Incredible Cross-sections of Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace: The Definitive Guide to the Craft [Hardcover]

David Reynolds (Author), Hans Jenssen (Illustrator), Richard Chasemore (Illustrator), David West Reynolds (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Experience the Star Wars saga through the vision of DK's cross-section illustration techniques and the magic of the imagineers at Lucasfilm. All of the vehicles and space craft found in Star Wars: Episode I will be explored in precise detail. Cutaways are accompanied by informative text to not only reveal the armaments, defense capabilities, propulsion systems and all other key technological aspects of these vehicles but also give you insights into the culture of their creators. See why the Sith Infiltrator is the most dreaded craft in the Universe. Discover how many droids can be carried on a Droid Control Ship. Learn how the Naboo Queen's Starship is designed to conform to the Naboo philosophy of peaceful existence. Explore the weaponry of the Droid Starfighter and much, much more. Together with the Star Wars Episode I Visual Dictionary, these books create a definitive Star Wars Episode I reference library. Fourteen unbelievably detailed cross-section artworks, including a magnificent gatefold cutaway of the heart of the Trade Federation Invasion Fleet, as well as encyclopedic text provide the ultimate reference resource for the craft of Star Wars Episode 1. Watch the fastest Podracers in the galaxy compete for their lives, the golden Naboo N-1 Starfighter in Battle-action, the Trade Federation Landing Ship disgorging its unstoppable cargo and the awesome weaponry of the secret army's armored fighting vehicles. Discover the lethal secrets of the stealthy Sith Infiltrator, how a Gungan survives in the treacherous core of Naboo, and the eerie internal workings of the droid starfighter. Then explore the graceful aesthetics of the Naboo Queen's Royal Starship and the hidden control centers of the Trade Federation invasion fleet!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Want to get a battle-droid's-eye view of the inside of an AAT battle tank? Care to see what Darth Maul's hiding in the trunk of his sinister-looking Sith Infiltrator? You're in luck: the crew that brought us the super-cool Star Wars Visual Dictionary and the Incredible Cross-Sections for the first movie trilogy is back. Boy wonder archaeologist-author David West Reynolds has put together another Incredible Cross-Sections guide, this time pulling apart the vehicles and vessels in Episode I: The Phantom Menace. DK has mastered the art of making Star Wars fans drool, and this latest guide is definitely state of the art, opening up everything from Naboo starfighters to Trade Federation transports.

As always, Reynolds approaches the Star Wars universe with the respect and love of a fan, putting each ship in context with his characteristic friendly but scientific style. The clean chromium lines and meticulous wiring of Queen Amidala's Royal Starship reflect the order and honor of Naboo royalty; the flowing, shell-like details on a tribubble bongo sub show off the Gungans' organic aesthetic. The best ships, of course, belong to the bad guys: you can check out the secret weapons and cloak field generator packed aboard Maul's Infiltrator (which, we learn, has an "experimental" ion engine that will later put the I-E in TIE fighters), and the Trade Federation's droid starfighter and control ship get a full giant fold-out. From the "bunker-buster" high explosive shells spit out by an AAT to the flame emitter weapon on Sebulba's podracer, this inside-out tour makes all the stops you want it to. --Paul Hughes

From Library Journal

Grade 4-8-This oversized visual treat is packed with detailed illustrations of labeled cross sections of the vehicles and spacecraft created for Star Wars: Episode I. Jenssen and Chasemore, illustrators extraordinaire, went to the Lucasfilm headquarters and worked with the art department to see how these crafts were created. Most of the impressive, colorful pictures are on double-page spreads, though the center pages fold out to reveal a colossal four-page representation of a droid control ship. Interesting histories and details are set in a text that surrounds the drawings. "Data Files" give additional tidbits such as crew, manufacturer, speed, and armament. The writing is crisp and easy to read; the technological terms and descriptions are simpler to understand than those in Reynolds's Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary (DK, 1998). Anyone interested in the film or in spacecraft will enjoy this excellent guidebook.
Linda Wadleigh, Oconee County Middle School, Watkinsville, GA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (May 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078943962X
• ISBN-13: 978-0789439628
• Product Dimensions: 14 x 10.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Performing Arts > Film
  • #64 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > How Things Work

More About the Author

David West Reynolds is the author of several books, including #1 New York Times bestseller Star Wars: Episode I, The Visual Dictionary. He holds a doctorate in classical archaeology from the University of Michigan. An expert in space exploration, Reynolds is directing a project with a group of lunar and astrophysical scientists to recover image data from a little-known 1973 Soviet moon landing. He lives in Marin County, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A definate for vehicle lovers!, February 27, 2006

By 

Michael R. Cox (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Incredible Cross-sections of Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace: The Definitive Guide to the Craft (Hardcover)

I always wanted to see more and to be able to look inside of the vehicles more closely, and this book provides that information (and more more) in great detail. I really like the mini illustrations of where in the vehicles that events from the movies took place, it helps to "put a name to a face".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Vroom with a View by garrie keyman, February 25, 2004

By 

garrie keyman "Embrace the Power at www.garri... (Tuscacheague) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Incredible Cross-sections of Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace: The Definitive Guide to the Craft (Hardcover)

If you've stayed up nights wondering about the inner workings of a Naboo N-1 Starfighter, or even occasionally contemplate the unconventional solid-fuel concentrate slugs that the strange society of the Neimoidian traders use to give their droid starfighters such powerful thrust, you'll want to read Star Wars Episode I Incredible Cross-Sections cover-to-cover. This handsome book - deservedly referring to its illustrations as incredible - shows us a vroom with a view; more than fourteen vrooms, in fact.

SW Episode I Incredible Cross-Sections is brought to us by the great people at Dorling Kindersly Publishing -- or DK for short - where just about any topic you might think of has already been turned into a beautifully illustrated right-brained adventure in learning. The illustrators for this masterpiece are Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore, arguably the two artists with the best job available in that field this side of Alpha Centauri.

Jenssen, who specializes in technical art, especially machines, lives in England but claims to spend his vacations on Tatooine (no accounting for taste in vacation spots) where he has been known to engage in "moderately disreputable pursuits (he goes all the way to Tatooine for that?)." Chasemore has worked as an illustrator in both the U.S. and Europe on a great variety of projects, one of which was another collaboration with Jenssen: DK's Star Wars: Incredible Cross Sections featuring intergalactic vroom-vrooms previously made famous by the vision makers at Lucasfilms. Chasemore says he enjoys "perilous sports involving boards and high velocities (now, maybe he's the one who should check-out Tatooine).

Rounding out the gifted team taking us on intricate tours of Gungan Subs, Podracers, Coruscant taxis and Republic Cruisers, is Dr. David West Reynolds who earned his PhD in archeology at the University of Michigan. His background as a lecturer, veteran of field expeditions on three continents and as an author of scientific archeological publications should make one thing perfectly clear: you don't have to be a dullard denizen of the local mall scene to be a StarWars fan. If his background doesn't make it perfectly clear, the intellectual acuity of his copy will.

This must-have addition to the shelf of any die-hard StarWars fan is equally enjoyable to tot and teen as to tottering sage. It's a picture-book nonpareil or a detailed account of mid-power repulsorlifts and hydrostatic bubble projector units (if you do more than look at the pictures). It's even a trivia-hunter's true treasure. For instance (be honest now), did you know any of the names of Anakin's co-contenders for the Boonta Eve Podrace? Sure, you say - Sebulba. But anybody knows that! True buffs will want this book so they can win rounds of Star Wars Trivial Pursuit with answers like Ark "Bumpy" Roose, Teemto Pagalies, and the ever-impressive Clegg Holdfast.

If you like schematics (or even the word schematics - it's such a great one, isn't it?) you're going to want to pour over this book like hot fudge on a sundae. Featured is a dual fold-out center page affording a panoramic view of the Trade Federation's Droid Control Ship. The resultant artistry of this and the other detailed drawings was generated when the DK team worked directly with the film production art department at Lucas's Skywalker Ranch, mapping out the anatomy of each craft as it was being created. This book comes from the source, folks: from the source ... of the Force.

My ten-year-old loves taking turns with me reading sections of this book aloud and I can almost see his gray matter expanding (hasn't hurt his imagination too much, either) while we huddle by the lamplight. Only problem I'm left with now is what to do with all these detailed schematics of his own left lying about the house - outlandishly labeled creations from foreign worlds contemplating an invasion of Earth, no doubt. Hmm. Maybe I should call George Lucas.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My review of this GREAT Book!!!!, August 23, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Incredible Cross-sections of Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace: The Definitive Guide to the Craft (Hardcover)

I must say I love this book. I love being able to look into the insides of all of the vehicles. I am having a ton of fun looking through it. I am ust 19 and I have shown my family who all love it also. Great job by the author he has done a splendid job!!