Who knew proton torpedoes were so expensive? Apparently that's why Luke only had one pair when he set out to take down the Death Star. And that's not the only bit of trivia you'll bring away from this aptly subtitled Ultimate Guide to Star Wars Vehicles and Spacecraft. Whether you're looking for the bathroom on Jabba's sail barge or you just want to see where Boba Fett catches a few winks on Slave I, this is the book for you. In Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections, author-archaeologist David West Reynolds zooms out from cataloguing minutiae as he did in Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, and instead takes apart the big toys of Star Wars, from AT-ATs to X-Wings. Full-color, exploded technical illustrations get you under the hood of every noteworthy ship in the Star Wars trilogy, from a grand tour of a Jawa Sandcrawler to a sprawling, four-page foldout of (what else but?) the Death Star. Detailed labels and realistic, miniature depictions of crew and characters roaming around each ship are so engaging that you may find yourself imagining you're on the Millennium Falcon giving Chewie a hand with the power couplings.
From Library Journal
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. This trio tell you everything you always wanted to know about Star Wars but were afraid to ask (or didn't know you should). Sansweet's Encyclopedia is an incredibly detailed A-Z listing of characters, creatures, gadgets, and gizmos gleaned from the films as well as the numerous novels and comic books they've spawned. It also offers a time line for the entire SW story and an introduction by best-selling novelist Timothy Zahn. 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 allhere. 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. Though the Encyclopedia is remarkably comprehensive, it will unfortunately become outdated upon the release of the first of the SW prequel films, The Phantom Menace, next May, making it a marginal purchase, especially at $50. 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"Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Marilyn Courtot - Children's Literature
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.
Book Description
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.
From the Inside Flap
Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections uses DK's acclaimed cross-section artwork techniques to reveal - for the first time ever - the inner workings of the key vehicles and spacecraft from the Star Wars trilogy, the most popular movies of all time. Given unrestricted access to the famed Lucasfilm archives at Skywalker Ranch in California, author David West Reynolds has created the definitive guide to Star Wars vehicles and spacecraft. Fourteen large-scale "exploded artworks" - including a gatefold cutaway of the Death Star - combine with indepth text and dozens of annotations to present a unique and fascinating reference work. This is the first book ever to illustrate in stunning full color art work just how the machines of Star Wars operate as working systems. No Star Wars fan should be without it!
From the Back Cover
Entirely new, incredibly detailed cross-section artwork and exhaustive research reveal Star Wars vehicles and spacecraft as they have never been seen before. See Slave I's secret weapons systems; the snowtroopers and crew aboard a mighty AT-AT walker; Princess Leia's Blockade Runner at the moment of its capture. Discover the special features of Darth Vader's TIE fighter; how a proton torpedo works; the engines, hangars, landing bays, and weaponry of a Star Destroyer. Explore the vast interior of the Death Star; the internal layout of the Millennium Falcon and much more!
About the Author
Dr. David West Reynolds earned his Ph.D. in archeology at the University of Michigan. A lecturer, veteran of field expeditions on three continents and author of scientific archeological publications, Reynolds has also written X-Wing: A Pocket Manual, Tie Fighter: A Pocket Manual, and various Star Wars articles. He approaches the world of Star Wars like ancient Rome or Egypt, considering it a culture from another time and place to explore. Reynolds lives in Marin County, California.
Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections FROM THE PUBLISHER
Entirely new, incredibly detailed cross-section artwork and exhaustive research reveal Star Wars vehicles and spacecraft as they have never been seen before. See Slave I's secret weapons systems; the snowtroopers and crew aboard a mighty AT-AT walker; Princess Leia's Blockade Runner at the moment of its capture. Discover the special features of Darth Vader's TIE fighter; how a proton torpedo works; the engines, hangars, landing bays, and weaponry of a Star Destroyer. Explore the vast interior of the Death Star; the internal layout of the Millennium Falcon and much more!,Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections uses DK's acclaimed cross-section artwork techniques to reveal — for the first time ever — the inner workings of the key vehicles and spacecraft from the Star Wars trilogy, the most popular movies of all time. Given unrestricted access to the famed Lucasfilm archives at Skywalker Ranch in California, author David West Reynolds has created the definitive guide to Star Wars vehicles and spacecraft. Fourteen large-scale exploded artworks — including a gatefold cutaway of the Death Star — combine with indepth text and dozens of annotations to present a unique and fascinating reference work. This is the first book ever to illustrate in stunning full color art work just how the machines of Star Wars operate as working systems. No Star Wars fan should be without it!,"
SYNOPSIS
This 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 the definitive classic Star Wars reference.
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
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.
VOYA - Nancy K. Wallace
Two new books explore and enrich the ongoing Star Wars saga. Star Wars: A Visual Dictionary provides a scrumptious visual feast with its double-paged articles and profusion of detailed information on characters and creatures, including still shots from the movie and supplementary data files. Not a space is wasted, even the title page and table of contents are strewn with pictorial diagrams. Chewbacca's section contains a nineteen-inch full color photo of the huge, hairy beast with additional inserts that highlight his carry pouch with contents, weapons, ammunition, and spacecraft repair tools. Star Wars: Incredible Cross-Sections, an illustrated guide, includes diagrams for the Millennium Falcon, T-65 X-wing, Blockade Runner, Tie Fighters, Sandcrawler, and BLT-A4 Y-wing, among others. An elaborate four-page fold-out analyzes the Death Star in minute detail, highlighting Detention Block AA-23, the trash compactor, the air shaft, and Docking Bay 3207 where Obi-Wan Kenobi sacrificed his life to ensure Luke's escape. A copy of the technical readouts reveals the Polar Trench and the exhaust port that Rebel fighters targeted to destroy the Death Star. AT-AT Walkers, AT-STs, snowspeeders, and speeder bikes are also included. Diagrams are surrounded by inserts of fascinating trivia, history, and technical notes. A special introduction enumerates spacecraft engine types from sublight to hyperdrive. The archeologist author includes excellent photographs, illustrations, and attractive layouts, approaching the Star Wars phenomenon with professional objectivity, as though classifying the artifacts of this future civilization. Both of Reynolds's books have exceptional authenticity and belong in any serious Star Wars collection. Illus. Note: This review was written and published to address two titles-Star Wars Incredible Cross-Sections and Star Wars a Visual Dictionary. VOYA Codes: 5Q 5P M J S A/YA (Hard to imagine it being better written, Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9, Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12 and adults).
Art & Photography
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