The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars: The Ultimate Guide to Characters and Creatures from the Entire Star Wars Saga

Book Description

Provides a complete, comprehensive overview of the Prequel movies (Episodes I-III) and the Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), this is the definitive photographic guide to the entire Star Wars saga.

Customer Reviews:

The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars.......2007-09-26

This book is extraordinary. The pictures are sharp and extremely detailed. There are explanations of many characters that are only seen in the background scenes. I highly recommend if you're a Star Wars fan. My 4 year old won't give it up.

My Star Wars fanatic loves this book.......2007-09-26

I bought this for my 6 year old who is a Star Wars FREAK. He sat down with this book immediately and has not really stopped looking at it since. He can barely read, but he loves examining all of the characters, and the way they are broken down and labeled is very exciting to him. He likes to see everything that he's seen in the movies, and video game, in full detail.
I can't comment on how this book is similar or different to any other book, but I can say, it's very detailed, it covers a lot of information and describes alot of the relationships and uses of the characters & items. My 6 year old can identify way more than I can. This book is well set up, with loads of information and LOTS AND LOTS of details full color high quality photos which is just what we were looking for.

Good luck!

A Must-Have for any Star Wars fan.......2007-09-21

My son constantly wants to look at this book, and he is only 6 and has never seen any of the movies. That pretty much says how good this book is. I grew up with the original Star Wars movies, so looking through this book is like looking into the past for me. It is well put-together, very concise with a lot of nice photos and a plethora of Star Wars information. An excellent resource for any Star Wars aficionado.

Star Wars is a Five star choice for the ultimate fan.......2007-09-09

This book is just fantastic, and it is worth every penny. I originally bought it for my friends son who loves Star Wars. The kid walked around with the book under his arm like a bible! He never put it down. I recently bought it for my own two elementary age boys and they love it just as much. This is wonderful gift to get for any Star Wars fan -- Once again DK has cornered the market on wonderful visual books for young children. Their books are so well executed and so wonderfully edited, they know exactly how to appeal to this age group by giving just enough information with out making it too simple. An adult fan would actually love this book too. It's a great purchase.

My 9-year-old loves this book!.......2007-09-03

I purchased this book for my 9-year-old son who has been a Star Wars fan for a few years. He has spent hours looking through the book on his own or alongside his friends. I have never seen the movies and I have little knowledge of the people in them, but I could easily learn A LOT from this book if I wanted to. The pictures of the people and tools/weapons are great! I also like the fact that they show pictures from movie scenes that depict the people or the tools being discussed on that particular page. This was a great price for a large hardcover book with great details and pictures!

Average customer rating:

A teacher told me about this book.
great book!!
The hiding place
Zapnes' Crew talks about Number the Stars
number the stars

Number the Stars
Lois Lowry
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440227534
Release Date: 1998-02-09

Amazon.com

The evacuation of Jews from Nazi-held Denmark is one of the great untold stories of World War II. On September 29, 1943, word got out in Denmark that Jews were to be detained and then sent to the death camps. Within hours the Danish resistance, population and police arranged a small flotilla to herd 7,000 Jews to Sweden. Lois Lowry fictionalizes a true-story account to bring this courageous tale to life. She brings the experience to life through the eyes of 10-year-old Annemarie Johannesen, whose family harbors her best friend, Ellen Rosen, on the eve of the round-up and helps smuggles Ellen's family out of the country. Number the Stars won the 1990 Newbery Medal.

Book Description

Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life.

Customer Reviews:

A teacher told me about this book........2007-09-24

I really enjoyed the book. I went on a trip to Washington D.C. and visited the Holocaust Museum. Since then I have been interested in WWII and mostly the Holocaust. A teacher told me about this book. I read the book very quickly, it was so interesting. My mom liked it too, and read with me. I'm reading it again!

great book!!.......2007-07-12

My granddaughter,11, read this on our vacation, and she told me she absolutely loved it!

The hiding place.......2007-07-01

Annamarie has to hide her best friend away from the Nazi`s by going to Uncle Henrick`s and trying to flee Ellen and her family to Sweeden. This book is filled with adventure and excitement and reminds you of what happened during the Nazi`s reign.
You`ve got to read this.

Zapnes' Crew talks about Number the Stars.......2007-06-22

This book is about courage and bravery for Annemarie and Ellen during World War II when German Nazis invade and occupy Denmark, along with other European countries. The two families, the Rosens and the Johansens, are involved in a journey that many took to help Jews in Denmark to safety. We recommend this historical fiction to people who want to learn about WW II and read about the struggle of the Jews and Danes that lived in Denmark during the war. It's a heart-breaking story about love and danger.

number the stars.......2007-06-15

this book is about a girl annemarie and her sister kirsti. annemaries friend ellen is jewish and annemarie isnt. annemarie and her family hae to hide ellen and her family from the nazis.

Exile (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 4)

Average customer rating:

breath of fresh air
Star wars: Legacy of the Force book 4
Its not great
Three Stars
The Dark Side Keeps Coming

Exile (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 4)
Aaron Allston
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Betrayal (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 1)

ASIN: 0345477537
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Book Description

In the Stars Wars galaxy, evil is on the move as the Galactic Alliance and Jedi order battle forces seen and unseen, from rampant internal treachery to the nightmare of all-out war.

With each victory against the Corellian rebels, Jacen Solo becomes more admired, more powerful, and more certain of achieving galactic peace. But that peace may come with a price. Despite strained relationships caused by opposing sympathies in the war, Han and Leia Solo and Luke and Mara Skywalker remain united by one frightening suspicion: Someone insidious is manipulating this war, and if he or she isn’t stopped, all efforts at reconciliation may be for naught. And as sinister visions lead Luke to believe that the source of the evil is none other than Lumiya, Dark Lady of the Sith, the greatest peril revolves around Jacen himself. . . .

Customer Reviews:

breath of fresh air.......2007-08-23

I was begining to feel depressed about this series because of how dark the themes are, not that this book makes the story bright and happy but I was begining to find the series less fun to read. I picked this book up as a last chance for the series and read it cover to cover in a couple days. I loved it, it really brings the story back to the fun adventureous plot without losing the more sinister undertones that make it exciting.

Star wars: Legacy of the Force book 4.......2007-06-27

Gripping story, I'm a little uncomfortable with Jacen being turned to the dark side, but am hoping it turns out to be a tempory aberation.

Its not great .......2007-06-20

I really can sum up this novel in two words.....Love Commander.I really wish the Star Wars EU guys would STOP makeing up profanity like stang,rodder and kriffing it sounds so stupid use the real deal if you must use it or better yet language has many derogitory terms that arent vulgar use those you may actually educate someone.

Three Stars.......2007-06-13

There were only two real noteworthy things that happened in Exile, Ben being sent unknown to him on a Sith test and the Skywalker-Solo (minus Jacen of course) clan coming to realize that their family being split may be exactly what the enemy is wanting. I liked Ben's test being him alone on a Sith planet where he and only he can choice which path he'll follow and struggling to survive. The second part it was nice to see the Skywalkers-Solos come to the realization. I had hoped with this being the fourth book we would have more answers about the war, the reasons behind it, about Lumyia or something instead the rest was nothing more then Jacen still deciding who his Sacrifice would be and setting up for his plan at the end of the story at painstaking slowness that by the time the it got to the point I was asleep. I hope the next book will better. More answers, more things happening and less endless slowness.

The Dark Side Keeps Coming.......2007-05-22

Another Splendid addition to the Legacy of the Force series. Basically, the story continues with Jason getting deeper into the dark side. Young Ben however is starting to find out that it's not all that good to be bad.
More interesting stories all evolving around different caracters and the War, including one where Ben is tested to see if he really is dark side material. While entertaining, remember the book is still just a segue to the next book. But that is expected in such a long series.

On Call In Hell: A Doctor's Iraq War Story

Average customer rating:

But Enough About Me...
Mediocre at best
You are there in the Minds and Hearts.
A Jewel of a Novel
On Call In Hell by Cdr. Richard Jadick

On Call In Hell: A Doctor's Iraq War Story
Cdr. Richard Jadick , and Thomas Hayden
Manufacturer: NAL Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0451220536

Book Description

A riveting memoir from the Navy doctor praised as "Hero, M.D." on the cover of Newsweek.

Cdr. Richard Jadick's story is one of the most extraordinary to come out of the war in Iraq. At thirty-eight, the last place the Navy doctor was expected to be was on the front lines. He was too old to be called up, but not too old to volunteer. In November 2004, with the military reeling from an acute doctor shortage, Jadick chose to accompany the First Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment (the "1/8") to Iraq. During the Battle of Fallujah, Jadick and his team worked tirelessly and courageously around the clock to save their troops in the worst street fighting Americans had faced since Vietnam. It is estimated that without Jadick at the front, the Marines would have lost an additional thirty men. Of the hundreds of men he treated, only one died after reaching a hospital. This is the inspiring story of his decision to enter into the fray, a fascinating glimpse into wartime triage, and a compelling account of courage under fire.

Customer Reviews:

But Enough About Me..........2007-09-20

Having read the compelling Newsweek article that became the catalyst for the book, I was expecting much more than what was finally produced. As another reviewer mentioned, too much of the book was spent on CDR Jadick's personal history and trite stories about everyday life downrange. (Though the latrine story was pretty doggone funny...)
Perhaps it's difficult to produce a tome about one aspect of one battle - but others have managed. Those who have, however, are usually historians and not docs.
A bad book review should be understood for what it is. A book review. This is not a criticism of the author's valor or medical skill, which is worthy of every accolade that's been bestowed.

Mediocre at best.......2007-08-16

Does not deserve to share a shelf with medical accomplishments such as Atul Gawande's Better or Complications. The book is filled with trite sentences and tainted with the robotic marine mentality. Slow and reads like you yourself are in hell.

You are there in the Minds and Hearts........2007-07-16

Feel the heat, taste the dust, squint in the sun while horror is delivered to you on the hour.

A Jewel of a Novel.......2007-07-01

having been in the Navy I found this book a fine read. His explanation of the Marine/Navy world was perfect. Corpmen are always highly respected by all. Beyond that it shows the great men and women and their beliefs toward our wonderful country. Soemtimes when we see the faults by politicians and others and we wonder how we will make it as a country all we have to do is look toward the fine men and women that serve us and our country. Let our hearts go out and let us in the future be ready to help them in all they will need.

On Call In Hell by Cdr. Richard Jadick.......2007-06-25

The book was riveting...hard to put down. I read it in two days, mainly because I wanted to experience what Marines and Navy Corpsmen experience in combat, and I certainly did and then some. My son's heroic rescue on Thanksgiving Day, 2004 was clearly documented, as was his death in combat the next day. Kudos to the corpsmen who literally go through the gates of hell to rescue a wounded Marine!

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

Average customer rating:

OUTSTANDING REFERENCE TOOL
5 stars for COMPLETE Cross-sections!!
My 5 year old loves it!
Not What I Expected But Great Nontheless
Star wars

Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections: The Spacecraft and Vehicles of the Entire Star Wars Saga
David Reynolds , and Curtis Saxton
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)

ASIN: 0756627044

Book 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!

Customer Reviews:

OUTSTANDING REFERENCE TOOL.......2007-09-14

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

5 stars for COMPLETE Cross-sections!!.......2007-08-23

People should get Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections.
Here are three reasons why anyone who likes Star Wars should get this book.

1. Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections includes information about ALL six episodes in one book. It's great to have it all in one volume instead of four separate books (Episodes I, II, III, and the Trilogy).

2. Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections has extra content not included in the separate volumes. The Imperial Shuttle, the RZ-1 A-Wing, and the B-Wing Star Fighter are new material in the combined book.

3. Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections is jam-packed with large full color illustrations and tons of fascinating facts. The pages are crowded, but the information is great.

The Star Wars Complete Cross-Sections book rules the galaxy and any Star Wars fan would just love to have a copy. I checked it out of the library, but now it's on my Christmas wish list!!

My 5 year old loves it!.......2007-08-11

I purchased this for my 5 year old because he loves Star Wars. We have a couple of other Star Wars guides. He loves the cross section book because "it shows all the ships and details and that's cool". He loves finding something small that I would have missed. Great book for all ages.

Not What I Expected But Great Nontheless.......2007-07-05

Don't know why but I was expecting technical drawings of the Star Wars vehicles. Instead I get beautiful drawings of the vehicles and some of the characters which was an unexpected plus. Especially for scale comparison with some of the bigger vehicles. The reason this item dose not get five stars from me is because when reading the book things can get somewhat confusing there is so much info on each page it practically spills out from the sides. I would recommend it to anybody who wants more information on their favorite Star Wars vehicles!

Star wars.......2007-06-09

My son has not put this book away since we bought it. It goes on every car ride with us, and even to school for free time reading. The pictures are beautiful. He absolutely loves it.

Average customer rating:

Timothy Zahn fills the gap
Constrained and Unexceptional - Zahn's worst Star Wars Novel
More Adventures in the Star Wars Universe
I give this one a solid 3.5
A Refreshing Idea

Allegiance (Star Wars)
Timothy Zahn
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345477383
Release Date: 2007-01-30

Book Description

Never before has the incendiary mix of action, politics, and intrigue that has become Timothy Zahn’s trademark, been mmore evident that in this new Star Wars epic. On the heels of the stunning events chronicled in Star Wars: A New Hope, the newly minted heroes of the Rebellion–fledgling Jedi Luke Skywalker, smuggler turned reluctant freedom-fighter Han Solo, and Princess Leia Organa, a bold leader with a world to avenge–must face the harsh realities of the cataclysmic conflict into which they have so bravely plunged. From this point forward, legends will grow, treachery will abound, and lives will be irrevocably altered, in the long, hard fight to counter the fist of tyranny and restore hope to a galaxy too long in darkness.

The destruction of the Death Star by the Rebel Alliance was a decisive blow against the Empire, but Palpatine and his monstrous enforcer, Darth Vader, are no less of a threat. The brutal extermination of Alderaan not only demonstrated the magnitude of their murderous power, but served as a chilling testament to their resolve to crush the Rebel uprising. Standing against them, Skywalker, Solo, and the Princess remain uncertain opponents. Luke is gifted and brave, but unschooled in the power he possesses. Han has doubts about waging someone else’s war–and his contentiousness is one more burden for Leia to bear as she struggles to help keep the Rebellion alive. The three have been sent to mediate a dispute between Rebel Alliance factions in Shelsha Sector–agitating matters by forcing Han to deal not only with pirates, but with his more dreaded enemy, politics. At the same time, Mara Jade–all of eighteen and years away from her fateful meeting with Luke–is serving her evil master, Palpatine, well in her role as the Emperor’s Hand: tracking suspected treachery in the Empire to what may be high places–while trying to stay out of Darth Vader’s way.

But the Rebels will prove to be only one of the Empire’s concerns. For Imperial Stormtrooper Daric LaRone, his faith in the Empire shaken by the wanton destruction of Alderaan, will commit a sudden and violent act of defiance, and take four other enforcers with him, in a desperate bid to elude their masters’ wrath.

Each of these fateful actions, whether sanctioned, secret, or scandalous, will expose brutality and corruption, spur upheavals destined to shake the Empire to its core, and shape momentous events yet to come.

Customer Reviews:

Timothy Zahn fills the gap.......2007-08-31

Timothy Zahn is my absolute favorite author so when I saw this book about Mara Jade in the Empire era I jumped.

Plot:
There are three plots that intertwine towards the end. LaRone, a stormtrooper, accidentally kills an ISB agent. He and four other stormtroopers desert and run to the nearest planet where they begin an investigation into pirate activities.
Mara Jade was sent to investigate a Moff's possible embezzlement. This leads to a pirate consortium.
Han, Luke, and Leia are originally sent to investigate a possible way to win the war. With pirates threatening supply lines, Han and Luke (along with Chewie) are diverted to investigate and Leia is sent to accomplish the diplomatic mission by herself.

Good:
Timothy Zahn does amazing things with the characters. Han Solo in his books is Han Solo from the movie: cocky, independent, and self-absorbed. Luke Skywalker is the apprentice Jedi, experimenting with his talents, naive, and unsure of who he is. Leia Organa is absolutely perfect: the independent woman who is able to mediate between differing factions.
The stormtroopers reminded me of one of the best portrayers of them--or at least their clone compatriots, Karen Traviss. The stormtroopers are real men who face real consequences. It is refreshing to see plain men who only want to do what is right instead of officers who only want power and money (as you see in so many Bantam Star Wars novels).
And Mara Jade...it's nice to finally see her at work in a novel. I felt that, for the most part (see below), she was the perfect agent--naive about the Empire and not overly practiced in every agent technique, but knowledgeable enough to be convincing for this mission.
Lastly, although this is petty, it was fun to see Leia work as a waitress. This practical, pedestrian job is often overlooked or delegated to dispensible characters but it was so nice to see the Star Wars universe in a normal light (ie having the main characters eat, bathe, etc.).
The action is superb. I love the confrontation between Darth Vader and Mara, the battle of the AT-ST, and much, much more.

Bad:
I don't know what it is with Timothy Zahn, but recently, all his books seem to be mysteries (not bad) about one of the characters being duplicitous. Night Train to Rigel: the main character was working both sides. Outbound Flight: Doriana. The Green and the Gray had the boys that fought against them. This is a little boring after awhile.
And the plot was so convoluted that I had trouble following it. Who was Disra serving: the Empire, himself, pirates, or the governor? How did Mara conclude all the things she did about the pirates? What about Han and Luke? What did Caaldra want? And so on. All three (Mara, stormtroopers, Han/Luke) make some pretty hefty assumptions that turn out pretty conveniently right.
Also, although Zahn portrays Mara as a young woman fairly well, I still have trouble believing that an 18 year-old knows this much about espionage, spying, weapons, and the like. What was she, brainwashed as a child?

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Only dialogue is in the form of made up Star Wars references. Mara wears form fitting dresses and a man oggles her. Violence is typical Star Wars fare.

Overall:
A good book, but not the best that Timothy Zahn has ever delivered. I was rather disappointed, not only because it didn't have as much Mara as I thought, but also because the story was so hard to follow. I had to just forget who wanted what and who worked for who and just enjoy the action sequences and the characters. I hope that Timothy Zahn continues to write more about Mara's adventures, but not make his plots so confusing.

Constrained and Unexceptional - Zahn's worst Star Wars Novel.......2007-07-26

Timothy Zahn here writes an entirely predictable adventure tale with three branching paths: one about a stormtrooper squadron who deserts the Empire, another about Mara Jade doing odd jobs for the Emperor, and the third about Han, Luke, and Leia on a diplomatic mission. The tales converge in a fashion only possible in novels and wrap up with no bearing on the movies.

The problem with this novel is that it is entirely predictable. The stormtrooper squad deserts the Empire quickly in an unlikely fashion. I knew a few pages after this had happened that they would doubtlessly join Han, Luke, and Leia by novel's end in Zahn's attempt to provide some entertainment for the readers. I flipped ahead to the end of the book at that time and my prediction turned out to be right.

Mara Jade's branch is exceptionally boring for the majority of the novel, as she chases after nameless thugs just to get some pricey statues back to her Emperor. She's written as an unbelievably mature and confident 18-year-old, and actually tells the Emperor what she is going to do instead of being ordered around. Zahn also writes Lord Vader as being childish toward her, while at the same time inserting a silly scene where Vader Googles for Luke.

Han, Luke, and Leia's branch is unremarkable. The characters act toward each other much like they did in Episode IV. However, Luke takes a back seat and isn't very confident about himself.

Timothy Zahn writes this novel in a very constrained space, which forces him to create new characters and just as quickly kill them or shuffle them away. Obviously in love with his own character of Mara Jade, he portrays her as overly powerful. The stormtrooper deserters were a good idea, but Zahn doesn't do enough to distinguish them effectively as memorable individual characters. For such a task, Aaron Allston would've been better. Han, Luke, and Leia's story is unremarkable. This novel is passably written and will provide some brief entertainment for literature fans, but is an awful choice for newbies to the novels.

(Reviewer's note: I've read all of the Star Wars novels of the 1990s and most of the ones from 2000-2003 that weren't prequel novels. Seeing that this was not a prequel novel, the influx of which put me off reading Star Wars novels a few years ago, I picked it up, remembering Timothy Zahn's earlier excellent work in the Star Wars universe. I was disappointed.)

More Adventures in the Star Wars Universe.......2007-07-11

Acclaimed Science Fiction author Timothy Zahn has written an exciting new novel that is worthy of inclusion with other novels of the Star Wars series.

The main story centers around five imperial stormtroopers; Macross, Brightwather, LaRone, Quiller, and Grave. They were ordered by their superior officers to execute harmless civilians during an attack. Despite carrying out these orders, the troopers felt that the killings were not necessary. Back aboard ship, an argument breaks out between the stormtroopers and one of the officers. During the argument, the officer is shot. Now, the stormtroopers realize that the only way for them to survive is to flee. They have now become fugitives..

Meanwhile, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and the rest of the Rebel Alliance is deciding on its next move. The Death Star has been destroyed, but the Empire, led by Emperor Palpatine and his enforcer Darth Vader, remain powerful adversaries. Skywalker is still untrained in many areas of the Force, Leia is still devastated by the destruction of her home planet of Alderran, and Han is unsure about fully joining the rebellion. Despite these drawbacks, the three allies have been sent to mediate a dispute between rebel factions in the Shelsha sector.

On the side of the Empire, a new tool of the Emperor is about to be revealed. Her name is Mara Jade; better known as the Emperor's Hand. She serves Palpatine by maintaining order and tracking suspected wrong-doers throughout the galaxy.

During the course of the story, all of these characters will interact with one another in a most exciting and thrilling manner.

This is a very good book. I've read several books in the Star Wars series, and I found this story to be both compelling and exciting. The story is something not normally expected, namely, Stormtroopers deserting and actually doing good deeds. But, Timothy Zahn's characterization of the Stormtroopers as actual caring people with feelings is refreshing. I especially enjoyed the character of Mara Jade. Her development throughout the book as a swash-buckling fighter who's loyal to her Emperor is definitely a high point of the book. She also has no fear of Darth Vader, either. It would have been interesting to see an actual movie character like her in the films.

I recommend this book very highly. Although I found the story to be slow and drag at some points, overall, the it is exciting and loaded with action. If you've seen the Star Wars movies or have read other books in the series, then be sure to read this one.

I give this one a solid 3.5.......2007-07-09

Of course you can't give half scores so I rated it a four. Anyway, there were things I really liked about this book and things I was luke warm to (no pun intended). I really liked the rogue stormtrooper aspect. While they were deserters, they're living by the spirit of what got them to join the Empire in the first place: to protect the empire AND it's CITIZENS. These were some of my favorite parts of the book; where they were involved doing good deeds shall we say.

The other part of the book I enjoyed alot was Mara Jade. From what I gather this is her 'first' mission in a star wars book, starwars timeline speaking of course. I know she's Luke's wife in continuity, and this isn't her first published appearance. I liked the character. Powerful, yet naive towards the true nature of Palpatine and the empire as a whole.

Now, one thing I'm not really sure that needed to be in the book were Luke, Leiah, Chewie and Han. I guess Zahn included them to root this book into place firmly after A New Hope. Just to me, the parts that they played in the book really didn't further the story much and they, quite frankly, seemed to be thrown in there. Don't get me wrong, I love these core characters. But it seemed like they were forced into the book. Their presence didn't take anything away from the story of course, but they didn't add much to the whole of the book either. Except maybe to further the subplot of luke getting used to his jedi abilities some more and of course, han and leiah's relationship.

Overall a good solid read with some fine action. I think it kind of skips around a bit too much for my liking, but it's not confusing. Any star wars fan should check this one out.

A Refreshing Idea.......2007-06-21

When reading any of the Star Wars (SW) novels, one must never compare it to the SW movies, because there is always new material in the novels. If you're expecting SW novels to have the exact feel and make of the movies, then it's best that you don't read the novels at all.

That said, Allegiance was a refreshing change. We finally get to see how the Emperor's Hand works. Well, other than the comic series that Zahn wrote with Darkhorse titled Mara Jade: By The Empeor's Hand. However, the comic was written post Battle of Endor, after Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine are dead. Allegiance is written just after the events of A New Hope, where the Emperor and Vader are very much alive. So it was interesting to see how he handled their characters here and he did it very well!

I do enjoy reading Zahn's novels because he makes his characters very human, and doesn't go over the top, unlike other authors who make their characters infallible and completely resistant to injury, jumping through obstacles and performing unbelieveable Jedi tricks. At the same time, Mara has a certain amount of compassion, which makes her character all the more human and likeable.

The Hand of Judgement was an interesting idea, yes, why indeed don't we have stormtroopers who continue to uphold what they believe it. In our world, that's called going rogue, in the SW world, it's deserters from the Empire. Whichever way you call it, it's treason, but isn't that what you call fighting for what you believe in?

I do wished, however, that Zahn wrote more battle scenes into his novels, as he's always able to describe and choreograph battles so vividly that you don't need to much imagination to enjoy it thoroughly - a trademark feature in all his SW novels.

Zahn's characters are smart and believeable and his style manages to capture the essence of the characters from the SW movies, what Han Solo says to Princess Leia, the snap-hiss of the lightsaber, these are the little things that triggers your memory of those loveable moments and makes for a well-written SW novel worth reading.

I highly recommend reading all of Timothy Zahn's SW novel, starting with the Thrawn Trilogy: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising and The Last Command. I guarantee that you'll enjoy them immensely.

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

Wait, you mean there's stuff I didn't already know?!
Wonderful
A wonderful piece to celebrate this film's 30th anniversary!!
Exhaustively complete, excellently thorough
The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)
J.W. Rinzler
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345494768
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Book Description

After the 1973 success of American Graffiti, filmmaker George Lucas made the fateful decision to pursue a longtime dream project: a space fantasy movie unlike any ever produced. Lucas envisioned a swashbuckling SF saga inspired by the Flash Gordon serials classic American westerns, the epic cinema of Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa, and mythological heroes. Its original title: The Star Wars. The rest is history, and how it was made is a story as entertaining and exciting as the movie that has enthralled millions for thirty years–a story that has never been told as it was meant to be. Until now.

Using his unprecedented access to the Lucasfilm Archives and its trove of never-before-published “lost” interviews, photos, production notes, factoids, and anecdotes, Star Wars scholar J. W. Rinzler hurtles readers back in time for a one-of-a-kind behind-the-scenes look at the nearly decade-long quest of George Lucas and his key collaborators to make the “little” movie that became a phenomenon. For the first time, it’s all here:

• the evolution of the now-classic story and characters–including “Annikin Starkiller” and “a huge green-skinned monster with no nose and large gills” named Han Solo
• excerpts from George Lucas’s numerous, ever-morphing script drafts
• the birth of Industrial Light & Magic, the special-effects company that revolutionized Hollywood filmmaking
• the studio-hopping and budget battles that nearly scuttled the entire project
• the director’s early casting saga, which might have led to a film spoken mostly in Japanese–including the intensive auditions that won the cast members their roles and made them legends
• the grueling, nearly catastrophic location shoot in Tunisia and the subsequent breakneck dash at Elstree Studios in London
• the who’s who of young film rebels who pitched in to help–including Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, and Brian DePalma

But perhaps most exciting, and rarest of all, are the interviews conducted before and during production and immediately after the release of Star Wars–in which George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Sir Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, composer John Williams, effects masters Dennis Muren, Richard Edlund, and John Dykstra, Phil Tippett, Rick Baker, legendary production designer John Barry, and a host of others share their fascinating tales from the trenches and candid opinions of the film that would ultimately change their lives.

No matter how you view the spectrum of this thirty-year phenomenon, The Making of Star Wars stands as a crucial document–rich in fascination and revelation–of a genuine cinematic and cultural touchstone.

Customer Reviews:

Wait, you mean there's stuff I didn't already know?!.......2007-09-30

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Star Wars)

I was four years old when the original "Star Wars" was released, and like so many kids of that generation, that film and its two sequels defined an enormous part of my childhood. Even though I didn't know it at the time, it introduced me to the "best bits" of classical mythology, while being a visual catalyst for my imagination (and years of subsequent role-play, particularly in Upstate New York, where re-enacting ice planet Hoth after "Empire" came out was all too easy...).

As I grew older (I hesitate to use the phrase "grew up," as I'm not sure it's happened yet), I came to appreciate more than just the adventure and dynamic visuals that "Star Wars" represented; it was my "gateway drug" into wanting to learn more about how movies were made. I remember all of the TV specials of that era that pulled back the curtain on the filmmaking process, particularly with regard to the original "Star Wars" trilogy, and I couldn't get enough information. That hunger became the same kind of obsession that's typically associated with "Star Wars" fans, and I absorbed every scrap of detail I could find, from Ralph McQuarrie's concept art, to model photos, to script pages, and even before the Internet made it only a matter of a few clicks to access such information, there was a wealth of it, when it came to "Star Wars."

Fast forward to 2007; "Star Wars" is 30 years old, a whole separate trilogy has come and gone, and my own children are budding "Star Wars" fans for their own reasons. I figured I knew pretty much all there was to know about this film. I darn well should have, for as much time as I had spent (and continue to spend) over the years actively seeking out new details about it. Then came this book; I didn't know anything.

This is dense, dense reading, covering every minute detail about every aspect of production of the original "Star Wars," from drafting the script, to getting it taken seriously by Hollywood, to assembling the team that would revolutionize filmmaking as we came to know it. This is a wonderful thing. I find myself poring over every word, every image, every caption and footnote, just as I did as a child who was learning about film for the first time. It is an amazing tribute, an insanely detailed reference volume, and most incredible of all, a unique representation of a film that has been covered in so many ways by so many authors, that finding anything new to talk about seemed impossible.

The aspect of this book I personally find most exciting is that all of the interviews that comprise it are taken from the period immediately surrounding the production and release of the original film. There is none of the revisionist hindsight pertaining to the film that has come about as a result of the films that came after; every word spoken by the people involved is "of the moment," and as such, is refreshingly candid about what was going on while the film was in the throes of its conception and execution.

The hardcover volume is worth the extra cost, because of its additional supplemental material, not found in the softcover edition. There are 45 pages of storyboard reproductions, as well as Lucas' first-ever references to the larger world beyond what was shown in the original film, in the form of interview excerpts taken in 1977, which involve Lucas describing character and environmental background information. As author J.W. Rinzler explains in the opening to the section, "Many of these ideas...[have since been] modified to a greater or lesser degree. They are presented here...[as] an idea of how he first began [the process of expanding the "Star Wars" universe]." Given the amount of tweaking that the backstory has undergone in the decades following "Star Wars," the inclusion of Lucas' first impressions of it in this volume are incredibly valuable to anyone who, like me, has wondered if the second trilogy of films was truly borne from his original ideas, or was more a product of his later experiences.

This book is exactly what its title promises: the definitive history behind the original film. And for someone who has spent most of his life feeling like there was nothing new under the suns (not a typo) when it came to the story of how "Star Wars" was made, that's saying something.

Wonderful.......2007-09-22

I think I've been waiting 30 years for this book. It is excellent and packed with really cool behind the scene photos and notes. It is exactly as it should be given the lack of "marketing" tools of movies back in the late 70's. It has a lot of information and will add nicely to any Star Wars collection for years to come.

A wonderful piece to celebrate this film's 30th anniversary!!.......2007-08-24

Before this book came out, the greatest making of book in star wars lore was Once Upon A Galaxy. Now it has a partner!!! This book is amazing; truly a magnificent look at what it took to get this film on the screen. Not only do you get hundreds of never before seen and priceless photos, the sheer amount of text is incredibly impressive. This was very hard work to put together. There isnt much more I can add about this book. So.......go buy it; and Happy 30th Star Wars!!!

Exhaustively complete, excellently thorough.......2007-08-23

This book goes into more detail than anyone but a die-hard fan would want to know, in all honesty; but as it's one of the greatest movies ever filmed, Star Wars has more than its fair share of die-hards. The book is thoroughly researched and excellently presented and covers every aspect of the film's genesis from the very first words scribbled on George Lucas' yellow legal pads to the opening day. This book is, as the title states, the definitive story behind the making of Star Wars. Again, fascinating for the die-hard, but may be a bit detailed for the casual fan.

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film .......2007-08-13

For all those you loved the first Star Wars experience this book is a must have. The hard copy has many extra pages and it worth the additional price. The pictures and details included makes this a fun, informative and exciting book to read and re-read.

Sacrifice (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

One of the best Star Wars Universe books yet
Awesome book
It is his destiny!
A great book that offers a glimps of what is to come in real life.
7 on a scale of 10

Sacrifice (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 5)
Karen Traviss
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Fury (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 7)

ASIN: 0345477405
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Book Description

Civil war rages as the Galactic Alliance–led by Cal Omas and the Jedi forces of Luke Skywalker–battles a confederation of breakaway planets that rally to the side of rebellious Corellia. Suspected of involvement in an assassination plot against Queen Mother Tenel Ka of the Hapes Consortium, Han and Leia Solo are on the run, hunted by none other than their own son, Jacen, whose increasingly authoritarian tactics as head of GA security have led Luke and Mara Skywalker to fear that their nephew may be treading perilously close to the dark side.

But as his family sees in Jacen the chilling legacy of his Sith grandfather, Darth Vader, many of the frontline troops adore him, and countless citizens see him as a savior. The galaxy has been torn apart by too many wars. All Jacen wants is safety and stability for all–and he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

To end the bloodshed and suffering, what sacrifice would be too great? That is the question tormenting Jacen. Already he has sacrificed much, embracing the pitiless teachings of Lumiya, the Dark Lady of the Sith, who has taught him that a strong will and noble purpose can hold the evil excesses of the dark side at bay, bringing peace and order to the galaxy–but at a price.

For there is one final test that Jacen must pass before he can gain the awesome power of a true Sith Lord: He must bring about the death of someone he values dearly. What troubles Jacen isn’t whether he has the strength to commit murder. He has steeled himself for that, and worse if necessary. No, the question that troubles Jacen is who the sacrifice should be.

As the strands of destiny draw ever more tightly together in a galaxy-spanning web, the shocking answer will shatter two families . . . and cast a grim shadow over the future.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best Star Wars Universe books yet.......2007-09-11

Let's face it, people who like the Star Wars universe books like space opera. The New Jedi Order series has lots of great space battles, Jedi (-Sith) battles and narrow escapes from overwhelming odds. I've read almost all of them (although the clone wars is a bit much for my taste). Karen Traviss's Sacrifice is up there with the best of Zahn and others, but remarkably, not for the space opera.

The NJO series as a whole moves from space opera to family Saga. Karen Traviss here has written a fairly complex contrast of the key characters and their families (all disfunctional in one way or other): The Skywalkers, the Solos and the Fetts. It is wonderful to see how the characters all work at coping with the problems of their own families and wayward family members, and how a variety of approaches are shown and ultimately compared.

Being the father of my third teenager at this point, a lot of this hit home and gave me things to think about besides Luke's super-jedi-powers and simple light vs. dark stuff. Very highly recommended.

Awesome book.......2007-08-31

This book was pretty awesome. If you like Star Wars you need to read it already!

It is his destiny!.......2007-08-26

I am a born again Star Wars geek. All of the authors in this series are extremely talented. I do agree that some of the other characters should make more appearances in these novels. All in all I am very pleased and can not wait for Inferno. I too would like to read the back story on what prompts Jacen to take that Sith name. Karen Traviss does leave you hungering for more. I love the way she incorporates Boba Fett in this series. I hope there are many more to come. These books are all FAN-tastic. Keep 'em coming.

A great book that offers a glimps of what is to come in real life........2007-08-18

I've read the book, and I must say that it offers a true insite into man's true nature, which is the path of darkness. The reason why Anakin fell to the dark side of the force, was because he knew that it could help him save Padme, but that poor woman gave up and died. I like how Jason becomes manipulative and militaristic, because in real life, that is how the natural Man should be in order to bring about peace and order, even if that order is dictatorial. This book also shows how the strong exterminate the weak in order to maintain it's survival. Lumiya is a more than worthy successor to Palpatine. Jason turned to the dark side, because he knew that he is the only one that can save the galaxy and restore order, just like Anakin did. This book is great and highly recommended.

7 on a scale of 10.......2007-08-10

Let me just start out this review by saying - I really, really like Karen Travis. I've only read "Sacrifice" and "Bloodlines" by her - but after reading these two books I am looking forward to checking out some of her other stuff outside of the Star Wars Universe. I can't quite put my finger on what it is about her writing style that I like so much - but I particularly like how she will incorporate a character's thoughts in italics at times throughout these books. It is a quick, effective way to get to the "heart" of a matter without going into long drawn out details that I particularly like. When she needs to be - she can be very descriptive and detailed - but she seems to know when it is right for a story and when it isn't.

I'm not exactly new to the Expanded Universe of Star Wars novels - but it has been about ten years since I've read a SW novel. I loved the NJO when it got out of the gate but by the fifth book in that series I got tired of reading the same old thing over and over again - which is what if seemed like. So here I am in this new "Legacy of The Force" series and I'm quite pleased with it to this point. The fact that I never finished the NJO series didn't hinder me from reading this one as the authors have filled in the gaps quite nicely. I never read Troy Denning's "Dark Nest" series - which really hasn't hindered me in reading this series either.

Without getting into the specifics of the plot in "Sacrfice" let me just say that of the five books out on this series - this one is the best (and they are all good). The plot moves quickly with numerous twists and turns in it and it is just an exciting read. After the completion of it I find myself greatly anticipating the next one.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 2

Average customer rating:

And the story continues
Episode Two: Attack of the Rat

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 2
Joss Whedon
Manufacturer: Dark Horse Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, #6 (No Future for You)

ASIN: B000P07OHM

Product Description

The destruction of Buffy's hometown, plus covert and powerful slayer "cells" around the world, add up to a new label for the Scoobies: Terrorist threat. Speaking of Sunnydale, the crater formerly known as, has opened to reveal the witch Amy, and boy is she mad. Season Eight continues as Buffy creator Joss Whedon brings Buffy back to Dark Horse in this direct follow-up to Season Seven of the smash-hit TV series.

Customer Reviews:

And the story continues.......2007-04-22

Warning: Thar be spoilers ahead!

Remember each week those exciting words (which alerted us that we were about to get a new exciting episode of the best show on TV)? "Previously on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER . . . " The new comic series seems to be doing something along these same lines. On the inside of the outer cover are printed the following:

"This story takes place after the end of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Season Seven.

"The Slayer population of the world has gone from two to nearly two thousand. Almost five hundred are working around the world with Buffy's organization in squads--or "terrorist cells," according to the American military. Buffy, Xander, Dawn, and a passel of Slayers are currently bunked out in a Scottish castle, where the latest mission revealed a strange symbol carved into human bodies.

"Also, Dawn's a giant."

This may be a summary that is rewritten each month to reflect what has happened in the previous issues.

The first episode in Season Eight established the situation; this one begins moving the story forward. The U.S. military (or rather, a military leader who has on his chest the strange symbol referred to in the monthly summary) has authorized Amy the witch and her army of zombies to go after Buffy and her cohorts. After the story begins with three very different approaches to training the new slayers by first Giles, then Buffy, and finally Andrew (who actually couldn't be said to be training them at all) we find Xander explaining why Dawn took the form of a giant when it was possible she could have assumed other forms instead (obviously, she is trying to get her sister's attention in the most blatant manner possible). The catch is, does Xander really tell any of this to Buffy or is it all just part of what we later learn is a spell-induced sleep in which she experiences an unbroken nightmare. And in a fairy-tale twist she can only be awakened by the kiss of true love. We can, of course, imagine a line of possible candidates for that: Angel and Spike fighting to be first in line. Well, of course Buffy will be awakened, and sooner rather than later. Can't imagine her being asleep at the end of the next episode. The tricky part is how one defines "true love." That needn't mean romantic love. My gut tells me that the kiss won't come from any of the usual suspects. My money is on Dawn. Yeah, I know. No one likes Dawn. But the brute fact is that except for struggling to save her in Season Five, Buffy has been a truly awful sister. Not in a Cinderella step sisterly way, but in the completely neglectful, can't-spare-her-a-minute way. But early in Season Six, Dawn seemed to miss her more than anyone. Like I said, my money is on Dawn.

The issues ends with Buffy asleep, the castle under assault by hundreds of zombies they can't keep at bay, Amy gloating that she could handle slayers with ease, so there was no one there who could take her on. The final frame is of someone who says that they would "like to test that theory." And thus Willow makes her first appearance in the story.

I am going to say something that I don't think I can say often enough. I don't want Joss Whedon writing comics. I want him creating new television shows. I suspect he enjoys the control that a comic gives him. I am sure he is tired of battling studios and networks. I can understand that. But once the battles have been waged and the BS has been waded through, Joss Whedon has been able to create some of the most extraordinary, most timeless television that has ever been made. He needs to get back to it. That being said, I am so much happier with him doing BUFFY Season Eight than either his X-Men project or the Runaways (and mind you, I like both the X-Men and the Runaways). There are others who can tell further stories about the X-Men and the Runaways, but Joss Whedon is only one who can give us authoritative Buffy stories. So I am acquiring these with joy and my heart and impatience in my soul. But I want him back in television. We've had some great TV since BUFFY and ANGEL left the air. LOST, 24, VERONICA MARS, and especially BATTLESTAR GALACTICA have filled the huge gap BUFFY left at its departure. But LOST needs to start winding down (whether it will has to be seen), BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (the only show to completely match the brilliance that was BUFFY) has possibly only one more season left and at most two before Ron Moore brings his series to an end. 24 is definitely in decline. VERONICA MARS might be cancelled. In short, JOSS! WE NEED YOU TO COME BACK TO TELEVISION! But in the meantime, I'll wolf down every one of these issues.

Episode Two: Attack of the Rat.......2007-04-05

Buffy fans will be expecting a lot after seven stellar seasons on television and the success of the first issue of "Season Eight." So the question here is this: Does Issue #2 deliver?

In short, yes. I have to say though--there is so much going on, so many jokes, and so much foreshadowing that I wasn't able to completely enjoy the Jossy goodness until my second read. The first read intrigued me, but the second wow-ed me.

The plot continues directly from the previous issue. Amy (the former rat) is working with the government to take out Buffy and the slayers, and she has an army of zombies to back her up. The ending sequences are amazing--I'm already itching for May 2nd to come so I can get my hands on the third issue. There was a big revelation about half-way through the comic, and clues to who the Big Bad of the season will be as well. Giant Dawn is great, Buffy is true to herself, and Xander is playing the biggest role he's played since the first season.

This issue also re-introduces two fan favorites: Giles and Andrew. So, all in all, this issue is just as good as the first. But did anybody expect anything less? I mean, come on--Joss Whedon wrote it.

9/10

Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, Saga Edition

Average customer rating:

A Gameplayer Review
Disappointing at best
An Excellent First Role Playing Game
Star Wars Roleplaying Game
Interesting ruleset

Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, Saga Edition
Owen K.C. Stephens , and Rodney Thompson
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Monster Manual V (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

ASIN: 0786943564
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Book Description

Immerse yourself in the excitement of the greatest space fantasy of all time!

This new edition of the Star Wars Roleplaying Game encapsulates all six feature films while presenting a thorough revision of the rule, making the game easier to learn while improving the overall game experience.This new edition includes new character abilities and options, a world gazetteer, statistics for key characters from all six Star Wars films and the Expanded Universe, and guidelines on how to use Star Wars miniatures and battle maps in play.

Customer Reviews:

A Gameplayer Review.......2007-09-24

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT (yet) own this book, but am submitting this review as a gamer who has just finished a long tabletop session in a hobby store.

I think I qualify as an Old School D&D gamer. I played Advanced D&D back in the early '80s. Within the past year, I've actively gotten my 11 year-old son involved in RPGA's Living Greyhawk. I initially played with him. I found the D&D d20 3.5 System clunkily complex, not clearly documented, and lacking sufficient in-line examples. Combat sessions that might have taken 20-30 minutes in AD&D, seem to take hours now. Arrgh. Similarly, d20 Modern (and d20 Future), suffer from the same over-complexity -- at least in my opinion.

When a group of adults my age invited me to a Star Wars gaming session using the latest rules release, I was hesitant. One of the group's founders brought an amazing Tatooine-like desert town diorama that had many jaw-dropping passerby clicking away with camera phones. But WOTC's great array of pre-painted Star Wars miniatures was a great game aid as well. Most importantly, the newly revised d20 system was a breath of fresh air: Character sheets were readily absorbable. The game mechanics and combat system felt nicely streamlined compared to D&D 3.5. And combat sessions, though still a little long, were not as grinding as what I experienced in D&D 3.5. Many current gamers feel that this Star Wars RPG version is a direct predecessor of D&D 4.0, already announced for release next June. Sounds like a step in the right direction. I'll be buying this book shortly!

Game On,
AWAbooks

Disappointing at best.......2007-09-21

I waited patiently for this book with high hopes. It was indeed a sad day when this book arrived into my hands. For every positive revision in the game, it brings forth two negative aspects.
The book is very short, and it shows with the content of the book itself. This book contains only the bare bones of the rules. It offers very little in the way of star ship stats or equipment. It has a Galactic Gazette that provides next to nothing in the way of real information about the planets. It provides a higher page count in the droid section than on any story based subject. The art work is simply a copy/paste job from the other editions. Its sad. The poor look and feel of the book, mixed with a rules revision that simply seems stale makes this book something to avoid.
It does seriously depower the jedi. While this doesn't bother me since I always felt that they were very unbalanced when compared to the other classes, many people may have a problem with that. The force system does make it more usable by all the classes, but just takes away the feel of what it is to use the force with its limited use.
One of my biggest problems with the game is its need to make everything miniature compatible. The entire time I'm reading this book I feel like I'm reading a thick miniatures rule book. Everything is in miniature scale and designed to work with a battle map. They even throw in several segments pushing the miniatures for use with the game and saying how great they are. A product plug if ever Ive seen one.If you a big into the miniatures game, great. If not, than don't bother with this book.
I could rant about this book for hours, going through every chapter page by page, but honestly the book is not worth reading through again. There is a reason that the price of the book has almost cut in half since the release. keep that in mind. I plan on saleing mine and hope I can get something out of it. Please read ALL the reviews before buying.Good luck.

An Excellent First Role Playing Game.......2007-08-31

There are plenty of reviews written by experienced role players for other experienced role players. If you want the perspective of a complete newcomer, read on.

Although I immensely enjoyed both versions of Knights of the Old Republic, I had never played a pen and paper role playing game until my brother-in-law introduced me to Dungeons & Dragons a few months ago. While I continue to enjoy D&D very much, after buying this book and gamemastering a couple games, I wish Star Wars Saga Edition had been my first introduction to role playing games.

First of all, character generation is very simple and flexible. One of my players had zero role playing experience of any kind. However, he said he wanted to play a character like Greedo, and we were able to easily come up with exactly what he wanted. We have a standard jedi in the party, but we also have a force-using noble and a very skilled pilot. In this game, you think about what kind of character you want then find the rules to support that kind of character, rather than seeing what kind of character the rules will allow you to build.

There are rules to cover anything you can think of to do or be from the movies, and there are explicit examples for many of them. For example, there is a stat block for the trash compactor from the Leia prison rescue scene, and there are feats to cover the scene where Darth Vader absorbs Han's blaster shots, then makes the gun fly into his hand.

For a gamemaster the simplified skill set adds to the element of surprise. My players were surveilling a building when I had them roll a perception check. They assumed it was to notice something about the building, but it was really to notice the rancor sneaking up behind them. They failed the check, but if they had succeeded, they would have noticed a bad smell and turned around. Having all the senses, including smell, rolled into the perception check is really fun.

Vehicles are another element that makes the game fun. Everything from a speeder bike to a star destroyer is represented. Vehicles enhance the dynamics of the game, and increase characters' capabilities. For example, that rancor attack was way above my party's level, but they had a fighting chance on speeder bikes.

My main complaint about the book is that some of the information is scattered, and the index is terrible. I ended up making my own index for my personal use.

I highly recommend this game to anyone who is just getting started with pen and paper role playing games. It's relatively easy to learn, and the possibilities are endless.

Star Wars Roleplaying Game.......2007-08-26

Wizards did a nice job updating this RPG to the d20 system. As a veteran player and gamemaster I appreciate clear, concise, and consistent formats. I was easily able to begin running a Star Wars campaign after playing AD&D for 20+ years.

Interesting ruleset.......2007-08-25

The quality of the book is top notch, though I'm not sure I'm excited about all the changes to the rules. Most are nice, but the reduction of complexity in the skill system is a bit of a disappointment. But still recommended for any fans of Star Wars RP.

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