Haynes Publishing : takes on the TIE Fighter in new Star WarsTM manual

25th April 2019: Star Wars fans have long-seen the notoriously lethal TIE Fighters battle it out against rebel groups in the hugely successful film franchise. Now the TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual describes in detail the evolution of the iconic TIE fighter - from early concepts and prototypes to the mass-produced starfighters that fought countless battles against insurgents.

The book, which is fully authorized and approved by Lucasfilm, is the most thorough technical guide to TIE Fighters available. It presents a thorough history of Sienar Fleet Systems' twin ion engine space superiority fighter, which has long been the mainstay of Imperial and First Order forces.

Written by Ryder Windham, author and co-author of more than 70 Star Wars books, the TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual provides the ultimate guide to the TIE fighter's history - including bombers, boarding craft, and shuttles. It also looks at weapons and defensive systems, the pilots, training and gear.

The manual features unique specially commissioned cutaway, schematic and computer-generated artwork from Star Wars vehicle experts Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas, together with other art and photographs sourced from the LucasFilm archives. The book also provides a comprehensive size comparison chart for Imperial and First Order ships.

Talking about the TIE fighter series, Ryder Windham explains: 'Just as the Galactic Empire used great fleets of starships to expand Imperial control across the galaxy, the subsequent authoritarian government, the First Order, used even more technologically advanced ships to unify planetary systems and crush all opposition.

'With both regimes, the most abundant and ubiquitous ships in their respective fleets were the notoriously lethal TIE fighters. Variant models of the TIE fleet include the prototypes piloted by Sith Lord Darth Vader in the battle of the first Death Star, and by Kylo Ren during the First Order's war with the Resistance.

'In this manual, we have strived to provide the most thorough technical description and operating guide available for the various TIE fighter variants, making it essential reading for all Star Wars fans.'

The TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual covers Imperial TIE fighters, the TIE starfighter series and First Order TIE fighters, documenting their weapons and defensive systems, pilots, training and equipment.

This latest book joins Haynes' growing line-up of Star Wars titles which also includes the YT-1300 Millennium Falcon Owners' Workshop Manual and Death Star Owners' Workshop Manual.

Title details

The TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual is priced at £18.99 and available from www.haynes.com. The book number is H6223. The ISBN is 978 1 78521 223 9. It is published in May 2019.

About the authors

Ryder Windham

Ryder Windham is the author and co-author of many Star Wars books. His previous collaborations with artists Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas include the Haynes YT-1300 Millennium Falcon Owner's Workshop Manual and Death Star Owner's Workshop Manual. He is a cofounder of the World Blood Drive, an annual international event that encourages Star Wars fans to give blood. He resides in Rhode Island.

Chris Reiff

Chris Reiff is an illustrator and product designer who has been working on Star Wars for more than 20 years. Among his other recent projects are product development for Anovos and Disney as well as illustrations for Star Wars: Millennium Falcon: A 3D Owner's Guide and Hasbro packaging. Chris lives and works in Cincinnati and spends his free time adventuring in his airplane, a 1946 Globe Swift. www.chrisreiff.com

Chris Trevas

Chris Trevas has been creating Star Wars art for over two decades illustrating books, games, toy packaging, art prints, and an array of products from t-shirts to table tops. His published works include Star Wars Propaganda and Star Wars: The Rebel Files. Chris works from his home studio in Michigan where he lives with his wife and three daughters. www.christrevas.com