Death Star Owner's Technical Manual: Star Wars: Imperial DS-1 Orbital Battle Station Hardcover – November 5, 2013

I bought this for my 16 year old nephew for Christmas and he thought it was pretty neat. Then I blew his mind when I explained that Haynes manuals were real things and once upon a time when you bought a used car the first thing you did was get the Chiltons/Haynes manual for it. I'm rambling here, like us OLDS do (get off my lawn!). Anyway the book really is pretty neat. It's well done and makes a nice addition for a SW collection.

"Entertainment Weekly" film critic Anthony Breznican wrote one year ago that the difference between the "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" franchises is that "Trek" appeals to the head, while "Wars" appeals to the heart."Star Wars: Death Star Technical Manual" definitely appeals to the head. Copiously illustrated with cutaway drawings, floor plans, diagrams and stills from the various "Star Wars" films, writer Ryder Windham explains in detail-without ever lapsing into technobabble and becoming boring-the Empire's ultimate weapon, including its onboard systems and controls.It also traces the Death Star's history from concept to a top-secret project that began in the time of the "SW" prequel trilogy, before the Old Republic's fall and the Empire's rise. (The Trade Federation's spherical warships, seen in "The Phantom Menace," provided the inspiration for the Empire's technological terror.)The book also covers briefly, toward its end, the unfinished Death Star II seen in "Return of the Jedi."With the impending theatrical release of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," "Star Wars: Death Star Technical Manual" is highly recommended as a Christmas gift for "Star Wars" fans. Holding this book in their hands, they may even feel like Rebel spies possessing the Death Star's design schematics.

This is perhaps one of my favorite purchases, it includes thorough specs, guides and instructions for nearly every aspect of the Death Star, and it's served me very well in learning everything I can about the legendary, hulking non-moon space station that we all love so very much.Thanks to this manual I've finally gotten my own Death Star off cinder blocks in the backyard, and I am right on schedule with test firing the Ion laser. Only disappointment was the apparent lack of a labeled "low power" button nor does this manual contain instructions for taping planets back together after mass dispersal.P.S. How long will it take NASA to figure out Mars has vanished after my test fire date?

Only gripe is the diagrams are obscured by the book-binding, this makes it hard to read them. A better page layout would correct this.Otherwise, excellent!Oh and this was published in 2012, it does not cover material in Rogue-1. That's fine I knew that when I ordered, however fans should be aware.

grandson loved this book

The Death Star Imperial DS-1 Orbital Battle Station Owner's Technical Manual written by Ryder Windham, Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas is pretty much the ultimate guide to the Death Star. And a lovely technical deatails discriptions about this mighty battle station and massive gunship. This book has as much visual information as it does written info, not to mention some of the best Death Star artwork to date in a Star War guide.A true fasinating book.

What a great book for a total SW geek like me. Well done and informative, plus entertaining. I highly recommend this book.

It’s a reference manual of The Death Star Orbital Battle Station loaded with technical information, cutaways, illustrations and photos.