The Essential Reader's Companion

"It's really the first Essential Guide that isn't set in the fictional universe. It's set in our universe."

- Pablo Hidalgo

The Essential Reader's Companion is a third-generation Essential Guide written by Pablo Hidalgo, and published by Del Rey. In July 2010, Sue Rostoni posted an updated publishing calendar with this book having been pushed back to March 20, 2012. In December 2011, the book was mentioned to be pushed back again to a release date of August 21, 2012. On March 19, it was announced on Facebook that the release date was moved back to October 2 for the art team to finish more paintings.

At Celebration V it was announced the book would contain summaries of all novels, young readers books, and novellas, listed chronologically by their in-universe setting, as well as behind-the-scenes information and brand-new illustrations, specifically the long-awaited picture of Cal Omas.

Unlike recent previous entries in the Essential Guide series, The Essential Reader's Companion is presented from an out-of-universe, or "real-world," perspective, rather than as a piece of in-universe writing.

Publisher's summary
THE DEFINITIVE WORD ON STAR WARS FICTION The legendary motion picture Star Wars: A New Hope'' has spawned five big-screen sequels—and decades of bestselling fiction. From the original movie tie-in novel through the monumental Fate of the Jedi series, legions of devoted readers have helped expand science fiction’s most celebrated film saga into a page-turning print sensation. Now, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of these sweeping Star Wars adventures is presented in one beautifully illustrated volume''. Star Wars: The Essential Reader’s Companion spans the entire galaxy of published Star Wars fiction—movie novelizations, original stand alone and series novels, short stories, eBook novellas, young adult titles, and comics—and features'' Whether skimming through fateful eras from the Old Republic to the New Jedi Order; delving deep into the ancient history of the Lost Tribe of the Sith or the tumultuous Clone Wars; crossing paths—and lightsabers—with Dark Lords such as Plagueis or Bane, Sidious or Vader; helming the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo; or mastering the Force with Luke Skywalker, this one-of-a-kind, one-stop reference is a must for fans looking to maximize their knowledge of the sprawling Star Wars Expanded Universe.
 * A concise synopsis of each story, including key characters and planets
 * Exclusive behind-the-scenes facts and anecdotes about authors, plot and character development, continuity notes, and significance in the Star Wars Expanded Universe
 * Details on which novels are linked to Star Wars comic books from Dark Horse and Marvel
 * A chronological listing of titles, spanning the 25,000-year history of the Star Wars universe and placing each story in its proper context
 * More than one hundred full-color original paintings throughout by some of fans’ favorite artists