AOTC has an overabundance of machines, weapons, and starships. It's enough to make your head spin. However, Incredible Cross-Sections makes it easy to pin down your favorite machines in half the time and without a doctorate in theoretical astrophysics.

The author, Dr. Curtis Saxton of Australia, who resembles Mr. Wint from the James Bond film Diamonds are Forever, in fact does have such a degree. It is crammed with so much information that I had to read it three times! Esoteric, fascinating, and informative to the final detail, Cross-Sections leaves me with only one question: where in the galaxy does Jango Fett go to the bathroom?

Such an earthy and single minded question should really not be asked, for this is science fiction. But after examining Cross-sections, with all its technology and ingenuity, it seems that science fiction is rapidly becoming science fact, and bathrooms definitely will be needed to move forward.

Of course, the fact that I have read The Science of Star Wars by Jeanne Cavelos does not help. I know that certain things like hyperdrive and lightsabers are improbable (a good scientist never uses the term 'impossible') but such facts should never impose on a good time, and a good time is the very essence of Star Wars.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the designs of Doug Chiang. The Phantom Menace was a sensory overload in terms of design, but I warmed to it rather quickly. Chiang has taken his cue from Ralph McQuarrie but has strayed far enough to create his own designs that have a basis in the real world. I was especially delighted to see that in Episode I he struck a chord of familiarity- The Queen's Royal starship was apparently based on the SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest supersonic airplane ever and a well-known silhouette.

The designs have changed in form but not in thought. In AOTC, the doomed Senatorial cruiser is based on the 'Flying wing' from Raiders of the Lost Ark (The 'Flying Wing' was a design tossed around in the 1930's and 40's as a way to eliminate drag. It failed and was abandoned until the advent of Stealth technology. It can also be seen in Republic Picture's 1939 serial The Fighting Devil Dogs).

Here, Dr. Saxton labels the specifics of the cruiser: the omnipresent hyperdrive core, navcomputer links, and cockpit, which is extensive enough to show space for the centennial bhansgrer bush of Naboo. He also details the crew and passenger cabins, along with cargo holds and leisure areas. Even the handmaiden's chamber is pointed out, but curiously enough -- no heads! ('Head' is the naval term for the bathroom.)

Zam's airspeeder is rather pedestrian; several bullets show that it has been scaled for speed and storage of light items (like an all-purpose sniper rifle). It looks remarkably like the speeders in any Lucasarts video game. Attached is a small illustration of the ASN assassin droid.

Anakin's speeder (or so billed, it really belongs to a certain Senator by the name of Greyshade) is detailed after a 1950's hot rod. It seems that Lucas's infatuation with speed can never be obscured. With its oversized engines and yellow coloring, it resembles something out of American Graffiti.

When I first watched AOTC, I wondered aloud why the Jedi were not blown out the back of the speeder while executing a (seemingly) zero-G dive. It turns out that the seats have tractor units to "keep the passengers seated during reckless maneuvers." Think wearing shorts in the middle of July, while sitting on vinyl upholstery. Owww!

The Jedi starfighter is the small but powerful wedge-shaped fighter that Obi-Wan pilots in his pursuit of Jango Fett. Like its subsequent counterparts, the TIE fighters, the starfighter cannot achieve hyperspace on its own and must dock with the hyperdrive ring for such jaunts. There is also an explanation for the Republic insignia on the wing, which will later be perverted by the Emperor.

The astromech droid R4-P17 cannot detach from the starfighter because he has no legs! He has been cannibalized from other wreckage by Anakin for use with this particular design.

One discrepancy: The communications and relay dish placement is different here than in the film. Here, it is located in the nose of the craft. In the film, it is located behind R4-P17.

Now for a complete assessment of Jango Fett's infamous ship. It is impressive (and scary) for it literally bristles with weaponry, from mines to blaster cannons and concussion missiles. With that in mind, the Firespray class was originally conceived and operated as a law-enforcement vehicle, then stolen and modified by Jango and later, Boba Fett.

There is a blurb about a disintegrator onboard, for the use of atomizing "waste and other unwanted objects." This may be used for uninvited visitors, uncooperative guests and their ilk. But still -- no head! Where are the bathrooms?

It is made clear that Lars's Swoop is not "especially reliable" which prompts me to ask "What exactly do you mean?" This is a rather disconcerting thought, for one wonders if the swoop breaks down in a rather dangerous neighborhood, say, the Jundland wastes, what does he do? I-95 and Route 66 are rather friendly in comparison. Fix-a-flat isn't going to be much help.

Swoops, we are informed, carry a maximum of two -- one driver, and one passenger (in discomfort).

Amidala's Senatorial starship is referred to as a 'yacht,' with little need for a crew. It can be piloted by one pilot and one co-pilot, with a complement of 'droid's (in this case, R2-D2 and C-3PO).

The Prestige cabin is posh and comfortable, with a king-size hand-carved bed for Senator Amidala, while Anakin sleeps in a cramped crew bunk in what seems to be the noisiest part of the ship.

Just when you thought Doug Chiang milked his designs for Episode I for all that they were worth -- surprise -- we have the Core Ship from the Federation's Droid Control ships. The spheres are detachable and can land on a planet's surface while the rest of the ship remains in orbit. The Federation is quite lazy; for there are only 60 sentient beings on board, the rest of the crew is automated (security, battle, and maintenance 'droid's -- more than 200,000 of them).

One fighter I missed in my two (thus far) viewings of Episode II is the Geonosian Fighter. If I'm not mistaken, they are the fighters that accompany Count Dooku to his hanger and then later swing around and blast the Republic gunship after Anakin and Obi-Wan disembark. I imagine the fighters had more screen time before the scenes were cut. It's a shame, really, since the sleek craft definitely look bad-ass. There are piloted (rather bizarrely) by Geonosians by way of scent! This is explained in detail but I am left incredulous by this design tidbit.

The Republic Assault Ship seems to be the workhorse of the Republic fleet. Comparable to its latter-day cousins, Star Destroyers, in its size and troop capacity, its design definitely presages bigger and more powerful ships.

If the Assault ship is the workhorse of the fleet, then the Republic Gunship is its lesser, faster enforcer. Its offensive weaponry is so detailed in the book that a centerfold spread is devoted to it. It seems that such a design could be replicated in real life, what with its armaments and its ability to carry the AT-TE (All-Terrain Tactical-Enforcer) right to the battlefront. The AT-TE design will later morph into the AT-AT. Remarkable and impressive. Most impressive.

Last but definitely not least is the Solar Sailer, owned by the Dark Jedi Count Dooku (or should we call him Darth Tyranus?).

The ship is reminiscent of the Geonosian fighter, but larger. Like its owner, it is refined and enigmatic. Compact, but comfortable and efficient, the Solar Sailer is propelled either by 'solar wind' (remember those 7^th grade science classes?) or sub-light laser power. The 'sail' is made of a material that is conveniently unknown at this time; no one truly knows what it is. It is reported to be a throwback to another generation, and that fits Count Dooku to a tee.

One question remains: is it faster than sub-light speed, or is it a substitute for hyperdrive? In the film, Tyranus arrives at Coruscant rather quickly, without going into lightspeed.

Attack of the Clones Incredible Cross-Sections is an impressive book, but sometimes it seems to reach a little further than it should. However, to enjoy Star Wars, you must unlearn what you have learned and suspend disbelief. But for pure imagination, Incredible Cross-Sections scores big. Now, where are all the bathrooms?

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(Gregory Ellis served as a sailor onboard the USS Tarawa and the USNS Comfort. He realizes it is most important to know where all the ship's heads are in case of an emergency.)