"The History And The Hardware
How exactly did the Empire
come into being? Who are those strange beings who patronize the cantina
at Mos Eisley Spaceport? And what exactly makes the Millennium Falcon
one of the fastest ships in the galaxy?
The saga that was born
with the line "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." needs no
introduction, but the intricacies of the epic tale go far beyond a
simple phrase. It is a vast universe that provides the setting for Star
Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi; strange creatures
known as Jawas deal in used droids, while moisture farmers eke out a
living on a harsh and arid desert planet. Rebel forces use whatever
material they can muster, bringing it to bear against a vast and
technologically advanced Empire that possesses weaponry capable of
destroying an entire world in the space of a heartbeat.
The Star
Wars Technical Journal takes an in-depth look at the many and varied
elements that comprise the rich Star Wars tapestry, including:
-- The spacecraft, from TIE Series fighters to Star Destroyers
-- The exotic locales, including Tatooine, Hoth, and Cloud City
-- Histories of the Empire and the Rebel forces
...and much, much more.
Through
comprehensive entries, extensive photographs, detailed schematics, rare
production artwork, character designs, and six eight-page fold-out
blueprints, the secrets of the species, the technologies, and the
inner-workings of the Rebel and Imperial forces unfold.
Through
months of meticulous research, Texas author Shane Johnson reviewed hours
of film and radio drama, hundreds of pages of technical material and
media materials, roleplaying rules, production art, and everything else
available covering the Star Wars canon. A talented technical illustrator
as well, he also produced the schematics needed to properly cover the
technical details that went into producing the adventure of a lifetime.
His other credits include Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical
Journal and Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise.
Based on Starlog magazine's Star Wars Technical Journals."
