Complete Locations: Review

In this blog I will post a review of 'Star Wars Complete Locations'. This book has collected all 'Inside the Worlds'-books that have been published by DK so far. These are 2 Prequel books ('TPM' & 'AotC') and one Classic volume. This book also has the new 'RotS' feature. The book has a large format and has about 175 pages.

I can't help to feel fooled by DK. Of course I knew that this book would contain the other books, but I love these books so much, I couldn't miss the 'RotS'-pages. So what could I do? Order the book, tear out the pages of 'RotS' and send it back? I have bought every publication of DK and most of them right after the initial release. I'd say DK does not reward it's loyal fans by doing this. It's obvious that they are trying to take profit now that 'Star Wars' is still popular ('Ep.III' and the dvd release). They sell a more expensive book and simply reprint the other volumes. Since this book is rather heavy I think I'll still use the other seperate volumes, because they are easier to handle. I mailed Hans Jenssen (one of the artists) about this book and if you read between the lines, you could understand he and Richard Chasemore (the co-artist) were not that satisfied about this book. There are also other artists who have drawn pages in the 'RotS'-part. These drawings are not bad at all, but you can see it's no Jenssen or Chasemore. Hence my comment that this book was rushed. On the other hand, for fans who don't have every (or none) of the previous 'Inside the Worlds'-books, this edition is probably one of the best 'Star Wars'-books ever published.These are the 'RotS'-pages:- Battle of Coruscant (schematic evolution with ships)- Jedi Temple- Palpatine's office- Utapau (photos)- Pau City- Kashyyyk (photos)- Wookiee Tree (Kachirho)- Battlefronts (photos)- Mustafar (photos)- Mustafar Mines- Mustafar Duel- Polis Massa- Sith Medcenter

Positive Highlights: - New 'Revenge of the Sith' information- New planets receive a position on the starmap

Negative Highlights: - Only one chapter is new in this book when you have all the previous editions- Previous editions are unchanged- Galactic Map does not feature enough planets

This book takes you inside the worlds of the complete Star Wars saga, compiling the individual books already produced for Episodes I, II and the Star Wars Trilogy, updating the text and filling it out with all new Episode III material. < This sentence was printed in the SW.com preview. If anybody can tell me where the text in the previously printed books has been updated, please let me know!

SW.com feature

Review 'Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels'

In this entry I'll review 'Star Wars Chronicles: the Prequels'. As you might know, the 'Star Wars Chronicles' are (now plural) wonderful books. The 2nd volume is as good as the 1st one and maybe even a bit better. It has 340 pages and is so heavy you can hardly lift it without support of a table. The pages are large and feature many, many, many pictures. Don't let the price cloud your judgement.As in the 1st edition, the book first has a comparative size chart of characters, vehicles and ships. It's not been done in a rush, because some lesser-known vehicles are also there (such as the HAET-221 and the Mankvim-814). Great job!The three prequels are then covered from the beginning to the end. Most of the coverage is done chronologically. At the end of each movie there is a short review of the 'making of'. There are also 2 pages about the 'Clone Wars Animated Series'.The 'Chronicles' is most of all a picture book. The digital models of the prequels really show their value because you can see them from every side in the Chronicles. Not only ships, but also creatures and characters are featured prominently. From the podracers, the senators, the Jedi (some cool unseen and unknown Jedi in the 'RotS'-war room f.e.) and the Squid Lake visitors. You can easily spot the influence of Pablo Hidalgo in this book. Many characters have their proper names and many new names appear for the 1st time in this book. Well done!

Positive highlights: + Comparative size charts+ Dazzling amount of photographs+ Characters and creatures are also covered+ New names+ The ultimate prequel book

Negative Highlight:- Why does that chronology timeline feature post 'RotJ'-things? Isn't it possible to let them out of the picture for once?

New names & items:
- TC-3: Silver protocol Droid serves the Swokes Swokes delegation in 'TPM'.
- TC-4: Red protocol Droid, serves Palpatine. Name was already known, extra information wasn't.
- Bairdon Jace: Male Jedi (appears in 'VD AotC'). Someone of LFL played him.
- Khaat Qiyn: Female Jedi (appears in 'VD AotC'). Someone of LFL played her.
- Onie Arkmen: Outlander patron, Asian looking female with some kind of chain mail for a top.
- Dyemma Reel: Outlander patron has a long braid and wears a leather jumpsuit.
- The homeplanet of the Holwuff is Alliga.
- Koffi Arana is pictured in this book (Holonet Insider # 84)
- Rian-327 Airspeeder: Used by Padmé in 'RotS'
- FA-5: Droids that are seen on Coruscant, look like FA-4 but with legs.
- Utapau Scoop Skimmer: Airspeeder used on Utapau. Not the Mankvim or the Porax.
- Arakyd HL-444: Repulsorlift worker droid (VD RotS)
- Cybot Galactica CLL-M2: Huge Binary load lifter like Worker Droid from 'RotS'. Taller than the IW-37 Pincer.
- Diamond-class Courier: Is the class of the Commerce Guild cruisers.
- Ultimate Projection is the name of the Lucrehulk-class Core Ship of the Federation that has been modified as a base of operations on Utapau.
- There is also extra information about Squid Lake visitors and Senators.
- And a character from the EU has become source. Sheltay Rectrac is the mother of Winter.

That means that Winter is really tied to someone who appears in the movies.

Chronicles prequels on sw.com