Fanhome is the new, more accessible name for the nearly 120-year-old company De Agostini who have been responsible for many Star Wars publications in recent years, including the legendary Star Wars Fact Files and the award-winning Build Your Own Millennium Falcon. I was a writer on the latter project, working with a great team of people to ensure that each issue was packed with the most up-to-date information possible, combining different sources from the films released so far, and other canonical content including Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Six years on, the Star Wars Encyclopaedia brings back some of the writers from that project to create what is billed as the most comprehensive Star Wars work ever published, no small feat. The information here covers the entire Skywalker Saga from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace through to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, along with the anthology films of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: Resistance, The Mandalorian, and other recognised/official content from novels and comics. That really is a lot of information to cover, and I’m pleased to say that from the six volumes I’ve seen so far, it does live up to its promise.
As with other Fanhome products, you sign up to the subscription, and four volumes are delivered to your door each month. Each hardback volume, similar in size to a Star Wars Annual bought in the UK, concentrates on one of six different themes — Characters & Creatures, Weapons & Technology, Galactic Atlas, Starships & Vehicles, History & Events, and Droids.
The first shipment, available for just 99 pence, includes two volumes featuring Characters & Creatures: Darth Vader and Starships & Vehicles: The Millennium Falcon. Diving straight into the former reveals a detailed insight into one of the most widely known characters in pop culture, Darth Vader. The volume covers his anointing in Chancellor Palpatine’s office, as seen in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, through to his eventual redemption in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Across the 72 pages we learn more about the life support system within Vader’s armor, his link to Ahsoka Tano, and the characters legacy in the sequels.
Whilst some consider the Millennium Falcon a character, the Encyclopaedia here places it with Starships & Vehicles, and through 70 pages explores everything about the legendary ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. Along with the blueprints of the ship, we learn the history of this iconic YT-1300 as its ownership passes from Lando Calrissian, to Han Solo and finally to Rey Skywalker, as well as all the modifications each made.
My first delivery of four books included our first book on Droids focusing on R2-D2, our first Galactic Atlas looking at the planet of Naboo, and two more volumes looking at the Characters & Creatures of Star Wars namely Imperial Troops and The Saga of Rey.
In the Naboo volume we learn about the locations seen in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and later in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, from Otoh Gunga and the home of Jar Jar Binks to the Theed Royal Palace, and beyond to the Lakeside Retreat. The Droids: R2-D2 book shares everything there is to learn about the diminutive Industrial Automation droid, from his design to the adventures he’s taken part in, including those in D-Squad, and the trouble he has encountered. My only criticism of these in-universe books is that they lack a page or two about who portrayed the character, in this case the late Kenny Baker. The Saga of Reylooks at her early life on Jakku, her first meeting with BB-8, the massacre at Tuanul, her meeting with Finn, all the way through to her journey to Exegol and her visit to Tatooine. The final volume, Imperial Troops, differs a little from the other Characters & Creatures books in that in looks at every type of Imperial Trooper including Stormtroopers, Death Troopers, Range Troopers, Jet Troopers and more, all with detailed images and descriptions.
Each of the volumes delivered so far proves that there is something here for everyone- for the casual fan, for those new to the Saga who want to learn more, and even for those who have read every word published and seen everything on screen, and who will still find a nugget they didn’t previously know. The content is obviously well written and researched, and this is really the first time that we have seen dedicated volumes on each subject. I look forward to reading what each new tome delivers.
If you are sitting on the fence, then I urge you to consider spending 99 pence on the first two books featuring Darth Vader and the Falcon, in order to see exactly what is on offer here; I don’t think you will be disappointed. If you choose to subscribe, you will benefit from numerous free gifts including free prints featuring classic Ralph McQuarrie artwork, a Sith Trooper mug and Stormtrooper bookends, all delivered to your door at various stages of your subscription.
We are delighted to share with you a promo code for the Star Wars Encyclopaedia, use code SW and take this link to subscribe now, it would make the perfect present this holiday season!
