The Galaxy Guide series of sourcebooks for West End Games’ Star Wars RPG formed the backbone of what would eventually become the Star Wars expanded universe. This is the first, A New Hope (1989).

Just about every character that appears in the first movie gets a profile, full body illustration (courtesy of Michael Manley and Al Williamson) and stat block. There’s the droid that short circuits before being sold to the Owen Lars, random imperial officers whose names were previously unknown and a ton of background aliens from the Mos Eisley cantina – and that is just scratching the surface, honestly. The profiles flesh the characters out while also attempting to fill some plot holes from the movie that surface when you think about it too much (as would happen when writing a book like this). How come the Death Star gunners didn’t annihilate the rebel attack force? Because some nimrod imperial admiral broke up the crack gunner groups and assigned staff alphabetically, forming new, untested groups. It is simultaneously a thin explanation, but also one that seems like something the Empire would do.

There are tons of great stories in this book. You probably have internalized some of them without even realizing it, as they were picked up for other RPG books, comics and novels. One of my favorites is an account by Jodo Kast, inept Boba Fett impersonator, explaining how he narrowly missed capturing Dr. Evazan (the creep who doesn’t like Luke either).

I should note, I really love the cover design of these books (these are all the first editions – the second editions sport a cleaner design). It is something about the text treatment and that star field and the movie art the comes together to really scratch a Star Wars nostalgia itch I don’t often feel anymore.