TFN Review: Star Wars Character Encyclopedia New Edition Updated and Expanded From DK

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With The Rise of Skywalker a matter of weeks from release, it might seem a little premature to issue a new character encyclopedia in the preceding months, since a number of individuals who have already been revealed from the forthcoming movie don't appear in the book. Nevertheless, it's been a while since the last edition was released and so an update is long overdue, especially given the movies that have debuted since the previous version and the many new characters we've already come to love. And so we are presented with more than 200 pages of characters from across the saga, starting with 2-1B all the way through to Zuckuss!

Each page comprises a heading with the character's name, a descriptive sub-heading, one main photo, a head shot accompanying the data file and two or three scenes from the one or more movies in which they appeared, as well as several paragraphs providing background details and little-known facts.

The data file consists of much the same pieces of information for each character e.g. Affiliation, Appearances: episode(s), See Also: related characters, and height being included for the vast majority. There are differences in the data file depending on whether or not the character is biological or is a rank-and-file member of a military organization, such that we see the type and manufacturer of a droid, the species and home world of a biological character and the standard equipment of a soldier.

As you might expect, there is a heavy focus on characters from the movies released in the post-Disney era, though the OT and PT are still well represented, and authors Simon Beecroft, Elizabeth Dowsett and Pablo Hidalgo have been able to find what appear to be some less-frequently-seen photos from way-back-when for the likes of the A-Wing Pilot, Captain Needa and Scout Trooper to name but a few. Among the less-obvious inclusions from The Force Awakens, Rogue One, The Last Jedi and Solo, are Captain Ithano, Doctor Kalonia, Jess Pava, Sarco Plank, General Merrick, Pao, Tallissan "Tallie" Lintra, Lanai, Lady Proxima and Patrol Trooper, with the latter being incorrectly identified as appearing in Rogue One. Other notable entries are Vober Dand who appeared in Episodes VII & VIII and the Tognath Eggmates, Benthic and Edrio Two Tubes, with both appearing in Rogue One and the former also featuring in Solo as one of Enfys Nest's Cloud Riders. Staying with Solo, the main picture of Maul shows him with his mechanical legs, while Leia is referred to by her royal title, not her military one, and there are a number of other interesting observations to be made throughout the book.

A notable absence in the character encyclopedia are characters from any of the animated series that Lucasfilm have released, so the hope is that an alternate version is in the pipeline. There is no shortage of characters to choose from when it comes to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars Resistance!

Whether or not you know your Lama Su from your Shu Mai and your Mas Amedda from your Maz Kanata, there is still plenty to learn about some of the newer characters and who's to say, maybe even something about those we've known for a decade or more!

Star Wars Character Encyclopedia New Edition Updated and Expanded by Simon Beecroft, Elizabeth Dowsett and Pablo Hidalgo is priced $16.99 in the U.S. and $21.99 in Canada.

As always, a big thanks to DK Canada, whose Star Wars books you can check out at here. For all of your monthly roundup of Star Wars publishing news, commentary, and discussion on the latest releases in the realm of novels, comics, and magazines, don't forget to listen to Jedi Journals.

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