09 Oct 2007 :: A Quick Look Inside - 'The Star Wars Vault'
'The Star Wars Vault' is described as a "comprehensive box set book containing hundreds of photos and artwork images, rare and never before published memorabilia". As interesting as that sounds, I have to admit that, up until I got my hands on the product, I still felt slightly in the dark as to what it actually contained. In many ways, the 'The Star Wars Vault' is more of a treasure trove than its brief description conveys. For that reason, I think it is more than worth while sharing a bit about the Vault and its contents.
To start with, it's larger than it's publicity photos suggest. A slipcase measuring 34 x 29 x 4.5cm protects the book itself. But what's inside? Those who have one of Steve Sansweet's earlier books, 'Star Wars Scrapbook: The Essential Collection' will find familiarity in the basic format of the Vault - it is in a number of ways a larger and more comprehensive version of that earlier book (the material itself is all new, however). The advertised "memorabilia" isn't a separate, bonus bundling of bits and pieces. Instead, in addition to the core text and imagery, every third or fourth page of the Vault hosts reproductions of interesting historical product or documents - either adhered into the book scrapbook-style, or held within an envelope incorporated into the page, so that you can actually remove it, and even, if you so choose, use it for its original purpose. You'll find stickers, postcards, letters, an animation cel, press kits, invitations, hand-written notes and musical scores. There's even a replica vintage t-shirt iron-on, and a Letraset create-a-scene kit, with press-down decals and fold-out backdrop.
The content covers the behind-the-scenes aspects of all of the films and associated media such as the various ancillary productions from along the way (including the 'Star Wars Holiday Special' that, for a long time, everyone has tried to forget...but which is slowly making it's way back into the Star Wars Universe, despite its barely tolerable quirkiness). Planning and production, marketing, merchandising, fan clubs, international and bootleg product, newspapers, comics and parodies, convention coverage, costuming and droid-building groups. And more! It is an analysis of the Star Wars phenomenon that is about as all-encompassing as possible for a book of this size and format. And for the material that can't be conveyed through pictures and text, there are the two audio CDs - when you've finished feeding your eyes, fire up the player on your computer or sound system, and take a listen to Carrie Fisher singing the Life Day theme from the Holiday Special, the George Lucas Q & A session from Celebration III, excerpts from the NPR Star Wars 1981 radio drama, the Star Tours pre-show and ride soundtrack, to name but a few of the tracks!
Tempted yet? You can find more details about the book on the HarperCollins website. Check it out at your local book seller, or order it online to get it delivered, from FishPond.co.nz.
Related article: Book Launch - The Star Wars Vault
Matt G
