Star Wars Expanded Universe

[Huntn]

Updates:

• 3Feb22- Added The Mandalorian
• Sep 2016: Rogue One added.

Dec 2016 Update: Disney the new Dark Master of the Empire, Decrees that the Star Wars Expanded Universe is DEAD! (Apple fanboy gets delayed credit, see post #5) Does that mean that nothing will be weaned from the expanded universe? No clue.

Is there a decent starting point for reading?
I may just read the Phantom Menace Book and see if it sits with me better than the movie did. Looking at these links and the huge amount of content devoted to the expanded Star Wars Universe, I have to wonder how much did Episode 7 crap all over existing canon?

• List of Chronological Books and how they fit in with the movies @starwars.wikia.com.
• Timeline of Cannon Books @starwars.wikia.com
• Timeline of Legend Books @starwars.wikia.com
• From Thrawn to A New Dawn: We count down the 31 best Star Wars Books @ blastr.com
• Where To Begin With Star Wars Books @www.tor.com

Possible Starting Points for reading. Partially based on the Blastr and tor.com recommendations (comments from associated links). Reference BBY = Before the Battle of Yavin (A New Hope), ABY= After the Battle of Yavin:

• Episode I: The Phantom Menace (32 BBY)- A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an evil legacy long believed dead is stirring. Now the dark side of the Force threatens to overwhelm the light, and only an ancient Jedi prophecy stands between hope and doom for the entire galaxy.
• The Approaching Storm (22-22.5 BBY)- In the beginning of Attack of the Clones, the Jedi mention that Obi-Wan Kenobi has returned from a border dispute on the planet Ansion. This book shows us what happened during that mission.
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones (22 BBY)- There is a great disturbance in the Force…. From the sleek ships of the glimmering Coruscant skyscape to the lush gardens of pastoral Naboo, dissent is roiling. The Republic is failing, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, elected ten years earlier to save the crumbling government. Separatists threaten war, and the Senate is hopelessly divided, unable to determine whether to raise an army for battle or keep the fragile peace. It is a stalemate that, once broken, could lead to galactic chaos.
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (19 BBY)- Rise of the new Sith Lord: Darth Vader.
• Dark Lord: Rise of Darth Vader (18-11 BBY)- Set close after Revenge of the Sith, this novel follows Darth Vader as he came into his own in his new role as a deadly Sith Lord. It’s a different Darth Vader readers than the ruthless one we’re used to in the movies.
• The Hans Solo Trilogy (10-0 BBY)- Pick up the Han Solo Trilogy by A. C. Crispin. If you ever wanted to know what childhood was like for the infamous smuggler, or what made him so inclined to hang out with Wookiees, this is where you need to be. It makes sense of the man in a way that no one else has ever attempted, and Crispin’s meticulous backstory shows us how Han’s destiny was always bound to drag him toward a rebellion and one princess all along. Also, take a look at the new Timothy Zahn book Scoundrels, set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. (www.tor.com comments)
• Rogue One (-5 to -1 ABY) Movie release Dec 2016. The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the Death Star plans. Will they succeed?? My understanding is the time frame on this story based on this link is approximately -1 to -5 ABY I've updated the first point to reflect this. Please correct me if necessary and I'll change it.
  
• Episode IV: A New Hope (0 ABY)
• Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (3 ABY)
• Shadows of the Empire (3.5 ABY)- For People Who Want to Know What Happens Between Films.
• Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (4ABY)
• Truce of Bakura (4 ABY)- The Truce at Bakura is set right after Return of the Jedi and sees the Rebel Alliance answer a distress call from an Imperial world, Bakura.
• Bounty Hunter Wars (4 ABY)- Bobba Fett.
• X-Wing Series (6.7-7.5 ABY)- Rogue and Wraith Squadron Books.
• Tatooine Ghost (8 ABY)- Tatooine Ghost takes place closer to Return of the Jedi than the Black Fleet Crisis books and sees Leia traveling to Tatooine to obtain a painting embedded with an essential Rebel code up for auction. Of course the Imperials are there to get the painting, too.
• Courtship of Princess Leia (8 ABY)- 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.
• The Mandalorian (9 ABY)- Feb 2022 I’m catching up on this series. The Mandalorian decides to violate a contract. (Link)
• The Thrawn Trilogy (9 ABY)- The engrossing story saw Thrawn leading remnants of the Empire against the New Republic as his ally, Dark Jedi clone Joruus C'baoth, goes after Luke and Leia, who is pregnant with the twins. The trilogy keeps the spirit of the original three films while successfully expanding Star Wars lore and left fans wanting more Star Wars stories.
• Jedi Academy (11 ABY)- These books chronicle the efforts of Luke Skywalker to rebuild the Jedi Order after the events of Return of the Jedi.
• The Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy (16-17 ABY)- These three books take place about 16 years after A New Hope, during the New Republic era of the Expanded Universe.
• The Corellian Trilogy (18 ABY)- Han Solo returns to his home planet in this New Republic era book trilogy that sees the Corellian Sector in turmoil.
• The New Jedi Order (22ABY)- This massive 19 book series is often a controversial one among fans, but its epic story and compelling character development earn it the number two spot on my list. The series introduces a new threat to the entire galaxy: the Yuuzhan Vong..
• Episode VII The Force Awakens: (34 ABY?)
• The Dark Nest Trilogy (35-36 ABY)
• Crucible (45 ABY)

 

[ucfgrad93]

Thanks for this great summary @Huntn

 

[Huntn]

Thanks for this great summary @Huntn

Thanks!

I've decided to start by reading The Star Wars Prequel eBook ($13.99) that covers episodes I-III. Hopefully this will grow on me better than the movies did. A free sample is available on iBooks and it reads easy enough with a good start- Anakin Skywalker piloting a racing pod on Tatooine.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I read the Black Fleet trilogy a long time ago. I might read it again in the near future.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I've read all of them over the years. As I've mentioned elsewhere, one of my frustrations with VII is all this has been deleted. So characters that I've been reading about for decades now have different timelines.
The Hand of Thawn trilogy is one of the better stories in the series.

 

[Huntn]

I've read all of them over the years. As I've mentioned elsewhere, one of my frustrations with VII is all this has been deleted. So characters that I've been reading about for decades now have different timelines.
The Hand of Thawn trilogy is one of the better stories in the series.

So they crapped all over the canon. Some of the branching movies might delve into the expanded universe. The problem with Ep7 is I don't think any respectable author of a book series would have pulled, what they pulled in a new novel of the same series. It would have been ridiculed as a story by someone who had run out of ideas.

 

[ucfgrad93]

The Thrawn trilogy was also excellent.

 

[ButteryScrollin]

So glad Disney dumped the baggage of the EU, although I'm sure in a decade or so the new one will be just as bad.

 

[kazmac]

They repurposed the EU to a degree for Kylo Ren's character...

I haven't read many of the novels because I 1) disliked how Luke was / is written and 2) I don't want to know about these characters after the OT*.

Re: my panties are in a bunch over Disney / LFL jettisoning the EU, is simply losing many of the great comics Dark Horse produced, especially in the aughts. I love Dawn of the Jedi - which is exactly what it sounds like - and scarce now due to Dark Horse not being allowed to reprint any of their often excellent EU material. I won't go near Marvel's SW comics unless Greg Rucka writes them.

*Although the OT cast had very little to do with my dislike of The Force Awakens.

Huntn, knowing Disney / Marvel etc. they will fill us in on the 30 years in between RoTJ and TFA.

 

[decafjava]

They repurposed the EU to a degree for Kylo Ren's character...

I haven't read many of the novels because I 1) disliked how Luke was / is written and 2) I don't want to know about these characters after the OT*.

Re: my panties are in a bunch over Disney / LFL jettisoning the EU, is simply losing many of the great comics Dark Horse produced, especially in the aughts. I love Dawn of the Jedi - which is exactly what it sounds like - and scarce now due to Dark Horse not being allowed to reprint any of their often excellent EU material. I won't go near Marvel's SW comics unless Greg Rucka writes them.

*Although the OT cast had very little to do with my dislike of The Force Awakens.

Huntn, knowing Disney / Marvel etc. they will fill us in on the 30 years in between RoTJ and TFA.

I actually posted this on the other thread:

http://io9.gizmodo.com/everything-we-know-about-star-wars-post-return-of-the-j-1729549100

So there it is. I really enjoyed the film btw.

 

[Huntn]

I actually posted this on the other thread:

http://io9.gizmodo.com/everything-we-know-about-star-wars-post-return-of-the-j-1729549100

So there it is. I really enjoyed the film btw.

Speaking of io9, I had not thought about this, and it's not enough reason to stop SWs, but there is truth in this:
There's one thing I totally hate about The Force Awakens: Because The Force Awakens has destroyed Luke, Leia, and Han’s happy ending.

 

[kazmac]

Agree about the iO9 quote, Huntn.

And thanks, decafjava.

 

[MacNut]

Point of clarification, Were the canons ever officially endorsed by Lucas as official stories in the Star Wars universe? Or did they go their own way and are really not a part of the movie trilogy.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Point of clarification, Were the canons ever officially endorsed by Lucas as official stories in the Star Wars universe? Or did they go their own way and are really not a part of the movie trilogy.

Endorsed by Lucas. He even gave permission for one of the key characters to be killed off (not the same character as in VII either).
I'm sure he received a few quid for it to!

 

[MacNut]

Endorsed by Lucas. He even gave permission for one of the key characters to be killed off (not the same character as in VII either).
I'm sure he received a few quid for it to!

Did Lucas have guidelines for the canons to follow or did he just allow anything to go. Did he just allow free rein to the side stories.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Did Lucas have guidelines for the canons to follow or did he just allow anything to go. Did he just allow free rein to the side stories.

I believe there were some guidelines. Like one of Han and Leia's three kids turns Sith. Originally it was going to be their youngest, Anakin. But as this was when the prequels came out, Lucas thought it would be confusing so they changed it to Jacen going bad.

 

[decafjava]

Speaking of io9, I had not thought about this, and it's not enough reason to stop SWs, but there is truth in this:
There's one thing I totally hate about The Force Awakens: Because The Force Awakens has destroyed Luke, Leia, and Han’s happy ending.

I don't get the problem though - all of you on this thread seem to have delved into the EU which also destroys the "happy ending" of ROTJ so why is it an issue if the film follows that ? It really never made sense that the rest of the Imperial forces would just fold and surrender, unless one makes the parallel with Germany surrendering after the death of Hitler. Anyway I'll bow out of the thread as I really liked the film.

 

[Huntn]

I don't get the problem though - all of you on this thread seem to have delved into the EU which also destroys the "happy ending" of ROTJ so why is it an issue if the film follows that ? It really never made sense that the rest of the Imperial forces would just fold and surrender, unless one makes the parallel with Germany surrendering after the death of Hitler. Anyway I'll bow out of the thread as I really liked the film.

That was an observation and emotion that some people felt. They wanted to keep the happy ending. This family already had to endure one infamous relative, it's too bad Abrams and Company felt the need to heap more grief on them.

I was just as anxious as everyone else to see another chapter in the story so it's not one of my primary complaints, just an observation. Btw, the primary purpose of this thread is to discuss the SWs expanded universe, not to primarily rag on Episode 7 although that will happen on occasion.

 

[Huntn]

From Star Wars VII (Spoiler thread)


I spoke with my son today, on deployment in the Middle East. They had Episode 7 on the big screen! Good deal for being deployed. Anyway he has read some of the X-Wing books and tells me these are excellent and follow events right after the destruction of the second Death Star. All was not well in the Galaxy afterwards. I've already admitted to my ignorance , to bad they did not do a better job in Ep7 of filling us in, instead of assuming we were all up to speed with events over the last 30 years.

I've heard praise in this forum regarding different Star Wars books. After some frustration with Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) I decided to research.

Is there a decent starting point for reading?
I may just read the Phantom Menace Book and see if it sits with me better than the movie did. Looking at these links and the huge amount of content devoted to the expanded Star Wars Universe, I have to wonder how much did Episode 7 crap all over existing canon?

• List of Chronological Books and how they fit in with the movies @starwars.wikia.com.
• Timeline of Cannon Books @starwars.wikia.com
• Timeline of Legend Books @starwars.wikia.com
• From Thrawn to A New Dawn: We count down the 31 best Star Wars Books @ blastr.com
• Where To Begin With Star Wars Books @www.tor.com

Possible Starting Points for reading. Partially based on the Blastr and tor.com recommendations (comments from associated links). Reference BBY = Before the Battle of Yavin (Return of the Jedi), ABY= After the Battle of Yavin:

• Episode I: The Phantom Menace (32 BBY)- A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an evil legacy long believed dead is stirring. Now the dark side of the Force threatens to overwhelm the light, and only an ancient Jedi prophecy stands between hope and doom for the entire galaxy.
• The Approaching Storm (22-22.5 BBY)- In the beginning of Attack of the Clones, the Jedi mention that Obi-Wan Kenobi has returned from a border dispute on the planet Ansion. This book shows us what happened during that mission.
  
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones (22 BBY)- There is a great disturbance in the Force…. From the sleek ships of the glimmering Coruscant skyscape to the lush gardens of pastoral Naboo, dissent is roiling. The Republic is failing, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, elected ten years earlier to save the crumbling government. Separatists threaten war, and the Senate is hopelessly divided, unable to determine whether to raise an army for battle or keep the fragile peace. It is a stalemate that, once broken, could lead to galactic chaos.
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (19 BBY)- Rise of the new Sith Lord: Darth Vader.
• Dark Lord: Rise of Darth Vader (18-11 BBY)- Set close after Revenge of the Sith, this novel follows Darth Vader as he came into his own in his new role as a deadly Sith Lord. It’s a different Darth Vader readers than the ruthless one we’re used to in the movies.
• The Hans Solo Trilogy (10-0 BBY)- Pick up the Han Solo Trilogy by A. C. Crispin. If you ever wanted to know what childhood was like for the infamous smuggler, or what made him so inclined to hang out with Wookiees, this is where you need to be. It makes sense of the man in a way that no one else has ever attempted, and Crispin’s meticulous backstory shows us how Han’s destiny was always bound to drag him toward a rebellion and one princess all along. Also, take a look at the new Timothy Zahn book Scoundrels, set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. (www.tor.com comments)
  
• Episode IV: A New Hope (0 ABY)
  
• Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (3 ABY)
• Shadows of the Empire (3.5 ABY)- For People Who Want to Know What Happens Between Films.
  
• Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (4ABY)
  
• Truce of Bakura (4 ABY)- The Truce at Bakura is set right after Return of the Jedi and sees the Rebel Alliance answer a distress call from an Imperial world, Bakura.
• Bounty Hunter Wars (4 ABY)- Bobba Fett.
  
• X-Wing Series (6.7-7.5 ABY)- Rogue and Wraith Squadron Books.
  
• Tatooine Ghost (8 ABY)- Tatooine Ghost takes place closer to Return of the Jedi than the Black Fleet Crisis books and sees Leia traveling to Tatooine to obtain a painting embedded with an essential Rebel code up for auction. Of course the Imperials are there to get the painting, too.
• Courtship of Princess Leia (8 ABY)- 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.
• The Thrawn Trilogy (9 ABY)- The engrossing story saw Thrawn leading remnants of the Empire against the New Republic as his ally, Dark Jedi clone Joruus C'baoth, goes after Luke and Leia, who is pregnant with the twins. The trilogy keeps the spirit of the original three films while successfully expanding Star Wars lore and left fans wanting more Star Wars stories.
• Jedi Academy (11 ABY)- These books chronicle the efforts of Luke Skywalker to rebuild the Jedi Order after the events of Return of the Jedi.
  
• The Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy (16-17 ABY)- These three books take place about 16 years after A New Hope, during the New Republic era of the Expanded Universe.
  
• The Corellian Trilogy (18 ABY)- Han Solo returns to his home planet in this New Republic era book trilogy that sees the Corellian Sector in turmoil.
  
• The New Jedi Order (22ABY)- This massive 19 book series is often a controversial one among fans, but its epic story and compelling character development earn it the number two spot on my list. The series introduces a new threat to the entire galaxy: the Yuuzhan Vong..
  
• Episode VII The Force Awakens: (34 ABY?)
  
• The Dark Nest Trilogy (35-36 ABY)
• Crucible (45 ABY)

Rogue One (Dec 2016)- The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the Death Star plans. Will they succeed?? My understanding is the time frame on this story based on this link is approximately -5 to -1 ABY. I've updated the first point to reflect this. Please correct me if necessary and I'll change it.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Rogue One (Dec 2016)- The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the Death Star plans. Will they succeed?? My understanding is the time frame on this story based on this link is approximately -5 to -1 ABY. I've updated the first point to reflect this. Please correct me if necessary and I'll change it.

You're right about Rogue One. But please note the Expanded Universe (EU) has been completely abandoned. The EU works are now described as 'legend'.

New novels published in the run up to Episode 7 take the events after Episode VI quite differently.

 

[mac666er]

@Huntn Did you ever start reading any of the books?

I recommend also the Thrawn trilogy, for the only reason that these were the first books ever published and publishers really found out how hungry people were for more StarWars stories.

These books were so well written, that I could really see the story in my head with music, characters and all.

I believe the story was not sublime, they would have been great movies on par with the Return of the Jedi, which is not bad at all. Definitely better than the prequels. The villain was exquisite, a new villain that I liked and filled in the shoes of Vader.

 

[skottichan]

@Huntn Did you ever start reading any of the books?

I recommend also the Thrawn trilogy, for the only reason that these were the first books ever published and publishers really found out how hungry people were for more StarWars stories.

These books were so well written, that I could really see the story in my head with music, characters and all.

I believe the story was not sublime, they would have been great movies on par with the Return of the Jedi, which is not bad at all. Definitely better than the prequels. The villain was exquisite, a new villain that I liked and filled in the shoes of Vader.

Timothy Zahn is back with Star Wars, he's the showrunner for season 3 of Star Wars Rebels, and we've gotten Thrawn this season.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

@Huntn Did you ever start reading any of the books?

I recommend also the Thrawn trilogy, for the only reason that these were the first books ever published and publishers really found out how hungry people were for more StarWars stories.

These books were so well written, that I could really see the story in my head with music, characters and all.

I believe the story was not sublime, they would have been great movies on par with the Return of the Jedi, which is not bad at all. Definitely better than the prequels. The villain was exquisite, a new villain that I liked and filled in the shoes of Vader.

I read the Zahn's Thrawn trilogy in the 90s. I thought they were very good. As I understand it, their popularity led to more books being allowed, and when Lucas realised there was still a market for Star Wars, the prequels followed.

Sadly, a great many of the novels that followed Zahn's trilogy were terrible. They often had weak characterisation, weak plots, and weak writing in general. Every 20 or 30 pages they would force in a line from the Original Trilogy. The way they did it was clunky and incongruent with the context. You'd be reminded of the Great story telling in the Original Trilogy, and then be faced with the writers own meagre efforts. I like this movie franchise, but I stopped reading the novels.

That was 20 years or so ago. In a fit of nostalgia after Episode 7 last year, I bought the novels of the prequel trilogy on kindle. Phantom Menace wasn't too bad. But Attack of the Clones could be the worst book I have ever read. By this stage the prequel movies were a financial success. They really should have given the novelisation to a better writer, or at least quality assessed his work, and got him to do it properly.

@skottichan Re Star Wars Rebels. My boys like this, and I watch it with them. I confess I think it's pretty good.

 

[decafjava]

@skottichan Re Star Wars Rebels. My boys like this, and I watch it with them. I confess I think it's pretty good.

I confess I've never gotten into the EU - never read any of the novels however the two cartoon series are actually pretty good in fact. Heck the Clone Wars really made the prequel universe palatable and I prefer the characterisation of the "cartoon" Anakin (it's all canon and as is the Rebels series) and they really fill in the gaps well.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

@decafjava I've only seen parts of the Clone Wars, as my boys weren't that in to Star Wars when it was on. But I liked what I saw. I wish they'd show them again somewhere, in order. I didn't know they were canon.