The book provides an in-universe perspective on the complete history of the Star Wars saga, from pre-Republic history to just before the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, drawing upon both well-known and obscure sources to tie together and reconcile the various Expanded Universe tales. However, due to the book's date of publication, little is mentioned about the Prequel era and the Clone Wars other than the events of the Phantom Menace.
The New Essential Chronology, an updated version of The Essential Chronology, was eventually published in 2005.
The story is one that began many thousands of years before the birth of Luke Skywalker...or Anakin Skywalker...or even Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It spans galaxies, encompasses kingdoms and powerful dynasties, chronicles wars, and charts the rise and fall of individuals who changed the course of their times. Now, at last, the many strands of this extraordinary saga are drawn together—from the original movies, from the novels, from every verifiable source—and tied together in one, comprehensive volume.
- Learn about the Great Hyperspace War that divided the ancient Jedi Knights
- Discover the colorful adventures of the rogues heroes Han Solo and Lando Calrissian
- Experience the overthrow of the Empire, the birth of the New Republic, the founding of Skywalker's Jedi academy, the marriage of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, and much more!
- ISBN 9780345434395; April 4, 2000; Del Rey; US paperback
- ISBN 837245521X; Amber, 208-page Polish paperback
The book contains several errors, some of which are due to sources published afterwards revising original dates. Among them are:
- That Vergere's mission to Zonama Sekot took place after the Outbound Flight Project.
- That the New Republic was aware of Nom Anor's involvement in the Imperial Interim Council.