We’ve got the answers if you’re still having trouble deciding what to read. we are committed to helping you navigate the expanded universe. and we keep adding new material all the time. These are Star Wars books.
so who wrote the star wars books and how many star wars books are there? the penn book will provide you with all the details in the following article.
You are reading: 9 star wars books
how many star wars books are there in total?
381 books
which star wars books are canon?
since 1977, there have been star wars books available. There were hundreds of books to choose from even before a split between canon and star wars legends. And that doesn’t even include the comics!
Since 2014 alone, more than 40 Star Wars books have been published, growing the expanded universe’s collection of canon stories faster than ever. however, it also means that readers of diverse reading preferences will have more opportunities to discover the books they like.
canon star wars comics
The Star Wars Expanded Universe, which includes anything that isn’t a movie or TV show, is made up of stories from the Star Wars franchise that take many different forms.
You can learn everything you need to know about the background of star wars comics, the canon comics, and how to navigate the countless issues published over the years with the help of our definitive introductory guide to star wars comics. star wars.
Are you sure you don’t like comics? The experience of reading Star Wars comics is quite different from reading classic novels. however, just because they’re unique doesn’t mean they’re not worth exploring.
Unlike star wars novels, star wars comics are shorter to read while still providing a gripping, ongoing narrative. The concepts and themes covered in these fast-paced, action-packed stories are similar to those in the novels; however, they are conveyed through visual storytelling and often comedy that is unique to this medium.
comics are the way to go if you love star wars and want to read more stories from other regions. Switching to this new genre of reading may be easier than you think, as many of them include characters you already know and love.
suppose you don’t know where to start. In that case, Marvel’s Star Wars comic picks up immediately after A New Hope ends and covers familiar characters from the original trilogy. these panel stories are so compelling you almost forget you’re reading a comic.
canon vs legends in star wars books
all this discussion of canon vs. Legends is one of the things new Star Wars book readers find most perplexing. So let’s take a moment to briefly explain how the two variables and how each affects how you approach the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
Anything released before 2014, like the original thrawn trilogy and the new jedi order novels, falls under the category of books of legends and comics. The First Order and Kylo Ren never existed in the time period depicted in these tales.
By contrast, anything published after 2014 and any new Star Wars novels, comics, or reference books are considered canon novels and comics. These volumes are in the same chronological order as the entire Skywalker Saga.
Also, without looking at publication dates, you can quickly distinguish between canon and legends star wars books in stores and online by comparing their covers.
all legends books are now printed with a gold banner reading legends at the top of the cover to alert you that they were published before 2014 and may have some discrepancies with other canon novels you have read. the covers of the canon novels, however, do not display this banner.
easy, huh?
The books of legends are also smaller than the standard books if you look at the star wars novels physically displayed on the shelves. Legends novels are usually sold in paperback, but canon Star Wars books are longer, wider, and taller.
Check out our guide for a more complete and detailed look at the distinctions between canon and legends.
star wars reading list: where to start after finishing the movies
if you just started:
the thrawn trilogy by timothy zahn
if you ask any star wars fan what book they recommend to start with, nine out of ten will give you the same answer: timothy zahn’s thrawn trilogy. the expanded universe was created decades before the force awakens. It started with the last commando, the rising dark force and heir to the empire.
They’re smart, they feature amazing characters like Grand Admiral Thrawn or Mara Jade (a former Imperial assassin who later became Luke Skywalker’s wife), and they still hold up well many years after publication. these star wars novels are worth reading if you’ve only read a few more.
michael a’s x-wing series
aaron allston and stackpole. This series is based on games from old PC games. stackpole uses only a few of the franchise’s characters, but features many of its own. The series follows the New Republic’s efforts to defeat the Empire throughout the years following the return of the Jedi.
There’s a lot to love if you enjoy military sci-fi: lots of x-wing fighter dogfights, espionage, and a host of new characters. aaron allston’s entries are hilarious and follow a unit that is more espionage oriented.
mercy kill is the last installment and was published years later. this series can be called Legacy of the Force. the entire 10-book series is worth reading.
the solo trilogy, b.c. crunchy
although we could soon see an independent han solo movie, the a.c. the crispin trilogy centers on a han solo teen who works as a transport pilot for an underground cult.
The trilogy tells how Chewbacca met him, how he was expelled from the Imperial Academy, and how he lost a shipment belonging to Jabba the Hutt. this is a great example of a prequel novel that tells its own story while serving a larger narrative.
the jedi academy trilogy, kevin j. anderson / me, jedi, michael to stackpole
These books are not popular with all fans, but they are essential. The trilogy focuses on Luke Skywalker’s attempts to restart the Jedi Order. After tracking down several Force-sensitive recruits for help, his most promising student is turned to the dark side.
Although the series is not the most enjoyable, it introduces many characters that will be essential later on. These include the children of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Jacen Solo and Jaina Solo. stackpole cleverly inserted a character from the x-wing series into his i novel, jedi, after the trilogy.
michael a’s x-wing series
aaron allston and stackpole. This series is based on games from old PC games. stackpole uses only a few of the franchise’s characters, but features many of its own. The series follows the New Republic’s efforts to defeat the Empire throughout the years following the return of the Jedi.
There’s a lot to love if you enjoy military sci-fi: lots of x-wing fighter dogfights, espionage, and a host of new characters. aaron allston’s entries are hilarious and follow a unit that is more espionage oriented.
mercy kill is the last installment and was published years later. this series can be called Legacy of the Force. the entire 10-book series is worth reading.
the solo trilogy, b.c. crunchy
although we could soon see an independent han solo movie, the a.c. the crispin trilogy centers on a han solo teen who works as a transport pilot for an underground cult.
The trilogy tells how Chewbacca met him, how he was expelled from the Imperial Academy, and how he lost a shipment belonging to Jabba the Hutt. this is a great example of a prequel novel that tells its own story while serving a larger narrative.
the jedi academy trilogy, kevin j. anderson / me, jedi, michael to stackpole
These books are not popular with all fans, but they are essential. The trilogy is about Luke Skywalker and his efforts to restart the Jedi Order.
After tracking down several force-sensitive recruits for help, his most promising student is turned to the dark side. although the series is not the best, it introduces many characters that will be essential later on.
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These include the children of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Jacen Solo and Jaina Solo. stackpole cleverly inserted a character from the x-wing series into his i novel, jedi, after the trilogy.
the republic commando series, karen traviss
The Republic Commando series is the most important of all the clone wars novels. Based on the video game series, Traviss introduces the Delta Squad to an alien planet equipped with a biological weapons research facility.
traviss gives faceless clone troopers depth and personality, much better than the clone wars animated series. it also creates complex characters that are both interesting and challenging.
breaking point, matthew stoter
shatterpoint is a star wars novel that is as good as the karen traviss series. This book is about Mace Windu in the early days of the clone wars. it is thematically outstanding. strofer used joseph conrad’s heart of darkness as a source to create a dark and riveting novel about the seductive nature of power.
if you want to take the next step
thrawn duology, timothy zahn
zahn couldn’t finish the expanded universe for a few years, but when it came time to finish the central conflict between the empire and the new republic, he created the thrawn duology. these novels are a way to bring thrawn back and tie up some loose ends. however, they also open the doors for the next chapter in the star wars universe.
the corellian trilogy, roger mcbride allen
The series explores Han Solo’s past as his home system teeters on the brink of war. this is a fun trilogy with a lot of action and espionage.
black fleet crisis, michael p. kube mcdowell
The new republic and local governments are at war in this remote star cluster. while the trilogy is well-written and dark, it feels like an unfinished story within the larger arc of continuity. however, it makes for a great set of standalone adventures.
the rest of the clone wars novels
del rey started a multimedia project when the clone attack was launched. it included novels, comics, video games, and animated series. many novels are covering the clone wars.
books like the trial of jedi and the deception of cestus and the battle surgeons and the jedi healer were part of the clone wars story that was first described in a new hope. although dave filoni’s clone wars animated series has some problems with this, there are still good episodes compared to the best.
honor among thieves, james s.a. corey and the razor’s edge, martha wells, scoundrels, timothy zahn
These novels are some of the last to be published in the expanded universe. they were meant to be an easier entry level book for the franchise. these novels are straightforward adventures that have the same feel as the movies.
darth maul: shadowhunter michael reaves. Although The Phantom Menace received mixed reviews, it did introduce fan-favorite character Darth Maul. this novel explains the origins and trials of maul on coruscant.
shadows of empire, steve perry
shadows of the empire is a multimedia series that relates to comics and gaming. Follow the main characters as they try to find Han Solo. The book explores the criminal underworld of Star Wars, bridging the void between The Empire Strikes Back & return of the jedi.
the series of young jedi knights, kevin j. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta
This series of 14 books is aimed at younger readers. however, they are central to the new jedi order and legacy of the force novels.
They are the story of Anakin Solo, Jaina, and Jacen as they train to become a Jedi. there is much adventure on the way. some are very good, such as heir to force. the others are fine.
darth plageis, james luceno
this novel explains the background of darth pesteis. he was briefly mentioned in Revenge of the Sith. a sith lord who discovers the secret of immortality before his apprentice kills him, plaqueis. this book provides a detailed explanation of the reference and helps explain how the sith arose just prior to the prequel trilogy.
john jackson miller, kenobi. Many people have been clamoring to see a movie about Obi Wan Kenobi. But in the meantime, this book delves into Kenobi’s life in Tatooine after the events of Revenge of the Sith. It’s not perfect, though some of it has been altered by Obi Wan Kenobi’s appearance in Rebels.
if you absolutely have to be a completist
the castile trilogy
Though these three books don’t age well, they do introduce interesting concepts. dark saber by kevin j. Anderson and Children of the Jedi by Barbara Hambly are two examples.
These books are long and tedious, but they feature new superweapons and Callista, a love interest for Luke Skywalker. The long-dead Jedi Knight Callista was trapped in the computers of an abandoned Imperial cruiser on a dangerous mission.
the truce in bakura, kathy tyers
This book is noteworthy because it takes place right after the return of the Jedi and follows a new Republic task force sent to help a planet under attack by strange aliens called the Ssi Ruuk. They steal life energy from people to power their ships.
death soldiers, joe schreiber
Do you like horror? do you like zombies? zombie stormtroopers. This is all there is to know about the book. red harvest is a horror novel that can be used as a prequel.
courtship of princess leia. David Wolverton. Han Solo drugs Han Organa and kidnaps her when she is considering marrying someone else. Yes. although it is a book that has not aged well, it does have some familiar canon characters and places. Dathomir, the Nightsisters, and other characters first seen in the Clone Wars are here.
bounty hunter wars, k.w. plane
This series is for bounty hunters. Follow Boba Fett and other bounty hunters after the events of Return of the Jedi. Although it’s a dark take on the Star Wars universes in general, it never really lives up to its potential.
in the new jedi order, several authors
The conflict between the empire and the new republic was over. The king needed to decide what to do next. He assembled a group of writers to create a series of 19 multi-authored books, to see the galaxy invaded and controlled by the Yuuzhan Vong. although there are some positive points in the series, it is long and of uneven quality.
the legacy of force, several authors
The Legacy of the Force Trilogy comprises three trilogies by three authors (Aaron Allston and Karen Traviss) and takes place after the New Jedi Order. it is shorter than the njo but has many more books.
the adventures of han solo and lando calrissian
These books were created by Brian Daley, L. neil smith and span the formative years of the characters. these books are lighthearted and fun, with some sci-fi from the 70s and 80s.
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the crystal star, vonda n. mcintyre
This book is teased in every way, so it’s probably best to skip it. however, if necessary, feel free to read the entire book.
new continuity
lucasfilm was faced with a choice when the force awakens was announced. you could keep the huge eu and create a story in the same universe or ignore it altogether. or save bits.
To the dismay and delight of many fans, he decided to make the entire story non-canon. however, he kept the basic components that made up the eu. we have seen that there are parts of the eu that have reached regular continuity. and we’ll probably see more shortly.
if you just started
aftermath trilogy, chuck wendig
While not the first novel in the new continuity, Chuck Wendig’s subsequent novels are the first to cover the period between Return of the Jedi and the Force Awakens.
the novels introduce new characters and describe how the empire fell. They also showcase some of the major battles mentioned in The Force Awakens to help you prepare for the new trilogy.
thrawn, timothy zahn
although we have already talked about thrawn, we will reiterate that it is a great book. It serves as an entry point to the franchise and a nice setting for the original Thrawn trilogy. the best of both!
lineage, claudia grey
This novel is set just before the force awakens and follows Leia Organa’s journey to manage both the rise of the First Order and the resistance that will come to fight her.
ahsoka, e.k. johnston
ahsoka is one of the most beloved characters from the clone wars. fans were left baffled when he disappeared from the series but later returned in Rebels. this book covers lost time. Ashley Eckstein voices the character in this audiobook.
if you want to take the next step
catalyst, james luceno
This novel picks up at the end of the clone wars and helps set up rogue one. This novel follows Galen Erso through the early years of the Death Star Project and explains why Erso left.
lords of the sith, paul kemp
lords of the sith tells the story of darth vader, emperor palpatine, and their relationship in the early days of the empire when both are trapped on hostile planets.
battlefront: twilight company, alexander freed
alexander freed was commissioned to write a novel based on the battlefront when he returned to consoles. it is similar to the republic commando and x-wing books.
The rebellion between a new hope and the empire strikes back is covered in this action-packed book. a battle novel will also come out in the future.
lost stars, claudia grey
This novel is aimed at younger readers and begins eight years after Revenge of the Sith. Follow Thane Kyrell (a friend) and Cienaree (a stranger) as they navigate divergent paths during the war that has devastated the galaxy.
tarkin, james luceno
grand moff tarkin is a key figure in a new hope, rebels, and now rogue. This book follows his journey to become a fearsome member of the Imperial government.
if you absolutely have to be a completist
dark disciple, christie golden
the clone wars were canceled early. Christie Golden decided to adapt one of her story arcs for a novel. She follows Asajj Ventress, a former Sith apprentice, and Quinlan Vos, a Jedi Knight (who first appeared in the Expanded Universe).
a new dawn, john jackson miller
This novel is a prequel to the animated series Rebels. Explore the origins of Caleb Dume, who would become Kanan Jarrus. this novel features several rebellious characters, along with other novels set around the same time.
heir to the jedi, kevin hearne
This novel was originally intended to be the last novel in the expanded universe. however, it slipped into the main canon. this novel would have been the third of a loose trilogy.
would have followed the last member of the franchise’s big three, luke skywalker, where james s.a. Corey’s Honor Among Thieves follows Han Solo and Princess Leia.
rogue one: a star wars story, alexander freed / the force awakens, alan dean foster
The respective novelizations of each book are well worth the effort if you want to read them all. they are easy to read and add an extra dimension to movies.
frequently asked questions about the star wars book series
is there a book series for star wars?
star wars junior novels collection 5 books by ryder windham: a new hope, the empire strikes back return of the jedi force awakens the last jedi
what is the first star wars book to read?
if you ask any star wars fan what book they recommend to start with, nine out of ten will give you the same answer: timothy zahn’s thrawn trilogy. the expanded universe was created decades before the force awakens. It started with the last commando, the rising dark force and heir to the empire.
what is the most expensive star wars book?
thurn says the original edition of star wars frames is probably the most valuable star wars book, and he also serves as a collectors’ stage organizer across the united states. celebrations.
when were the star wars books published?
Six months before the film’s debut, on December 16, 1976, Ballantine Books first released it as Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker.
are there official star wars books?
(Amounts from 2014 to 2019) Star Wars produced an original canon in 2014, which comprised all published novels and comics, as well as all episodes of the films, television shows, and movies Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Rebels star wars and star wars resistance.
how many star wars books have been published
comics are excluded from this. With the release of more than 40 short stories this year, the Star Wars canon book collection is expanding faster than ever.
who published star wars books?
Disney Publishing Worldwide’s upcoming Star Wars books and Del Rey books will now be included in Star Wars TV shows and movies, allowing fans to read what they’ve been wanting to do.
who wrote most of the star wars books?
Timothy Zahn is said to be the author of the legendary Thrawn trilogy and fourteen expansion-themed books set in the world of Star Wars.
read more:
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