Star Wars The Complete Encyclopedia Is Out!

[Neroon]

But it's not always a matter of affordability. And trust me... I've been around fandom quite long enough to see what kinds of purchases fans will make. Purchases that would likely puzzle you. You may consider it "outdated the moment it's published", but there are plenty of people who feel it's well worth the cost, especially at $75 for an extremely nice collection of information that's considerably portable.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Well, that's a little different from saying it's not a waste of money in the day and age of online encyclopedias that can be constantly updated or that it's something someone might get if they didn't have quality internet.

I understand the motivation to collect as a fan or to be a completist, and frankly I've made some rather bizarre purchases (of DVDs especially) that I've never watched since but just NEEDED to have at the time to complete my collection.

But, from a purely practical standpoint, I'm just saying that if you're trying to keep up with the minutiae of the Star Wars universe, Wookiepedia (or even Wikipedia) would be a far better source than that, and has the benefit of being free.

 

[Plomeek Broth]

Geez. Lot of negativity towards this book set! I asked for it for Xmas because it is so dang expensive. I understand it will not include everything because the SW universe is constantly expanding, but it will be a heck of a reference book for my coffee table when I am viewing the films!

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Oh, I'm not negative towards it in the slightest. I just don't see any need to buy one. If others want to, have at it.

 

[Plomeek Broth]

Oh, I'm not negative towards it in the slightest. I just don't see any need to buy one. If others want to, have at it.

I didn't mean towards you specifically, just most of the posts on this thread as a whole.

 

[Neroon]

Well, that's a little different from saying it's not a waste of money in the day and age of online encyclopedias that can be constantly updated or that it's something someone might get if they didn't have quality internet.

No, I'm simply saying that there are a number of reasons people will get this, that it isn't a waste of money to them. How one defines a waste of money is colored by so many factors that you can't assign the one to definition to every user/consumer.

I understand the motivation to collect as a fan or to be a completist, and frankly I've made some rather bizarre purchases (of DVDs especially) that I've never watched since but just NEEDED to have at the time to complete my collection.

heh.... I'm likewise guilty.

But, from a purely practical standpoint, I'm just saying that if you're trying to keep up with the minutiae of the Star Wars universe, Wookiepedia (or even Wikipedia) would be a far better source than that, and has the benefit of being free.

Again, it's all up to each individual and their lifestyle as to what is practical and what is "far better". Even such free web services are constrained by the fact that they aren't completely portable, at least not in the way a book is.

Oh, I'm not negative towards it in the slightest. I just don't see any need to buy one. If others want to, have at it.

Which is the crux of my position. So long as you allow for the different views from different people and apply no absolutes, then I think we're on the same wavelength.

 

[Ethros]

Does it contain info about the Ewok films?

 

[Siwilliams]

Does it contain info about the Ewok films?

don't know yet

Wonder about the christmas holiday special

 

[Siwilliams]

But as the Clone Wars cartoon progress, wont this be out of date?

The live action series as well....they can always update it

 

[Siwilliams]

My copy just arrived......and holy sh*t! These are heavy awesome books!!

 

[Admiral_Young]

I flipped through all three volumes at Chapters this afternoon after I asked one of the employees to open up a sealed copy and OMG there are a ton of awesome entries. I really do want this for Christmas. The thing is heavy as hell though.

 

[FordSVT]

Well, that's a little different from saying it's not a waste of money in the day and age of online encyclopedias that can be constantly updated or that it's something someone might get if they didn't have quality internet.

I understand the motivation to collect as a fan or to be a completist, and frankly I've made some rather bizarre purchases (of DVDs especially) that I've never watched since but just NEEDED to have at the time to complete my collection.

But, from a purely practical standpoint, I'm just saying that if you're trying to keep up with the minutiae of the Star Wars universe, Wookiepedia (or even Wikipedia) would be a far better source than that, and has the benefit of being free.

95% of the people who buy the book are going to be Star Wars fans buying what is essentially, to them, a novelty item. Practicality has little to do with it. You don't buy $75 coffee table books full of impressive pictures because of practicality either. Something interesting to flip through and admire and keep, not necessarily to use as a primary resource to win arguments at stardestroyer.net.

If they came out with an up to date version of the Star Trek Encyclopedia (of which I own the last two versions), I'd buy it. Memory Alpha and DITL be damned.

I think the current mindset of "everything instant, everything practical, everything disposable and easy" actually a bit frustrating sometimes. There is value to be found in a long lasting, self contained, tangible asset like a book. I really do pray that the day will never come that people don't know what books are because they are so used to streaming free media onto their portable devices. The only reason the publishing industry isn't in the same position as the music industry is because it's a lot of work to scan or type an entire book into an e-form, so few people bother doing it. I also hate e-readers compared to real books, and I've used several.

 

[Siwilliams]

I flipped through all three volumes at Chapters this afternoon after I asked one of the employees to open up a sealed copy and OMG there are a ton of awesome entries. I really do want this for Christmas. The thing is heavy as hell though.

It is one huge coffee table book(s)

 

[DBR]

I don't think printed encyclopedias are downright dead, but I think the market for them has shrunk considerably. Sitting in front of your computer screen with the neon lights buzzing above you just isn't the same experience as flipping through a book.

 

[Admiral_Young]

The thing is before Wookiepedia really took off as a primary resource for Star Wars fans the Encyclopedia was the only resource we had and fans were clamoring for an update. Its taken something like eight years or something and several delays.

I know it is three volumes, I'm talking about when all of those volumes are in the slip case, its freakin heavy.

 

[Siwilliams]

I know it is three volumes, I'm talking about when all of those volumes are in the slip case, its freakin heavy.

I know, when my order came, I was wondering what the hell is in the this box? I forgot it was coming, look inside and it is the Star Wars encyclopedia, so heavy

 

[Smiley]

My set arrived last night. This is a beautiful collection, and it is well worth the $50 I paid on preorder. Sure, I can go online for much more detailed information and cross-references, but there is a lot to be said for having a tangible resource. More stories are always being added to the SW universe, but the movies are complete, so it's not going to be outdated in the same way the New Essential Guides are.

I love being able to page through it and see wonderful photos and artwork alongside entries on almost everything ever created in for Star Wars. I'm going to make it a point to read at least two pages in their entirety every night. Even on the first page, there were plenty of vehicles, devices, and characters that I've never heard of in over a decade of seeking out EU material.

The CSWE is not for everybody, but it will make a lot of fans happy.

 

[ProwlAlpha]

I would buy it and use it over Wookiepedia for the basic reason that the Wookiepedia (Though I do use a lot) is done by USERS, while this Encyclopedia was compiled and done by authors who were sanctioned by Lucasfilms, so the information in the Encyclopedia will carry much more wait, and hopefully will have more expanded entries rather than the Imperator went to Coruscant, but is listed as being and doing many different things in five different books and other media sources.

Besides, I would use both sources very much, just as I do with the Star Trek Encyclopedia and Memory Alpha, and I would buy an update for the STE. Its the fact that only a low number of Star Trek fans actually buy non-fiction works. Star Wars fans generally dish out the bucks for practically any Star Wars related book.

 

[Neroon]

We gave this set to our son for his birthday... and he's hardly put it down since. With all of the illustrations and detailed information, he feels it's just what he could use best. Much as he loves being on the Net, he has always been a reader with a preference for the feel of a book in is hands.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Didn't the publisher get the memo? Non-fiction books about sci-fi franchises "don't sell"!