Book Description

Inside the Worlds of Star Wars is the complete guide to the locations from the Star Wars Classic Trilogy. The book is illustrated with 20 full-color, fantastically intricate cross-sections, and features an array of spot artworks, 3-D plans, more than 60 crystal-clear photographs, and detailed orthographic keys to create an extraordinary visual experience. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Where does a Jedi go to unwind? Why, to a ContemplationStation, of course. The Jedi Temple on Coruscant has three of them.

But you'd already know that if you had Inside the Worlds of Star Wars: Episode I, yet another lushly illustrated and obscenely detailed Star Wars reference from the folks at DK Publishing. Much like their other excellent cross-section books, most of which focus on vehicles, this title pulls apart Episode I's exotic locales, from Otoh Gunga to the N-1 hangar in Theed to poor Anakin and Shmi's pathetic excuse for a home in Mos Espa.

Each illustration includes a few paragraphs of background information (along with some well-chosen stills from the movie in some cases), but the meat is in the copious call-outs pointing to minute details that would otherwise go unnoticed. In the honeycomb of "species-friendly" offices surrounding the Senate, for example, you can see the Wookiee napping rooms (oh, the Jedis only wish that they had hammocks in their Contemplation Stations) and learn about re-orgs in the Neimoidian diplomatic corps ("To enforce competitiveness, Neimoidians assign identical work to two teams of worker drones, with the incentive that the successful team eats the other").

The book's biggest set piece is a fold-out rendering of the Mos Espa Arena, but fans will likely enjoy the diagrammed blow-by-blows of Episode I's most dramatic scenes even more: What route did the Queen and her retainers take as they scurried through occupied Theed? Exactly how and where did the Trade Federation deploy its droids? And which turn is the tightest on the Boonta Eve Classic? Thanks to DK, it's all there in meticulously drawn detail. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great!
An excellent book! I have all of the titles in this series and plan to purchase Inside the Worlds of the Classic Star Wars as soon as it comes out. I think that they could have gone a little bit more in depth with this book, but you're talking to a Star Wars freak who could never get enough. I also think that The Attack of the Clones edition could have been longer, but overall, a wonderfull book of detailed maps and explanitory paragraphs.

Ahh thats where they went...
An indepth review of the Episode 1 locations which are quite impressive, such as the Mos Espa arena and the Theed royal palace. An extention of the Pictorial Directory and Cross Sections, this book really explains alot of how why and where things happened in this first chapter of this tail.

Another cross-sections...another good review
Finally, a cross-sections that gives the audience a look inside the buildings of Star Wars! Why they waited so long to release it is anyone guess, but the wait is over. If you've read my reviews for the other cross-sections books then you know how much I love cross-sections. That said, Inside The Worlds Of Episode 1 breathes new life into The Phantom Menace. Particular favorites of mine include Otoh Gunga, Watto's junkshop, the Galactic Senate building, and the Jedi Temple. Not only does the book talk about particular locations in the movie, but also the very planets that the movie is set on: Naboo, Tatooine, and Coruscant. Inside The Worlds Of Episode 1 is full of wonderful illustrations and is packed with amazing information. Indeed, it's the chosen one...of cross-sections books, that is.

Extraordinary! An amazing idea for a book w/ incredible art
I just saw this book yesterday. I don't think it was marketed as much as the other books. That's a shame because it's magnificient.

I am truly blown away by the content and pictures of the locations from Episode I. The art is unbelievable. The detail level is extreme and it must have taken an enormous amount of time for these two artists to complete this work. Every detail you could possibly want is here.

This is a lot like the Star Wars Cross-Section books of the ships only it is not as technical. Imagine those books but for the locations and you have a pretty good idea of what this is.

What's really great is how you get to look at things from angles that the film doesn't show you. The long shots really put everything into scope. You also get to see areas that you can't in the movie such as this place Watto can fly up to above his countertop in the junk shop. I can't wait to study this book some more and then rewatch The Phantom Menace again. I believe I'll look at it in a whole new way.

My fingers are crossed for an Episode II version. I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Extends Your Knowledge of Star Wars Beyond the Movies
Have the ultimate experience of The Phantom Menace by extending your understanding with this book.

This book is an excellent expansion of the basic story line of Episode I. Based on reading it, you will have much more appreciation for that movie and the later ones in the series.

The book contains star charts to show you where key planets are located (like Naboo, Tatooine, Coruscant, Alderaan, Corellia), which makes many of the plots much easier to understand.

Beyond that benefit, you get detailed maps of each of the planets where action occurs in Episode I. This allows you to see how the various story lines relate to each other spatially. For example, you can see how the Gungan capital of Otoh Gunda relates to the Naboo capital of Theed. In the case of Naboo, this is supplemented with a geological cutaway of the planet to show you how the two capitals are connected by the ocean.

Next, each city is also mapped. So you see the details of Otoh Gunda, Theed, Mos Espa on Tatooine, and the central area of Coruscant. Then specific buildings and space ships are also shown in cutaways. These include the Droid control ship, Watto's junkshop, Anakin's hovel, the Jedi Temple, the Imperial Senate, and the arena for pod races on Tatooine.

Action sequences are then detailed so that you can see where and when each step takes place. This is done for the duel with Darth Maul and Jedi Qui-Gon Jiun and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Theed palace generator. You also get the battle between the droids and the Gungans. But the best is the full map of the pod race course, with annotations for where each major part of the race's events occurred.

All of these maps are enlivened by detailed notes on the geology, technology, and history of the places displayed. There are many references to Senator Palpatine and the sources of power on Naboo that will be of interest. I thought the expanded information about the Gungan city was especially well done.

The illustrations are new in many cases, which also adds to the reader's pleasure.

My only complaint is that there are several pages with no new information and no interesting detail. An editor should have taken this out or substituted better content. The only argument in their favor is that they help remind you of the story's continuity.

This must have been a lot of fun to create. My suggestion is that you take another story you like and make a similar series of maps and notes. If you have children or grandchildren, this could be a fun project to do together. You might consider Alice in Wonderland as a first subject. Or if you have a friend who loves Star Wars, you could expand on Episode I or any of the other stories in the same way.

May the Force be with you . . . always! ... Read more

Book Description

Featuring more than 60 full-color reusable stickers - including all thehumorous character of the upcoming Disney/Pixar release - this book offers readers a huge range of interactive stickers and zany facts. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Disney Fans Must Have
This is a must have for the Disney fan. This book gives in depth detail into the man who created the "happiest place on earth", from the people who knew hime best. His family, friends, and employees. I have read many books on Disney, and this ranks in the top 2(along with Imaganineering). It tells the stories of his triumphs as well as his tragedies. I highly recommend this book.

NIce story about a true genius
This book is not a complete and detailed biography, but is a nice tribute to Walt Disney. It has a lot of photos, and the most interesting parts of the book are "personal side" sections.

Proof That Walt Disney Was The Original Dream Worker!
Walt Disney is well on his way to becoming the most written about creative talent in American film.
This is the 100th anniversary of his birth and thankfully any examination of his life can still include careful interviews with people who knew him and worked with him. The book is less an in-depth biography and more like spending a long afternoon hearing how it was from those who knew him best and who can praise him at the same time they acknowledge his frailties. It's an earnest and heartfelt look at the heart and soul of the man, and the authors do their level best to take a frank and thoughtful approach while still being entertaining. Like everything else Disney, it's best to give in to the fact that you're about to be put under a spell. The sooner you give in, the more fun you'll have.
Though some may find it less satisfying than a more critical analysis, this reader is tired of deconstructing American icons and welcomes this lovely look at a historical figure whose impact went well beyond his filmmaking. Disney is arguably the greatest influence on American popular culture and family entertainment in the past 100 years. Most admirable is the way the authors address some of the detractors who've criticized Walt Disney over the years for such things as anti-Semitism or racism. Albeit sentimental, the authors maintain fairly good objectivity. Walt Disney remains enigmatic even to those closest to him. Thankfully, the recollections by family and friends are edited into the layout without making the entire book seem like a posthumous testimonial dinner.
Granted this Disney Editions publication doesn't come without its ulterior motives. With the kind of control Disney has always had over any thing profiling the company one doubts that a harsh light will ever shine on their founder in one of their own pubications. But dreams and dreamers always look better in a soft light, and who but a bitter DreamWorker would ever want to bother trying to detract from such happy success? (And if ever proof was needed that certain ex-studio head turned competitor NEVER was and NEVER WILL be the next Walt Disney, this delivers it!) Though you wish the current Disney brass would pay more attention to the underlying principals of what makes Disney 'Disney' that are spelled out in this book. Hey, we can dream, too, can't we?
Still, this deliciously illustrated oversized scrapbook-styled remembrance of Walt more than makes up for its obvious propaganda focused origins. Imagine(eer) that!
Even though the book serves primarily as a companion to the documentary film of the same title, it's a wonderful read. A gentle reflection with rich illustrations -- some seldom and never before seen photographs -- and a rich and handsome design. Endlessly entertaining. A lovely tribute worth adding to your library. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Want to get a battle-droid's-eye view of the inside of an AAT battle tank? Care to see what Darth Maul's hiding in the trunk of his sinister-looking Sith Infiltrator? You're in luck: the crew that brought us the super-cool Star Wars Visual Dictionary and the Incredible Cross-Sections for the first movie trilogy is back. Boy wonder archaeologist-author David West Reynolds has put together another Incredible Cross-Sections guide, this time pulling apart the vehicles and vessels in Episode I: The Phantom Menace. DK has mastered the art of making Star Wars fans drool, and this latest guide is definitely state of the art, opening up everything from Naboo starfighters to Trade Federation transports.

As always, Reynolds approaches the Star Wars universe with the respect and love of a fan, putting each ship in context with his characteristic friendly but scientific style. The clean chromium lines and meticulous wiring of Queen Amidala's Royal Starship reflect the order and honor of Naboo royalty; the flowing, shell-like details on a tribubble bongo sub show off the Gungans' organic aesthetic. The best ships, of course, belong to the bad guys: you can check out the secret weapons and cloak field generator packed aboard Maul's Infiltrator (which, we learn, has an "experimental" ion engine that will later put the I-E in TIE fighters), and the Trade Federation's droid starfighter and control ship get a full giant fold-out. From the "bunker-buster" high explosive shells spit out by an AAT to the flame emitter weapon on Sebulba's podracer, this inside-out tour makes all the stops you want it to. --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (67)

A Dream for Technophiles!
Where do I start? This book is amazing! I am a full fledged Star Wars fan, but since I don't own Fort Knox, I can't afford to buy all of the merchandise. As a result I have to be extremely picky about which items I purchase. I had only to see the Millennium Falcon drawing on the cover, and I was hooked!

I have read The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels, but I found the information contradictory to previously published material, and a bit amateurish. Incredible Cross Sections does such a well-thought-out job, and is worded so well, that you almost forget these things don't exist! The gate-fold spread of the Death Star is absolutely incredible! The detail is also carefully executed, right down to the gold-foil insulation on the air ducts in the Millennium Falcon. Everything a Star Wars Technophile could want is in this book. I highly recommend buying the companion book as well: The Star Wars Visual Dictionary.

All I can say is, More! I would love to see another edition of this book containing some of the other vehicles.

Highly Recommended!

The Star Wars Universe has gotten bigger...and better!
I'm a big fan of the Incredible cross-sections books. I've read through all of the other cross-sections books for Star Wars, and when the edition for Attack Of The Clones came out I had to read it. Not only did it live up to my expectations, but it surpassed them. It is richly illustrated and has great information on most of the new vehicles from the Trade Federation Core Ship to the Republic Assault Ship to the revamped Slave 1. I highly recommend this book to those who love Star Wars. And even if you are a huge fan of the films it still makes for some good reading.

Very Detailed UnlessReallyinto Vehicles May Prefer Dictionar
Unless You are really, really obsessed with the star wars ships and other vehicles you are probably better off to purchase the visual directory by the same author. The directory has more pages and is more interesting as it looks at all the characters, creatures, weapons and everything else as well as the ships although the ships and vehicles are not in as much detail as the ones in this book.

The detail in this book is very extensive, so if you are fascinated by Star Wars vehicles then this is definitely the book for you. If you wanted a broader picture of the whole Star Wars world then get the dictionary instead. If your a huge Star Wars fan then you'll probably want both.

Yeap Dad this is a good one.
Ep 2's turn to have it's spaceships and other craft pulled apart and exposed in all their glory. Once again the foldout format is still the best and great for childern and grownups alike.

This Is Wizzard Anni!!!
This edition is devoted to the Spaceships and Craft from The Phantom Menace.

As with Star Wars Cross Sections it is very well detailed and even better with todays print technology. Great for children and first generation Star Wars fans alike. ... Read more

Book Description

Following exciting new developments in the XMen universe, this revised edition of Ultimate XMen includes the best of the two feature films and the animated television series. Watch the evolution of the XMen superheroes from their conception in the 1960s to what they are today. Each chapter focuses on a different decade in XMen history, revealing new characters and their powers, the major stories and their settings. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Outstanding book for the money
This book is a must for anyone who ever read the X-men and saw the movie an wanted to learn more about the characters and history. True...it does have everything a die hard X-men ( Comic book) would want, but covers enough the story line and characters that it will not confuse the newer reader.

I'm sure the author and publisher struggled with the fact that they wanted a complete history of the X-men but also wanted the book to be affordable for the average consumer.

Yes, I fan of the X-men would pay $50-100 for a complete history, but would a young child? Would you Mom and Dad fork over $50 dollars when you were a kid for a comic book based book?

They also made the book very user friendly for people of all ages. The children in my life will be fasinated with the images in the book and its is my hope that this will prompt them to attempt to read the book.

I think they made a great comprise and created a Must have book for any X-men fan.

Not everything if you are a fan.
If you like nice big pictures without going to the full details of the x-men, this book is for you. If you are a long time fan, I would recommend get the previous edition, it still includes the annoying "behind the scenes" of the first movie (as if there were not enough DVD's with such feature) but includes more about the characters of the comics.. This updated edition includes just a few more pages but, some mutants don't appear or are not fully well described as in the previous edition, which you can still get here in Amazon. It's a nice book indeed, the cover and the quality of the paper and great illustrations, but they really need to get in touch with the fans to meet their needs. There is the need of a REAL X-men guide to all the characters, organized alphabetically prefferably.

Incompetence
I picked up the original edition of this book because the "updated" version isn't updated at all and actually contains less information. Anyway, it ended up not mattering since both versions are crap. Like others have mentioned, there are all sorts of problems with the poor layout and incorrect information in this book. In addition to that, most of the art is pretty bad, and there are tons of omissions that kinda defeat the purpose of an "Ultimate guide" (and are not corrected in the "updated" version). The book is slim. The Updated verion is only 8 pages longer (it's not 192 pages as listed here, it's 184 pages.) and those pages are dedicated to the new X-Men movie and lame stuff like X-Statix (which no one likes and doesn't sell, not that that matters to those geniuses at Marvel). To make things worse, each profile of X-Men characters featured in the movies contains a sidebar giving a history of the MOVIE version of that character! That's a complete waste of space and goes against the continuity of the X-Men mythos for a cheap commercial (when you can already buy books and endless DVDs with info on the movies). I can see the feature on the movies at the end of the book, but to interrupt profiles which were (way) too small to begin with for even more advertisements for the movie was too much and ruined this book. Another wasted opportunity, another failure for DK. You guys - and the current powers that be at Marvel - are utterly incompetent and clearly couldn't care any less about the fans. The best guide so far has been the Spider-Man one, which had major problems of its own, but stuck to the COMIC BOOK continuity, not a bunch of stuff about the movies.

great for the X-fans
There isn't a whole lot to say about this book. It's an 'encyclopedia' of the X-Men. It covers them and their history pretty well and also delves into some of the alternate X-Men. If you are an X-Fan, I'd definitely get this book, otherwise, go to something else.

Awesome Book on the History of X-Men
This book and the series gives good in depeth look at the X-Men and all its characters, friends, enemies, homes, and everything else. Anything you wanted to know of the X-Men. Hopefully they'll make more books like these. ... Read more

Book Description

Rediscover the excitement of the original Star Wars movies and create your own picture book using the characters, vehicles, and spacecraft found in this book. More than 60 superb full color stickers let Star Wars fans get into the action, and each section includes key information on favorite characters and creatures. ... Read more

Book Description

Follow the story of the Incredibles, a family of undercover superheroes, in the Essential Guide to Disney/Pixar's newest collaboration. This insider's guide gives readers all the background information on the characters and places seen in the movie - a must for CG animation fans. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction to special effects
Ok, so I'm not 9-12 years old (the book's target audience), I'm almost 30 and I still enjoyed this book tremendously. It has awesome illustrations to show the techniques used in various effects like robotics, miniature models, etc. The explainations are easy to understand too. This book took the mystery out of the state-of-art special fx with recent blockbuster movies as examples. For an introduction to special effects, it's excellent. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Sexy Photos!!!
I love this book because emma watson is so hot & sexy!!! call me

I LOVE THIS!!!!
I bought this because I am in love with Harry Potter and the guy that plays him in the movies (Daniel Radcliffe) is really hot in this movie! The pictures are great! i hope u love it like i do! especially if u love daniel radcliffe!

Loves it
My children love this poster book. Good pictures from the movie have been chosen and there are plenty of Ron if you love him best like my daughter. ... Read more

Book Description

This colorful guide to the world of Scooby-Doo is packed with fantastic facts about Scooby-Doo and the gang, including their scariest adventures, creepiest moments, and deepest secrets. Find out what is inside a haunted house, who's in the Doo family tree, and what exactly the gang keeps in the Mystery Machine. Specially commissioned artworks, stills from all 25 original episodes and the live-action movies, and classic images of the gang and their ghostliest villains make this a unique insight into the spooky world of Scooby-Doo. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I hope more people read this exciting book.
This book was enjoyable. Marie Hammontree described how a person can be a big success while being a little poor. It shows the ups and downs of Disney's life. She describes what it took to get to the top of his career. This book tells who he was inspired by and how they helped him. She told me his problems in his life and how they were solved. It gave me the puzzle pieces to his life so I could better understand it. All in all I think it was a really informative book. ... Read more

Book Description

Vin Diesel's come a long way since his syage debut at the age of seven -- a gig he was offered after getting caught breaking into a New York City theater! But these days Vin's getting noticed for other talents -- and this time they're legal.

There is more to Vin than his pumped-up action-hero exterior. He's a serious actor who's written, directed and produced films that have been screened at the most prestigious film festivals in the world. Vin's got the skills and determination that took him from earning $20 a week to $20 million a film, and he knew he would be a star all along...He was just waiting for the rest of us to figure it out. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Everything you wanted to know about Vin, and probably more.
There really aren't words for this book. I thought it was great. It is a must have for every avid Vin Diesel fan. It reveals a great deal of his personal history, which is saying a lot for someone who keeps his past underwraps. It also give a little heads up on up coming films as well. Every one wants to know who this mysterious guy from NY is thats taken Hollywood by storm. Well this book will tell you his story and so much more! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great book
Super book, very informative, my daughter couldn't put it down. has alot of great pictures in it also great buy!

Awesome Hilary Duff book
Get all the Hilary Duff information and facts you want with this awesome book! This book is a compilation of Hilary Duff information and over 50 beautiful, high-quality photos. This book is stuffed to the brim with quotes, secrets, facts, and interesting information that Hilary Duff fans will all want to get their hands on. It gives you a brief biography of Hilary Duff, including her early movies and her Lizzie McGuire fame, up to her Metamorphosis CD and singing career. Plus, the book even includes facts on Hilary's upcoming projects, such as her new movies, and her new project, Stuff by Hilary Duff, a girl's clothing/product line. Not only that, but you'll also get information on other Hilary Duff stuff such as a day in the life of Hilary (with cool facts like what her bedtime is!), her fashion style, boy rumors uncovered, and Hilary Duff on her friends, family, singing career, acting, and more. For all Hilary Duff fans out there, this is a wonderful addition to your collection of Hilary Duff stuff. Just make sure to watch out- this book is unauthorized, so some of the facts may be wrong. Other than that, it's a fabulous Hilary Duff book!

Beautiful Hilary Duff Scrapbook
HANGIN' WITH HILARY DUFF features 48 full pages of some of the greatest photographs ever taken of Hilary, and fantastic Hilary facts that all Hilary fans will love to read. This book features information on Hilary from birth, to dance, to CASPER MEETS WENDY, to LIZZIE MCGUIRE, and so on. With information about her upcoming movies (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, A CINDERELLA STORY, etc.), that will have fans jumping up and down about. HANGIN' WITH HILARY DUFF also features a day in the life of hilary, her pet peeves, information about her upcoming clothing/accessories/make-up line, and even contact info for her fan club.

This is a must-have for any Hilary Duff fan, as it features everything you've ever wanted to know about America's Teen Queen.

Erika Sorocco

She's a hottie
And a great influence for teens everywhere, I think she'll be a great star!

Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff is a teen pop sesation adored by tweens all over the country. This is the have-to-have book for all of her faqns. if you live Hilary Duff you will love this book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very Good!
I loved this book very much, and I was surprised how much information it gives you. I love Mark Cotta Vaz and I read his decription books. The book is exellent exept for one thing, it is not very detailed. It has the best pictures from the Star Wars Special Edition and it covers everything. I would definatly recommend this book.

Pretty Good
This book is a great starter book for the ameture Star Wars fan. It has great detailed pictures and gives a good amount of info of different things that exist in the Star Wars universe. If you want a lot on info (instead of pictures) get The Guide to the Star Wars Universe. I'd rate it 9.9 it's not perfect but it's about as close as you can get! Still if you want picture, get this book.

I agree with JakeH
I very much agree with JakeH. He is actually the one who got me the book as a birthday gift. It has photos and fairly detailed discriptions

a Guide to the Star Wars trilogy
This book is a 10 if you want a spectacular guide with photos. It has stuff from the special Edition. If you want a more detailed book but without photos I suggest you try the 500 page "A Guide to the STAR WARS Universe" by Bill Slavicsek ... Read more

Book Description

Building on the close relationship between DK and Lucasfilm, our creative team has produce a stunning accompaniment to the most recent installment of the Star Wars saga. Inside the World of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones shows Coruscant and Kamino, two new planets in the Star Wars universe, as well as Episode 1 favorites Naboo and Tatooine all seen in astonishing detail. Complex cross-section illustrations and insightful text about the cities, cultures, people, and politics of these planets take readers to a new and captivating level of insider knowledge. Inside the World of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones is an authoritative reference and an extraordinary visual experience. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Why Hasn't Anyone Else Reviewed This Book Yet????
Some of you might not be aware of this, and some of you might be: I am a cross-sections addict! If there was a cross-sections book on something as meaningless to me as the insides of a toilet, chances are that I'd be interested in it. That said...after reading Inside the Worlds of Episode 2 I can't help but wonder why no one else has reviewed this. I mean, it's not like it was released a few days ago. This has some sights in it that are, in my opinion, simply incredible. The Clone Army's training center alone was worth buying this book. The book even lays out events like the ending battle in the movie and routes taken during the speeder chase on coruscant. There's stuff in here that was never mentioned in the movie (even in the deleted scenes), and it's stuff that makes the world of Star Wars just come alive in its own way. Now, Mr. Lucas, once you're done with Episode 3, how about making a movie where you give a tour of these locations? ... Read more

Reviews (2)

He's not just a Star Wars Star!
I read this book in anticipation of knowing more about this outstanding actor. The author talked only about SW, and briefly talked about his best film to date, "Life As A House". This is a serious actor, no matter what people think about his performance in Star Wars. I don't reccomend this book. You will find a much better bio of him online. Check out his fan bases.

Love Christensen did not love author
Being a large fan of Hayden Christensen, I pounced on the chance to read a biography on him.
However, I must say, I was very dissapointed! Though there were some nice photographs of Christensen, the author published this book before Star Wars came out, which I thought a mistake, because everything the author said was a perdiction!
Other then that, the author made everything too brief and talked more about his Star wars movie then the rest of his life. I was sad as the author went into painstaking detail on lightsabers, and yet said only a paragraph about my favorite film of his, "Life as a House." Overall the author used fair language, and for the most part Hayden Christensen deserved a better biographer. Maybe I will try to some day! ... Read more