Are you having a hard time keeping track of all the characters in Star Wars:  The Clone Wars?  Need to settle a bet over what color Pilf Mukmuk is?  (He’s red and green!)  If you answered “yes,” I strongly recommend you pick up a copy of Jason Fry’s latest entry in the Clone Wars universe, “Star Wars The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia.”

Fry, through Lucasfilm and DK Press, has authored several books– the Clone Wars Visual Guide, the Ultimate Guide to Battles, and The Essential Atlas I reviewed last year.  His latest book is a listing of 200 or so characters from the animated series, complete with their name, physical description, a picture, and some character history.  As somebody who used to actually buy the “Marvel Universe” comic back in the 80s, I love this book!  If you are looking for detailed backstory on the characters, I suggest you pick up the Complete Encyclopedia.  If you want a guide that will help you get “up to speed” about the cast, this will work perfectly.

I bought this book for my six-year-old son.  He is a rabid Clone Wars fan who prides himself on being able to tell you how many pistols Captain Rex uses, or what color of lightsaber Plo Koon wields.  After he looked through it for a few minutes, I asked him to rate it on a scale of “just OK,” “really cool,” or “awesome.”  He immediately told me the book was awesome.

Personally, I think the book is a great buy.  It’s a hardback, so it should hold up to the stresses first-graders put on books.  It’s over 200 pages long.  And it retails for $16.99 at your local bookstore.  You can pick it up at Amazon.com for under $12 (plus shipping).

My only complaint, and it is a minor one, is the metallic ink used on the cover.  It rubs off almost immediately, so if you are somebody who needs to keep his or her books absolutely pristine… don’t touch the cover, and get some sort of mylar bag.  For the other 99% of us, it won’t be a big deal.

I have yet to read anything with Jason Fry’s name on it that has disappointed me.  I applaud his latest contribution to the Star Wars universe and anxiously await his next effort.  In the meantime, I hope I never encounter him at a Star Wars or Clone Wars trivia game!

By Sci-Guy-Mike