The Star Wars saga is rich in intricate detail, the result of gifted artists and craftspeople creating believable new worlds, characters, and devices to populate a far-away galaxy. Chronicle Books celebrated this detail back in the '90s with the release of the enormous Star Wars Chronicles by Deborah Fine and Aeon Inc., an oversized 315-page hardcover tome that explored the classic trilogy with unprecedented visual detail.

Chronicle Books now returns to complete the saga with Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels, by Stephen J. Sansweet and Pablo Hidalgo. Much has changed in filmmaking, and innovations have allowed the worlds of Star Wars to become grander and more complex. The practical and digital arts required to bring those worlds to the screen are showcased through thousands of images, some never-before-seen. Authoritative text explains not only an element's role in the film, but its expanded universe back-story as well as real-world information about its origins.

Each of the prequels is given a lavish visual treatment. Poke around the dingiest corners of Watto's shop and junkyard, meet the exotic denizens of the Outlander Club, and for the first time explore many of the worlds of Episode III in detail. The Revenge of the Sith chapter is the first time much of this information is coming to light. The book is filled with reference photography, concept art, and turnarounds of ILM digital models.

Beyond the film chapters, there are also sprawling gatefolds with size-comparison photo charts of characters, vehicles and starships. See how a Venator-class Star Destroyer stacks up against a Trade Federation battleship, or check out just how massive a clone turbo tank really is. The book also includes a timeline of major saga events, a section devoted to the Clone Wars micro-series on Cartoon Network, an overview of prequel publishing milestones, as well as behind-the-scenes summaries on the making of each film.

The presentation of the book even supercedes the impressive lavishness of the original, complete with a die-cut slipcase that creates the mask of Darth Vader on the cover.

Star Wars Chronicles: The Prequels is due out on October 27, but you can preorder it today from Star Wars Shop. By ordering it from the shop, it's the only way you're guaranteed to get it autographed by both authors. To preorder your copy, click here.