The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars) [Paperback]

Daniel Wallace (Author), Michael Sutfin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2002

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!

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: LucasBooks; Revised edition (April 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345449002
• ISBN-13: 978-0345449009
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,847 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent expansion!, May 4, 2002

By 

"kandladin" (Castle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars) (Paperback)

Truly essential! Doubtless any Star Wars fan will find this book as fun, informative and entertaining as I did. I have the earlier edition as well, and while it was good in it's time, it became hideousely out of date quickly, and a new edition was definitely needed. I'd definitely say that this fantastic book is the best of the Essential Guides period; the author's clear, straightford, and unbiased tone are what really gives the book it's charm. Many of the minor inconsistensies between the novels are easily explained away here as well. And of course the illustrations. WOW!!! They certainly picked the right guy for this job; everyone is perfect, just how I imagined them. Among my favorites were Mara (deadly yet beautiful), Jacen (Wow, who ever guessed he'd be that cute), and Tsavong Lah (delightfully hideous). My only minor gripe is that a few characters, such as Callista for example, who hasn't even been MENTIONED in eight or nine years, kept a spot in the actual book, whereas a key character in the New Jedi Order such as Tenel Ka, or Jagged Fel were reduced to the "other persons of note" section in the back. Being that I despise Callista (always have always will) and adore Tenel Ka this irritated me enough that I took off a star for it. Desipite this however, I definitely recommend this book for any Star Wars fan, young or old. It would probably help if you have a fairly well read backround in the Expanded Universe, but this one promises to be entertaining even to amateur fans. Oh, also worthy of note, major AOTC spoilers in this one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars just what was needed!!!, April 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars) (Paperback)

After the 1st essential guide to characters, I was happy with the outcome. However, in the years since the book came out, it has become clear that another guide was needed. And does this one deliver. It gives us information on all that were needed, from Corran Horn to Kyle Katarn to Maxmillian Veers. If you need background information, pick this book up!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Please enter a title for your review, August 17, 2004

By 

José Fernandez (Ashburn, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars) (Paperback)

Excellent! I have no doubt that, until The New Essential Chronology comes out, this will remain the best of the Essential Guides. This book is truly a must-have for Star Wars fans (and mild enthusiasts). It contains extremely detailed biographies of most of the major Star Wars characters that existed at its printing. It also does an extremely good job of clearing of apparent continuity errors in the characters' histories.

Only three faults I can find. One: Those incredibly minute character descriptions at the back of the book (and in the Jedi Council, the Podraces, and the Battle-of-Geonosis Jedi entries) really annoy me. Some of those characters are infinitely more important than several of those who received full-length bios. Do we really need an entire page on Ric "Captain Obvious" Oliè? I think not. When the next Essential Guide to Characters comes out, I hope they've removed those small character descriptions and given everyone a full-length biography.

Two: Several major characters were not included in this edition. I understand the decision to omit those who hadn't done much since the original Essential Guide to Characters, but I'm still disappointed by it. You'll have to check out the original for those guys.

Three: It's out of date! Hurry, LFL guys, we need another one! Almost as badly as we need The New Essential Chronology. Make it so!