Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections: The Spacecraft and Vehicles of the Entire Star Wars Saga (Hardcover)

~ Curtis Saxton (Author), Kerrie Dougherty (Author)
Key Phrases: star destroyers, galactic empire, droid gunship, Trade Federation, Death Star, Clone Wars (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...perfect for the Popular Mechanics nerd in your household..." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 2007

Product Description

This amazing title unites all four Incredible Cross-Sections books in one volume, enlarged and updated with brand-new illustrations-including the TIE bomber, Imperial shuttle, A-wing, and B-wing-along with revised technical introductions, behind-the-scenes pages, glossary, and index. (c) 2006 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM AUTHOR BIO: Hans Jenssen Hans Jenssen has spent the last nine years in a galaxy far, far away, co-illustrating a total of ten Star Wars books with Richard Chasemore, with whom he has developed a close friendship. They have traveled across three continents, sampled exotic beverages with Boba Fett, and partied with R2-D2. He now lives a quiet life in Devon, England, with his partner and young son. RICHARD CHASEMORE Richard Chasemore has worked as an illustrator and 3-D computer artist in the United States and Europe, most notably on DK's Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections and, Inside the Worlds of the Star Wars series. Lately he has written educational books for budding digital artists. He lives on the south coast of England, where he enjoys sports involving boards and high speeds!

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN (March 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756627044
• ISBN-13: 978-0756627041
• Product Dimensions: 13.9 x 10.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,443 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All four previous book + more, May 15, 2007

By	SRFireside "ZOOM!" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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I have loved these cross-section books since even before these came out (seen a cool Star Trek OS cutout of the Enterprise). What you are getting with this volume is every entry in the previous four cross-section books as well as some extras. That's right. Even if you have all four original books you are still not getting everything.

This book adds cross-section entries for the TIE Bomber, TIE Advanced (something only touched on in the original trilogy cross-section), A-Wing Fighter, B-Wing Fighter, and the Imperial Shuttle. That's roughly half the vehicles you would find on a regular cross-section book added to this volume. On top of that you get a forward by both artists/writers talking about the fun they had making the books.

So what does that mean? Well if you have never gotten a Star Wars Incredible Cross-Sections book this is the one to get. You get ALL of the vehicles fromt he previous books plus another 1/2 book's worth of exclusive material. If you don't quite have all of the previous books then I say get this one at the price of a regular book (shouldn't be hard at all). If you don't have the original trilogy book that makes the purchase that much more sweet as that's where the new material is.

If you have the complete collection then you have to make a choice. Do you buy the book, thus get the extra ships and more shelf space? Do you complain to Lucas for the double dipping? Personally I am one of those people with the complete set and figured I didn't need the new book, however I really, really love the B-Wing and relished the idea of having a view of its innards so I got it. I'm pretty pleased with the purchase, and besides I was able to sell my old books to recoup some of what I spent.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING REFERENCE TOOL, September 14, 2007

By	Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)

Previously, DK Books has release four volumes in their Star Wars cross-sections series, covering the various Star Wars films. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Star Wars, they've now combines all four of those volumes, along with new illustrations into the massive Star Wars: The Complete Cross Sections. This coffee table-sized hardcover book packs information on every ship and vehicle used in the six films into 152 full-color pages. John Knoll, the Visual Effects Supervisor for episodes I - III, provides the foreword to the book.

The book is basically an encyclopedia for Star Wars ships and vehicles. The items are shown in a cutaway art, allowing the reader to not only see the outside, but also see the interiors as well. This gives fans a unique viewpoint as you generally didn't get a chance to see inside many of these ships and vehicles in the films themselves. Most of these are given a full two-page spread which include data files about each one. The data files provide information such as design and manufacture, wingspan, speed, crew capacity, armament, dimensions, ship or vehicle type, and other special features.

The book begins with Episode I, The Phantom Menace with each of the first three episodes getting their own chapter while the original three films are combined into the last chapter. In addition to the data files, a host of other information is provided on each vehicle as well. Text keys with map lines are drawn to each, pointing out important features of each vehicle. These are about the next best thing to the actual ships blueprints. The detail is simply amazing! On the Naboo Cruiser for example we see where the fuel tanks and fuel lines are located, along with coolant ducts, deflector shield projectors, sensor arrays and even mundane things such as the crew lounge and locker areas. These allow the reader to get inside these massive vehicles and ships and almost take a virtual tour through them.

Get up close and personal with Jango Boba Fett's heavily armed Slave I ship with its blaster cannons, laser cannons, missile launchers, and mine layers. Other ships included from the episodes I to III include Padme's Starship, ARC -170 Fighter, General Grievous's Wheel Bike, Pod Racers, and Palpatine's Shuttle.

The final chapter dealing with the three original films has certainly the most popular ships for fans including the Millennium Falcon, AT-AT Walker, Jabba's Barge, and Darth Vader's Tie Fighter. Several of the major ships and vehicles get fold out sections that provide four full pages worth of data. Chief among these is the first Death Star. The Slave I makes a second appearance here that includes the modifications made by Jango Fett's son, Boba.

Hats off to DK Books for also profiling the two artists whose brilliant work is on display here, Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore. The detail and effort that went into these drawings is truly phenomenal. This is one of those items that is tailor-made for the hardcore Star Wars fan, a reference tool that can be consulted over and over again.

REVIEWED BY TIM JANSON

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Details, details, details..., May 23, 2009

By	R. Sardrena - See all my reviews

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Take one look at the oversized "cross-sections" books on the shelf at the bookstore, and you're likely to move on. Don't; each huge, intricately-detailed drawing is breathtaking. The Herculean labor required for these works is obvious on each page. Illustrators Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore paid their dues for the privilege of working on the project: "We illustrated boring stuff, like plumbing and water pumps..." Jenssen recalled ruefully. The result? You find yourself staring deeper and deeper into the layers of detail on each design. It rewards you with additional insights with each viewing.

By the way, the Cross-Sections books were originally sold separately for Episodes I-III and IV-VI respectively. Buying the Complete Cross-Sections compendium here is a better buy.