Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu

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Pub Date 21 Jul 2020 | Archive Date 24 Jun 2020

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Description

Set your course for the edge of the galaxy to the planet Batuu, where you’ll be immersed in the alluring offerings of a mysterious outpost and thriving port that is a haven for scoundrels, rogues, and smugglers.

Upon arrival, you will have access to an authentic, in-world environment unlike anything you have ever experienced before! This official guide to Batuu is written completely in-world, as if you are a visitor from another part of the galaxy looking for recommendations on where to eat, shop, and sightsee while on your trip to this exciting location.

Highlighted features:
  • Full-color photos, illustrations, and maps
  • Original content from Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Imagineering
  • Backstories to characters and locations found in Black Spire Outpost
Whether living your adventure in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or simply being an armchair traveler, this in-depth literary companion will delight any fan of Star Wars.
Set your course for the edge of the galaxy to the planet Batuu, where you’ll be immersed in the alluring offerings of a mysterious outpost and thriving port that is a haven for scoundrels, rogues...

Marketing Plan

Publicity & Marketing Goal: Print, online and holiday roundup outreach: gift guide listing, reviews, features, or mentions. Coverage and giveaways with key Star Wars blogs/websites – TheForce.net, ForceCast.net, WookieRadio.net, forcecast, dark empire

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Trade Review: Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Bookish, Shelf Awareness, Kirkus, BookTrib

Publicity & Marketing Goal: Print, online and holiday roundup outreach: gift guide listing, reviews, features, or mentions. Coverage and giveaways with key Star Wars blogs/websites – TheForce.net...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780760366745
PRICE US$19.99 (USD)
PAGES 144

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (PDF)

Average rating from 37 members


Featured Reviews

A fun book that will enhance any trip to Batuu! As someone who has made the trek to the planet, it was very informative and brought back great memories of our trip! 5 Stars!

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The book is set up as a traveler's guidebook to Galaxy's Edge - the newest land at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Imagine a Lonely Planet, Fodor's, or Birmbaum type of guide and you get the idea: lots of pictures, factoids, and information all suited for the Galactic explorer looking to vacation at the remote world of Batuu. As with the staff at Galaxy's Edge, the book never breaks its cover as a real and existing guidebook for someone living in the Star Wars universe. That is both good and bad since it means some perspectives about the place can be given an interesting spin while others can't really be explained unless from a 2020 real person vantage. The book has many images and you can tell it is definitely an official product.

This 'travel book' breaks down as follows: Explore Batuu; Explore Black Spire Outpost; Land Port; Merchant Row; Docking Bay 9; The Spaceport; The Market; The Forest; Quick Reference Guide. Within these, you'll find subjects such as drinks at Oga's Cantina, The People: First Order, a Millennium Falcon technical file, current affairs and politics of Batuu, a Galaxy map, flora and fauna of Batuu, day trips, the Force, and descriptions of every attraction at the park as if they existed.

Right off the bat, you'll notice that the biggest issue in keeping the story 'in character' as a Galactic traveler is that there is no official map. That's because the two Disney parks, although having identical attractions/shops/restaurants, situate their Galaxy's Edges differently because of spacing issues. Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge is narrower and longer while Disney World's version is more square. So there is no universal map. This lack of a map in the book is kind of problematic when the book discusses places like Smuggler's Alley or a dirt path connecting Dok Ondar's to Oga's. The issue is solved by just showing individual buildings/attractions but it does have a distinct lack of big picture focus without a central map of the Black Spire Outpost (yes, you will get a map upon arrival at the parks but it is so hard to reference locations in the text blocks without one). Having a google image handy during reading was really helpful.

Similarly, when given background information, we won't know where something is from (book, movie, comic, etc.). For example, on Dok Ondar's wall there are items from the movies such as one of the dogs that chased Qira and Solo and the Solo movie. But you won't know that origin from this book because it won't break the fourth wall to reference a movie. It was frustrating that there was so much more information/perspective that could have been given if only we could be told what movie it appeared in or what book first referenced that item.

Most problematic is that the Resistance is supposed to have a secret base there just outside of Black Spire Outpost and so the book has to hint that there may be Resistance on Batuu but can't really go into more detail (or betray the Resisteance, ha!). It's in that aspect that I felt the lack in the book: there is a huge backstory built by Disney about the Resistance as detailed in Delilah Dawson's book Black Spire (and even briefly discussed in the upcoming Star Wars book Poe Dameron: Free Fall). But you won't get much info other than suggestions here. It means that a lot of the Batuu-located Resistance's connection to being in an ancient ruins is lost - and that's one of the things that I think most people riding Rise of the Resistance ride won't understand about the queue line (You're in a secret Resistance base that is actually a ruin of an ancient unknown civilization!). As well, you'll never get the connection that the blue haired lady running around Galaxy's Edge in a rebel jacket (Vi Moradi) is the leader of the Resistance presence on Batuu and responsible for setting up the location that will be the Rise of the Resistance ride (Organa sent her there to scout out the ruins to create a resistance base and recruiting operation). There's just a blurb about the 'mysterious person'.

I also wish the photographs were better. Not in quality - they are all nicely presented with a 'futuristic holovid' type of overlay. But it felt like the author had a limited set of photographs (or mock ups) to choose from. Things like: the Black Spire from which the Outpost got its name is photographed close up - so you have no perspective on where it is in Black Spire Outpost outside of Dok Ondar's Den of Antiquities (or even its size). And only a few of the items on Dok Ondar's walls were described - some in detail but most ignored. There are so many items that could have been also described, such as the Wookie shield or the Gamorran axe.

Those were my quibbles - it felt like a lost opportunity to really give a 'big picture' for those visiting and wanting to know more of the hugely elaborate and wonderful back story that Disney has built for Galaxy's Edge. The book stays fast and true with the non fictional 'travel book' theme, which was both an asset and a deficit.

That said, there were several things to learn about the park's backstory or the Star Wars universe. There is a very neat map of the galaxy showing why Batuu is on the outskirts. The Halcyon cruiser is recommended for travel to Batuu (it will be the new Star Wars themed hotel at Walt Disney World). Blaster marks on the walls of Oga's Cantina are reputed to have been from a visit by Admiral Thrawn. Amidala and Darth Vader are said to have visited the outpost. DJ Rex is given more of a backstory. Oga's boyfriend, a Wookie, cheated on her with a Rodian and Oga shot him, leaving a broken railing in the place where his body fell (that is still unrepaired and can be seen when you visit the Cantina). The boba balls we get in our drinks at Oga's are from the Worrt in the aquarium above the bar (they are her 'eggs'). The sculpture outside of Dok Ondar's door is the gravestone of his parents (another mystery). The sculpture inside Dok's entrance way is similar to the one owned by Palpatine when he was a chancellor. Etc. etc. So there are some nice easter eggs and reveals for many things inside Galaxy's Edge.

I also liked that characters from the comics and books were given mentions. Salju (who appears in Black Spire and Free Fall) has a whole page. Mubo (runs the droid factory has a nice write up, Oga (who runs the Outpost) is given an image and whole page, and a lot on Dok Ondar and his mysterious past is here. The Dianoga in the tank at Dok's is referenced as coming from Jabba the Hutt and the Sarlacc that Han and Chewie captured in the comic book series is also noted. A bounty hunter named Harkos was introduced by Disney before the lands opened and was supposed to roam Galaxy's Edge - he's in this book but I have never seen him actually roaming. And of course, Hondo Ohnaka gets more of a backstory as well.

So, who is this book intended for? For the first time visitor, it is a decent guidebook to make sure that that all aspects of Galaxy's Edge are available for exploration (it's a fairly large land and easy to miss things since nothing is outright signposted). There is a LOT of Star Wars lore (perhaps more than is needed) and I feel like this book would have been better served concentrating on Black Spire Outpost alone rather than Batuu/the Star Wars universe (do we need to know all the different types of Storm Troopers or First Order ships?). But it will help give perspective to the first time visitor on how there is a whole incredible backstory to Galaxy's Edge. It would make a great read on a plane trip to the park, for example. As well, I can't think of a better way to share time with kids than by sitting down at the park, drinking a green milk, and reading from the book about the various places right in front of them.

For the Star Wars fan and/or frequent visitors to Galaxy's Edge, I didn't find a lot of new information that wasn't already available on the internet. Blogs such as Ordinary Adventures have done amazing breakdowns of the lore and easter eggs of Galaxy's Edge but without the limitation of having to be 'in character' as this book has done. But at the same time, it is nice to have so much information in one place as in this book. Something that can be brought to the park and brought out at the moment to really appreciate in real time what Galaxy's Edge offers.

One of the best things about Galaxy's Edge is that there is a huge backstory presented in many different media outlets. From the online Play Disney Ap that has games/activities that explore the storylines while actually at Galaxy's Edge, a 5 part Galaxy's Edge comic series that explore different aspects of Black Spire Outpost, books set in Batuu (Black Spire by Delilah Dawson and Crash of Fate by Zoraida Cordova), and 'non fiction' books such as this travel guide and a cookbook. There's so much more to Galaxy's Edge than two rides, some restaurants and shops.

In all, a fun exploration of the land with a LOT of backstory into the places, characters, histories, and offerings of Galaxy's Edge at the Disney Parks. The book is suitable for all ages, with a lot of images and pictures for the younger ones and easter eggs/tidbits for the older fans. It's a fairly quick read and a great diversion option when traveling to the parks or during downtime. Bring it to the parks with you so you can have a more immersive experience and a further appreciation for the depth of the storytelling and fun of Galaxy's Edge. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

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This is a really enjoyable guide to Galaxy's Edge and the planet of Batuu! Whether you're a long-term Star-Wars fan seeking to expand your collection or would like to gift a youngling an immersive look into Galaxy's Edge before a trip to Disneyland, this book is for you. Not only does it prepare you for your visit to Galaxy's Edge, but it is also a nice nostalgic read if you're looking to reminisce past visits.

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This book was cool as hell and I'm looking forward to seeing the real version in print as books like this don't lend themselves well to reviewing in pdf. The Star Wars nerd inside of me was excited and eager to crawl over every word looking for things that may change what I thought I already knew. Definitely enjoyable for the Star Wars fan.

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Disneyland's Star Wars-themed Galaxy's Edge park addition is everything my 5-year-old self ever wanted. Leave it to the Walt Disney Company's team of accomplished engineers to quite literally bring Star Wars to life with an immersive and finely crafted slice of a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu is a fine companion to the theme park that offers a healthy bit of backstory for all areas of the park, from Oga's Cantina to the finer, more innocuous landmarks (such as the Wishing Tree). You'll find out why the Ronto Roasters has a Podracer engine to cook meat, learn the history of park-exclusive characters, and pick up rumors about a certain scrap shop that frequents Jedi visitors. Never have I seen lore made for a theme park but after reading this guide (along with Del Ray's line of new canon Star Wars novels), you'll develop a better understanding of Black Spire Outpost. Yes, it's a flashy, glorified travel brochure but Galaxy's Edge encourages park guests to play along and already I'm thinking how to incorporate it into my Batuu-inspired Disney bounding outfits.

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I guess you could call me a curious cynic… I’m willing to try new things, but you may hear some grousing and see a grumpy face from me in this review. Although I continue to say I’m here for the stories, I gave this novel a bit of the side-eye when I first saw it. So much of our Star Wars experience these days develops over several media. Whether it’s a show on Disney+ or a video game on XBOX, we love to immerse ourselves in the Galaxy we all love. But this book is new territory for me and the Star Wars/ Disney brand… As you probably know, Batuu is a physical place where fans can have an experience in person at Disneyland and Disney World. How does this affect my enjoyment of this media? Could I get the smug look off my face long enough to soak up some lore of this Outer Rim planet? As a person who has repeatedly said that I’ll read any SW story and to keep your Disney/ canon conflicts away from me, I tried my best to keep an open mind.

The Travelers Guide to Batuu has the depth in information and the solid graphic design that you’ll find in most full-color Star Wars guides. This book takes the reader on a tour of this backwoods planet full of miscreants and scoundrels. There are maps, lists of places to visit, and so much information of local culture. Politics, history, practical tips for travel, in-depth exploration of Black Spire Outpost, and an FAQ/ Quick Reference Guide. All these details add up to Rick Steves-like experience, but instead of the castles of Europe, we get the Star Wars universe!



My derisive nature stayed away enough for me to really enjoy this book, but it did creep back in when thinking about access to Disneyland and DisneyWorld. I like the idea of experiences being open to all fans and I think books and films allow a good number of people to witness the SW magic. And a short tangent: Is Disney cleaning up or organizing the canon and is the expansion of the brand going to help it reach a broader audience? A lot of questions and opinions can be flashed about in response to this examination… I think this Batuu and books like this are a good test for the Disney brand because it crosses the line to a new and unique experience, one that honestly I was reluctant to try before reading this book.

My verdict is that the Traveler’s Guide to Batuu passes the test. It combines a design style that I have come to enjoy through Star Wars, DK and now with Quirk Books, with great insight. I see this book acting as both a pseudo-advertisement for DLand and a good souvenir to pick up to remember the experience.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

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This book teleported me straight to Batuu. Even though I have not yet been able to visit Galaxy's Edge, I now feel like I have, as this book seems to put you right on planet, and explain it right to someone who has never visited. I'm not that much more eager to visit Galaxy's Edge.

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This is fun and goofy guide to the Star Wars Galaxy's Edge park!

Approaching the park as a guide for tourists, this book is fun and creative. It has maps of the planets nearby as well as maps that show you where to find food, shopping, etc. within the park. Of course, the guide treats the park as a planet and the author tells us all their favorite tips and tricks about visiting.

We get pictures of the food, drinks, shopping opportunities, and even local species! There's information on the local tavern owner and history of the rules. We get insight into the kind of characters, figurative and literal, you may encounter on your visit.

There's great pictures and even a translation page to help you decipher local language and signs. There's also a guide to droids, alien species, and anything else you're curious about in the area!

Yes it's a plug to spend the money to visit, but it's a really creative way to highlight parts of the park and help you plan what to see!

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Since my next trip is somewhat up in the air due to all the virus concerns, I've turned to day dreaming and planning future trips.  One location on my bucketlist is Batuu.  If you're not in the know, Batuu is part of Galaxy's Edge at the Disney resorts.  But this "in-world" guide is written as if it is it's own actual location in the galaxy and gives you all the details you need to know about eating, shopping, etc just like any other travel guide for any "real" location.  I now am totally prepared for my future trip to Batuu! (And already picked out some outfits I may want to buy once I am there thanks to all the photos in the book of the shops!)

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

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Needing out about Disney Stat Wars? Check this one then! You’ll love it. Hands down, no more words needed.

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I haven’t been to Galaxy’s Edge yet but I have been there in my head. I’ve enjoyed all the novels and comics set there and this book reminded me of them and it felt good I don’t know when I’ll be able to try the food and drink so that wasn’t a big favourite of mine. It’s a beautiful book with a gorgeous layout. It’s almost like being there. Dive in.

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It's been about thirty years since the galactic civil war. That puts the era in the time of Poe, Finn and the Resistance. With the destruction of the Hosnian System in Force Awakens, the Resistance is operating openly and fighting for survival. The guidebook is even-handed in its language, calling General Leia a leader of “either freedom fighters or instigators,” perhaps even “warmongers.” This lets the guidebook appear neutral politically, but in the real world supports fans of the Sith as well as the Resistance. Advice on dress, language, and money for traveling (basic language and currency are accepted here; dress in layers) certainly seems geared for Disney visitors while trying not to break the magic.
Batuu is a neutral planet with no formal government, far on the “galaxy’s edge” indeed, as the map reveals. The First Order has landed but outside the outpost “there is even evidence of Resistance forces gathering nearby.”
There’s a quick mention of nearby planets like Endor, aiding to put the planet into Star Wars’ larger worldbuilding context.
A full two-page spread map shows the complete land with all the buildings like the Droid Depot and Black Spire. Many of these are shops and food stands. Colorful pictures reveal the alien flora and fauna. Ship guides, droid guides, stormtrooper schematics, and so on are presumably fun for fans, though they can be found elsewhere as well. There’s also a lightsaber diagram, presumably to aid in individual construction. There are also colorful pictures of all the exotic drinks one can actually order. The book tries to keep t-shirt racks emphasized, but they still appear on occasion, much as in the real park.
Central characters have profiles in brief stories that feel like NPC bios in a computer game. Indeed, NPCs are one of the closest analogies, though the characters show up in Star Wars novels where they gain a little depth. This guide presents deeper histories, tying in fan-favorite characters from the larger universe like Grand Admiral Thrawn and Hondo Ohnaka. The pod racing scenes from Phantom Menace feel a bit incongruous as they are not actually present, unlike the shops.
It’s a nice souvenir guide or virtual visit to the park, weaving its existence into the larger universe. The book ends with a phrasebook, packing guide, gambling guide and so forth – all more fictional than realistic but able to supply a bit more local color.

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I had the opportunity to visit the Star Wars Galaxy's Edge theme park in Disney World last December, just a few months before it closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, it was an incredible experience. I cam away extremely impressed with the attention to detail and the quality of the merchandise, food, and other amenities. Disney's Imagineers went the extra mile to make the park feel immersive; once you enter, you can't see anything to remind you that you're still on Earth. 

I had read Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire novel and the Galaxy's Edge comics before I went, so I understood the importance of Batuu to the Resistance and the First Order. I loved having read about Dok-Ondar and then seeing him. My wife and I had fun trying to identify the Resistance spy.

Unfortunately, the park itself doesn't make that backstory accessible to most visitors. The planet Batuu never appeared in any of the films or TV shows. Aside from Chewbacca, you won't find any of the iconic characters like Darth Vader walking around. There is a cantina, but it's not the hive of scum and villainy seen in A New Hope. I couldn't help but wonder if the lack of such familiar Star Wars characters and locations confused some visitors. How many actually appreciated everything that the Imagineers built? 
 
Cole Horton's authorized Star Wars Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu could help those visitors who lack the time or inclination to read the tie-in novels and comics to better appreciate experience. The book is, as the title suggests, written like a traveler's guide. It doesn't summarize the stories in the novel and comics, but it does provide background information about certain locations. The book has useful photos from around the parks to help visitors orient themselves. If anything, I wish the book had been a bit shorter so it could be condensed into a pocket-sized version that visitors could take with them while walking around the park. 

In addition to serving as a guide once you visit Galaxy's Edge, I suspect this book would also be a a great gift for any Star Wars fan who wants to go to the park but hasn't yet had the opportunity. Horton does a good job providing an informative overview of the park without spoiling some of the surprises (notably, most of the photos are of the exteriors of buildings, not interiors). He tries to give readers a sense of what it's like to be there, such as the frequent toasts at Oga's Cantina or the mysticism of Savi's. The book is easy to follow along, even if you've never visited the park. Given the coronavirus pandemic, Horton's traveler's guide might be all most of us see of Galaxy's Edge for quite some time. 

[Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.]

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If you've ever been interested in the politics, horticulture, and spacecraft of Batuu, this guide is absolutely essential. Not only does it include information about Batuu, but there are a TON of references to the Star Wars universe as a whole, and this book really helps piece more of the world together. The artwork is great-- including a small section on propaganda during the First Order (I was a history major, so I loved this section). In the event you don't live near a Disney park, there are some photographs that give a glimpse into a couple of the attractions... which I think is so nice, especially now during a time when the parks have been closed. I absolutely loved reading through this. If you're looking to glean more information about Star Wars species, food recipes, and the way of life for the people of Batuu, I'd definitely suggest reading through this.

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Missing Galaxy’s Edge? Pop on your favorite R-3X playlist, put on your casual Star Wars cosplay and read this in-universe travel guide to the ins and outs of visiting Batuu.

This guide is clearly aimed at folks who haven’t yet been to Batuu or the Disney folks who aren’t into Star Wars. It includes a lot of basic info included in the preview content before the park opened (maps, menus, minor backstories of characters).

It definitely feels like this would be a good investment for first-time park visitors since it not only gives an overview of the food and shops, but it also includes phrases to help you talk to cast members, an Aurebesh alphabet for decoding in-universe signage and a landing permit (that one probably won’t get you out of paying for parking at the park, but it’s still pretty cute).

Going beyond the basics of food and merch, the guide is a fun collection of all the basics of Batuu in Star Wars canon. It includes relevant info from all corners, including the Galaxy’s Edge tie-in books (Black Spire by Delilah Dawson and A Crash of Fate by Zoraida Córdova), Thrawn: Alliances and even a nod to the upcoming High Republic era.

If you’ve already visited Batuu, read all the press releases and tie-in stories, then this probably won’t give you much new info. I think the charm of this lies not in the info, but how it’s presented. Everything is presented in-universe, from how to pay using the “credit transactor terminals,” to the fireworks (hint: they’re fireflies). There are also more explanations of things on display at Dok’s and Oga’s, for the discerning traveler.

There are a few things in this book to speculate over too. Is the inclusion of C1 droids in the droid guide a hint of options to come? Were the holidays in the back going to be fun seasonal events tourists can take part in when they visit? Does the little hint at the High Republic Jedi presence have anything to do with Savi and Son Salvage setting up shop at the outpost?

I can really see this guide being a preview of the materials that will come out around the Galactic Starcruiser experience/hotel. Not only will this be a must for family’s traveling to Batuu together for the first time, but it’ll serve as a great prop for playing tourist once the Star Wars hotel opens.

Who should get this book?

People who haven’t gone before and are planning a future trip. It’s a great way to prep together.

If you’re home missing Batuu, much like me, this is also a cute way to remember the magic of a trip to BSO. Get out your Galaxy’s Edge cookbook, put on some music and immerse yourself in this book until we can go back to the real thing.

Until then, may the spires keep you.

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While reading this book isn’t quite the same thrill as laying eyes on Batuu’s black spires for the first time or jumping to light speed in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, it’s a great way to prepare for your adventure or relive it once it’s over. As someone who had a spectacular trip to Galaxy’s Edge, this had me reminiscing about my adventure to a galaxy far, far away and looking up prices on flights so that I can go all over again! As a massive Star Wars fan, going to Galaxy’s Edge was a dream come true. I crashed the Falcon, received my appropriate and subsequent scolding by Hondo. I taste-tested the blue and green milks. I danced along with DJR-3X in the cantina. I rose with the Resistance. I watched countless hours of YouTube videos to plan my trip perfectly and purchased all the souvenirs I could lug onto the airplane. Only now, having read Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Traveler’s Guide to Batuu, do I realize the significance of so many of the pieces of set decoration hanging on the walls of Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, how many cantina beverages I didn’t have the chance to try, and how many pieces of exclusive merchandise absolutely belong in my collection—especially a lightsaber!

Ultimately, this is a fun book packed full of helpful information, lore, and charm that makes Galaxy’s Edge so special. As a Star Wars reference book, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Traveler’s Guide to Batuu is exactly what tourists planning a visit to this hive of scum and villainy are looking for. It’s rewarding for die-hard fans, with the inclusion of a planet from the Legends continuity and a reference to the High Republic, even a snide remark about C-series droids like Chopper from Rebels being outdated. It seamlessly blends elements from the Original Trilogy, Prequel Trilogy, Rebels, Rogue One, and Solo as it fuels the imagination for what can happen in this brand-new corner of the Star Wars galaxy. The book has an interesting mix of the old and the new—a guide on how to take care of your droids as well as information about the different parts of a lightsaber. It breaks up the information with gorgeous artwork, including a detailed Black Spire Outpost map, a galaxy map pertaining to Batuu’s positioning as a fueling station for adventures into Wild Space, and stunning photography of the outpost itself.

While much of the guide is playful, enhancing the lore of Black Spire, some sections are actually helpful for would-be travelers: the map is accurate for what you’ll encounter in the park, the drink menu for Oga’s Cantina is detailed and descriptive, and the glossary of terms will make you sound like the most committed tourist to Disney cast members, I mean, Batuu’s residents! As someone who thought they knew everything there was to know about Galaxy’s Edge, the Traveler’s Guide illuminated some details I had somehow missed.

The book isn’t just about locations and history, however. It also fleshes out the core cast of characters who bring Black Spire to life—Dok Ondar the antiquities merchant, Oga Gara the cantina owner, Savi the “scalvager,” and more. I can’t imagine what more this reference book could have included to make it any more thorough.

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge: Traveler’s Guide to Batuu would make the perfect companion to Zoraida Córdova’s A Crash of Fate, Delilah Dawson’s Black Spire, Ethan Sacks’s Marvel miniseries, or a great gift for a Star Wars fan planning a trip to a certain theme park. Having this guide at hand while reading the tie-in stories will be a perfect resource to feel like you’re in the know. Especially as you play the John Williams symphonic suite he wrote exclusively for the theme park on a loop while you read.

Till the spire and may the Force be with you!

Thank you to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

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As an avid Disneyland enthusiast, I was so excited to see that this book was happening. It turned out to be a fantastic data dump of lore and fun facts surrounding the Black Spire Outpost that has been newly introduced in Disneyland/Disney World and I love it. This book does a fabulous job of informing readers of things they may not have known about the vibrant landscape that has been created. Reading the Galaxy's Edge novels gives a bit more information than you can gather from the place itself, but this really fills in the gaps and explains just why certain things are important or relevant within the area of the park.

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Hello Gemmies! I have a new book review to share with you today. Please note: I received a digital ARC of this book (via NetGalley) from its publisher in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Travelers Guide to Batuu is the travel guide I didn't know I needed. I am actually planning a trip to Galaxy's Edge next year so the opportunity to review this guide came right on time! I absolutely love that it's written as if you are going to another country or world and not a theme park. There is so much information provided, including maps, identification guides for flora and fauna, protocol droids, speeders, and currency. The Merchant row section was especially helpful and includes beautiful color photos of each shop and some of their specialties. I'll have to make sure I order a Fuzzy Tauntaun at Oga's Cantina when I arrive! There is even a small section on Bantha Milk! There is also a guide to the various people of Batuu including the First Order. I hope I don't run into any of the executioner troopers on my trip!

This travel guide is fun and very thorough and even includes an alphabet for the local language Aurebesh, complete with descriptions of the local customs and holidays. Also included packing recommendations. If you are a Star Wars fan or planning a trip to Galaxy's Edge then you need to get this book! It not only provides helpful information, but would also make for a nice souvenir. Published by Quatro Publishing Group, Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Travelers Guide to Batuu is set to release on July 21, 2020 and is available for Pre-Order from all major booksellers. I give Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Travelers Guide to Batuu 5 out of 5 gems. Happy Reading!

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Reading as an in-universe travel guide, this awesome supplement to the theme park is jam-packed with fun easter eggs, tips, and lore sure to excite any fan of Star Wars! Not only does it bring new information into the Star Wars canon, it also ties in other Galaxy's Edge media, giving a nod to the books and comics. Though a quick read, it is a perfect reference book for the park, and I am excited to use it when next I visit Galaxy's Edge!

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This is one of the most exciting reviews I’ve ever gotten to write, because it’s the first time I have gotten to read a book before its official release date! It’s also one of the strangest because it’s a traveler’s guide to a place I cannot currently visit no matter how much I may want to.

But that will be changing soon, as Disneyland and Walt Disney World are both scheduled to reopen in July. Which means Galaxy’s Edge will be open to galactic travelers once again. And any galactic traveler needs a good guide. Enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Traveler’s Guide to Batuu.


Written by Cole Horton, this guide is written in-universe from the perspective of Eloc Thorno, a galactic adventurer sharing his knowledge of Batuu. This is one of the more intriguing things about this guide. It’s not just written like Frommer’s guide – it’s told from the first-person point of view of a fictional character in this universe. It adds a level of authenticity to the story.

Which leads to another layer of this book that I found fascinating. Everything at Disney is done with an element of story in mind. Even down to the Disney Springs shopping district, there is a story behind everywhere you visit. This is one of the first times in my memory that we get an entire book that really just takes you inside the story.

Piggybacking on this idea of story, if you’ve read Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire, there are a number of areas in this guide that will be cool little “hey, I remember that!” moments (if you haven’t read it, you can catch up right here). From entries on the Gatherers to mention of a possible Resistance base, there are plenty of tie-ins to that story. And, of course, Vi Moradi makes an appearance in the guide.

Getting back to the guide itself, it’s broken into nine sections: Explore Batuu, Explore Black Spire Outpost, Land Port, Merchant Row, Docking Bay 9, The Spaceport, The Market, The Forest, and Quick Reference Guide. I was excited right off the bat to see that a map of the Galaxy was included, something I sorely miss in a lot of the current era of Star Wars books.


Easily one of my favorite parts of this book is the Galaxy Map that is included in the Explore Batuu section.
The book includes a ton of interesting tidbits about Galaxy’s Edge, from design elements and why certain things were chosen to short bios of many characters you’ll meet. It even gives you hints to some Easter Eggs you’ll find as you explore the land, including one very fun connection to the original Star Tours attraction. I’m going to make you read the book to figure out what those might be though. Also peppered throughout are little entries about other areas of the Galaxy, often connecting to the movies (biographies on some main characters like General Leia Organa, for example).

Throughout the guide, you’ll find diagrams to lightsabers and many different ships. These are presented in a blueprint type format and will teach you some of the parts of these to prepare you for the detail you’ll encounter when you’re there in person.

The photography and art are stellar throughout. The photos give you a wonderful glimpse of Galaxy’s Edge in its earliest days, and you may not see Galaxy’s Edge with this absence of tourists ever again. The art, especially the art at the front of each section, is just beautiful.

The Quick Reference Guide at the end I found to be one of my favorite parts of the book. It starts by giving you a guide to Aurebesh, helping you translate the writings you’ll find in Galaxy’s Edge. It also gives you a guide to the holidays celebrated in Black Spire Outpost, each one coinciding with a celebration on our real-life calendar. There’s a list of helpful phrases that you may encounter during your visit and what each one means, and there’s even a guide to some games played on Batuu (along with the instructions to play the local flavor of Sabacc).

Now, how useful is this book as an actual guide? I think for your first advenutre to Batuu, especially if you’re not familiar with some of the more detailed aspects of Canon, this will be incredibly helpful. From reading this guide, I can tell you that Galaxy’s Edge wasn’t just plopped onto some available land. It was meticulously planned and includes some wonderful connections to Star Wars books, movies, and shows. Having this on-hand will help you make those connections and appreciate all that Galaxy’s Edge has to offer. There are so many things I wouldn’t even know to look for without having checked out this guide.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Traveler’s Guide to Batuu releases on digital June 23, 2020, and is coming in a hardcover edition on July 21, 2020. It’s suggested retail price is $19.99, but I have found it a number of places for less than that ($14 or less on Amazon, for starters).

If you have a trip to Galaxy’s Edge planned once the parks start to reopen, I think this guide is a wonderful, reasonably priced companion for you to take with you, especially on your first visit or two. It’s also just a fun way to see what’s been built and brought to life, even if you don’t have immediate plans to visit.

Visit the official site, complete with links to everywhere you can purchase.

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In 2019, Disney opened Galaxy’s Edge in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Not much has been known about this particular area of space until now with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Traveler’s Guide to Batuu by Cole Horton. Thanks to this guide, I’ve learned that Batuu is not far from Endor, it’s set 30 years after the fall of the Galactic Empire, and I’ve learned a little bit of the local language.

The guide is written as if Batuu is a real place and treats the reader as a space traveler interested in adventure.

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A fun and quick read - one that allows for a bit more insight into the world of Batuu (literally). This is the sort of guide perfect for Star Wars fans, especially those that are hoping to learn a little bit more about the universe that they love so much.

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This is the definitive book on visiting Galaxy's Edge, as it is filled with tons of useful tips! My hubby has been talking about wanting to go, so I checked this book out and now I want to go NOW! Disney seems to have done an amazing job creating this brilliant vacation destination!

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This book was a ton of fun. At first I was not sure how deep I would like to dive into it, as I have not yet had the opportunity to visit Galaxy's Edge. However, I feel like this book enhanced my future visit. Traveler's Guide to Batuu does an amazing job with furthering the parks immersion. It shows many images and elements from the park and ties it directly to other elements we've seen in the Star Wars universe before. Be it books, the movies, the tv shows, you name it, there is something in the park for everyone in the Star Wars fandom. Though (as a huge fan) I felt like I experienced things in the book, that I would've loved to see in the park. However, I feel that it prepared me to experience things that I would've otherwise missed. Fans who have already experienced Batuu will have a blast seeing all the details in the book. Fans who have yet to visit the park (like myself), will only grow more excited and eager to visit. This books is a must for anyone looking to visit, or looking to return, to the Disney park. Props to Cole Horton and the team behind the book for getting so much fun details into it.

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Anyone out there longing for bright suns will find some comfort in this Travelers’ Guide!
I love in-universe material.

I mean, Black Spire Outpost is kind of the ultimate in-universe experience so this handy little guide filled with info and tidbits is something to thank the skies for!

If you’ve always wanted to visit Batuu or they know your name and drink order at Oga’s Cantina, this guide has plenty of fresh info on Black Spire Outpost. An organized, illustrated, detailed guide highlighting locations, important people, and local customs!

Plan your next journey or just to learn about Batuu from that in-world point of view!

Till the spires!
-Sal P.

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