The Essential Reader's Companion, a Del Rey publication, represents the third iteration of the Essential Guide series and was penned by Pablo Hidalgo. Sue Rostoni announced an updated publishing schedule in July of 2010, indicating the book's release had been rescheduled to March 20, 2012. Further delays were announced in December of 2011, pushing the release date to August 21, 2012. Finally, on March 19, a Facebook announcement revealed another postponement to October 2, to allow the art team additional time to complete more illustrations.
The announcement at Celebration V detailed that the book would encompass summaries of all novels, novellas, and books aimed at young readers, arranged in chronological order according to their in-universe timeline. It would also feature behind-the-scenes insights and brand-new artwork, notably the highly anticipated depiction of Cal Omas.
In contrast to prior entries in the Essential Guide collection, The Essential Reader's Companion adopts an external, "real-world" viewpoint, rather than being presented as an in-universe document.
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO STAR WARS FICTION
The groundbreaking film Star Wars: A New Hope has given rise to five cinematic sequels and decades of bestselling novels. From the initial movie novelization to the expansive Fate of the Jedi series, countless dedicated readers have helped transform science fiction's most beloved film saga into a captivating literary phenomenon. Now, for the first time, a comprehensive examination of these vast Star Wars narratives is compiled into a single, beautifully illustrated volume.
Star Wars: The Essential Reader's Companion covers the entire spectrum of published Star Wars fiction, including movie adaptations, original standalone novels and series, short stories, digital novellas, young adult books, and comic books, and includes:_
- A brief overview of each story, highlighting important characters and planets
- Exclusive behind-the-scenes information and stories about authors, plot and character development, continuity details, and its importance within the Star Wars Expanded Universe
- Information on the connections between novels and Star Wars comic books from Dark Horse and Marvel
- A chronological listing of all titles, covering the 25,000-year history of the Star Wars universe and placing each story within its proper context
- Over one hundred original full-color illustrations by some of the fans' most beloved artists
Whether quickly browsing through pivotal eras from the Old Republic to the New Jedi Order; exploring the ancient history of the Lost Tribe of the Sith or the turbulent Clone Wars; encountering—and dueling—with Dark Lords such as Plagueis or Bane, Sidious or Vader; piloting the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo; or learning the ways of the Force with Luke Skywalker, this unique, all-encompassing guide is essential for fans seeking to enhance their understanding of the extensive Star Wars Expanded Universe.
- ISBN 9780345511195 ; October 2 , 2012 ; Del Rey ; US paperback [2]
- ISBN 9780345542724 ; October 2, 2012; Del Rey; US eBook [6]