THE DEFINITIVE WORD ON <i>STAR WARS</i> FICTION<br> <br> The legendary motion picture <i>Star Wars</i> has spawned two big-screen sequels and three prequels—and decades of bestselling fiction. From the original movie tie-in novel through the monumental Fate of the Jedi series, legions of devoted readers have helped expand science fiction’s most celebrated film saga into a page-turning print sensation. Now, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of these sweeping <i>Star Wars</i> adventures is presented in one beautifully illustrated volume.<br> <i> </i><br> <i>Star Wars: The Essential Reader’s Companion</i> spans the entire galaxy of published <i>Star Wars</i> fiction—movie novelizations, original stand alone and series novels, short stories, eBook novellas, young adult titles, and comics—and features:<br> <br> • a concise synopsis of each story, including key characters and planets<br> • exclusive behind-the-scenes facts and anecdotes about authors, plot and character development, continuity notes, and significance in the <i>Star Wars</i> Expanded Universe<br> • details on which novels are linked to <i>Star Wars</i> comic books from Dark Horse and Marvel<br> • a chronological listing of titles, spanning the 25,000-year history of the <i>Star Wars</i> universe and placing each story in its proper context<br> • more than one hundred full-color original paintings throughout by some of fans’ favorite artists<br> <br> Whether skimming through fateful eras from the Old Republic to the New Jedi Order; delving deep into the ancient history of the Lost Tribe of the Sith or the tumultuous Clone Wars; crossing paths—and lightsabers—with Dark Lords such as Plagueis or Bane, Sidious or Vader; helming the <i>Millennium Falcon</i> with Han Solo; or mastering the Force with Luke Skywalker, this one-of-a-kind, one-stop reference is a must for fans looking to maximize their knowledge of the sprawling <i>Star Wars</i> Expanded Universe.