he attempts to tell a very complicated story as it evolved,and, fails to tell us where we can find each event in the library.
I have read most of the Star Wars books (so I know where the events take place)and find that there are very few authors, that write just Star Wars novels.They are newspaper writers and novelists,journalists that will write Star Wars Novels from an outline given to them by LucasFilms.Charactors get lost, decriptions of familar places change from author to author.In fact I find that very few of the books are correctly cross referenced.Each author has his own version of Star Wars history.
This book is no different,it gives you an outline of what happened,but nothing more.If you compare the writers that wrote this saga, to,Tolkien and Lord of the Rings, you'll find the cross references of the books, make the Star Wars writers look like fools,running an errand.The Star Wars Movies may be the greatest science fantasy series of all time.But the books are always disapointing.Tolkien spent decades inventing his books.Most of these books are written in the space of 3 or 4 weeks.Can you imagine if these books had been written with the same passion that LOR was?
In short,buy this book, but don't expect a complete overview of the saga.

Fantastic.......2007-01-26

This is the best New Essential Guide I've seen. It is comprehensive to say the least. Unlike some other guides, they waited until the saga was complete. It covers absolutely everything up to the Swarm War (Dark Nest Trilogy).

The illustrations are unique and beautiful.

Everything you want to know about Star Wars history is right there, organized and easy to read.

The history of the "Star Trek" universe up to 36 A.B.Y........2006-04-29

Now that George Lucas has completed Episodes I, II, and III of the "Star Wars" saga, it is time to take a moment and put together all of the pieces into a comprehensive chronology that account for everything in the "Star Wars" universe from the Pre-Republic Era to the Killik Expansion (so the chronology goes 35-36 years beyond the end of the original "Star Wars" movie). The six movies are at the heart of everything, but there are all those novels, comic books, and graphic novels, not to mention references to historical events that can be fleshed out. Putting everything in order is what "Star Wars: The New Essential Chronology" is all about. With text by Daniel Wallace, with Kevin J. Anderson, this "new" version is updated for "The Phantom Menace," "Attack of the Clones," "Revenge of the Sith," and the new Jedi order. It also has dozens of full-color illustrations by Mark Chiarello, Tommy Lee Edwards, and John Van Fleet, who distinct styles certainly complement each other.

Ever since the hologram of Princess Leia named Obi-Wan Kenobi as her only hope and mentioned the Clone Wars fans of "Star Wars" have been trying to expand their knowledge of that galaxy far, far away in a time long ago. The history of the "Star Wars" universe is divided into a dozen parts: (1) Tales of the Ancient Republic; (2) The Fall of the Republic, which includes films I-III; (3) The Empire and the New Order; (4) Profiles in History of Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and the Skywalkers; (5) The Galactic Civil War, which covers the original trilogy; (6) Birth of the New Republic; (7) Empire Resurgent; (8) The Return of the Jedi Knights; (9) Uprisings and Insurgencies; (10) A Lasting Peace; (11) Generations of Jedi Knights; and (12) The New Jedi Order. The attempt by Wallace, with Anderson, is to write history rather than tell stories, although the result falls pretty much somewhere in between. If you want to now what happened before, in between, and after the two movie trilogies, then this chronology certainly does tells you what you need to know.

The dating convention employed in the chronology uses the Battle of Yavin as its zero point, treating the destruction of the first Death Star and the dawning of "a new hope" for the people of the galaxy as the symbolic beginning of the current society. Therefore events preceding that point in time are indicated B.B.Y., and those afterwards as A.B.Y. The only real complaint here is that you have to go to the "Star Wars" web site to track down the extensive list of historical resources, so unless you are as well versed in the various "Star Wars" novels, comic books, and computer games as you are in the twin movie trilogies, you are not going to know where Wallace and Anderson are getting all of the puzzle pieces. So you have a couple of hoops to jump through to even find out whether there is a story about the Battle of Dreighton or the death of Zsinj to track down let alone to read. There is a four-page index, so that if you already know about the Kaiburr Crystal or want to see everything there is to know about Chewbacca or Mon Montha, you can find what the chronology has to say about them.

The back of the book includes a map of the galaxy, so you can find Hoth and Bespin in the Outer Rim, trace the Corellian Run and the Perlemian Trade Route, and distinguish the Core Worlds from the Colonies and those of the Inner Rim. "Star Wars: The New Essential Chronology" is one of seven volumes in this series of reference books, the others being: "Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Characters," "Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Droids," and "Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons" (all of which are also written by Wallace), along with "Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Weapons & Technology," "Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Vehicles & Vessels," and "Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Alien Species." At face value this volume is the best of the bunch because it is the most useful in terms of putting all of the pieces together. Of course, if you are interested in adding your own stories to the "Star Wars" galaxy, you would probably need the entire library to make sure you have yourself covered. You would not want to have R2-D2 colored the wrong way or something.

The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

Very, very nice book with awsome pictures
just what i ordered
A Solid Reference
Not the best reference.
Something for every Star Wars fan!

The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels (Star Wars)
Haden Blackman
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345449029
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Book Description

Text by W. Haden Blackman
All new full color illustrations by Ian Fullwood
From the beat-up landspeeders that whisk travelers between desert towns on Tatooine to Jabba the Hutt’s luxurious sail barge and the elegant Naboo Royal Starship, the vehicles and vessels in the Star Wars universe have captivated millions of delighted fans.

In light of the ever-expanding saga, the New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels features completely updated entries that cover more than 150 ships, along with brand new, full-color illustrations by dazzling artist Ian Fullwood. This new volume encompasses craft from all five movies, the bestselling novels of the New Jedi Order, comics, TV specials, and games. Inside you will find:

• Detailed profiles and vital statistics for each vessel, including data covering the vehicle’s construction, size, maximum speed, and its role in Star Wars history
• A revealing Layman’s Guide to Technology, covering common terms applied to each class of vehicle
• An outline of engine technologies that drive the craft across the Star Wars galaxy, and of the unique weapons they boast
• Schematics for each vehicle, providing the reader with instant visual reference
Discover the modifications Han Solo and Chewbacca made on the Millennium Falcon to make it one of the fastest vessels in the galaxy; the secrets of the Imperial All Terrain Armored Transport Walker, possibly the most formidable military vehicle ever assembled; the reasons the Tribubble Bongo Sub is the chosen way to navigate the watery depths of Naboo; and the unique and lethal properties of the Yuuzhan Vong’s living starship, the Coralskipper.

Skiffs, cargo haulers, shuttles, podracers, gunships, sandcrawlers– if it flies, glides, drives, or speeds in the Star Wars galaxy, you’ll find it in The New Essential Guide to Vehicle and Vessels!
Ballantine Books/Science Fiction
Visit the official Star Wars Web site at www.starwars.com
Visit our Web site at www.delreydigital.com

Customer Reviews:

Very, very nice book with awsome pictures.......2007-06-11

"Must have" for Star Wars fans, especially does who are into spacecrafts and modelling.

just what i ordered.......2007-03-11

Deliverd quickly and in exactly the same shape it was sold to me as. Perfect.

A Solid Reference.......2007-03-01

This book is a well deserved updated edition. The huge colorful illustrations, the comparisons of speed, weapons, manueverability, the history of design and purpose... all make for a well composed reference book.

My only complaint is that several of the older designs were relegated to the back of the book, with less impressive pictures and information, and a few vehicles of less importance were left out all together. So while this is a good reference for any Star Wars fan, it is not what I would call a complete reference. Still, a positive addition to any collection and useful when trying to make sure that the SW authors got their facts straight.

Not the best reference. .......2007-01-26

This book isn't comprehensive enough to be really valuable to a Star Wars fan. It's interesting, but the vast majority of the entries are things that you don't really want or need to know or see.

I want to be able to see what a Katana fleet Dreadnaught looks like, or find out about a Carrack-class cruiser, but no. The only valuable entries were specific people's personal ships, like the Lady Luck or the Wild Kaarde. Everything else was vague, and sometimes just wrong.

Also, some of the positioning and angling of pictures was just plain bad.

Something for every Star Wars fan!.......2007-01-15

I bought this book for my son, who is a HUGE Star Wars fan. He pours over this book, and is fascinated with the stories that accompany the pictures of SW vehicles. This book has been a huge hit with all the fans in our house, including my husband! A great book with great pictures!

The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

Not comprehensive enough
A Great Book To Have!
The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars)
Star Wars fan? If so, this book is a must-own!
Needs to be updated and expanded

The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars)
Daniel Wallace , and Michael Sutfin
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345449002
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Book Description

The Star Wars universe is expanding faster than ever before, and Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Characters has received an exciting new face-lift–with completely updated text and more than a hundred brand new, full-color illustrations by extraordinary new artist Michael Sutfin.

This all-new Essential Guide features detailed profiles of more than one hundred and thirty characters from across the Star Wars galaxy, including all of your favorites–such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, and Mara Jade–as well as, from Episode II:

• Jango Fett • Count Dooku • Anakin Skywalker • Zam Wesell

And the key players from Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace:

• Queen Amidala • Qui-Gon Jinn • Mace Windu • Darth Maul

Here is complete, updated coverage of the novels from the incredible New Jedi Order and all of the classic movies, books, comics, TV specials, games, and the rest of the Star Wars universe.

This must-have book describes the essential history and personal data for each character–with vital statistics, homeworlds, and political affiliations.

More characters, more information, brilliant artwork–the Essential Guides are hotter than ever!

Customer Reviews:

Not comprehensive enough.......2007-01-26

The most obvious flaw of this book is that it doesn't include Revenge of the Sith material. So critical things like Anakin's fall to the Dark Side, Padme and Count Dooku's deaths, General Greivous entirely, are all casually left out.

The more annoying flaw though, is the lack of coverage. A good amount of characters are covered, but too many are just left out entirely. Nearly all the members of Rogue Squadron simply aren't mentioned, just as one example. It's hard to expect them to fit in every character ever, but there are far too many missing for this resource to be able to be considered comprehensive.

Their main mistake was restricting themselves by format. Every character received at least one whole page of information, plus a full, detailed, color illustration. At the end, a few dozen other characters got a short blurb, and some got a facial portrait. They should have gone for a more encyclopedic approach, allotting as much space as was necessary for each character, and not restricting themselves to a page by page format. Then they could have included a lot more people and amde the book a lot more satisfying.

This book does very nicely in what it has done, I'll certainly give it that.
But as it stands, a few years after it's release, it is in need of a serious update and a total revamp of included characters.

A Great Book To Have!.......2006-01-16

I really like this book. Seldom do you get the opportunity to read about Star Wars characters, all compiled into a single volume. Every page in this book is fun to read. Character illustrations are pretty good and the descriptions on each characters are quite detailed and well-constructed.

However, there are some typo errors in the book and I was left wondering why did the publisher (Del Rey) decide to revise this book before Episode 3 was released. Some of the key characters missing from this book include General Grevious and many other important figures in Episode 3. In my opinion, this book should have been revised after Episode 3.

Nevertheless, its still a great book to read. I recommend it book to both fans of Star Wars and RPG gamers. A job well done to the author of this book - Mr. Daniel Wallace.

The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars).......2005-08-18

The book has a lot of good information and is up to date.

Star Wars fan? If so, this book is a must-own!.......2005-07-31

Star Wars: The New Essential Guide To Characters (2002.)

INTRODUCTION:
Star Wars is the ultimate science fiction series. It's not likely that when George Lucas released the classic first film in 1977 just how big the franchise would go onto be. In addition to two trilogies of films, the Lucas series spawned video games, comic books, novels, and an assortment of other Expanded Universe material. With all these different sources of Star Wars, it was high time that guides to everyone's favorite galaxy far, far away were released. And in the mid-late nineties, that happened. Guides were released for characters, vehicles, weapons/technology, alien species, droids, planets, and characters However, many of the guides were outdated with the arrival of the prequel films. And thus, several got a much needed revamp. The character guide was amongst them. Read on for my review of The NEW Essential Guide To Characters.

OVERVIEW:
This book is exactly what it says it is - a guide to the many characters of the Star Wars galaxy. For pretty much every character, whether he or her is from a movie, novel, comic, or video game, you get a standard profile of info like height, species, and birth planet, as well as a biography of the character. You also get a full color illustration - and since many of these characters come from novels, this is the first time official art of them has ever been published. From the better known players in the Star Wars universe like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo right down to considerably lesser-known characters like Exar Kun and Vergere, this book explores characters from every corner of the Star Wars galaxy.

REVIEW:
I really can't begin to say how satisfied I am with the book. I was satisfied with the older version of it, but this newer version kills the old one dead. With color illustrations and ultra-detailed info on every character that goes well beyond what you'd expect, this book is the definitive character guide. I only have two complaints. First and foremost, the book does NOT cover Episode III. This is because this version of the book was released prior to Episode III, and therefore, General Grievous does not appear in this guide. Likewise, characters who first appeared in Episodes I and II (and didn't appear outside the prequel trilogy) only have their history listed up to the end of Episode II. This means that the deaths of Count Dooku and Nute Gunray get no explanation in this book. The other flaw about the book I want to bring up is the omission of some characters. Most of the character get a page or two devoted to them, but the more minor characters just have a brief paragraph in the back of the book. And some characters, mysteriously enough, don't get ANY representation in this book outside of other characters' summaries. Among the characters who fail to get a summary are Guri, Xizor's humanoid replica droid from Shadows Of The Empire, practically all characters featured in The Truce At Bakura, as well as a good deal of the pilots introduced in the X-Wing series. Still, their being forgotten is a minor flaw next to everything this book does well. Accordingly, I recommend it to any fan of the Star Wars universe.

EDITION NOTES:
A few different editions of this book have been released over the years. Needless to say, the latest edition, which features numerous updates and new characters, is the superior version. If you're gonna buy it, be sure to get the latest version!

OVERALL:
In the end, this book satisfies me. No Star Wars fan, no matter how big or small, should be without this book. If you're eager to learn more about a certain character, or maybe you just want to know a thing or two about someone from the Star Wars universe, this is the book for you. I strongly recommend it to any fan.

Needs to be updated and expanded.......2005-06-10

I don't own this book, I just read through it at a local bookstore. I didn't buy it because there was just too much missing. Some major characters from the films and EU are omitted or receive only short (one paragraph) descriptions, while other minor characters get full 1-2 page entries.

For example, mad clone Joruus C'Baoth gets one paragraph (nothing on the original Jorus), whereas Boss Nass and Sebulba from Ep I have full entries. Most of the Jedi Council from Eps I and II get one paragraph each in a collective entry, with a few omitted completely. The podrace competitors get about the same coverage as the Jedi Council, if not more. And a personal quibble, I would have liked to have seen an entry on Captain Tarpals. He's at least as important as Sebulba.

Surely this will be revised to accommodate Ep III and Tartakovsky Clone Wars updates. Hopefully it will also include many expansions on older characters as well.

The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology, Revised Edition (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

Star Wars for Children?
They Don't make them like they used too
A job well done.
Nice!

The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology, Revised Edition (Star Wars)
Haden Blackman
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345449037
Release Date: 2004-10-26

Book Description

There’s more to the arms, artillery, and exotic equipment of the Star Wars galaxy than Jedi lightsabers and blasters. Species such as the tree-dwelling Wookiees, the amphibious Gungans, and the deadly Yuuzhan Vong have yielded a staggering array of unique weapons and devices. And as the Star Wars mythos continues to grow–in prequels and video games, on screen, in print, and beyond–these remarkable technical creations also multiply and evolve.

The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology is the fully updated and greatly expanded reference resource that organizes and explains every key class, make, and model of Star Wars munitions–from the smallest personal sidearms to the most devastating interplanetary superweapons–along with a host of other high-tech paraphernalia. This exhaustive compendium includes:

• New in this edition: a fascinating look at the historical significance of Star Wars weaponry and the major technological turning points– including the Clone Wars, the creation of the first Death Star,
and the Yuuzhan Vong invasion
• A roster of the major manufacturers who created the most powerful armaments for the Old and New Republics, the Empire, the Sith, the Rebel Alliance, and all of the exotic governments that populate the Star Wars galaxy
• In-depth descriptions of more than 100 weapons and more than 100 additional devices used for defense, communication, survival, security, and more–including detailed schematics of key technology featured in all five films

From the Geonosian sonic blaster to the Wookiee bowcaster; from the imperial energy grenade to the Yuuzhan Vong fire spitter; from dart shooters and laser cannons to Sun Crushers and World Devastators, find the facts about Star Wars firepower–and much more–in The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology.

Customer Reviews:

Star Wars for Children?.......2007-09-10

This book is good. There are plenty of pictures, sourcing for items and where the surface in the universe, even a fairly decent description of most of them. But it didn't have the technical specifications that you would expect from a Star Wars Manual. It was lacking in a lot of fine details, and seemed ti have been made just to gloss over everything and make it look good. Ok, but not great.

They Don't make them like they used too.......2007-08-29

Nice Diagrams, a few VERY good light saber comparison pages, nice description of companies that make the weaponry but mostly underwhelming with little information or obvious information on the actually weapons as well as very poor renders of the few that were rendered. I never got the original of this book but I did have the original Essential guide to vehicle's and vessels and it was MUCH better with no render only black and white artist sketches as well as more interesting diagrams.

A job well done........2007-06-15

I was extremely pleased with what I got when I purchased this guide. It gives a detailed description of the anatomy, history, and use of every item in Star Wars. This guide is broken into sections. These are ranged weapons, melee weapons, starship and planetary weapons, superweapons, defenses and armor, security, and other equitment. The ranged weapons section covers everything from the simple dart shooter to the lethal disruptor rifle. Melee is similar, and it gives many descriptions of Yuuzhan Vong melee weapons(ugh). Starship and planetary weapons section covers many things, and the superweapons section is a very interesting section. I value this guide over the Vehicles and Vessels guide. Its setup is more structured and organized. In the beginning of this guide you can find a Major Manufacterers guide. Ian Fullwood has done an excellent job illistrating this guide. You can see everything. I strongly reccomend this guide to anyone who likes Star Wars, and it really helped me get into Star Wars. A must-have.

Nice!.......2006-11-21

Tis book expands on the weapons/technology used in the Star Wars universe, not just what's seen in the movies but also what appears in the books. The artwork/pictures in the book have been updated, they have a more realistic look to them.

The Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

obsolete, but still a great list
Essential Guide is good for its time
I also agree with obselete.
A great resource
I agree with the obselete guy

The Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars)
Andy Mangels
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345395352
Release Date: 1995-10-24

Amazon.com

You can find countless guides to the many gadgets and gizmos in the Star Wars universe--Bill Smith's Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology, which covers everything from ship-mounted turbo-lasers to combat remotes, is just one example. But what about all the characters in Star Wars? Look, a good book about remotes is one thing. A good book about the living? That's something else.

Lucky for us, Andy Mangels has pored over all the movies and the collateral novels, comics, and computer games to put together this illustrated guide to the major and minor characters of the Star Wars universe. As would be expected, many pages are lavished on the likes of Vader and Solo, but bit players like Salacious Crumb (Jabba's cackling monkey-lizard pet) and Lobot (Cloud City's cyborg majordomo) aren't forgotten. An impressive survey in both depth and breadth, this guide fills in the gaps on some of Star Wars' most well-known personalities (who knew Luke's nickname was "Wormy"?) while revealing characters you may have never heard of (like Han and Leia's twin kids!). --Paul Hughes

Book Description

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE EMPIRE! RESEARCH THE REBELS!
*Features detailed profiles of all the most important characters in the Star Wars universe
*Covers the movies, the books--classic and new--the comics, the TV specials, the games, and the rest of the expanding universe of Star Wars
*Describes the history and personality of each character, with vital statistics, weapons of choice, and vehicles used
*Includes photographs and original line drawings--with multiple illustrations of most characters for better visual reference
*Brings you up-to-date on recent characters and events if you've been away from the Star Wars universe for a while.
THE UNIVERSE OF STAR WARS IS EXPANDING FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE...
WITH THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CHARACTERS IN HAND, YOU'LL NEVER LOSE YOUR WAY.

Customer Reviews:

obsolete, but still a great list.......2005-12-18

This book is still an exccellent guide despite being outdated (came out in 1995). It includes several characters that were very enjoyable to read about, despite their incredibly minor if not non-existant role in the Star Wars storyline. Some are Imperial Royal Guards, Tessek, IG-88, etc. Reading it, I felt that it included too many of the Dark Empire 1 and 2 characters, when it could have had other more iteresting ones. Overall, this book isn't the most up-to-date thing out there, but will likely explain all the characters you need to know.

Essential Guide is good for its time.......2003-10-18

The Essential Guide is a very good guide to the characters of the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, this book was written before the release of the new Star Wars prequels, so you won't find any info on those movies in this book. If you're an avid fan though, I highly recommend you buy this book anyway, since it has in-depth descriptions of key players in Episodes 4-6. Good buy!

I also agree with obselete........2003-05-29

This book has some useful references but for the most part it is in dire need of some updating. With the release of the new movies this just doesnt cut it as a reference guide anymore. This is the worst of the essential star wars guides.

A great resource.......2003-03-17

The Essential Guide to Characters is a great guide of all the characters from the original trilogy and the expanded universe. It's a greate resource for anyone who wants to know about specific characters, and for fanfiction authors who are interested in getting to know the history of a character they want to include in their fanfiction. It's definately great, and would be a great addition to the collection of someone who considers themselves a know-it-all, or someone who enjoys writing in the Star Wars universe. The only thing that takes away from the rating is the fact that all the images are black and white.

I agree with the obselete guy.......2002-11-24

With the release of episode 2 this books information is rendered pretty much obselete. There is alot of incorrect information here. For example Owen Lars is noted as being Obi wan's brother.
I'm sure that the author worked with what he had but the bottom line is its just not reliable reference material.

The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

great illustrations
Wait!!
A fun book, but not essential.
An essential purchase for any Star Wars reader
An excellent book for any Star Wars fan

The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels (Star Wars)
Bill Smith , Doug Chiang , and Troy Vigil
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 034539299X
Release Date: 1996-03-19

Amazon.com

Every Star Wars fan knows that Slave I is Boba Fett's tricked-out bounty-hunting ride. But how many know about its short-lived successor, Slave II? And what average fan has ever laid eyes on an Imperial MT-AT walker? (Imagine a huge, arachnid AT-AT.) Heck, most SW buffs will even try to tell you that Vader's Super Star Destroyer is the biggest bad-boy this side of the Battle of Endor. Not likely: Emperor Palpatine's probably got bigger shuttlecraft on his 17.5-kilometer-long Eclipse-class ship.

Bill Smith's illustrated Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels--a veritable blue book for the Star Wars universe--lets you kick the tires on all these ships and more. Researching not just the movies, but also Star Wars novels, comics, computer games, et al., Smith tirelessly details 100 different ways to get around--and dish out destruction--in the land of sandcrawlers and speeders. Descriptions of familiar vehicles ("That's no moon... it's a space station!") blend seamlessly with the more obscure (can you name six kinds of TIE fighters?). This is one showroom-floor tour you won't want to miss out on. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

"THAT'S NO MOON! IT'S A SPACE STATION."
But it wasn't just any space station--it was the most famous battle station in movie history, the Death Star, just one of the dozens of high-tech marvels that are found in the movies, the books, the comics, the games, and everywhere the Star Wars epic continues.
STAR WARS(c): THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO VEHICLES AND VESSELS
* Features detailed data on the most important spaceships, vehicles, and
battle machines in the Star Wars universe.
* Describes the development and historical importance of each vehicle.
* Includes detailed illustrations with each entry for instant visual reference.
* Brings you up-to-date on the latest starcraft technology used by the New
Republic, its allies, and its enemies.
THESE ARE THE SHIPS USED TO TRAVEL, EXPLORE, AND CONQUER THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE STAR WARS GALAXY.

Customer Reviews:

great illustrations.......2007-01-02

This has great illustrations and information on Star Wars vehicles.
My son loves this.

Wait!!.......2005-06-08

Okay. Before the prequels this was a fantastic book that gave you a ton of information on the ships of the Star Wars universe. Not just the movie trilogy, but also the books. The problem is now this reference book is made obsolete by not only the prequels, but other books.

These books do not have any details from the prequel movies. No Naboo fighters, no Jedi starfighters, no clone army arsenal. So if you want that information you either have to wait for the latest of the latest books or get the revised version (which doesn't include vehicles from Revenge of the Sith).

Another thing I have noticed is that not all of the details in this book coincide with other books like the Incredible Cross Sections and Visual Dictionaries. Which is more accurate? Your guess is as good as mine.

Still take all that away and look at how much this book is going for you are getting a ton of useful and interesting details about these vehicles. If you love getting into the technical side of things this book will suit you in at least a limited capacity. If you really want techinical hit up on the Incredible Cross Sections books. Although you only get a fraction of the ships covered here.

If you want a complete listing wait. If you are happy with just the trilogy stuff and what's from the books before this was published you are in for a treat.

A fun book, but not essential........2004-10-01

I am a huge fan of star wars, and so I decided to read some of the novels. I hated how there were so many ships that I didn't recognize. This book helped alot in visualizing the ships. It's also great if you're obsessed with details like I am. Beyond that though, I don't know if it's essential, as it focuses more on the novels thn the movies. Even then it's still lacking several ships from the novels, so all in all it's fun, but not essential for someone who is just a casual fan.

An essential purchase for any Star Wars reader.......2003-11-24

The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels is a key reference book for the casual Star Wars fan or avid reader keen to know what their galaxy is flying and driving. Combining fun and informative knowledge makes this a great treat, and with the newer edition now out, there's no better time to acquire this when the price is low and many entries don't appear in the second guide.

Each ship or vehicle is rendered with an outline schematic and pencilled illustration. Though colourless, depth and detail are more than sufficient to give you an exact idea what they are. Key systems and functions are labelled, telling you the placement of guns and other technical stuff, which is useful, though some tags are no more than just telling you this a support struts, that an engine nacelle.

Pictures are brought to life by description, and the description for entries varied considerably. It's certainly informative for a casual reader, but many fans will find it light in detail too many places, specifics too vague at times. These guides should provide the basic specs of a ship: like manufacturer, length, number and types of guns, fighter complement, speed, and perhaps cargo capacity. While the Imperial Star Destroyer had extensive stats, the Ubrikkian space cruiser didn't even have a length, while the sandcrawler's height is only given, not its length. Both guides say only the Super Star Destroyer has "over a thousand weapons", but don't provide an extra sentence or two to say its composition.

A considerable percentage of entries came from the Dark Empire comics, whose ships and vehicles have rarely been used outside those three comics. While the World Devastator and various starfighters within are of interest, who would care for the Amphibion water tank, TIE crawler tank or Hutt Caravel, that weren't even important in their respective comics?

The EGVV features many stuff from quaint and obscure sources, like gargantuan insectile Ithullian ore haulers, Star Home, Shieldships, Coral Vanda and private vehicles to name a few. The manufacturer section in the beginning is useful in identifying who makes what.

The errors and consistencies will appear only to the fan well conversant in SW lore. The TIE Defender made no mention of its tractor beam (neither did the NEGVV), the Sun Crusher looks different from its Dark Apprentice book's cover art, Star Home was undergunned from what its book said, are just some of the many but minor tidbits you'll discover.

But it was the excessive redundancy that was the primary failing of this guide. Many important ships were omitted like the Strike Cruiser, Corellian Gunship, Assault Frigate, Floating Fortress and Golan battle stations, all in frequent and popular usage when this was done. Alas, the NEGVV omitted them as well. Yet there are THREE landspeeder entries, THREE Death Stars, TWO swoops and TWO B-wings.

Overall, the EGVV is a great reference guide for those wondering what their SW ships and vehicles look and are, and with most of its contents unseen in the second guide, still have value as a current purchase.

An excellent book for any Star Wars fan.......2003-10-13

When it comes to science fiction, the Star Wars saga is the best. However, the films themselves give very little information regarding the vehicles used by characters in them. This is a shame, because the technology of everyone's favorite galaxy far far away is nothing short of fascinating. Finally, a book entitled Star Wars - The Essential Guide To Vehicles And Vessels was released! Now, fans would be able to learn about the ever-so awesome vehicles characters in the films used! Read on for my review of this book.

PROS:
-If you're a fan of the Star Wars films, and you're interested in reading about the technical aspects of craft like the X-Wing fighter and the Imperial-Class Star Destroyer, this book will have more than enough information to make you happy.
-The book covers the expanded universe! This means the vehicles from Shadows Of The Empire appear here, as do vehicles that show up in later novels, comic books, video games, etc. Even if you're just a fan of the films, the information on the expanded universe will fascinate you.
-This book is readily available in most major bookstores (B. Dalton, Barnes And Noble, Borders, etc.) You shouldn't have any trouble finding it.
-The price for this book is very good, considering all the information it has to offer. This is a worthwhile purchase if you're a Star Wars fan.

CONS:
-The major problem with this book is that it was released circa 1997. This means it came out before 1999, and accordingly the vehicles exclusive to the prequel films, Episode I and Episode II, don't appear in here.
-The only pictures in the book are black-and-white sketches. I would have liked to see some more detailed pictures, preferably in color.

Amazon.com

"You're a collector, all right, a dust collector!" said young Stephen Sansweet's mom, bemused by his horde of spaceship models. We wonder what she thinks of adult Stephen's vast, comprehensive, and... well, obsessive Star Wars memorabilia collection. Chronicle Books has teamed up with Sansweet (creator of the incredible Star Wars Encyclopedia) to give the rest of us a thrill: our own Star Wars stuff, gathered tidily in a sturdy, spiral-bound package. Darth Vader's ominous helmet opens to reveal page after page of reproductions of everything from fan-club newsletters and ticket stubs to your own real stickers and punch-out cards.

Why Star Wars? Sansweet explains in the introduction that it "literally changed my life, and I'm far from alone." He sees this collection as a way to share the fruits of his passion with less lucky fans around the world. And really, it's kind of nice to let him buy 50 bags of chips in search of unique Star Wars prizes inside. You'll feel as if you're being shown around a truly unique museum by a slightly wacky but really enjoyable friend. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

Imagine you've been a Star Wars fan from the very beginning. Way back in Ã”77, you started collecting everything from Star Wars gum wrappers to now-priceless relics like the original preview questionnaire. Even better, you had access to special screenings, actual film sets, and all the behind-the-scenes parties. You'd be just like Stephen Sansweet, the world's foremost Star Wars collector. In this magnificent scrapbook, Sansweet has carefully selected and arranged the best of his unparalleled collection, authentically reproduced right down to the bristles on the Luke Skywalker toothbrush. Here are Yoda Christmas cards painted by Ralph McQuarrie himself, early prototypes of logos, invitations still in their envelopes, cutout figures, press releases, stickers, patches, trading cards, press photos, and much, much more. Including Sansweet's anecdotes of the early days and featuring treasures from around the world, this is the ultimate Star Wars collectible. ?

?To the Official Star Wars Web Site?
?Check out other Star Wars titles published by Chronicle Books!?

Customer Reviews:

UNIQUE in the UNIVERSE.......1999-03-31

This book is so cool! The entire layout is so unique! An outstanding design! There are rare photos inside that I have not ever seen before (and I own all the other STAR WARS books!!)

THIS IS TRULY FANTASTIC - FOR A TRUE COLLECTOR!!!

May the Force be with you!

Lotsa fun -- visitors love it!.......1999-01-05

Leave it on the coffee table, watch your visitors pick it up and turn the pages and see their faces light up!

Interactive fun, clever and exciting........1998-11-10

The lady from Lexington is absolutely correct: "This book wasn't meant to be read--it was meant to be flipped through and enjoyed." If you want text and information, try Sansweet's "Star Wars: Concept to Collectible" or The SW Encyclopedia." This book is interactive fun, clever, fascinating, exciting and just plain cool!

Good for your coffee table!.......1998-06-15

I just went through my copy and found it most interesting. A perfect conversation piece for any one with Star Wars knowledge. I just thought it was lacking in text and information. If you "read" it it only takes about 15 minutes. What you need the book for is the pictures and repro artifacts that would be most difficult for the average fan to obtain.

If you are looking for a reference don't look here. If you want some thing neat to look at, this is it. Put it on the coffee table and let your house guests enjoy!

Don't Read This Book--Play With It!.......1998-05-30

This book wasn't meant to be read--it was meant to be flipped through and enjoyed. Steve Sansweet has included a small (I've seen pictures of his house-this is a REALLY small) sample of his ultimate Star Wars collection. From the toys we all remember to rare and foriegn collectables, the strange and bizarre and the nearly normal (anyone else remember C-3P0s cereal?) it is all here. And to fully appreciate it, you really need two copies--one to keep and one to punch out the interactive pages: these are recreations of real Star Wars cutout toys! (All discretely marked as repros, of course.) For Star Wars fans of all ages, this book is a must. We can't all own Steve's collection (rats!), but at least we can enjoy a little of it.

The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

A Good Start -Needs An Update
Excellent for Star Wars fans
A Great Reference
planets of the star wars universe
Helpful

The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons (Star Wars)
Daniel Wallace , and Scott Kolins
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345420683
Release Date: 1998-07-21

Amazon.com

For the true Star Wars fan, the Essential Guide to Planets and Moons is crucial. You can keep track of all the places mentioned in the movies, books, and comics with this detailed reference. One hundred locations, from the well-known (Tatooine and Hoth) to the more obscure (J't'p'tan and Taanab), are covered in detail. Each planet, moon, or asteroid is accompanied by information on solar system, terrain, language, and points of interest, along with illustrations of the resident species, intelligent and otherwise. Daniel Wallace investigates each planet's role in the Star Wars saga, while Brandon McKinney and Scott Kolins's comic-style black-and-white drawings help the reader get an idea of what these unique worlds and their inhabitants look like. The Essential Guide series also includes Weapons and Technology, Vehicles and Vessels, and Characters.

Book Description

THE ULTIMATE RESOURCE TO THE WORLDS OF THE STAR WARS GALAXY!

From the sun-baked deserts of Tatooine to the frost-bitten snowscape of Hoth to the misty swamps of Dagobah, here's your expert guide to the hundred most fascinating worlds of the extraordinary Star Wars universe. Travel from the Deep Core to the Outer Rim Territories and discover the wonders of:

¸  Kashyyyk--the treacherous, arboreal planet where the Wookiee race dwells among the branches in elevated cities . . . and lethal predators rule the surface
¸  Bespin--the gas planet devoid of solid ground, in whose atmosphere hovers the formidable Cloud City
¸  Endor--The Forest Moon: home to the peaceful but powerful Ewoks and site of a decisive battle in the galactic civil war
¸  Coruscant--center of power, law, history, and culture in the galaxy . . . and once the location of Imperial City, the seat of the dreaded Empire

EXPLORE THE TERRAIN, MEET THE INHABITANTS, AND UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THESE AND MANY, MANY MORE REMARKABLE DESTINATIONS ON A CAPTIVATING, FULLY-ILLUSTRATED VOYAGE TO THE BRIGHTEST STARS OF A FANTASTIC UNIVERSE!

Customer Reviews:

A Good Start -Needs An Update.......2007-05-20

This book can be helpful to hard core fans, but it is woefully incomplete and I was not impressed with the tiny artwork. One reviewer here hit it spot on when they said that this book should have focused more on what the planets were like (climate, ecology, civilizations,cultures, mini-history) rather than rehashing the stories from those worlds. It would have been nice if they had explained the meaning of "Agriworlds" And "Industrial Worlds" and their roles in the SW Galaxy. It would have been nice if they'd done the obvious and updated the book to include the Prequel worlds too. And while they were at it, some of the more intrieguing worlds from the obscure corners of the universe like Togoria, Renastasia, Dellallt, Grizmallt,Taris, Or Malachor V.(Heck- since they could included Rafa IV, they could have included some of these) Of corse if they expanded this in the way I'd like to see, it would be a huge richly illustrated tome indeed. But I'd buy it.

Excellent for Star Wars fans.......2003-10-13

When it comes to science fiction, the Star Wars saga is the best. However, the films themselves give very little information regarding the locales that our beloved characters find themselves exploring. This is a shame, because the planets that occupy everyone's favorite galaxy far far away are nothing short of fascinating. Finally, a book entitled Star Wars - The Essential Guide To Planets And Moons was released! Now, fans would be able to learn about the ever-so awesome places characters in the films travelled to! Read on for my review of this book.

PROS:
-If you're a fan of the Star Wars films, and you're interested in reading about the worlds explored in the classic trilogy, this book will have more than enough information to make you happy. From Luke Skywalker's desert homeplanet of Tatooine to the icy world of Hoth, they're all here.
-The book covers the expanded universe! This means places from the novels, comic books, and video games appear in this book! Even if you're just a fan of the films, the information on the expanded universe will fascinate you.
-This book is readily available in most major bookstores (B. Dalton, Barnes And Noble, Borders, etc.) You shouldn't have any trouble finding it.
-The price for this book is very good, considering all the information it has to offer. This is a worthwhile purchase if you're a Star Wars fan.

CONS:
-The major problem with this book is that it was released circa 1997. This means it came out before 1999, and accordingly the locales exclusive to the prequel films, Episode I and Episode II, don't appear in here. That kind of bites, because I wanted to read up on Naboo and Kamino.
-The only pictures in the book are black-and-white sketches. I would have liked to see some more detailed pictures, preferably in color.

OVERALL:
If you're a Star Wars fan, I guarantee this book will fascinate you. If you're not a fan of the Star Wars series but know somebody who is, this makes a great gift. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

A Great Reference.......2003-01-15

Although it is not officially a supplement, I found this book indispensable for gamemastering in the Star Wars Roleplaying Game. The fact is, there really isn't a better resource for finding new places to visit in the Star Wars Universe. Even if you're not into the RPG scene, however, this member of the 'Essential Guide' series is an excellent read.

For some of those, namely the hardcore fans that have read every single Star Wars thing ever published (I cannot claim this title, as I've only read about half of it all) this book might seem a bit redundant. All of the locations are taken from either film or literature, so if you've read all the literature it follows that you'll have seen all of the 100 worlds depicted here at least once. Nevertheless, it is useful to have all of this information in one place, in case you forgot just which world the Ugnaughts come from (Umgul) or how to spell "Mrlsst." The Star Wars Encyclopedia and Guide to the SW Universe have all of this information as well... somewhere. The problem is you have to remember what you were looking for to find it. This book simplifies matters if you just have to know, but can't recall any of it.

For those who are NOT hardcore fans or could care less that Wild Boetays can be found on Garos IV, you probably won't find this guide more than moderately amusing. The other ones in the series (Characters, Vehicles and Vessels, and Weapons and Tech, to name a few) might be more diverting. But for those who are serious about Star Wars (you know who you are) the Guide to Planets and Moons is a really cheap thrill.

planets of the star wars universe.......2001-10-11

This book is very cool.There are 200 planets in this book.But there are way more planets then this.

Helpful.......2001-08-04

This book is helpful for those who haven't read a certain Star Wars book, but come across one of the planets in that book mentioned in some other book. However, with all the new books coming out right now, you'll find that this book is pretty useless for them.

Average customer rating:

The absolute best Essential Guide!!!!!
a good source of history in star wars world
A brief but thorough chronology
a coloring book???
Must Have For Any Star Wars Fan

The Essential Chronology (Star Wars)
Kevin J. Anderson , Daniel Wallace , and Bill Hughes
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345434390
Release Date: 2000-04-04

Amazon.com

When this book first hit print, many Star Wars fans felt a great disturbance in the Force. Not the bad, millions-of-voices-crying-out-in-terror kind of disturbance, mind you--more like a galactic sigh of relief as two Star Wars vets finally dared to compile a comprehensive chronology, a book ambitiously subtitled "The Definitive History of the Star Wars Universe." And Kevin J. Anderson and Daniel Wallace don't disappoint. Their accurately named Essential Chronology satisfies all but the most rabid fan-boy needs, cataloging every significant event from the Golden Age of the Sith (roughly 5,000 years B.B.Y., Before the Battle of Yavin) through to the exploits of the Young Jedi in 24 A.B.Y. (immediately preceding the events of Del Rey's New Jedi Order story arc).

In encyclopedic style, the duo have compiled the periods and players from what's become a sprawl of comics, computer games, newspaper strips, "audio adventures," and paperbacks. Some niggling details, of course, slip through the cracks, but the end product succeeds admirably, proving to be both entertaining and useful. The icing on the cake? Solid illustrations by Bill Hughes, an era-by-era timeline (including every major book, comic, computer game, and movie), and--thank the Maker--an index. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

"After the fall of the Empire, many archives were opened and hidden information came to the attention of scholars across the galaxy. We are at a crux point in history . . . Citizens of the New Republic must know their history--a rich and glorious tradition, [with] many dark mistakes. We must learn from both."
--New Republic Historical Council

The story is one that began many thousands of years before the birth of Luke Skywalker . . . or Anakin Skywalker . . . or even Obi-Wan Kenobi. It spans galaxies, encompasses kingdoms and powerful dynasties, chronicles wars, and charts the rise and fall of individuals who changed the course of their times. Now, at last, the many strands of this extraordinary saga are drawn together--from the original movies, from the novels, from every verifiable source--and tied together in one, comprehensive volume.

- Learn about the Great Hyperspace War that divided the ancient Jedi Knights
- Discover the colorful adventures of the rogue heroes Han Solo and Lando Calrissian
- Experience the overthrow of the Empire, the birth of the New Republic, the founding of Skywalker's Jedi academy, the marriage of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, and much more!

Relive the legendary events. Catch up with the action you missed. Explore the saga of Star Wars from the very beginning--in one, authoritative essential guide!

Customer Reviews:

The absolute best Essential Guide!!!!!.......2002-07-02

I am a die hard Star Wars fan, my room is like a shrine to it. I got the Chronology for Christmas a few years ago, and it's my favorite out of all of the essential guides. It goes into detail about the pre-Republic days, Xim the Despot, and The Hyperspace and Sith Wars. It also goes beyond the fall of the Empire, and the beginning of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. I really loved the early Republic days and how it nearly fell to the collaboration of Exar Kun and the fallen Jedi, Ulic-Qel Droma. My favorite section of the whole guide is the Rise of Grand Admiral Thrawn. Thrawn was the only alien Grand Admiral, (Chiss was his species) and the last to nearly topple the New Republic.

There is a lot more in the Guide, but you will just have to read it.

a good source of history in star wars world.......2002-05-17

not a bad book gave alot of information and on some exploits from some of main characters but i would had hoped for a little more detail of some of the stories like they didnt give much information about clones wars or how did palpatine was able to make his new roder with the rising form of the empire or how did skywalker learn about darkside and become his transformation to darth vador. I figure most is based on from the movies but even the authors with the excess to what they have and what they can learn from lucas himself i am sure they could had put a little information on some of these events.

A brief but thorough chronology.......2002-05-17

I was always curious about how had everything started and how did it continue. Well, I had two options:
1) browse through the entire comments written about SW books
or
2) get a chronology

This chronology is well written and updated (2001) and leaves the necessary gap for the upcoming next two movies (Episodes 2 & 3).

After reading it I've decided to buy 4 books related to some parts of the history I was interested (what happened between the first 3 movies)

I strongly reccommend it

a coloring book???.......2002-04-03

this book needs a hardback counterpart, it seems like a coloring book...with it's b&w pages and pictures...the info is great but keep an eye out for the enclyclopedia update

Must Have For Any Star Wars Fan.......2001-08-18

Absolutely fabulous, a must for any Star Wars fan. The information is totally accurate, well-written and well-organized. The only thing is, I was tempted to give it four stars rather than five, because the pictures are horrendous. The picture of Yoda on the cover makes him look evil, and the depictions of Leia barely look like her at all. But, if you ignore the pictures, this book is great!

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