THE DEFINITIVE WORD ON STAR WARS FICTION  The legendary motion picture Star Wars: A New Hope has spawned five big-screen sequels?and decades of bestselling fiction. From the original movie tie-in novel through the monumental Fate of the Jedi series, legions of devoted readers have helped expand science fiction"s most celebrated film saga into a page-turning print sensation. Now, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of these sweeping Star Wars adventures is presented in one beautifully illustrated volume.  Star Wars: The Essential Reader"s Companion spans the entire galaxy of published Star Wars fiction?movie novelizations, original stand alone and series novels, short stories, eBook novellas, young adult titles, and comics?and features  ? a concise synopsis of each story, including key characters and planets ? exclusive behind-the-scenes facts and anecdotes about authors, plot and character development, continuity notes, and significance in the Star Wars Expanded Universe ? details on which novels are linked to Star Wars comic books from Dark Horse and Marvel ? a chronological listing of titles, spanning the 25,000-year history of the Star Wars universe and placing each story in its proper context ? more than one hundred full-color original paintings throughout by some of fans" favorite artists  Whether skimming through fateful eras from the Old Republic to the New Jedi Order; delving deep into the ancient history of the Lost Tribe of the Sith or the tumultuous Clone Wars; crossing paths?and lightsabers?with Dark Lords such as Plagueis or Bane, Sidious or Vader; helming the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo; or mastering the Force with Luke Skywalker, this one-of-a-kind, one-stop reference is a must for fans looking to maximize their knowledge of the sprawling Star Wars Expanded Universe.