Mar 23, 2019 star wars gained many fans thanks to its numerous films, but theres more to the galaxy than just major movie releases. This list of the top 15 noncanon star wars stories includes books that examine sith mythology, jedi training, ancient worlds and the murderous rampage of darth vader. I started at the darth bane trilogy so that is my gold standard. Jul 09, 2018 do you want to get into star wars legends. Or should you start from the very earliest chronological book in the legends timeline. Easy explanation is the legends timeline is the original and the. These books are part of the original star wars expanded universe, and follow an internally consistent timeline. Today, we take a close look at the star wars legends expanded universe, examining which books a new reader should check out, and how to start reading star wars expanded universe content including. From the press release regarding the new disney vs legends canon now, with an exciting future filled with new cinematic installments of star wars, all aspects of star wars storytelling moving forward will be connected. Jan 10, 20 where to begin with star wars books emmet asherperrin. The phantom menace, in the era of the glorious high republic, the noble and wise jedi knights must face a frightening threat to themselves, the galaxy, and the force itself. The old star wars expanded novel universe that includes all star wars novels created after the legends rebranding of the old expanded universe by disney. The list includes only star wars novels, shortstories and comic books are not included here. A complete list of all fulllength star wars novels in chronological order.
In cases where series were not published in their chronological order, we have noted that as well. Everything you need to get started reading star wars books including where to. Where to begin with star wars books emmet asherperrin. The star wars series began in 1978 with splinter of the minds eye, to be followed by hundreds of novels by many different authors. The 10 best stories in the star wars expanded universe. The 10 best star wars legends books, ranked screenrant. The star wars legends book series by multiple authors includes books dookus secret army star wars. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. We have listed all of these star wars series by their chronology. This star wars legends article contains information that is affected by the star wars. We are primarily a source of discussion and news for anything involving the star wars expanded universe legends or story group canon. The films, books and comics let us marvel at the star wars universe, but those of us who had a pc and a joystick in the midnineties found that lucasartss xwing and tie fighter series let us.
Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. But many fans consider the novels to represent the true essence of star wars, and for that reason, the force will always be with them. Star wars legends books represent the original star wars expanded universe which is now. This book is the romcom of star wars books as it follows the romance between princess leia and han solo, ultimately leading to their marriage. Star wars is an american epic spaceopera media franchise created by george lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popculture phenomenon.
Ask any star wars reader what book to start with, and nine times out of 10, youll get the same answer. See the complete star wars legends series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. Must read star wars legends books, and where to start. The clone wars decide your destiny, heir to the empire, star wars. Welcome to the star wars expanded universe subreddit. Say you decided youd like to read all the star wars books in existence.
Heir to the empire, dark force rising, and the last command. Star wars comics, noncanon now, for some noncanon, old eu aka star wars legends stuff if you were obsessed with timothy zahns thrawn trilogy. This is a fairly recent old eu comic, but its based on an even older and much beloved star wars series set just after return. Recently there have been a lot of posts of people wanting to get into the books but dont know where to start, and thanks to the suggestion of ulawslistens i decided to make a beginners guide.
Star wars is an american epic spaceopera media franchise, centered on a film series. A books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted. The ultimate guide to star wars legends books youtini. Lords of the sith is a bit like a buddy road movie, except that the buddies are evil emperor palpatine and his equally nasty sidekick, darth vader. And its never been a better time be a kid taking their first steps into the larger world of star wars storytelling in celebration of star wars reads this october, were shining a light on the veritable galaxy of. In other words, in what disney now calls legends, here are the best noncanon stories we wish were still part of the continuity. The three best books i would recommend that all star wars fans should read is the thrawn trilogy or the heir to the empire trilogy, written by timothy zahn.
While i love some stories of the legends, i will always choose the canon disney. It is derived from and includes most official star wars books. I wrote a ton more about why these books and the awesome dark horse comics, too are so important to star wars lore in an earlier article. Star wars legends, formerly known as the expanded universe abbreviated eu, encompasses every one of the licensed, fictional background stories of the star wars universe, outside of the original six star wars films produced by george lucas and certain other material such as star wars. All the star wars books released after 2014, when disney started releasing books that fell into the official star wars universe. Nov 18, 2016 this list of the top 15 noncanon star wars stories includes books that examine sith mythology, jedi training, ancient worlds and the murderous rampage of darth vader. Many authors have been contracted to write all sorts of stories that add on to the star wars saga.
Some are based directly on the movie material, while others rely heavily on the noncanonical expanded universe rebranded as star wars legends and removed from the canon in 2014. Must read star wars legends books, and where to start star. Thats where youtinis ideal reading order comes into play. Star wars legends books represent the original star wars expanded universe which is now known as star wars legends. Simple star wars book list timeline of star wars novels. Here are the 20 best adventures across both legends and the new canon. It was renamed star wars legends, and considered sort of an alternate timeline to the main events of the star wars saga, similar to what happens in comic book series. The star wars eu both canon and legends, like anything, is very manageable with a bit of direction. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for. Getting started guide star wars books are our speciality. The billboard asked lucasfilm to continue publishing new star wars legends stories, from what was previously known as the expanded universe. Tales from jabbas palace 1996 the star wars universe, being massive and full of oddities, was really well served by a series of short story anthologies like this, which also happens to. Each novel is attributed to its respective era, along with name, timeline, authors name and date of release.
Getting into star wars books can be a little daunting due to the sheer number of books but dont. Today, we take a close look at the star wars legends expanded universe, examining which books a new reader should check out, and how to. A lot of people start here based on recommendations, so this becomes their gold standard for star wars books. Star wars legends books chronological order part 1 100 books. These books are considered history and the material that occurs in these stories is officially part of the star wars timeline. Oct 23, 2017 on the comlink is a feature in which two writers get on the phone and discuss a specific star wars topic. With a rich cast of characters that includes beloved favoritesluke skywalker, han solo, and princess leia organaalong with new villains and heroes, sith lords and jedi knights. If your desire to get better acquainted with star wars lit has been sparked by the upcoming release of the rise of skywalker, this is the list for you. The ultimate guide to reading the star wars books reedsy. One of the biggest topics of speculation in the runup to the new star wars movie is how it will fit in with the preexisting expanded universe. This is a timeline for novels, young adult books, and ebooks in the.
May 02, 2018 star wars comics, noncanon now, for some noncanon, old eu aka star wars legends stuff if you were obsessed with timothy zahns thrawn trilogy. You have to take into account that there are now 2 timelines with everything all media star wars. Dec 10, 2019 20 best star wars books from canon and legends want to know where to start with star wars books. The exact chronology of the events described in this article is currently unknown.
Star wars star wars legends kindle edition by stackpole, michael a download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. As star wars fans today, through everything from films to novels to comics to animation to video games, were enjoying some of the absolute best star wars stories ever told. While most of them are no longer canonical and belong to the star wars legends brand, there are some that were left as canon. Star wars legends series found in space opera for decades, the legends novels have expanded the universe of star wars in novels as varied and vibrant as the planets and star systems that compose this epic saga. The han solo trilogy, book 3 the hutt gambit star wars. This body of work represents the original star wars expanded universe, which was rebranded as star wars legends and declared noncanon to the franchise in april 2014. Updated regularly, with new releases and upcoming titles highlightesd. The best star wars books to read first a getting started guide. Yoda is called to a planet of child warriors in the middle of a tribal conflict. The expanded universe was rebranded as star wars legends, but it was far from forgotten by its fans or the authors of the new canon novels. The thrawn trilogy by mike baron, olivier vatine, fred blanchard, edvin biukovic, and terry dodson. As experts on the matter, weve chosen five foundational books that we believe everyone at the beginning of their eu adventures should read first. Shattered empire comics series by greg rucka, marco checcheletto, and joe caramagna, followed by star wars. Feb 01, 2018 today, we take a close look at the star wars legends expanded universe, examining which books a new reader should check out, and how to start reading star wars expanded universe content including.
Bloodline by claudia grey honestly, one of the best star wars books ever written, and my personal favorite, featuring a 40something leia and a lot of the political leadin to the force awakens. In this installment celebrating star wars reads, megan crouse and amy ratcliffe talk about where fans might want to start reading star wars novels, young adult and middle grade books, and short stories set in a galaxy far, far away. With a rich cast of characters that includes beloved favoritesluke skywalker, han solo, and princess leia organaalong with. Episode i the phantom menace, lucasfilm has divided its titles by fictional era with symbols designating such. Star wars legends is too massive to fit into a single 100 book list, therefore this is part 1 of a multiple part list that contains all novels, young adult books, and ebooks in the expanded universelegends continuity in order of the timeline. The first star wars novel was published in 1976 in the decades since, dozens of books set in the galaxy far, far away have been released, stories for all ages starring the likes of luke. Yodas secret war, by jason aaron, salvador larroca, kelly thompson, and emilio laiso though presented as a flashback, this 2017 story is the first one to take us back to a time prior to episode i, even if just. Under lucasfilm president kathleen kennedys direction, the company for the first time ever has formed a story group to oversee and coordinate all star. Old republic paint adventures an interactive comic set in the new canon, it tells the tale of the old republics final years through the viewpoints of five distinct characters, as each gets swept up in a dangerous game of galactic politics and underworld schemes. In other words, in what disney now calls legends, here are the best noncanon stories we. The force awakens is set to unveil its new storyline to all fans worldwide as the first film in the star wars sequel trilogy.
The ten best star wars legends books heir to the empire by timothy zahn 1991 you would be hardpressed to find a fan of the star wars expanded universe who doesnt love timothy zahns novels. On the comlink is a feature in which two writers get on the phone and discuss a specific star wars topic. Everything before 2014 is now considered star wars legends, which still exist as great stories, but are no longer considered canonical. Start a trial of audible and your first audiobook is on us. Star wars gained many fans thanks to its numerous films, but theres more to the galaxy than just major movie releases.
If youre new, and want to learn more about the expanded universe, you can find a few links in the sidebar that may be helpful. The 20 best star wars books of all time canon and legends. Star wars legends books chronological order part 1 100. The star wars franchise has spawned over one hundred computer, video, and board games, dating back to some of the earliest home consoles. Thrawn trilogy is good, but i was underwhelmed by it after seeing so much hype and listening to so many other star wars books prior. Star wars just nuked its entire expanded universe the. New to star wars books and dont know where to start. Advice on where to begin reading star wars legends stories.
In broad strokes, these novels paint the major galactic events that have taken place and add tons of context to the events taking place between the movies. Do you prefer the star wars legends or disney vs star wars. This guide will cover both canon and legends material. Simple list of star wars books in order of when they take place, with sidebyside timelines for legends and the new canon. We hope these free materials can somewhat manipulate the fabric of time to accelerate all of us to this date. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading i, jedi. It goes without saying that 18th december has been marked as a special date for most of us. When han learns leia is considering the marriage proposal of hapan prince isolder it kicks off a series of events that result in a journey to the planet dathomir and a confrontation with the warlord zsinj. Dec 02, 2019 three books, four major villains of the star wars universe if your tastes run to the dark side. The star wars expanded universe eu is the further adventures in a galaxy far, far. Legends became more like dc and marvel comics over the years, always inventing some new over powered being that has the power to annihilate planets, move star destr.