The Twilight Saga:  The Official Illustrated Guide, A Companion to the #1 Bestseller – Stephenie Meyer
Hachette Little Brown, 2011
560 pages
RRP: AU$32.99
ISBN: 9781905654437

Review by Kate Williams

The title of this book is about as long and detailed as its contents.  Having milked the series for all it is worth, bringing out four increasingly lengthy novels starting with the manageable Twilight and ending with the doorstop that is Breaking Dawn, Meyer has excelled herself with this companion guide.  It is 543 pages of lavishly illustrated, lovingly typeset reworkings, retellings and reinventions of the Twilight universe including the less well known novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner.

After a brief introduction including “much love” from Stephanie Meyer, the first 65 pages are dedicated to a so called “conversation” between Meyer and her hand picked interviewer and (slightly immaturely) self proclaimed “Best-Author-Friends-Forever” Shannon Hale.  Best friends really shouldn’t allow best friends to prattle on about their own books and inspiration for 65 pages.  The cue to stop them is well before the friendly interview has to be broken into chapters! To be honest, this first section nearly had me putting the book down and walking away.  Fans, however, may love this insight into Meyer’s thoughts.

Beyond that, there are no new revelations in this book, nothing which will shock or surprise ardent fans.  Instead most of the book is composed of painstakingly created profiles and biographies of every (and I mean every) vampire, werewolf and human ever mentioned in any of the novels.  The first two sections contain an involved introductory history (according to Meyer) of vampires or werewolves.  The human population of Forks get much shorter shrift. There are maps, family trees and various illustrations showing the main characters in action.  There are even extensive quotes from the novels, all referenced, to give the biographical content some gravitas.  I found this very amusing indeed but once again, I am sure fans will love the attention to detail.

The section, rather grandly entitled “Origins and Inspirations” includes a Twilight timeline and a rather tedious chapter on key plot points for each book, which reminded me of the guides to various classics I used to read at uni instead of tackling the original tomes.  At this point the guide jumps the shark.  Meyer feels the need to include a detailed “biography” of every car, including colour illustrations, ever mentioned in the series followed by “The Twilight Saga Playlist”.  Don’t ask.  Actually do ask.  In it, Meyer nominates a song to accompany each chapter of every book.

With no irony, the most interesting part is saved until last.  There is a gallery of paintings and drawings done by fans interpreting their favourite characters and scenes.  There is also a full colour gallery of Twilight Saga book covers from around the world with their various titles translated into English.  I loved the diversity and various cultural interpretations of the book.

Like the novels, it should have stopped there.  Nobody, not even fans need to read “Outtakes” – these scenes didn’t make it into the book for a very good reason.

The Twilight Saga:  The Official Illustrated Guide is a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows.  It is the sort of book that can be dipped into at various points without having to read it from cover to cover and no doubt its greatest use will be  to settle many an argument between Twihards.