The definitive guide to the people, aliens, and droids of the Star Wars galaxy, including new Star Wars characters. Want to know how tall Darth Vader is? Or where the ferocious Nexu comes from? Look no further than the Star Wars Character Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded. With more than 200 profiles on heroes, villains, and more, this handy guide is full of fun facts and intriguing information.

This ambitious and colorful volume covers the history of the world from the beginnings of life on earth to the 1990's in 384 pages of mostly pictures. The 20 chapters are arranged chronologically with catchy titles such as "Conquest and Plague" to go along with the dates included in the chapter heading. At the beginning of each chapter is a double-page world map with pictures illustrating some of the major developments during that particular era....

Photographs, graphic illustrations, and text explain the workings of the universe, covering black holes, galaxies, quasars, nebulae, and each planet of the solar system.

Describes a variety of machines and motor vehicles.

Takes you beneath the surface to reveal the hidden secrets of an incredible variety of skeletal structures, none more complex than our own. A symbol of our deepest fears, a miracle of engineering - see the skeleton as never before.

Text and labeled illustrations depict a variety of historic and modern aircraft and their components, as well as aviation-related equipment.

Identifies the mutant heroes featured in the "X-Men" comic book and describes their super powers.

With a biodome-by-biodome structure that mirrors Mother Nature's own design, "Earth Matters" is a celebration of the planet, a warning to protect it, and an inspiring sourcebook full of ideas for making a positive change. Reference pages make up the first part of each section, with maps showing the extent of the biome, and spreads on climate, natural history, and ecology explaining how the biome works. Subsequent spreads explore the threats arising...