Star Wars The Visual Dictionary » (American Edition)

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.

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.)