Reddit reviews The Illustrated Star Wars Universe (Star Wars)

With regards to the Coruscant concept work, I believe that the final showdown between Luke, Vader, and the Emperor was originally intended to take place on the Imperial Capital, hence all of the concept work for that planet (it wasn't named Coruscant until Timothy Zahn decided to give it a name for the Thrawn Trilogy).

Some of them were later used as inspiration in the EU novels. The black temple on the island, for example, became the Temple of Exar Kun on Yavin IV in the Jedi Academy Trilogy.

The Illustrated Star Wars Universe, by Kevin J. Anderson also provides some EU backstory to concept art that ended up not being used for anything in the movies.

I have the Illustrated Star Wars Universe book that is full of his paintings and it is excellent. I love his art, it's got a sense of atmosphere that similar art often lacks.

https://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Star-Wars-Universe/dp/0553374842

Ah man, I had this book growing up and loved it. So many small details, and enough to make you imagine what existed past the edges of the painting. Always enjoyed the Coruscant and Alderaan sections. One of my favorites from the book

The Illustrated Star Wars Universe is what you're looking for. It contains most of these images and turns them into stories based on reports of many planets in the Star Wars universe from Tatooine to Bespin, to the Forest Moon of Endor.

http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Star-Wars-Universe/dp/0553374842/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420735128&sr=8-1&keywords=illustrated+star+wars+universe

Agreed. Those three books -- one for each entry in the Holy Trilogy -- have some of the most beautiful concept art I've ever seen. I also recommend The Illustrated Star Wars Universe.

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/tv/star-wars-rebels-ralph-mcquarrie-legacy-on-view-in-animated-series/#/0

I read this about a million times when i was a kid, great bit of apocrypha now and beautiful artwork.

http://smile.amazon.com/The-Illustrated-Star-Wars-Universe/dp/0553374842

The Illustrated Star Wars Universe is a Star Wars info book that makes sole use of McQuarrie's concept art. I absolutely love his style. It's incredible.

The Illustrated Star Wars Universe:

>The breathtaking artwork of McQuarrie and Anderson's delightful text are your guide to eight different Star Wars locales. Here, detailed as never before, are the worlds of Tatooine, the stark desert home planet of Luke Skywalker; Coruscant, the glorious center of the Empire; Dagobah, the swampy world of Yoda; Bespin, site of the famed floating metropolis of Cloud City; Endor, the forest moon sheltering the Ewoks; Hoth, the frozen wasteland and site of a secret Rebel base; Yavin 4, the jungle moon, nearly destroyed by the first Death Star; and Alderaan, Princess Leia's homeworld, cruelly annihilated by the same Death Star. Each world is lavishly illustrated and described by a qualified expert, including scientists, scouts, soldiers, poets, and even Imperial agents. The Illustrated Star Wars Universe is an epic achievement, a visionary treat no Star Wars fan will want to miss--and a true collector's item you'll enjoy for years to come.

In the book The Illustrated Star Wars Universe there's an in-universe non-fiction essay about the planet Alderaan and its culture. They go into nerf herders a little bit.

It's actually a fantastic book. I totally recommend it. The stories are short but fun reads. Each is a sort of travelogue of a different planet; Bespin, Corruscant, Tattooine, the Forest Moon. The best part of it is that it's chock full of Ralph McQuarie's beautiful concept art.

I remember most of these images from "The Illustrated Star Wars Universe." Kevin Anderson writes great stories to accompany the images, and it is easily one of my favorite Star Wars books. Here it is on Amazon

Wow.. this really brings back memories!
I hope Im not too late, but here is a book that includes all of these images and more, plus amazing writeups. I cant tell you how many extras hours I hid in the bathroom reading this.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Illustrated-Star-Wars-Universe/dp/0553374842

Star Wars Art: Concepts (Star Wars Art Series)

The Illustrated Star Wars Universe (Star Wars)