Since 1977, people have been fascinated by the Star Wars Universe and to this day, there is still so much information to be learned and enjoyed about this classic series. Today we will look at some recent reference books that have popped up that would be perfect for your holiday gift list.
Unlike the series, the Art of Star Wars, this book goes the opposite direction. Instead of showing the conceptual artwork that was used as inspiration for set and character designs, this one asks 100 artists, to give their interpretation of any part of the Star Wars universe. What results is a rich array of visual styles and subjects such as Darth Maul as a baby and Lucas standing at the bar with a fruity drink at Mos Eisley spaceport. The artists were chosen not from just well known fantasy masters like Boris Vallejo or Julie Bell or HR Giger, but up and coming ones as well. For the lover of art, this one really is a true treasure and a great coffee table addition. This one sells for around $27.
At 362 pages, this rather large book goes into fine detail about the creation of Episode V of the series. The book does not focus on character histories and such as some do. Its focus is on the technical and creative process of actually making the film. It’s filled with juicy tidbits about the cast, the crew, and how the movie took shape through a wide range of media like concept art, memos, storyboards, narratives, and even notes. Not only will you learn about how fiber optics are used in starship lighting, but how Yoda went from almost being a monkey to the puppet we know and love. At $85, the book is pretty steep priced, but given the amount of information and the source (master film editor for LucasFilms), it’s one that I think every true collector would be interested in.
The Sounds of Star Wars
You often don’t see a whole book dedicated to the art of sound effects, but that’s exactly what this one is. Master sound designer Ben Burtt takes us on a journey through the process of creating the things you hear while watching a Star Wars presentation. From the early days of A New Hope to the animated Clone Wars, this book describes the unique ways sounds were achieved. For instance, did you know that a lion’s roar is part of the Millenium Falcon’s engine? But what makes this book unique is that you cannot only read it, but hear it. It comes with an audio player that when hooked to speakers or headphones, can play over 250 sounds from the films. You can find this book online for around $35 and it would really please a potential sound designer as well as provide insight for the avid fan.
Star Wars: Millenium Falcon – A 3D Owner’s Guide
Even though this book is targeted more for kids, it’s a fun fact filled volume that features a unique pop out design that reveals layer by later descriptions of the various workings of the ship. Han Solo and Chewy make appearances in the book as well with little tidbits about the films to add to the fun. The book sells for around $20 at most book stores.
