The Essential Guide to Warfare

Publisher's summary

THE ULTIMATE INTERGALACTIC BATTLEFIELD, NOW IN DEFINITIVE GUIDE FORM

The Star Wars saga, akin to many grand narratives, finds its foundation in an extensive history of military engagements. Now, for the first time, a fully illustrated compendium meticulously chronicles the facts, statistics, and captivating narratives of significant conflicts and warriors within the expansive Star Wars universe. Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Warfare masterfully blends compelling storytelling with a wealth of encyclopedic knowledge, achieved through extensive research and imaginative writing, and

IT DELVES INTO PROMINENT MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS AND UNITS
IT FOLLOWS THE EVOLUTION OF KEY ARMAMENTS AND TECHNOLOGIES
IT OFFERS PROFILES OF ESSENTIAL WARSHIP CATEGORIES, GROUND FORCES, AND MANUFACTURERS
IT GIVES BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF IMPORTANT MILITARY FIGURES
IT PRESENTS FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS OF COMBAT FROM SOLDIERS
PLUS-ABUNDANT ADDITIONAL PROFILES, INTELLIGENCE, HISTORICAL CONTEXT, AND LORE TO FILL THE COSMOS! Covering all Star Wars media, including the iconic movies, the popular TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the top-selling novels, comics, and video games, and complete with original full-color illustrations, Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Warfare stands as a triumphant accomplishment.

Development

Karen Traviss initially revealed the book, then titled The Essential Guide to the Star Wars Military, on her website on August 5, 2008. Traviss subsequently chose to conclude her Star Wars writing career with Imperial Commando: 501st. In August 2009, Sue Rostoni verified that a different author would be taking over The Essential Guide to the Star Wars Military. Rostoni issued a publishing schedule in May 2010 showing the renamed Essential Guide to Warfare with a release date set for June 2011. In January 2011, Rostoni communicated a delay, pushing the release to March 20, 2012; however, in August 2011, the date was once again postponed to May 22, 2012. The eventual release date of April 3, 2012, was announced in December 2011.

Jason Fry, before the book's completion, shared details from the ongoing drafts on TheForce.net's Literature discussion forums. He stated, "All plans are subject to change, and I routinely append 'as drafted' to anything I say about works in progress, but some of the recurring features envisioned for WARFARE include soldier's [sic] stories (which won't be all first-person—the one for the Zhell/Taungs conflict has a Gilgamesh feel); portraits of great war leaders; discussions of key technologies, ships, weapons and military units; and lessons/overviews of key battles."

Preview drafts mentioned specific topics such as 13 new Ordnance/Regional Depots, developing warship classification systems, and further references to the Militarists, the Iotran Guard, Corellian Engineering, the bounty hunter D'harhan, the Hutts, the Mandalorians, the Waymancy Storm, the Judicial Forces, the Planetary Security Forces, the Republic Navy, the Grand Army of the Republic, Coruscant, Anaxes, Irmenu and Rendili StarDrive; an encounter between Quarsh Panaka and Leia at Hosk Station in 5 ABY; and information about war propagandists Ryloth Resa and the Byblos geneticist Ull Haber. The drafts also included material being developed for the Sector Rangers. Material connected to Marvel, such as Cinda Tarheel and Barlon Hightower being added to a key battle roster, and Admiral Giel's flagship (with name and class), was planned for inclusion. The drafts also contained material related to the Star Wars: Dark Empire comic books, the Pius Dea Crusades, Celestials vs. the Rakata and the war between the Taung and the Zhell on Coruscant.

The book was also revealed at Celebration V to feature a duty roster for Red Squadron during the Battle of Yavin, a similar roster for Rogue Squadron at the Battle of Hoth, profiles of significant conflicts and military leaders, expanded details on the Rishi Maze and the Unknown Regions hyperspace barrier, and first-person "Soldier's Stories" from frontline troops.

Del Rey's preview gallery on Facebook showcased images of Dark troopers, a World Devastator, a battle between Rakata and Killiks, a Rebel fleet engaging an Imperial fleet, a Clone Wars–era Galactic Republic weapons factory, Tionese spaceships, Hutt warship sketches, a Wookiee Owool Interceptor sketch, an Imperial recruitment poster featuring Shea Hublin, a battle involving Taungs, several images of the Millennium Falcon, one set during the Battle of Kashyyyk in 40 ABY, the title-page spread depicting the Battle of Coruscant in 19 BBY, and an Imperial Altor-class replenishment ship refueling a dreadnaught and battlecruiser.

In addition to the previously mentioned ships, Lucas Licensing also incorporated some fanon artwork by Ansel Hsiao into the guide. When approached by Lucas Licensing for artwork, Hsiao provided both original designs and new models, along with their names. These included the Assertor-class Star Dreadnought (including the specific ship, Wrath), the Bellator-class dreadnought, the Allegiance-class battlecruiser, the Secutor-class Star Destroyer, the Procursator-class Star Destroyer, the Altor-class replenishment ship, the Vigil-class corvette, and the Naval Station Validusia. Furthermore, at least one artwork by Tommy Lee Edwards integrated Hsiao's artwork, specifically the image of Captain Firmus Piett and Admiral Kendal Ozzel observing a fleet, incorporating Hsiao's "Strategic Reserves" in the background. According to the artist, these names were recorded in Lucasfilm's Holocron continuity database.

Beginning in September 2013, Fry and Erich Schoeneweiss, an editor at Del Rey, published a series in twelve parts on the Star Wars Blog, highlighting sections that were omitted from the final published work.

The Essential Guide to Warfare

title: The Essential Guide to Warfare

Publisher's summary

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