The Essential Guide to Alien Species (Star Wars) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It is about time that this essential guide came out! This is the one I think I have been waiting for the longest (except maybe the Essential Chronology). Most of the time I could care less about the history of Droids or Weapons, but the aliens of the Star Wars universe have always been of interest to me. Finally, here they are in this essential guide. This book was apparently "written" in-universe by Shi'ido anthropologist Hoole - yes, the same Hoole who wrote an entry for the Illustrated Star Wars Universe, and the same Hoole who was a character in the Galaxy of Fear novels. So what do you get?
For each of more than 100 species, you get at least one full page. There is an illustration of a member of the species, a little box giving the planet of origin, average height, and whether or not it is sentient. Then there is a bunch of text outlining the culture and history of the species, and finally a little in-universe anecdote, usually in the form of a journal entry, from someone who has had contact with members of that species. Then, for a bunch of other species that were not important enough to merit a full page, there is an appendix of "other notable species" which each get around a paragraph.
Granted, there are a few illustrations that look a little...off, and a couple that do not correspond with previous illustrations of that species, but overall the art is really good. In fact, that's what I use this book for - visual reference. The notes are nifty, but I got it for the pictures. In addition, there is a long awaited pronunciation guide at the end - THANK YOU! This book covers everything from the common species, to the Chiss, the Yuuzhan Vong, Falleen, even such obscure species as the "Assemblers," of which Ku'dar Mu'bat from the Bounty Hunter Wars was a member.
Definitely buy this book if you like Star Wars. Highly Recommended.

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