The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.
Sansweet, Stephen J. & Pablo Hidalgo. -- Library Journal, 12/16/2008
Del Rey. 2008. 1,190p. illus. ISBN 978-0-345-47763-7. $125. REF
Weighing in at roughly 1200 pages, this is everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about Star Wars and lots of things you didn’t want to know—or never realized existed. Assembled by top SW gurus Sansweet and Hidalgo with a number of others well versed in all things from a long time ago in a galaxy, far, far away, this update of the original is expanded to cover all seven films and TV’s infamous Holiday Special as well as the thousands of novels/graphic novels in the expanded universe, plus the Cartoon Network’s wonderful animated Clone Wars series. This truly is a reference work, and not something to be read cover-to-cover (although über fans no doubt will). The text is buttressed with hundreds of artworks, from small thumbnails to gorgeous full-page portraits and includes screen grabs, comic art, and original illustrations commissioned for this set from top SW artists like Chris Trevas. As it covers the noteworthy with the obscure, the listings run in length from single sentences to multiple pages. With animated Clone Wars in theaters last summer and updates airing weekly on TV, this has been a banner year, and this encyclopedia is the perfect capper. In its own geeky way, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia is one of 08’s best reference sets and a treasure trove for fans. Recommended.—Mike Rogers, LJX/LJ
