Watch the Star Wars trilogy enough times and you'll find yourself straining to catch all the little details. Not the subtle plot points (Darth is Luke's dad, check; Luke and Leia are brother and sister, check), but all the cool gear and gadgets that keep flashing in front of the camera. Like what are those pointy things on Boba Fett's kneepads? And what's with all that ammo on Chewie's bandolier? And does an Imperial Probe really need that many legs? Finally, we've got some answers. David West Reynolds, a boyish Ph.D. in archaeology who looks like he just rode in on the last Bantha, has catalogued the artifacts and inhabitants of the Star Wars universe with the same clinical thoroughness one typically reserves for studying Mesopotamia. His oversized, eye-pleasing picture book is packed with scrutinizing photos of actual props and characters from the movies, complete with systematic, scientific labels. And Reynolds's friendly, pseudo-academic style seamlessly blends new information with old. (In the Sand People description, you can't help but hear Alec Guinness's voice when Reynolds reveals that "Sand People ride in single file to hide their numbers.") In a few instances, the book shines an embarrassing light on the movies (Max Rebo is clearly no alien lifeform, just a poofy, blue elephant muppet), but the countless close-ups of thermal detonators, imperial blasters, and gaffi sticks more than make up the difference.


From Publishers Weekly
Guaranteed to catapult Star Wars fans directly into intergalactic orbit, this pair of oversize picture books provide a galaxy full of details about the inner workings of George Lucas's mythical universe. Eschewing the standard "behind-the-scenes" look at the making of the movies, both books take a realistic, reference-like approach to the imaginary realm. Reynolds's forthright treatment helps to further meld fact and fiction: an archeologist, he notes that he views the world of Star Wars as "a culture from another time and place to explore." In glorious photographs, Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary spotlights each of the characters by turn, from the big three (Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo) to the next tier, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, C-3P0 and R2-D2, as well as a vast supporting cast. Sidebars provide "back-stories" on many of the characters (Han Solo, for instance, was raised by space gypsies), and a close examination of clothing, weapons (including a cutaway view of Darth Vader's lightsaber) and equipment provides the answers to such questions as what does a Wookiee carry in his pouch. But novices be warned: Vader's true identity is also revealed in these pages. For Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections, Jenssen and Chasemore have created intricate drawings of the guts of such assorted craft as Solo's souped-up Millennium Falcon, the Empire's battle station Death Star (highlighted in a four-page gatefold), the gargantuan robotic quadruped At-At and Jabba the Hutt's sail barge. These two stellar guides (created with the support of Lucasfilm Ltd.) are sure to soar off the shelves. All ages. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From School Library Journal
Grade 4 Up?This oversized volume is packed with full-color photographs of the characters and costumes, equipment, weaponry, mechanical droids, and assorted creatures from the Star Wars universe. Each character or category is contained within two pages and nary a space is left uncovered. Spreads that are meant to be held vertically are devoted to pictures of some of the larger-than-life figures, such as Darth Vader and Chewbacca. All of the equipment and other items are labeled. Reynolds profiles the personal histories of the creatures and characters and includes salient details about their gear. "Data Files" provide additional, often fascinating, and personal tidbits about the inhabitants of this fantasy world. While anyone interested in Star Wars will delight in viewing this book, the technological terms and descriptions may be too complicated for young children. Nevertheless, it is a visual treat?the clear, impressive photographs from the Lucasfilm Archives and other sources will capture and hold readers' attention. While not a dictionary in the traditional sense, this excellent guidebook to an appealing fantasy world will be a welcome addition to library collections.?Linda Wadleigh, Oconee County Middle School, Watkinsville, GACopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Who would have imagined, 21 years after the initial release of Star Wars, that the Force would still be with us? And box office receipts in the hundreds of millions of dollars generated by the 1997 rerelease of the SW trilogy prove that interest in the series hasn't waned. This trio tell you everything you always wanted to know about Star Wars but were afraid to ask (or didn't know you should). Sansweet's Encyclopedia is an incredibly detailed A-Z listing of characters, creatures, gadgets, and gizmos gleaned from the films as well as the numerous novels and comic books they've spawned. It also offers a time line for the entire SW story and an introduction by best-selling novelist Timothy Zahn. The beautifully illustrated DK duo cover characters, costumes, and weaponry in Visual Dictionary, while Cross Sections dissects vehicles and spacecraft. Want to know how a light saber really works or what the interior of an Imperial Stormtrooper's helmet looks like? It's allhere. The most remarkable thing about the books is the amount of thought that's been expended on the workings of things that don't exist. Though the Encyclopedia is remarkably comprehensive, it will unfortunately become outdated upon the release of the first of the SW prequel films, The Phantom Menace, next May, making it a marginal purchase, especially at $50. The DK books are seriously cool and exceedingly browsable, making them solid items for libraries. Though they are aimed at kids, don't be surprised to see plenty of adults flipping through them as well.?Michael Rogers, "Library Journal"Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Marilyn Courtot, Children's Literature
If you are a Star Wars fan, and I am, then sit back and be prepared to find answers to hundreds of questions that you may have had about the characters and creatures that populated the amazing world depicted in the movies. But that isn't all. The creators of this large format book have gone beyond the films-they have filled the gaps, created backgrounds, and expanded on the information to really flesh out the Star Wars universe. The pages are filled with high-contrast photographs, including many from the films and new pictures and drawings. Perusing this book may make you want to watch the film trilogy all over again. If that isn't enough, West has a companion title Star Wars: Incredible Cross Sections.


Marilyn Courtot, Children's Literature
If you are a Star Wars fan, and I am, then sit back and be prepared to find answers to hundreds of questions that you may have had about the characters and creatures that populated the amazing world depicted in the movies. But that isn't all. The creators of this large format book have gone beyond the films-they have filled the gaps, created backgrounds, and expanded on the information to really flesh out the Star Wars universe. The pages are filled with high-contrast photographs, including many from the films and new pictures and drawings. Perusing this book may make you want to watch the film trilogy all over again. If that isn't enough, West has a companion title-"Star Wars: Incredible Cross Sections".


Book Description
The Visual Dictionary is an essential guide to Star Wars. DK's renowned Eyewitness style brings the characters, costumes, droids, and gadgetry of the Star Wars universe to life in astonishing visual detail. Highly defined, annotated photography shows and explains the culture, background, and technology of the Star Wars trilogy. Fans of all ages will enjoy detailed revelations of Star Wars secrets like how a Stormtrooper's equipment works, what the insides of a light saber look like, and what Sand People keep in their bandoliers. A visual glossary explains all the technical terms used in the trilogy. Together with Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections, these books comprise a definitive classic Star Wars reference library.


From the Back Cover
Exciting new photography and exhaustive research reveal previously onknown features of Star Wars characters, creatures, droids, and equipment. See: Cut-away views of a lightsaber and a stormtrooper helmet; C-3PO's inner workings; a wild cantina band perfomance. Discover: The names and functions of R2-D2's attachments; Boba Fett's secret weapons; all about the mysterious characters and creatures in Jabba's palace. Explore: The secrets of Darth Vader's armor; every detail of stormtrooper weaponry and equipment; and much more!


About the Author
Dr. David West Reynolds earned his Ph.D. in archeology at the University of Michigan. A lecturer, veteran of field expeditions on three continents and author of scientific archeological publications, Reynolds has also written X-Wing: A Pocket Manual, Tie Fighter: A Pocket Manual, and various Star Wars articles. He approaches the world of Star Wars like ancient Rome or Egypt, considering it a culture from another time and place to explore. Reynolds lives in Marin County, California.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Visual Dictionary is the essential guide to Star Wars. DK's renowned Eyewitness style brings the characters, costumes, droids, and gadgetry of the Star Wars universe to life in astonishing visual detail. Highly defined, annotated photography shows and explains the culture, background, and technology of the Star Wars trilogy. Fans of all ages will enjoy detailed revelations of Star Wars secrets like how a Stormtrooper's equipment works, what the insides of a light saber look like, and what Sand People keep in their bandoliers. A visual glossary explains all the technical terms used in the trilogy. Together with Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections, these books comprises the definitive classic Star Wars reference library.

SYNOPSIS

Exciting new photography and exhaustive research reveal previously onknown features of Star Wars characters, creatures, droids, and equipment. See: Cut-away views of a lightsaber and a stormtrooper helmet; C-3PO's inner workings; a wild cantina band perfomance. Discover: The names and functions of R2-D2's attachments; Boba Fett's secret weapons; all about the mysterious characters and creatures in Jabba's palace. Explore: The secrets of Darth Vader's armor; every detail of stormtrooper weaponry and equipment; and much more!","Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary brings DK's world-acclaimed visual style to the Star Wars universe. High-quality annotated photographs, supported by stills from the movies, explain every important feature of the characters, creatures, costumes, droids, and equipment found in the Star Wars trilogy, the most popular movies of all time.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Guaranteed to catapult Star Wars fans directly into intergalactic orbit, this pair of oversize picture books provide a galaxy full of details about the inner workings of George Lucas's mythical universe. Eschewing the standard "behind-the-scenes" look at the making of the movies, both books take a realistic, reference-like approach to the imaginary realm. Reynolds's forthright treatment helps to further meld fact and fiction: an archeologist, he notes that he views the world of Star Wars as "a culture from another time and place to explore." In glorious photographs, Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary spotlights each of the characters by turn, from the big three (Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo) to the next tier, including Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, C-3P0 and R2-D2, as well as a vast supporting cast. Sidebars provide "back-stories" on many of the characters (Han Solo, for instance, was raised by space gypsies), and a close examination of clothing, weapons (including a cutaway view of Darth Vader's lightsaber) and equipment provides the answers to such questions as what does a Wookiee carry in his pouch. But novices be warned: Vader's true identity is also revealed in these pages. For Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections, Jenssen and Chasemore have created intricate drawings of the guts of such assorted craft as Solo's souped-up Millennium Falcon, the Empire's battle station Death Star (highlighted in a four-page gatefold), the gargantuan robotic quadruped At-At and Jabba the Hutt's sail barge. These two stellar guides (created with the support of Lucasfilm Ltd.) are sure to soar off the shelves. All ages. (Oct.)

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

If you are a Star Wars fan, and I am, then sit back and be prepared to find answers to hundreds of questions that you may have had about the characters and creatures that populated the amazing world depicted in the movies. But that isn't all. The creators of this large format book have gone beyond the films-they have filled the gaps, created backgrounds, and expanded on the information to really flesh out the Star Wars universe. The pages are filled with high-contrast photographs, including many from the films and new pictures and drawings. Perusing this book may make you want to watch the film trilogy all over again. If that isn't enough, West has a companion title-Star Wars: Incredible Cross Sections.

VOYA - Nancy K. Wallace

Two new books explore and enrich the ongoing Star Wars saga. Star Wars: A Visual Dictionary provides a scrumptious visual feast with its double-paged articles and profusion of detailed information on characters and creatures, including still shots from the movie and supplementary data files. Not a space is wasted, even the title page and table of contents are strewn with pictorial diagrams. Chewbacca's section contains a nineteen-inch full color photo of the huge, hairy beast with additional inserts that highlight his carry pouch with contents, weapons, ammunition, and spacecraft repair tools. Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections, an illustrated guide, includes diagrams for the Millennium Falcon, T-65 X-wing, Blockade Runner, Tie Fighters, Sandcrawler, and BLT-A4 Y-wing, among others. An elaborate four-page fold-out analyzes the Death Star in minute detail, highlighting Detention Block AA-23, the trash compactor, the air shaft, and Docking Bay 3207 where Obi-Wan Kenobi sacrificed his life to ensure Luke's escape. A copy of the technical readouts reveals the Polar Trench and the exhaust port that Rebel fighters targeted to destroy the Death Star. AT-AT Walkers, AT-STs, snowspeeders, and speeder bikes are also included. Diagrams are surrounded by inserts of fascinating trivia, history, and technical notes. A special introduction enumerates spacecraft engine types from sublight to hyperdrive. The archeologist author includes excellent photographs, illustrations, and attractive layouts, approaching the Star Wars phenomenon with professional objectivity, as though classifying the artifacts of this future civilization. Both of Reynolds's books have exceptional authenticity and belong in any serious Star Wars collection. Photos. Note: This review was written and published to address two titles-Star Wars Incredible Cross-Sections and Star Wars a Visual Dictionary. VOYA Codes: 5Q 5P M J S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being better written, Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9, Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12 and adults).

Library Journal

Who would have imagined, 21 years after the initial release of Star Wars, that the Force would still be with us? And box office receipts in the hundreds of millions of dollars generated by the 1997 rerelease of the SW trilogy prove that interest in the series hasn't waned. This trio tell you everything you always wanted to know about Star Wars but were afraid to ask (or didn't know you should). Sansweet's Encyclopedia is an incredibly detailed A-Z listing of characters, creatures, gadgets, and gizmos gleaned from the films as well as the numerous novels and comic books they've spawned. It also offers a time line for the entire SW story and an introduction by best-selling novelist Timothy Zahn. The beautifully illustrated DK duo cover characters, costumes, and weaponry in Visual Dictionary, while Cross Sections dissects vehicles and spacecraft. Want to know how a light saber really works or what the interior of an Imperial Stormtrooper's helmet looks like? It's allhere. The most remarkable thing about the books is the amount of thought that's been expended on the workings of things that don't exist. Though the Encyclopedia is remarkably comprehensive, it will unfortunately become outdated upon the release of the first of the SW prequel films, The Phantom Menace, next May, making it a marginal purchase, especially at $50. The DK books are seriously cool and exceedingly browsable, making them solid items for libraries. Though they are aimed at kids, don't be surprised to see plenty of adults flipping through them as well.--Michael Rogers, "Library Journal"

School Library Journal