Synopses & Reviews
An exhaustively researched, definitive reference for Star Wars fans of all ages brings the world-renowned DK cross-sections illustration techniques to the Star Wars universe. The main ships are explored and cutaway to reveal the armaments, propulsion systems, armor, control systems, and other key aspects of each vehicle, from Han Solo's Millennium Falcon to Darth Vader's TIE fighter. Special features and hidden mechanisms, never before revealed, are described and illustrated in graphic detail. Together with Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, these books comprise a definitive classic Star Wars reference library.
Review
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. (Publishers Weekly, October)
Review
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. 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 all here. 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. 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)
Review
The space ships, fighters, and Death Star were big in the movies and this BIG (10- by 14-inch) book lets kids and grownups examine these crafts in great detail. The Death Star section folds out into a four-page spread that includes scenes from the movie as well as a look at the interior. Fourteen vehicles are portrayed, including the Sandcrawler, AT-AT (Imperial All Terrain Armed Transport), Snowspeeder, At-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport), and Jabba's Sail Barge. The minutiae are amazing. West has a companion title-Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary. (Marilyn Courtot, Children's Literature)
Synopsis
For the first time ever, DK's brilliant exploded artwork reveals the inner workings of the vehicles and spacecraft from the "Star Wars" films. Fans will revel in the stunning four-page gatefold that displays the Death Star's inner core and its dark secrets. Fascinating details let readers see the internal workings of the "Millennium Falcon" and the armament of a Star Destroyer. Full color.
About the Author
Before becoming involved with Star Wars and Lucasfilm, Dr. David West Reynolds earned his Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology at the University of Michigan, specializing in ancient Egypt and Imperial Rome. His studies and field work have taken him to places as diverse as Anasazi cliff cities in Utah, Inca fortresses in the mountains of Peru, and Swahili ruins in the jungles of East Africa. In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Reynolds taught archaeology in the college classroom, as well as guiding tours in the field. In 1995 Reynolds undertook a project to re-locate the filming sites in North Africa where the desert planet scenes had been shot in 1976 for the first Star Wars movie. Employing his archaeological skills he successfully tracked down these remote sites and even found 20-year-old Star Wars props still lying out in the open desert. Reynolds wrote a popular magazine article about his journey, and was surprised to receive a call from Lucasfilm. The company revealed that all their records of the old sites had been lost, and they asked him to guide them back to the Star Wars locations in search of sites for the new film, The Phantom Menace. Reynolds subsequently carried out further Star Wars location scouting in South America, but it was for his communication skills that he was eventually hired full-time by Lucasfilm. At Skywalker Ranch, Reynolds held a position on the marketing team behind the record-setting launch of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. In the last two years, in addition to numerous magazine articles he has written several Star Wars books. Four of those books have been New York Times bestsellers, one reaching #1 on that list. Reynolds is now a full-time author and consultant, president and CEO of the consulting firm Phaeton Group Inc., a "constellation of talents" ranging from communications and marketing specialists to scientific engineering, and security experts. A man of many interests, Reynolds has written video games, climbed to the highest mountains in several countries, excavated rare dinosaur eggshells, and researched thousand-year-old books at the Vatican manuscript library. In the course of unusual consulting work he has sculpted a full-size dinosaur skeleton, created models of historic 1950s spacecraft designs, and acted as writer-presenter for television documentaries, including an appearance on Omnibus for the BBC. In his former home state of Indiana, Reynolds explored unmapped caves and learned the sport of rock climbing. Dr. Reynolds remains active in archaeology, continuing to publish scholarly articles and deliver invited lectures as he develops new projects in urban and color analysis for the field. Reynolds lives with his wife Ann in Marin County, California, and spends his spare time touring the beautiful California coast.
Table of Contents
1: Spacecraft Engines; 2: Blockade Runner; 3: Star Destroyer; 4: TIE Fighter; 5: Death Star; 6: Sandcrawler; 7: Millenium Falcon; 8: T-65 X-wing; 9: BLT-A4 Y-wing; 10: TIE Advanced X1; 11: AT-AT; 12: Snowspeeder; 13: AT-ST; 14: Slave I; 15: Jabba's Sail Barge; 16: Acknowledgements