In need of some ideas to celebrate Star Wars Day? Try picking up one of the countless Star Wars books or comics to read. Of course, between Legends and the more recent canon novels, there are tons of Star Wars books to choose from, so picking one can be pretty confusing and challenging. Legends books have a gold bar with the word ‘Legends’ while canon novels won’t have this feature; Youtini has a great explanation of the difference between canon and Legends. Here is a list of ten great books to begin your Star Wars reading journey with. Happy reading, and May the 4th be with you!
Lost Stars – Claudia Gray
I might be starting my recommendations a bit bias, since this is my personal favorite Star Wars novel, but it is well and the perfect place to start. Lost Stars tells the tale of star-crossed lovers Thane and Ciena as they end up on opposite sides of the Galactic civil war, gives a different perspective to the fight, and it’s full of Star Wars nostalgia. It’s a must-read.
Light of the Jedi – Charles Soule
Lucasfilm’s most recent publishing initiative is diving into a completely new era of the Star Wars timeline with The High Republic. Taking place 200 years before the prequels, The High Republic shows the Jedi at the height of their power as a new enemy rises to shatter the peace in the galaxy. If you are looking to dive into this era, definitely read them in publishing order.
Heir to the Empire – Timothy Zahn
One of the most well renowned Legends series, Heir to the Empire tells the story of what happened after the Emperor’s death in Return of the Jedi. In this trilogy, Timothy Zahn introduced the character Thrawn, a brilliant and capable villain on par with Vader and Palpatine in the Star Wars galaxy. Thrawn had such an impact, he was brought into Canon in Star Wars Rebels and now has two more canon trilogies for readers to dive into the mind of this cunning villain.
Lords of the Sith – Paul S. Kemp
If you love the villains of Star Wars, then this book is for you. It centers around Darth Vader and the Emperor after Revenge of the Sith and explores their relationship as the Emperor tests Vader’s loyalty.
Dark Disciple – Christie Golden
If you are a fan of The Clone Wars, this is a book rec for you. Dark Disciple follows Quinlan Vos and Ventress in a story that never got to play out in the animated series due to its cancelation. If you love complex characters, this is the book for you. (Warning, this book may break your heart).
Kenobi – John Jackson Miller
This standalone Legends novel follows Obi-Wan after Revenge of the Sith as he begins his time in hiding on Tatooine. It’s an incredible look and Obi-Wan as a character and a great way to pass the time as we all wait for the Kenobi TV series coming to Disney Plus.
Force Collector – Kevin Shinick
A great book for younger readers looking to dive into Star Wars. Taking place during the sequel era, Force Collector follows the young force-sensitive as he tries to learn the truth about what happened to the Jedi at the end of the Clone Wars. Honestly, I really related to the nerding out about Star Wars artifacts and history that happens in this book, so if you are into the Star Wars universe/history, this is a really fun read.
Aftermath – Chuck Wendig
Aftermath is the first book in the Aftermath trilogy. It follows a completely new set of characters, with the addition of some memorable faces as they work to track down the remnants of the Empire after the battle of Endor. The trilogy adds to the overall Star Wars story by helping to fill in those gaps between the original trilogy and the sequel trilogy.
Alphabet Squadron – Alexander Freed
Alphabet Squadron also takes place shortly after the Battle of Endor. It introduces the reader to a ragtag group of pilots who must come together to stop and a group of Imperials still fighting after the Empire’s defeat. It has quite a cast of characters you’re sure to get attached to as they struggle with their own challenges while engaging in high-flying action.
From a Certain Point of View – Multiple Authors
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the release of A New Hope, From a Certain Point of View tells forty short stories that occur during A New Hope told from the perspective from the main, side, and background characters whose stories have never been told before. It brings a new light to a story we already know and will definitely have you watch A New Hope with new things to look for. There is also a From a Certain Point of View for Empire Strikes Back if that’s more of your favorite Star Wars movie.