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

DK has released a number of character encyclopedias in the past, and with more movies to come, there will undoubtedly be others released in the future. The decision to limit to just over 200 characters does mean that those included have been carefully selected from the vast array of heroes, villains, aliens, creatures and droids that exist in the Star Wars universe. Among those that are featured are the ever-presents like Luke, Leia, R2-D2, Darth Vader, Jabba the Hutt etc., and moving forward, Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren and Poe Dameron will undoubtedly be added to that list. But there are also many among the pages for whom this may be the one and only time they get their fifteen minutes of fame.

Much has been said about the absence of Constable Zuvio from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, so it's hard to imagine him being featured in future editions, but only time will tell, since there's nothing to say that he won't show up in Episodes VIII and/or IX where I shall be made to eat my words. And while there is a definite slant towards characters from the latest movie in the Star Wars saga, there are also numerous lesser-known individuals from both prequel and original trilogies whose pages provide background information that may never again see the light of day in book form.

With each entry confined to a single page, this is not a comprehensive encyclopedia, merely a taster for a more detailed profile elsewhere, but along with the name and one-line description, each character includes a data file and a couple of snippets of background information. Among the key data points are things like affiliation, homeworld, species and appearances.

While much of the content in this book has been released elsewhere, there are plenty of interesting tidbits littered throughout, particularly for the newer characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. For those, there are also many rare stills from the movie that make the Star Wars Character Encyclopedia Updated and Expanded a worthwhile addition to any Star Wars fan's library.

The Star Wars Character Encyclopedia Updated and Expanded by Simon Beecroft and Pablo Hidalgo is available now online and from all good bookstores, priced $16.99 in the U.S. and $19.99 in Canada.

As always, a big thanks to DK Canada, whose Star Wars Boutique you can visit 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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