AUTHOR: RYDER WINDHAM, CHRIS REIFF, CHRIS TRAVAS | PUBLISHER: HAYNES | RELEASE DATE: MAY 28TH
With the YT-1300 Corellian Freighter Owners’ Workshop Manual already out there in the wild it’s time to change focus from the underworld and look at the Empire and the First Order as Haynes release the TIE Fighter Owners’ Workshop Manual.
These Star Wars and Star Trek releases are practically identical to the Haynes manuals upon which they are based, and as a gimmick that is very pleasing, given the high reputation and regard in which those ‘real’ books are held. Indeed, you could easily imagine a genuine Rebel, Starfleet, Klingon or Imperial technician skimming though these manuals to figure out any head-scratching issues they might have. This particular manual opens with the origins and development of the TIE fighter series, looking back at the design cues it took from Darth Maul’s ship, as well as Jedi Starfighters and even the V-Wing, showing how the TIE series is a design ancestor of the very Rebellion vessels it would spend a large portion of its life fighting. Information like this and much more besides are littered throughout the manual.
The primary focus is on the classic TIE/in Space Superiority Starfighter from A New Hope, looking at its Solar Collector wings, the globular cockpit and flight controls, the targeting computer and ion engines. The Colin Cantwell TIE Fighter is even retconned in, as is the stubby-winged Star Wars Rebels version of the Ralph McQuarrie TIE.
The TIE Brute from Solo, the TIE/sa Bomber, and the TIE boarding craft from the end of Rogue One are all looked at, but perhaps the most interesting page gives us some fascinating information. The shuttle that transports Captain Needa from his Star Destroyer to the Executor was a TIE Command Shuttle. Who knew! We get closer looks at the Inquisitors TIE Advanced v1 and Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced x1. Forty years have seen a significant amount of variations on a classic theme.
We even learn that – if you’re brave enough to copy his ride – you can own Kylo Ren’s TIE Silencer for 310 thousand credits. Friendly advice – we don’t advise you do that.
Ryder Windham, Chris Reiff and Chris Trevashave enriched Star Wars with this invaluable release, giving even more depth and detail to a galaxy that has been deep-dived for the last four decades. Thankfully, Star Wars fans enjoy this level of detail and insight, and within the realms of the GFFA Ryder Windham is among the very best tour guides. For both the casual and serious fan, this is a book you want on your shelf.
