Rating: 
Summary: Completely engrossing
Review: As a star wars fan, I thouroughly loved this book. The wealth of pictures and insight into the original trilogy is a treasure to anyone who considers themself a fan of the Star Wars Universe. You can't put a price on that. It's just that awesome. Booyah!
Rating:
Summary: Great Reference
Review: I collect most of the ERTL Star Wars models. And this book is a bible for us modelers when assembling a Star Wars models.
Rating:
Summary: IT`S PROBABLY ALREADY BEEN SAID BUT......
Review: I have to throw in my two cents/pennies/francs/phennigs worth here, this is a stunning book. Jam packed with pictorial details, the like of which, in it`s depth and comprhensive coverage, i have seldom seen. Granted, some of the pictorial detail can be found in other books, such as `THE STARWARS ARCHIVES` and like publications, but i gotta admit, it`s never been done in this impressive a manner. A personal salute from me to the authors for having the courage to undertake such a task in the beginning, and the personal fortitude to see it through to the end, what it might lack in the wordy dept. it more than makes up for in the glourious spread of pictorial information. Agreed it may be a bit pricey, but quality like this don`t come cheap and if it`s quality your after, this book is it, both in content and appearance, a weighty tome as well, so if your a fan and a bodybuilder, you can`t go wrong here :). A must for any dedicated Starwars fan, you know who you are :)! and an absolute godsend for Modelmakers like me, and i do it for a living !, now them big AT-AT`s and X-Wing models my customers want, are going to be a bit less of a hassle. Anybody know where i can get a wipeclean cover and an auto page turner from ?, i couldn`t bare the thought of paint overspray getting on this beastie in the workshop (just kidding, untill i start work that is). My thanks to Dan for getting this book for me, your a scholar and a gentleman sir !.
Rating:
Summary: IT`S PROBABLY ALREADY BEEN SAID BUT......
Review: I have to throw in my two cents/pennies/francs/phennigs worth here, this is a stunning book. Jam packed with pictorial details, the like of which, in it`s depth and comprhensive coverage, i have seldom seen. Granted, some of the pictorial detail can be found in other books, such as `THE STARWARS ARCHIVES` and like publications, but i gotta admit, it`s never been done in this impressive a manner. A personal salute from me to the authors for having the courage to undertake such a task in the beginning, and the personal fortitude to see it through to the end, what it might lack in the wordy dept. it more than makes up for in the glourious spread of pictorial information. Agreed it may be a bit pricey, but quality like this don`t come cheap and if it`s quality your after, this book is it, both in content and appearance, a weighty tome as well, so if your a fan and a bodybuilder, you can`t go wrong here :). A must for any dedicated Starwars fan, you know who you are :)! and an absolute godsend for Modelmakers like me, and i do it for a living !, now them big AT-AT`s and X-Wing models my customers want, are going to be a bit less of a hassle. Anybody know where i can get a wipeclean cover and an auto page turner from ?, i couldn`t bare the thought of paint overspray getting on this beastie in the workshop (just kidding, untill i start work that is). My thanks to Dan for getting this book for me, your a scholar and a gentleman sir !.
Rating: 
Summary: Of course it's thebest book about pictures, but...
Review: I must say there were translation problems.First I borrowed a Japanese copy from library and decided to get a English version,because it's already out of print here in Japan.What I found out after camparing both version was very shocking!Author Deborah Fine is eliminating every single mechanial data(about size,weapons and materials etc.)and few columns.This book was first published in Japan about 1995 and translated to English 1997.What the hell this author was doing for two years?If this book had different name,it's absoulutely OK,but once you put the title of "Star Wars Chronicles"that will mean totally different book here in Japan.
Rating:
Summary: The Star Wars Bible
Review: I picked up this book yesterday and poured over it for the entire night last night. It's the definative tome for Star Wars fans. I showed the book to some friends and their all picking up copies. It was expensive in Canada $210, but well worth it. If you want text, then pick up the Star Wars encyclopedia. But if you want the most attractive coffee table book ever, then this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: The Flagship Of My Collection
Review: I saw Star Wars when I was really young, and it was only recently when I started earning money, with my first job I could really afford to buy any significant Star Wars collectors items. The Chronicles were a major purchase for me, but it was worth it all. So many pictures and informative sketches of even the most minor characters of the trilogy. A real eye-opener into the Star Wars universe. You see concept designs of characters you only see for a few seconds in the film, and now it's the proud centre-piece of a growing Star Wars collection. Aside from it's rich visual content, the value of this book can only go up with the Prequals round the corner.
Rating:
Summary: I Have A Very Good Feeling About This!
Review: I think that I now have all of the truly 'big' Star Wars books - I have all of the 'Art Of' and 'Makings Of' books there are, and the two Industrial Light and Magic hard covers. And now, thanks to the most wonderful woman in the world, I have the Star Wars Chronicles. The enormity of the book is overwhelming, and the fact that it comes in its own black and gold box with a magnetic clasp seems to spotlight the quality representative in its contents.In other words: WOW! This book does not disappoint in any way, mostly though it's an expansive overview of models, vehicles, props and sets used in the three movies, the forgettable Ewok TV show abominations, and the Star Tours attraction at the Team Rodent theme parks in California and Florida. The book really shines especially in the rarity of a lot of the photos, about half of which have never been seen all that much, whereas several books in a similar vein simply reprint the same pictures over and over. Chronicles instead goes for originality by showcasing the more rare pictures. It has wonderful gate fold pages and ship scale comparison sheets, and it takes the reader from the design stage of a particular ship right on through to the finished model. The Star Wars movies have always been the best there is as far as special effects go, (well, the best there is as far as anything is concerned, but I'm biased). From model makers to set and prop designers, few films approach that level of detail, and if they do it's because their effects were also done by ILM. Even though the Phantom Menace wasn't as worthy of the Star Wars name as the other films, no one can argue the quality of the production. The Phantom Menace isn't featured in the Star Wars Chronicles, and I hope they don't add it to a later edition, because this book is big enough as it is. Is it worth the money? Take it from me, if you love Star Wars on as primal a level as I do, and are as fascinated by what goes on behind the camera as in front of it, it is. It may have been a gift, but I would have bought it eventually. The fact it was a gift just makes it even more special. Like the lady who sent it to me, it is now priceless.
Rating:
Summary: I Have A Very Good Feeling About This!
Review: I think that I now have all of the truly `big' Star Wars books - I have all of the `Art Of' and `Makings Of' books there are, and the two Industrial Light and Magic hard covers. And now, thanks to the most wonderful woman in the world, I have the Star Wars Chronicles. The enormity of the book is overwhelming, and the fact that it comes in its own black and gold box with a magnetic clasp seems to spotlight the quality representative in its contents. In other words: WOW! This book does not disappoint in any way, mostly though it's an expansive overview of models, vehicles, props and sets used in the three movies, the forgettable Ewok TV show abominations, and the Star Tours attraction at the Team Rodent theme parks in California and Florida. The book really shines especially in the rarity of a lot of the photos, about half of which have never been seen all that much, whereas several books in a similar vein simply reprint the same pictures over and over. Chronicles instead goes for originality by showcasing the more rare pictures. It has wonderful gate fold pages and ship scale comparison sheets, and it takes the reader from the design stage of a particular ship right on through to the finished model. The Star Wars movies have always been the best there is as far as special effects go, (well, the best there is as far as anything is concerned, but I'm biased). From model makers to set and prop designers, few films approach that level of detail, and if they do it's because their effects were also done by ILM. Even though the Phantom Menace wasn't as worthy of the Star Wars name as the other films, no one can argue the quality of the production. The Phantom Menace isn't featured in the Star Wars Chronicles, and I hope they don't add it to a later edition, because this book is big enough as it is. Is it worth the money? Take it from me, if you love Star Wars on as primal a level as I do, and are as fascinated by what goes on behind the camera as in front of it, it is. It may have been a gift, but I would have bought it eventually. The fact it was a gift just makes it even more special. Like the lady who sent it to me, it is now priceless.
Rating:
Summary: IF YOU ARE A TRUE STAR WARS FAN YOU HAVE GOT TO OWN THIS!!!!
Review: If you are a true star wars fan you have got to own this masterpiece of a book no exceptions!! It is the most comprehensive in depth guild to the star wars world. There are 350 pictures in this book. I have searched for years for a book to show me the way the props and models where designed and built. These are not your typical run of the mill pictures that you have seen a hundred times before. These photographs are never before seen they show you step by step process of how things were made. Whatever you do DO NOT let the price discourage you from buying this book it is worth every (i repeat) every dollar. My search for the perfect star wars book is over I have found it. Buy this book you will not be disappointed. May the force be with you. RJM
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