[JPK]

I'm interested in reading the books that are coming out for the New (disney) Star Wars Universe, but there are so many older books out there that I'm having difficulty sorting though to find the ones that I'm looking for. As far as I can tell, it starts with A New Dawn and also includes Tarkin. I found information about a couple yet to be released, but am I missing anything else? I know a couple of you guys on here have been reading these so I figued I'd ask for help. (And I got the whole New Dawn and Tarkin thing from Google-fu. Unfortunately, Star Wars brings up a TON of results.)

[worry]

The first book in the series starts out with this quote: "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there was a two-legged upright talking dog who occasionally hung out with a regular four-legged non-talking dog owned by a mouse."

[QuickTidal]

I've only read NEW DAWN, but it was a really good intro book, and a solid prequel to the STAR WARS: REBELS tv show, as it stars Kanan Jarrus and Hera when they first meet.

I've heard the TARKIN book is even better, but I can't vouch for it myself.

[McLovin]

I really thought TARKIN was good. It tied a lot of stuff from the movies and TCW together for me.

[Salt-Man Z]

I'm entirely apathetic about the not-EU (though we'll see if that changes come the movies that I actually am excited for.)

These Wookieepedia links might be useful:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Canon_novels
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Timeline_of_canon_books

[JPK]

That helped a lot SMZ, I can't believe i forgot about wookiepedia.

[Alrin]

32 BBY

• Cloak of Deception James Luceno
• Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter Michael Reaves
• Darth Plagueis James Luceno
  • The Tenebrous Way Matthew Stover

29 BBY

• Rogue Planet Greg Bear

27 BBY

• Outbound Flight Timothy Zahn

22 BBY

• Changing Seasons Timothy Zahn
• The Clone Wars: The Pengalan Tradeoff Aaron Allston
• League of Spies Aaron Allston
• Republic Commando: Hard Contact Karen Traviss
• Omega Squad: Targets Karen Traviss
• Duel Timothy Zahn
• Shatterpoint Matthew Stover
  • Equipment Matthew Stover
• Republic Commando: Triple Zero Karen Traviss

21 BBY

• Odds Karen Traviss
• Republic Commando: True Colors Karen Traviss

20 BBY

• Medstar: Battle Surgeons Michael Reeves and Steve Perry
• Medstar: Intermezzo Michael Reeves and Steve Perry
• Medstar: Jedi Healer Michael Reeves and Steve Perry

19 BBY

• Yoda: Dark Rendezvous Sean Stewart
• Labyrinth of Evil James Luceno
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Matthew Stover
• Republic Commando: Order 66 Karen Traviss
• Kenobi John Jackson Miller
• Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader James Luceno
• Imperial Commando: 501st Karen Traviss
• Mist Encounter Timothy Zahn

18 BBY

• Jedi Twilight Michael Reaves
• Street of Shadows Michael Reaves
• Patterns of Force Michael Reaves
• The Last Jedi Michael Reaves

10 BBY

• The Paradise Snare A.C. Crispin

5 BBY

• The Hutt Gambit A.C. Crispin

2 BBY

• Rebel Dawn A.C. Crispin
  • Han Solo at Star's End Brian Daley
  • Han Solo's Revenge Brian Daley
  • Han Solo and the Lost Legacy Brian Daley

0 BBY

• Interlude at Darkknell Timothy Zahn and Michael A. Stackpole
• Death Star Michael Reeves and Steve Perry

2 ABY

• Side Trip Timothy Zahn and Michael A. Stackpole

3 ABY

• Shadows of the Empire Steve Perry

5 ABY

• Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor Matthew Stover

6 ABY

• Missed Chance Michael A. Stackpole
• X-Wing: Rogue Squadron Michael A. Stackpole

7 ABY

• X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble Michael A. Stackpole
• X-Wing: The Krytos Trap Michael A. Stackpole
• X-Wing: The Bacta War Michael A. Stackpole
• X-Wing: Wraith Squadron Aaron Allston
• X-Wing: Iron Fist Aaron Allston
• X-Wing: Solo Command Aaron Allston

8 ABY

• Crisis of Faith Timothy Zahn
• Tatooine Ghost Troy Denning

9 ABY

• The Thrawn Trilogy: Heir to the Empire Timothy Zahn
• The Thrawn Trilogy: Dark Force Rising Timothy Zahn
• The Thrawn Trilogy: The Last Command Timothy Zahn
• X-Wing: Isard's Revenge Michael A. Stackpole

11 ABY

• I, Jedi Michael A. Stackpole

13 ABY

• X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar Aaron Allston

19 ABY

• The Hand of Thrawn: Specter of the Past Timothy Zahn
• The Hand of Thrawn: Vision of the Future Timothy Zahn
• Red Sky, Blue Flame Elaine Cunningham

22 ABY

• Fool's Bargain Timothy Zahn
• Survivor's Quest Timothy Zahn

25 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime R. A. Salvatore
• The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide: Onslaught Michael A. Stackpole
• The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide: Ruin Michael A. Stackpole
• The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos: Hero's Trial James Luceno
• The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos: Jedi Eclipse James Luceno

26 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: Balance Point Kathy Tyers
• The New Jedi Order: Recovery Troy Denning
• The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory: Conquest Greg Keyes
• Emissary of the Void Greg Keyes
• The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory: Rebirth Greg Keyes

27 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: Star by Star Troy Denning
• The New Jedi Order: Dark Journey Elaine Cunningham
• The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines: Rebel Dream Aaron Allston
• The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines: Rebel Stand Aaron Allston
• The New Jedi Order: Traitor Matthew Stover

28 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way Walter John Williams
  • The New Jedi Order: Ylesia Walter John Williams
• The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic: Remnant Sean Williams and Shane Dix
• The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic: Refugee Sean Williams and Shane Dix
• Or Die Trying Sean Williams and Shane Dix

29 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic: Reunion Sean Williams and Shane Dix
• The New Jedi Order: The Final Prophecy Greg Keyes
• The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force James Luceno

Bold = Novels
Italics = Short Stories

It's taken me so long to tweak this list and then format it, that I can no longer remember why I was posting it.
Anyway, these all fall under the LEGENDS banner and are the only Star Wars lit I much care for. I guess my original point was READ THESE, SCREW THE NEW STUFF. Or something. Whatever.

UPDATE: So the above list basically comprises the entirety of what I consider worthwhile LEGENDS material. If one chooses to continue beyond Luceno's Unifying Force, one would have the pleasure of reading about the feral, lightsaber wielding Ewok, Tarfang (in Denning's Dark Nest trilogy), the excellent Star Wars début from Paul S. Kemp, Crosscurrent (and its sequel, Riptide), and the enjoyable final Allston/Wraith novel, Mercy Kill. Unfortunately, you'd also have to wade through a river of shit to get there. While the NJO was understandably divisive amongst fans for both its length and darker tone, the two multi-author series that followed were far, far worse in my estimation. The Legacy of the Force ennead coupled some fine moments of storytelling with some terribly forgettable moments, only to effectively ignore everything that had come before in favour of its (admittedly excellent) final volume. As much as I love Allston's input into that series (his volumes are the only ones that actually feel like Star Wars), they may as well have simply contracted Denning to pen a sequel trilogy to his Dark Nest books and had Allston and Traviss write their own separate tales. As for the Fate of the Jedi, don't get me started. Easily, easily the worst piece of shit in the SW lore. I'd rather read The Crystal Star or Jedi Trial than that dreck.

So with that in mind, I'm going to add a second version of the list to this post, this one condensed with what I consider to be the crème de la crème of the LEGENDS line.

32 BBY

• Cloak of Deception James Luceno
• Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter Michael Reaves
• Darth Plagueis James Luceno
  • The Tenebrous Way Matthew Stover

22 BBY

• Duel Timothy Zahn
• Shatterpoint Matthew Stover
  • Equipment Matthew Stover

19 BBY

• Labyrinth of Evil James Luceno
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Matthew Stover
• Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader James Luceno
• Kenobi John Jackson Miller
• Mist Encounter Timothy Zahn

2 BBY

• Rebel Dawn A.C. Crispin
  • Han Solo at Star's End Brian Daley
  • Han Solo's Revenge Brian Daley
  • Han Solo and the Lost Legacy Brian Daley

3 ABY

• Shadows of the Empire Steve Perry

5 ABY

• Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor Matthew Stover

6 ABY

• X-Wing: Rogue Squadron Michael A. Stackpole

7 ABY

• X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble Michael A. Stackpole
• X-Wing: The Krytos Trap Michael A. Stackpole
• X-Wing: The Bacta War Michael A. Stackpole
• X-Wing: Wraith Squadron Aaron Allston
• X-Wing: Iron Fist Aaron Allston
• X-Wing: Solo Command Aaron Allston

8 ABY

• Crisis of Faith Timothy Zahn
• Tatooine Ghost Troy Denning

9 ABY

• The Thrawn Trilogy: Heir to the Empire Timothy Zahn
• The Thrawn Trilogy: Dark Force Rising Timothy Zahn
• The Thrawn Trilogy: The Last Command Timothy Zahn
• X-Wing: Isard's Revenge Michael A. Stackpole

11 ABY

• X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar Aaron Allston
• I, Jedi Michael A. Stackpole

19 ABY

• The Hand of Thrawn: Specter of the Past Timothy Zahn
• The Hand of Thrawn: Vision of the Future Timothy Zahn

25 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime R. A. Salvatore
• The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide: Onslaught Michael A. Stackpole
• The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide: Ruin Michael A. Stackpole
• The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos: Hero's Trial James Luceno
• The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos: Jedi Eclipse James Luceno

26 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: Balance Point Kathy Tyers
• The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory: Conquest Greg Keyes
• The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory: Rebirth Greg Keyes

27 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: Star by Star Troy Denning
• The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines: Rebel Dream Aaron Allston
• The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines: Rebel Stand Aaron Allston
• The New Jedi Order: Traitor Matthew Stover

28 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way Walter John Williams

29 ABY

• The New Jedi Order: The Final Prophecy Greg Keyes
• The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force James Luceno

Bold = Novels
Italics = Short Stories


So, what's changed? First off the bat I've removed the Reaves micro series. Beginning with the excellent Shadow Hunter, the series, which culminated with Death Star, was tied together by recurring characters (I-5, Uli) but never quite reached the heights of the début again. I enjoy and highly recommend the books, but don't consider them part of the core experience. Next up we see the removal of Traviss' divisive Repuclic Commando books. I enjoy them very much, but they're such a self-contained series that often conflict with the greater EU that I'd instead recommend them as a wholly separate entity.

As for what's left? Cloak of Deception again serves as an entry point, since Luceno took pains to introduce and actually explain so many aspects of the Star Wars universe that are often taken for granted in other books. Plagueis follows on chronologically, despite immediately delving into flashbacks, and ends with the Battle of Naboo which would effectively (though not officially) ignite the Clone Wars. From there we jump ahead to the War itself with a focus on the two greatest Masters of the order -- Yoda goes toe to toe with a Hellfire droid in Zahn's short, while Stover pens one of the greatest EU novels in his tale of Mace Windu x Apocalypse Now. Then it's the Dark Lord trilogy -- the Ep III novelization, easily the best single novel in the EU, bookended by Luceno's two titles. Following on is Jackson Miller's character study of Obi-Wan (which actually takes place before The Rise of Dark Vader, and is thus the first chronologically shifted novel in the condensed list to allow for better thematic reading experiences). The final Clone War era title is Zahn's short story introducing Thrawn to Imperial service, a small tale with big implications for later books.

In the Dark Times we have the two Han Solo trilogies, penned by Daley and Crispin. Crispin's final tale gives me everything I could personally want in a Han Solo book (it begins with how he won the falcon, ends with him sitting in the cantina with Luke and Ben, and has interludes specifically intended to fit the vastly superior Daley tales within its own narrative). I personally don't need more than that from Han's past, hence my decision to cut the earlier Crispin novels from the core list. Rebel Dawn also features a Dash Rendar cameo and an appearance from Xizor, leading us into Shadows of the Empire, itself leading into Return of the Jedi. And then we begin to touch upon the wealth of material in the New Republic era and beyond.

Shadows of Mindor is probably Matt Stover's weakest EU novel. That effectively makes it the fourth greatest Star Wars novel of all time. Using its narrative device it examines the role of the hero and Luke Skywalker's growing legend amongst the galaxy. Which is a tidy little lead in to Stackpole's first X-Wing novel, which opens with the line, "You're good, but you're no Luke Skywalker." From that point forward we have the Stackpole and Zahn show. There's no doubt Zahn's trilogy is the platform that launched the LEGENDS EU, and he and Stackpole, as good friends, worked together to build a growing continuity that set the basis for what we know and love. Add Aaron Allston to the mix, the singular author who really, truly got what the original films felt like, and you have a dozen or more classic titles in a row that truly helped define the EU. Wedged in there is Denning's Tattooine Ghost, simply for its efforts at tying the Original and Prequel trilogies together. The keen of eye will spot the second chronological liberty during this period, as Starfighters of Adumar gets brought forward to allow I, Jedi and the Hand of Thrawn to be read together, as per the designs of its two authors (Zahn and Stackpole have both stated that I, Jedi and Hand of Thrawn are two halves of a thematic whole). And after Hand of Thrawn we have a condensed NJO (the decision to excise Rogue Planet earlier in the list removes the need for the Force Heretic trilogy, while Cunningham's Dark Journey is easily the weakest novel in the series).

And there you go. I once again have no real reason for posting this other than a reference for myself to return to. It's such a personalised list that it means little as a guide or definitive recommendation. So take what you like from it. I'm going to stop writing now.

This post has been edited by Alrin: 26 October 2015 - 08:22 AM

[McLovin]

HEIR TO THE JEDI finally drops tomorrow. The fact that this has been pushed back so many times concerns me that it will suck, and to be brutally honest, the sample provided in TARKIN failed to reassure me. Gut-checking whether I want to allow my pre-order to go through...

EDIT - I went ahead and got it. Will post my review when I finish.

This post has been edited by McLovin: 03 March 2015 - 02:19 PM

[QuickTidal]

Okay, this announcement is going to piss BK off something fierce...but...

http://www.slashfilm...-force-awakens/

TL;DR

The 30 year gap between RETURN OF THE JEDI and THE FORCE AWAKENS is going to be filled by 20 books under the main series title of "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens". The series will be a mix of novels, comics, children’s books and young adult stories all set in the 30 years between the films, and all of which are canon.

While I still mourn aspects of the LEGENDS (old EU) stories...the fresh, pointed, and exacting Canon going forward is exciting to me as it's going to most likely all be very new. And filling the gap between ROTJ and TFA with books is a nice way to tie things together. Basically this means many and much reading for me. I'll probably read them all too...LOL. So I guess I'm the demographic they are aiming this at?

Anyways, sorry for the sore spot BK, I know how you feel about the old EU and how burned you feel by the new Canon story group.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 11 March 2015 - 01:57 PM

[End of Disc One]

Ah man, A.C. Crispin's Han Solo trilogy is being forgotten? Those were my favorite Star Wars books.

Also kind of surprised they dropped Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Academy trilogy, given how important it was to the EU. I realize his reputation isn't the greatest, though.

This post has been edited by End of Disc One: 12 March 2015 - 02:18 PM

[QuickTidal]

End of Disc One, on 12 March 2015 - 02:16 PM, said:

Ah man, A.C. Crispin's Han Solo trilogy is being forgotten? Those were my favorite Star Wars books.

Also kind of surprised they dropped Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Academy trilogy, given how important it was to the EU. I realize his reputation isn't the greatest, though.

Yeah, the entire EU was jettisoned last April in favour of the New Story Canon group moving fwd. Basically the only things that are now Canon are The Prequels, THE CLONE WARS, REBELS, The Original Trilogy, the forthcoming Sequel trilogy...and any books or comics that have come out SINCE that April 2013 announcement (NEW DAWN, TARKIN, HEIR TO THE JEDI).

Yeah, there is some great stuff in the old EU (now renamed LEGENDS) but it was such an unmitigated, and relentlessly repetitive MESS by the end that ditching it entirely was the best option. I'm not saying there weren't great books in it, there definitely were...even in the more maligned 9-book series they did...but in the end the continuity and timeline became a convoluted fan-argued horror-show...ESPECIALLY some of the retconning that later books had to dance due to the Prequels and Clone Wars contradicting a lot of stuff that had been written up to that point.

It needed the fresh route forward.

I'm thinking that the new story canon group is moving in a direction where Luke Skywalker is WAY more unsure of himself and wary of his powers after his father's death and would be especially bad after perhaps learning (from possibly Anakin's Force Ghost itself) the extent of that turn, about his mother Padme, and about all the stuff that came before. The setting up of a Jedi Academy so soon after ROTJ and being grand master himself...seems like more and more a mistake that the EU writers made. I realize it was cool, and gave us cool characters...but in the long run, the progression of a Luke unsure of his place in the universe is FAR more in line with how I think things would go. But that's me, in hindsight I guess. And thinking about the rumours of Luke being in hiding/seclusion in TFA, it just makes sense.

This is not to say that the Jedi Academy wouldn't happen...just that Luke would be far older than his 30's when he might feel comfortable training others.

But yeah, I'm going to miss some books.

Other stuff though...like Chewie having a moon fall on him, or Jaina Solo reduced to plot point marriage subject, or the myriad of times Lando showed up when the OT 3 had to infiltrate somewhere...is all welcome to be gone.

[End of Disc One]

QuickTidal, on 12 March 2015 - 02:30 PM, said:

End of Disc One, on 12 March 2015 - 02:16 PM, said:

Ah man, A.C. Crispin's Han Solo trilogy is being forgotten? Those were my favorite Star Wars books.

Also kind of surprised they dropped Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Academy trilogy, given how important it was to the EU. I realize his reputation isn't the greatest, though.

Yeah, the entire EU was jettisoned last April in favour of the New Story Canon group moving fwd. Basically the only things that are now Canon are The Prequels, THE CLONE WARS, REBELS, The Original Trilogy, the forthcoming Sequel trilogy...and any books or comics that have come out SINCE that April 2013 announcement (NEW DAWN, TARKIN, HEIR TO THE JEDI).

I was aware of the EU jettison, I just didn't know which books made the cut for Legends. It looks like specific authors got preferential treatment. At a glance, outside of multi-author series like NJO, it seems that they went all-or-nothing with each authors' contributions to the EU.

Edit: Oh, I thought the list Alrin posted was official. Nevermind.

This post has been edited by End of Disc One: 12 March 2015 - 07:07 PM

[Binder of Demons]

Of all the star wars books I read, I'm kinda surprised they didn't keep ROGUE PLANET by Greg Bear in with the canon. Admittedly it's years since I read it, but I remember It made a lot more sense after reading that as to how Anakin went down the slippery slope (it was set after The Phantom Menace). And had some pretty cool ideas in it too. Was hoping Greg Bear would have done another one or two but it wasn't to be.

How was that book received by actual Star Wars fans?

[QuickTidal]

Even prequel EU books got the axe in new story canon, so even rogue planet is technically out.

The word from Pablo Hidalgo was that as of April 2013 only the movies, animated shows were canon...books and comics that came after count tho.

[Salt-Man Z]

The cutoff date is April 25, 2014: everything published prior to that date (not including the 7 films and Clone Wars series) is now Legends.

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 13 March 2015 - 03:55 AM, said:

I do still wonder if old pristine EU books will be worth $ on day. Prob not but it'd be nice if I could sell them in future. Esp my perfect HC editions.

I actually think that they might, since they are actively rebranding them to LEGENDS, I assume this will feature a banner on new printings...the old ones become rarer as the years go by...so I say hang on to them.

[End of Disc One]

Binder of Demons, on 13 March 2015 - 12:38 AM, said:

Of all the star wars books I read, I'm kinda surprised they didn't keep ROGUE PLANET by Greg Bear in with the canon. Admittedly it's years since I read it, but I remember It made a lot more sense after reading that as to how Anakin went down the slippery slope (it was set after The Phantom Menace). And had some pretty cool ideas in it too. Was hoping Greg Bear would have done another one or two but it wasn't to be.

How was that book received by actual Star Wars fans?

I thought it was okay. Kinda boring but really interesting concepts by SW standards. But I was in middle school at the time so my opinion probably wasn't worth much.

[Salt-Man Z]

End of Disc One, on 13 March 2015 - 03:13 PM, said:

Binder of Demons, on 13 March 2015 - 12:38 AM, said:

Of all the star wars books I read, I'm kinda surprised they didn't keep ROGUE PLANET by Greg Bear in with the canon. Admittedly it's years since I read it, but I remember It made a lot more sense after reading that as to how Anakin went down the slippery slope (it was set after The Phantom Menace). And had some pretty cool ideas in it too. Was hoping Greg Bear would have done another one or two but it wasn't to be.

How was that book received by actual Star Wars fans?

I thought it was okay. Kinda boring but really interesting concepts by SW standards. But I was in middle school at the time so my opinion probably wasn't worth much.

I read it after college and had much the same thoughts. I was mostly just interested in how it tied in with the New Jedi Order books.

[McLovin]

Finished HEIR TO THE JEDI. Not bad, though this book does not motivate me to read any other stuff by Kevin Hearne. The book wanders a bit, and he really tosses out some cringeworthy phrases. But not too much, and this does fill in the needed gap of just how Luke manages to advance his knowledge of the Force in the gap between ANH and TESB. I say not as good as TARKIN, but maybe slightly better than A NEW DAWN.

The sample of LORDS OF THE SITH included at the end is practically worth the price of admission alone. All I really want from Vader is to be badass, and looks like Paul Kemp is going to deliver.

[QuickTidal]

So a few things have come to light recently.

The post-ROTJ book that takes place right after the end of that film, the one called AFTERMATH is being written by Chuck Wendig (which is cool, I enjoy his writing).

And more recently today it was announced that Greg Rucka is penning the comic prequel to EpVII called SHATTERED EMPIRE.

I'm actually more excited about Wendig's book...as the official canon for post-ROTJ is going to be INTERESTING!