The History And The Hardware How exactly did the Empire come into being? Who are those strange beings who patronize the cantina at Mos Eisley Spaceport? And what exactly makes the Millennium Falcon one of the fastest ships in the galaxy? The saga that was born with the line "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." needs no introduction, but the intricacies of the epic tale go far beyond a simple phrase. It is a vast universe that provides the setting for Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi; strange creatures known as Jawas deal in used droids, while moisture farmers eke out a living on a harsh and arid desert planet. Rebel forces use whatever material they can muster, bringing it to bear against a vast and technologically advanced Empire that possesses weaponry capable of destroying an entire world in the space of a heartbeat. The Star Wars Technical Journal takes an in-depth look at the many and varied elements that comprise the rich Star Wars tapestry, including: -- The spacecraft, from TIE Series fighters to Star Destroyers -- The exotic locales, including Tatooine, Hoth, and Cloud City -- Histories of the Empire and the Rebel forces ...and much, much more. Through comprehensive entries, extensive photographs, detailed schematics, rare production artwork, character designs, and six eight-page fold-out blueprints, the secrets of the species, the technologies, and the inner-workings of the Rebel and Imperial forces unfold. Through months of meticulous research, Texas author Shane Johnson reviewed hours of film and radio drama, hundreds of pages of technical material and media materials, roleplaying rules, production art, and everything else available covering the Star Wars canon. A talented technical illustrator as well, he also produced the schematics needed to properly cover the technical details that went into producing the adventure of a lifetime. His other credits include Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Journal and Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise. Based on Starlog magazine's Star Wars Technical Journals.