The Star Wars Book: Expand Your Knowledge of a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Pablo Hidalgo, Cole Horton, and Dan Zehr

The Star Wars Book: Expand Your Knowledge of a Galaxy Far, Far Away written by Pablo Hidalgo, Cole Horton, and Dan Zehr

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I cannot say enough about how absolutely spectacular this book was!!! It's a 219-page, essay-style reference book that I was able to read over a weekend...I didn't want to stop scouring these pages! For a book written by three people, the essays flowed surprisingly well and the writing was phenomenal. I felt immersed in the full canon Star Wars experience throughout my read. Despite the synopsis on the back of the book making it sound like this tome only covers the movies, that is NOT the case!! It covers comics, adult novels, young adult novels, middle grade novels, TV shows, movies, video games, and anything else canon you could think of. It is ALL here! There were even some inclusions that I wasn't all that familiar with because I haven't really played any of the video games for an extended period of time except "Star Wars: Uprising" and "Vader: Immortal." I had to actually Wookieepedia some of this stuff! It is thorough as all get out and while that's a delight for someone like me who literally consumes as much of it as possible (with the exception of video games), it could be confusing for someone who only pays attention to the movies and TV shows. But then again, this book might just be the perfect way for such a fan to learn more, a jumping off point for what to search for on Wookieepedia to get the full picture of the galaxy's denizens, histories, and locales. With that in mind, I would highly recommend this one to ANY Star Wars fan who is eager for more information, wants a full refresher for trivia purposes, or simply wants to relive the best parts of this wonderful space adventure!!

The book is broken up into 6 parts and has a glossary and index in the back. The glossary is a super odd, totally random collection of words so I'm not exactly sure what they were going for with it, but I guess it's a nice addition for someone who sticks with the audio/visual media. The 6 parts are as follows: 1) The Galaxy--covers geography of the galaxy as a whole, 2) Science and Technology--here we learn more about weapons, vehicles, droids, and the like, 3) The Force--discussions on what the Force is, groups that wield it, famous Force users, and important events are included, 4) The Skywalkers--here we get a run down of all the most important members of this famous family, including Rey, 5) Galactic Governments and Their Dissidents--this is the longest section as it covers events, senators, clones, world orders, officers on both sides, and more, and finally 6) Galactic Denizens--where we get the low down on a number of different species that inhabit the galaxy. SO much information!! And like I said before, it is all put together in a wonderfully readable essay format. It's not your typical diagrammatic, photo with caption heavy reference book, although there are plenty of captioned photos. Instead it's more of a continual story of every aspect of the galaxy. Because of this, there is some repetition but it doesn't feel burdensome as it all feels necessary and just flows together so well!

The only thing I didn't like about this book was its use of an all-together new yet all-together exactly the same dating system. Instead of BBY and ABY, it uses BSW4 and ASW4...which to me takes the reader out of universe. Before Battle of Yavin and After Battle of Yavin keeps everything in universe and is exactly the same thing as Before Star Wars 4 and After Star Wars 4. Why the change?!? Makes no sense. For the sake of clarity, I will be using BBY and ABY in this review.

Below I'm going to pull out some key bits of information that I found particularly fascinating:

The Core includes: Corellia, Coruscant, Alderaan, Chandrilla, Hosnian Prime, and Kuat.

The Colonies include: Fondor, Castell, and Cato Neimoidia.

The Inner Rim includes: Onderon and Jakku.

The Expansion Region includes: Pasaana and Mimban.

The Mid Rim includes: Ord Mantell, Ithor, Jedha, Takodana, Ring of Kafrene, Malastare, Naboo, Bothawui, Vandor, Sinta, Kashyyyk, Kijimi, and Wobani.

The Outer Rim includes: Yavin, Bespin/Hoth, Endor, D'Qar, Crait, Ajan Kloss, Nevarro, Sullust, Mustafar, Moraband, Dathomir, Kessel, Batuu, Dagobah, Utapau, Savareen, Geonosis, Tatooine, Scarif, Nal Hutta, Eadu, Lothal, Felucia, Cantonica, Mandalore, Dantooine, and Lah'mu.

The Unknown Regions include (although the line between this and the Outer Rim is sketchy): Ilum, Exegol, and Ahch-To. 

How did I miss that Nar Shaddaa was Nal Hutta's moon?? I love Nar Shaddaa!...

I've had a debate on Twitter before about what hyperspace actually is...and not to toot my own horn or anything...but I was right. "Ships equipped with a hyperdrive use a coaxium-coated reaction chamber that, upon being energized, propels the ship into an alternate dimension." So hyperspace IS an alternate dimension!!! Which is why it makes sense that in the "Poe Dameron" long-run comic series, when Padme's dresses are released from the ship while in hyperspace, it is said that the dresses will never be seen again. So ha!

Ralakili, the guy at Fort Ypso on Vandor in Solo who runs the droid fighting ring, hates droids because General Grievous once ravaged his homeworld during the Clone Wars.

Cantwell-class cruisers are Imperial ships built around powerful tractor beam projectors.

Imperial-class Star Destroyers can hold some 40,000 passengers.

In A New Hope, Luke drove an XP-34 landspeeder, which was out of fashion because the XP-38 had recently come out.

Mortis (see below) is considered an "ethereal realm" and is shaped like a double pyramid--totally bizarre and I love it! The planet where the Force Priestesses live is known simply as the Force planet and is the homeworld of midi-chlorians! That's like saying mitochondria have a homeworld...very odd. But, again, I kinda like it.

There's a fabulous discussion about what "balance" in the Force actually means: "For some, balance could be equal light and equal darkness. For others, the light side may be the natural state of the Force, with the dark side creating imbalance." I for one believe in the equal light/equal dark philosophy. I think it makes the most sense.

Apparently, only sentients that form a dyad can perform the Force ability to heal others. Interesting...

Galactic-scale timeline!!! 25,000 BBY--founding of the Jedi Order; 5,000 BBY--beginning of the Jedi/Sith wars; 1,032 BBY--end of the Jedi/Sith wars, declaration of the Sith Rule of Two, and the beginning of the Republic as we know it; 300-100 BBY--the High Republic era; 42 BBY--Dooku leaves the Jedi Order; 24 BBY--Dooku starts the Separatist movement; 22 BBY--Attack of the Clones. To go along with this timeline is the information that "Before the Galactic Republic, its predecessor had been called 'The Old Republic,' a civilization that extends even further back. This earlier era was not a peaceful and tranquil time." The Old Republic existed alongside the Sith Empire. PLEASE GIVE ME THESE STORIES!!!!

Being a Jedi Master apparently just means that you are a Knight who has taken and trained a Jedi to Knighthood. It does not mean by default that you are on the council. So why was poor Ani so upset then?? Ahsoka wasn't a Knight...

Survivors of the Jedi Purge that we didn't know about!!!: Oppo Rancisis and Coleman Kcaj. Now I want to know their stories darn it!

If you've played "Fallen Order," you already know about this, but the Fortress Inquisitorious is found underwater on Nur, a moon in the Mustafar system. Also, Purge Troopers are actually the final batch of clone troopers. Another "Fallen Order" reference is to the Zeffo: "started out as a peacable culture, but fell to the dark side. This ancient species from the planet Zeffo refer to the Force as 'life wind.' Those strong in the Force, and able to connect to it, were originally referred to as sages. However, led by Kujet, one of the esteemed sages fallen to evil, they established a place of power on Dathomir. After Kujet's death, the remaining Zeffo left for the great unknown in the hope of finding peace." I really should try my best to get through this game--my problem isn't the story AT ALL, my problem is my ineptness with using the complicated control lmfao.

According to this book, even Snoke may not know he is a genetic strandcast created by Sidious. He "has free will, but his actions and goals are still orchestrated by Sidious." Intriguing...

Remember my note about the misstep on the timelines between "Rise of Kylo Ren" and The Last Jedi in Fascinating Facts? Well, here it affirms that the Kylo timeline is correct with the time being 6 years between the two.

My suspicions about Vader's turn to the light being gradual rather than sudden, courtesy of analyzing the most recent Vader comics, seem to be in the know. This book says, "Luke's internal strength and Jedi dedication leave an impression on Vader, gradually eroding his Sith convictions and self-loathing [over the next year]." I cannot wait to see this play out further as the comic series continues!

I adore this description of Rey! It personifies what I now love about her SO much, "Her choice, and not her lineage, defines who she is, bringing her peace and purpose." *my heart!!*

Droids and their manufacturers: tri-droid--Techno Union, spider droids--Commerce Guild, hailfire droids--Banking Clan, and NR-N99 tank droids--Corporate Alliance.

1500 groups unite under the banner of the Council of Neutral Systems during the Clone Wars.

This book clarifies the timeline of the creation and chipping of the clone army. Ten years before the Clone Wars broke out, Sifo-Dyas had a vision of what was to come and so commissioned the army. Their existence is eventually discovered by Sidious who starts working with the Kaminoans and orders them to install Order 66 inhibitor chips in the clones. But...wait a second...Tyranus was the one who recruited Jango Fett...so how does that work?!?

Remember my review of "The Light You Bring" and how it ended with the Starhawk-project revelation? I wonder if it was referring to this, "In the final months of the war, the Nadiri Dockyards turn the Empire's own weapons against it by reconstructing Imperial Star Destroyers into formidable Starhawk-class battleships, providing the Rebel fleet with a level of firepower it had not possessed early in the conflict."

Chewie's wife is Mallatobuck and his son is Lumpawaroo. BB-8 was 4 years old at the time of the Starkiller Incident--d'awww.

It turns out that just as in Legends, the Mandalorians are ruled by "the Manda'lor"! I don't remember seeing this in any other canon source material. Din Djarin's homeworld that was attacked by droid forces was Aq Vetina.

The Naboo royal succession after Padme was Queen Reillata, Queen Jamillia, Queen Neeyutnee, then Queen Apailana. After the Empire's fall, Queen Soruna is monarch.

Wookiee catamarans are called Oevvaor catamarans (see below). 

And one last super weird little bit of information, "Endor is also home to the Wisties, a tiny species sometimes known as Firesprites, who defend the forest and befriend the Ewoks. Warriors have occasionally weaponized the creatures, filling pouches with them and launching the frantic creatures at enemies as a distraction." Huh?!? I had to Wookieepedia these guys. Apparently they're found in "Battlefront II" and "Tales from Vader's Castle 4." And their Wookieepedia page is fairly in-depth. Interesting, learn something new every day!

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Again, what a fabulous book!!! So much detailed information in such an incredibly readable format. This was a joy to take in and I highly recommend it to any Star Wars fan!!