I was really looking forward to reading this as I love both Disney World and Star Wars. I'm getting married there on December 1st and cannot wait to visit Galaxy's Edge! With that being said, I was disappointed in this book. I felt like I was reading a historical novel. As creative as it was for the author to make up Batuu's history and as much as I felt immersed in this world as if it were real, I thought this was a "traveler's guide" in the sense that it would take the reader through the different attractions, restaurants, etc. It wasn't a bad book, per se, for someone who's looking for the history of this fictional world. It's just not what I was wanting.
*I recieved a free ARC of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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.]

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.

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.

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

What Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: Traveler's Guide to Batuu tries to accomplish is to walk the line between Theme Park pamphlet and exotic travel guide. The end result is a roughly 142 page advertisement whose effort only hardcore Star Wars fans will appreciate.

Interspersed throughout the "Guide" are details about Batuu. A Map shows us where Batuu sits in the Star Wars Galaxy and then we are advised different options of getting there. The eleventh page introduces us to the Star Cruiser which will end up being the Galaxy's Edge Hotel when that eventually opens. The next page is where the separation between guide and ad starts to blur. Under the Fast Facts section it talks about a "temperate climate that is enjoyable by most species." The air is "dry, but tolerable" and "the occasional afternoon rain shower is possible" Under the dress section, they post a picture of Star Wars styled clothing hanging in a shop which even in a galaxy far far away looks like any other Disney store.

The maps of the outpost are some of the more interesting parts of the guide. Again, you are looking at a map of the theme park land. A disassembled lightsaber is our hint that you will be able to build your own while you are there. Following this, we are shown vehicles and even different types of droids. As a Star Wars fan, this is really cool. There's tidbits about the people who live on Batuu like Oga who runs the Cantina. The section on Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities gives us a closer look at the oddities around his shop. There's sections on Stormtroopers and Imperial Vehicles. We also get cool propaganda images such as Stormtroopers in front of a First Order banner with the words Legitimate Power at the bottom. More photos of the shops and food courts follow. Lots of odds and ends flesh out the rest of the book included a guide to translate the Star Wars symbols into our own language.

The guide is written to be in-universe but it doesn't read that way. Too much of it comes across as trying to sell us the Disney experience. Anyone who has a description about who they are don't cross over from being two dimensional. These are people and creatures I can drive two hours to see in person, and I won't have any feelings for them. I don't see how this guide differs from the months of promotional material we were shown of the parks. A YouTube video of someone walking from location to location barely differs from this supposed "in-universe" guide. There's too much content that's selling us a product. The person that would buy this book and enjoy it would be someone that loves Galaxy's Edge and wants to be reminded of their time there. Everything else in the book can be found in other places. It doesn't work at bringing Batuu to life.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

Traveler's Guide to Batuu is a fun reference guide that is written in-universe, with the author talking about all things Batuu. Batuu is the setting of Disney's Galaxy's Edge, which can be found in Southern California and Florida Disney Parks. It reads like a travel brochure, telling you where to buy things, places to eat, and the people who live there. Having gone to Batuu already, it was fun to see the small in-universe tidbits about the different things I ate or places I'd gone into. However, at times it felt a little too much like an advertisement for Galaxy's Edge, which is a problem that comes with creating a "travelers guide" to a real place that you can go to.

As a big Star Wars fan, I can't say there was anything new that I learned, but that is purely because of my own prior knowledge which likely applies to a very small population of people. If you read up about Galaxy's Edge before opening like me, and know most things already, This book won't offer anything new to you. However, I would recommend this book to people who haven't been to Batuu yet and want to know a bit more regarding the backstory of the different locations and culture, and also to those that have already been been there and want to reminisce about the experience they had.

Bright suns!

Cole Horton's (or should I say "Eloc Throno's") Traveler's Guide to Batuu is a wonderful book-brochure which details the in-universe stories of Black Spire Outpost. The outpost, of course, is the setting of Disneyland's "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" theme park, which first opened on May 31, 2019. This supplementary Traveler's Guide is a thoroughly-written and illustrated volume targeted at future visitors. Practically, this book is not much more than a Disneyland ad, but Horton—who has written numerous Star Wars reference works—really puts his encyclopedic knowledge to work.

Although the timing of this book's release is unfortunate, there's still enough in here to entertain those who stay indoors. (For related reading, I'd also recommend the Galaxy's Edge cookbook.) Also, props to Horton for having what might be the best "about the author" section I've ever seen.

'Til the Spire!

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.