The book provides biographical information on characters from throughout the Star Wars saga, drawn from sources both well-known and obscure.
It was reprinted as part of The New Essential Guide to Characters, Weapons and Technology, and Vehicles and Vessels in 2005.
- Acknowledgments
- Pronunciation Guide
- Introduction
- A General Time Line of Galactic History
- Admiral Ackbar
- Padmé Naberrie Amidala
- Nom Anor
- Wedge Antilles
- Darth Bane
- Jar Jar Binks
- Bossk
- Brakiss
- Shira Brie
- C-3PO
- Callista
- Lando Calrissian
- Gaeriel Captison
- Tycho Celchu
- Chewbacca
- Admiral Daala
- Jori and Gav Daragon
- Gavin Darklighter
- Dengar
- General Jan Dodonna
- CountDooku
- Droma
- Durga the Hutt
- Kyp Durron
- 4-Lom
- Baron Fel
- Boba Fett
- Jango Fett
- Borsk Fey'lya
- Bib Fortuna
- Rokur Gepta
- Greedo
- Nute Gunray
- Corran Horn
- IG-88
- Ysanne Isard
- Prince Isolder
- Jabba the Hutt
- Jedi Council Members
- Jedi from the Battle of Geonosis
- Jerec
- Qui-Gon Jinn
- Kir Kanos
- Talon Karrde
- Kyle Katarn
- Obi-Wan Kenobi
- Kueller
- Exar Kun
- Warmaster Tsavong Lah
- Owen Lars and Beru Whitesun Lars
- Bevel Lemelisk
- Lobot
- Garik "Face" Loran
- General Crix Madine
- Darth Maul
- Mon Mothma
- Boss Nass
- Nien Nunb
- Nym
- Ric Olié
- Emperor Palpatine
- Captain Panaka
- Admiral Gilad Pellaeon
- Sate Pestage
- Admiral Firmus Piett
- Podracer Pilots
- Ulic Qel-Droma
- R2-D2
- Dash Rendar
- Naga Sadow
- Thrackan Sal-Solo
- Sebulba
- ExecutorSedriss
- Senator Viqi Shesh
- Darth Sidious
- Raith Sienar
- Aurra Sing
- Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
- Luke Skywalker
- Mara Jade Skywalker
- Anakin Solo
- Han Solo
- Jacen Solo
- Jaina Solo
- Leia Organa Solo
- Kam Solusar
- Nil Spaar
- Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin
- Booster Terrik
- Bria Tharen
- Grand AdmiralThrawn
- Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum
- General Maximilian Veers
- Vergere
- Quinlan Vos
- Watto
- Zam Wesell
- Mace Windu
- PrinceXizor
- Yoda
- Warlord Zsinj
- Zuckuss
- Appendix: Other Personages of Note
- Bibliography
Due to the fact that this guide was published before the release of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, it features several inconsistencies about certain characters and events; such as the transformation of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader (the guide implies that Anakin turned to the dark side after he received the severe injuries that forced him to wear Darth Vader's armor). Similarly, it also portrays Palpatine and Darth Sidious as two separate individuals, although nonetheless implies a connection between them. Furthermore, the fates of various characters who died in Revenge of the Sith (i.e. Padmé Amidala, Count Dooku, Mace Windu and various other Jedi) are left unexplained in the guide.
It's stated in the timeline in the beginning of the guide that the "First Great Schism", which is stated to have happened ~25,000 BBY, lead to "over a century of bloodshed" that ended with the defeated Dark Jedi becoming the Exiles and that the Hundred-Year Darkness was a separate event that happened ~7000 BBY-6000 BBY. However, The New Essential Chronology retconned the "century of bloodshed" that the Exiles participated in to be the same event as the "Hundred-Year Darkness" of ~7000-6000 BBY while it retconned the "First Great Schism" into being an event with no connection to the Exiles.