Last week – and to be exact, last Thursday – we celebrated Star Wars Day. A great event for all fans of the universe created for feature films by George Lucas, which is currently probably one of the largest and most recognizable in the entire pop culture. It is a brand with a huge clout and almost immeasurable popularity.
And the core of the whole are, of course, the aforementioned cinema productions, which in recent years have been perfectly (well, with more or less success) supplemented by series – both animated (“The Clone Wars”, “The Dirty Bunch” …) and live-action (“The Mandalorian”) “, “Andor”, “Obi-Wan”…). However, we are all well aware that this is not all, and there are also comics, video games and books .
And it is to the latter that I would like to dedicate today’s post. I have prepared for you a list of ten items that you should simply pay attention to. They will not be arranged chronologically, nor for the sake of sympathy or any other rules. The order is completely loose and non-committal, and each of these books deserves to be read. Without dragging… May the force be with you !
“Heir to the Empire” – Timothy Zahn
The first book on our list follows the events that unfold after the fall of the Galactic Empire as new forces emerge in the struggle for supremacy over the galaxy. This book is considered to be the beginning of the legendary series “Thrawn Trilogy”, which introduced many new characters to the world of Star Wars – including the aforementioned Thrawn, a guest who is considered one of the most interesting in the universe.
“Darth Bane: Path of Destruction” – Drew Karpyshyn
This position focuses on the origins of Darth Bane, who later became the legendary Lord of the Sith and one of the greatest and most popular in the entire universe. The position itself enjoys a very warm reception among fans and is considered one of the best written – both in terms of the plot and the very description of the world presented in it.
“Lost Stars” – Claudia Gray
A very interesting position that tells the story of two friends from different sides of the conflict in the galaxy who meet on the battlefield and discover that their loyalty to their factions is threatened by their feelings for each other. The book is definitely more for those who value internal dilemmas and emotions that can digest characters from the inside more than action. Certainly, this is not a position for everyone, but if you fit into the above statement, then you should not feel disappointed.
“Thrawn” – Timothy Zahn
We all knew this title would be here. After all, we are talking about the most popular novel written in the Star Wars universe, which brilliantly tells the story of Admiral Thrawn, one of the greatest strategists of the Galactic Empire. One of the greatest works outside the main canon, and if you were to read only one title from the list, many people will agree that it is this one.
“Dark Disciple” – Christie Golden
Next is a reading that introduces us to the Jedi Quinlan Vosie and Asajj Ventress, working together to kill the menacing Count Dooku once and for all. This book is an adaptation of the unrealized script of the animated series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”, so it should be particularly interesting for fans of this production. with reading alone.
“Bloodline” – Claudia Gray
Claudia Gray again and this time an interesting prequel about the life of Princess Leia Organa several years before the events of “The Force Awakens”. The book is an interesting political novel that focuses on a mysterious organization and rising tensions in the Galactic Republic. So if you think that the themes were too little developed in feature films, then reach for the novel!
“Darth Plagueis” – James Luceno
The next proposal in our ranking is about Darth Plagueis, the Dark Lord of the Sith, who was the mentor and teacher of Darth Sidious himself. This book is an interesting vision of the events preceding “The Phantom Menace” and shows the backstage of the Galactic Empire. If Palpatine’s story, which he shared with Anakin, was interesting for you, then you’ll fall head over heels here.
“Tarkin” – James Luceno
Let’s stay with Luceno for a moment, because another novel by this author, which I would like to mention in the columns of the list, focuses on the life and career of Wilhuff Tarkin, one of the most famous antagonists of Star Wars. The book is definitely an interesting and engaging biography of a character who was relatively underdeveloped in the original trilogy. Let’s face it – it deserves more attention.
Catalyst – James Luceno
A bookish hat-trick from James as he also wrote a gripping book about the rise of the Death Star and the history before the events of Rogue One. The novel provides an excellent background to the events of the film and expands our knowledge of the creation of one of the greatest weapons in the history of Star Wars. It’s definitely worth getting acquainted with it!
Jedi Search – Kevin J. Anderson
The last item on the list tells about the search for potential apprentices for Luke Skywalker, who may become future Jedi. The book is an interesting continuation of the original trilogy, and also introduces new characters and threads. Importantly, it tells about a period that has never been presented on the screen (between Episode VI and Episode VII), so if you want to get to know it better – reach for this position.
Source: Kajetan Wesierski