Where Should You Start Reading the Star Wars Expanded Universe?

The Expanded Universe of star Wars is pretty huge, so what books should you start with?
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#StarWars #Lore #ExpandedUniverse #Canon

[@EckhartsLadder]

Corey, in private, recommends that you start witha back to back reading of the Swarm War and the Black Fleet Crisis

[@frozarburst6350]

Super helpful

[@sledmaker]

I think Eck is trying to tell people about how cool the fifth fleet is

[@fakenoobe2610]

@Ghouls'N'Roses Actually that was my first book that got me into legends

[@evankoerber1756]

Where in the timeline does Krystal Clear take place?

[@martianmanhunter37]

@@evankoerber1756 10 years after Return of the Jedi. So a few years after the Thrawn Trilogy and the Jedi Academy trilogy.

[@quantummaniac5]

My dad was a huge EU fan for years, so when I asked him where to start, he said it depends on what part of Star Wars you're most interested in seeing more about. I told him I wanted to know more about the Sith, particularly their history, motivations, and relationship with the Jedi. He recommended the Darth Bane trilogy, as well as the Lost Tribe of the Sith novellas. After reading those, I was hooked, but mostly stuck with Old Republic era works until recently, when I broke into the post-Endor period last year with the Thrawn Trilogy (the original, REAL one). Now I'm tackling the Yuuzon Vong war. I'm about halfway through Vector Prime and loving it so far.

[@Paerigos]

I commend your dad for the best advice :D

[@antoinehenderson1659]

What do you think of NJO now, a year later?

[@quantummaniac5]

@@antoinehenderson1659 Honestly, I had to take a break from Star Wars novels foe a while. I was reading Star by Star and my aunt and uncle lost their son in a motorcycle accident. He was only a few years younger than me and after the funeral, Anakin's death just hit differently and reading about Han and Leia's grief was just a little too real as I watched my aunt and uncle going through the same thing.

[@spartnmarcen5110]

I originally started with the first X-Wing novel. Remember picking up an old, beat up copy at a used bookstore (the first book I remember buying too). Still have it somewhere. It's a fantastic starting point and plus it's not all about the jedi/sith. Wedge is just a fantastic character that they gave such good life to in the books.

[@spartnmarcen5110]

New canon starting points video for books?

[@lemonworm]

I think the moment I fell in love with the star wars EU is when i was reading Dark Empire and Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War at around the same time and saw the connection with Ood Bnar. I was just so blown away to see this sick tree jedi hiding lightsabers for thousands of years and then subsequently recovered by luke. Really gave me a good feel that everything across thousands of years was interconnected

[@goatismyname]

I started with the Vong War, probably wasn't the best place to start. But...no regrets!

[@jasons1257]

Same here 1st book was vector prime. Now I am totally hooked on star wars

[@licky8]

I think a huge strength of Star Wars comes from the fact that it started in the middle of the story: Episode 4. So one shouldn't be afraid to begin at any point in the timeline. Any of the timelines. You just have to be mindful of the fact that there are certain book series and trilogies and duologies. So just choose anything you're interested in based on your preferences. Read a book about your favorite character, your favorite time period, a particular planet or culture you're interested in, the work of an author you like based on their other works, a tie-in to a movie or a tv series you really love.... etc.

[@Jedi_Spartan]

Currently, I've only read the following: Force Unleashed 2 comic Dark Lord Trilogy (Labyrinth of Evil, RotS novel, Dark Lord: Rise of Darth Vader) Star Wars Omnibus Clone Wars (which were annoyingly hard to find and expensive but I do recommend them) A single Crimson Empire comic A single Legacy comic Dark Times: Blue Harvest

[@CouncilCape897]

In case you're interested, if you want to read the rest of the Legacy series, or any Star Wars comic series actually, I highly recommend going to readcomiconline.to It's the most complete place I know and totally free. readcomiconline.to/Comic/Star-Wars-Legacy-2006 readcomiconline.to/Comic/Star-Wars-Legacy-War readcomiconline.to/Comic/Star-Wars-Legacy-2013

[@mattmortar1325]

My first books were the Jedi Apprentice series. They're a good way for kids to get into the EU

[@AmoebaInk]

I know a lot of adults that enjoyed them too.

[@jacktingey7886]

James Luceno is the best! He’s my favorite, especially Darth Plagueis.

[@autumngottlieb3071]

My first Star Wars novel was Crosscurrent, which I now understand was a very strange way to be introduced to the EU.

[@CoreysDatapad]

Going straight for the deep cuts

[@Jedi_Spartan]

Is that one of the Jaden Korr novels? All I know about them is that there's one where he gets transferred into a clone body after a battle.

[@autumngottlieb3071]

@@Jedi_Spartan Jaden Korr is a major character in it, but most of the plot is about a Sith dreadnaught from 5000 BBY that ends up at 40 ABY due to a hyperdrive malfunction and relativity. Which is why I say that it was a strange way to be introduced to the EU.

[@Jedi_Spartan]

@@autumngottlieb3071 okay, thanks.

[@chrismanaloe3507]

@Chosen One they only made it non cannon so they didnt have to pay the authors when they stole their ideas

[@ortoacademy1019]

Dark Horse has an amazing series with very satisfying story progression that ties heavily into the films in expansive and meaningful ways with their Republic series that transitions into the Dark Times series, covering the pre Clone Wars, to post Clone Wars era

[@joshs7276]

I first got in when i was a kid with young jedi knights series would highly recommend for getting younger fans in does alot establishing the solo kids and their friends who are important in NJO doesn't require prior EU knowledge and generally pretty fun stories. Later as I got into the full size novels it was Thrawn and X-Wing so no surprise there.

[@papawedge7396]

Yeah i agree, YJK is a very good starting point for newcomers but also a good epilogue of the New Republic era for veteran fans.

[@ElladanKenet]

Here's my mandatory booklist. All the important lore points for the Legacy EU (thru the Vong War. Haven't read books after that yet). Watch the first six movies, then start here: -Plagueis -Ep 1-3 novelizations -Dark Lord -Death Star -Ep 4-6 Novelizations -Rogue Squadron -Solo Command -Courtship of Princess Leia -Tatooine Ghost -Thrawn trilogy -Dark Empire and Empire's End -Jedi Academy 1-3 -Thrawn duology -Junior Jedi Knights: The Golden Globe -Survivor's Quest -Vector Prime -Star By Star -Destiny's Way -The Final Prophecy -The Unifying Force Obviously if you read every book out there, you'll have a bigger picture of what all is going on. But this list I think covers most of the necessary ground, and saves you from reading the other 50 books.

[@sentrysapper45]

A personal favorite of mine are The Han Solo Adventures by Brian Daley. A trilogy of novels written in 1979-1980, they were some of the earliest EU books ever written and introduced many concepts that are still used to this day (The Corporate Sector, Z-95 Headhunters, Victory-class Star Destroyers, Xim the Despot, etc.). They're not masterpieces by any stretch of the imagination, but that's part of the appeal. It's breezy and pulpy fun as the reader follows Han and Chewie's more colorful escapades shortly before the events of A New Hope.

[@luckysix1015]

For new canon stuff, I would say the best overall place to start is Lost stars. The main characters are new but they experience the OT from their own average solder Point of view, it was made pretty early on so it plain can’t reference too much from other books. Plus it’s just plain really well written.

[@SerAkel]

Lost Stars, Tarkin and the new Thrawn trilogy are all pretty cool. I wouldn't recommend anything from Chuck Wendig, the Aftermath trilogy is awful and I regret reading the first one and the second one partially. I was really surprised by Lost Stars, I didn't have high expectations but it just drew me in and I obsessively read it on my free time. Bloodlines wasn't as great but it fleshes out the politics a bit

[@luckysix1015]

SerCaleb I have read most of these as well, even did an Essey on Tarkin. I didn’t put Tarkin or canon Thrawn on the recommendations since especially for canon Thrawn it works better if you have watched the shows and this video was focused on jumping in from the movies.

[@chrismanaloe3507]

The best starting point in new cannon is a trash can to throw the book into

[@hakonkristiansen4523]

Ive read most of the legends comics and cannon comics, the cannon books, but out of the legends books I stumble a bit, Ive read Honor among thieves, Razor's edge, Revan and dawn of the jedi. I have a few more around, but haven't gotten around to reading them yet. Among them is plaguis, the last jedi, bane trilogy, fatal alliance and outbound flight. I also have the essential reader's companion, which is the one im currently reading. It has given me a few ideas of what I want to read next. Let's just say im having a blast with all these books, even if I never have enough time to read that much. XD

[@memoryfoam2285]

I recently started with the Thrawn trilogy, now I'm on book 5 of X Wing. Loving it so far, and looking forward to eventually reaching the NJO series.

[@matveykrylov]

The Han Solo Trilogy books are also easy to start, and necessary to read too (by mine opinion)

[@AmoebaInk]

Daley or Crispin?

[@matveykrylov]

@@AmoebaInk crispin

[@AmoebaInk]

@@matveykrylov Check out Daley too, fun books.

[@jonathanbirkeland1085]

The Thrawn trilogy was my first introduction to the EU and in my opinion would’ve been a much better episode 7, 8 and 9 if it had been made in the late 90’s or early 2000’s in order to have the actors at the right age. I also remember the old Han Solo books being a fun backstory for Han, but it is directly contradicted by the new Solo movie. While the Thrawn trilogy is no longer cannon and contradicts the new movies, it still just kind of “works” better as you can just staple it on at the end of the best of Star Wars, that being Episodes 1-6 and the clone wars show, without having too many contradictions.

[@rharding6655]

Started with the Hand of Thrawn Duology on audiobook. Absolutely no regrets since I loved Talon Karrde, Mara Jade and Shada D'ukal. The unknown regions and Empire of the Hand in Vision of the Future was gripping in terms of potential world building.

[@AlexStarOfStarWars]

I just got back into the EU. Only this time I'm starting from the very begging. I'm almost done with Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void. Great book!

[@kailin2017]

I literally constructed a reading order for the EU that takes into account where in the timeline they take place and when they were released. It basically jumps from series to series with the one-off books in between each book in a particular trilogy. It's an efficient way to get to the NJO era and ensures that you won't miss anything along the way, except for maybe Truce at Bakura being referenced a couple times in the Jedi Academy trilogy. Made an entire Google Doc for it

[@owen8755]

I know I am abit late but do you have a link ?

[@kailin2017]

@@owen8755 docs.google.com/document/d/1pF8HgMjuFsREIlkH4EmU6RK2Bts8IccGUTeo4Ven2WU/edit?usp=sharing

[@owen8755]

kailin2017 thanks !!!

[@TLhikan]

My first EU books were the Jedi Prince series.

[@KitchenSinkSoup]

Oof

[@rayth26]

Ya buddy

[@avenge2168]

TLhikan that’s rough buddy

[@codysparks1454]

I was originally gonna start chronologically with Dawn of the Jedi Into the void, but I couldn’t get into it. So I decided to start with the Thrawn Trilogy and I’m so glad I started there cause now that It got me into the EU, I want to keep going and keep reading. Now I’m on the Darth Bane trilogy and I’m loving it so far.

[@jacktingey7886]

In my preteen years, I enjoyed the Jedi Apprentice series about the Republic and Qui Gon and Obi Wan going on missions. For games, I played Rogue Squadron, Podracer, Shadows of the Empire, Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy. I don’t know about anyone else, but those were good introductions for me before I got into other Star Wars things. This was 15 years ago, though.

[@snake1602]

Despite AOTC not being highly praised, Jango Fett Open Seasons and Star Wars Bounty Hunter (the video game) provided great background of why the Sith chose Jango as the Clone Army template. This was before the 3D Clone Wars cartoon, if you need a reference point.

[@MixedCombatRadio]

Recommend finding a character or section of the lore you like especially and just diving into it. For example: I love Mandalorians and Clones so Karen Traviss’s Republic Commando series and like Jango Fett Open Seasons. Highly recommend those. But if you like Jedis or Sith find some legends that fits your interests the most 👍

[@jonm.2342]

That's definitely the way to go

[@oVoxxy]

I honestly just bounce around the timeline lol but my favorite book series has to be the darth bane series as well as the legacy of the force series but I would definitely recommend the 90s Timothy zahn thrawn trilogy

[@LegendsLiterature]

I’m just getting into the EU now. I’m reviewing the books and comics as I go along, I’d appreciate it if anybody took the time to stop by.

[@MortarGuyX]

The answer is obvious. You should start at the truce at bakura.

[@MortarGuyX]

Although real talk. I myself started with the X-Wing novels then moved to the black Fleet crisis.

[@AmoebaInk]

Best Starters (IMHO): The Tales Books: Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina, Tales of Jabba Palace, Tales of the Bounty Hunters Han Solo and Lando Calrissian Adventure trilogies (Brian Daley, not A.C. Crispin) Splinter of the Mind's Eye (between ANH and ESB) Thrawn Trilogy: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command (If you only read 3, read these 3.) Truce at Bakura (immediately after RotJ) Shadows of the Empire (Between ESB and RotJ) Jedi Apprentice Series (Qui-Gon training Obi-wan) X-wings books are great, but they are parallel books which means they fill out around other novels. Dark Empire is best read after the Thrawn Trilogy Do not start with Courtship of Princess Leia. Tales of the Jedi comics are good, but they're far separated from the rest of the timeline. Completely different characters.

[@AzureKnight2]

For sure man, great recommendations. I also would have suggested the Bane Trilogy for people really interested in the Sith and the establishment of Rule of Two.

[@anthonyreynolds1995]

The first Star Wars book I remember picking up was Destiny's Way (NJO 14) just because the local library had it for some reason. Then Truce at Bakura, because my dad had an old torn paperback copy. But I'd have to agree with most people that the Original Thrawn Trilogy is the place to start if you want to get into the old EU.

[@darthsyphilis6008]

I started with Force Unleashed, then Clone Wars and then Thrawn. Pretty good places to start

[@zevermoon]

I would start with Shadow's of the Empire. Then move on to rouge squad books. Rouge Squad gives you a window as to how the Empire falls into disarray. Then the Thrawn 3 book series. That alone should take you 6 months to a year to complete. For the Vong I would start with Dark Tide Onslaught then Ruin. Really Onslaught is when the Vong invasion fully starts to gain ground.

[@chrismanaloe3507]

The KoToR comics connect to the Rebellion era and the Legacy era through the Vector storyline

[@matttale7918]

My history with the eu is very borderline, the deepest I got was a kids book for the old republic era in a nutshell in my schools library, then read a graphic novel adaptation of the force unleashed. My personal favourite atm is the Darth Plagues novel, it was just very interesting learning the tale of Darth Plagues the ‘wise’

[@sikdogg]

I like how you said you should not start with Dark Empire first, but for me that was what got me into the EU was reading the Dark Empire first. So I say start with would you have heard of that is still close to the movies then get into the stuff that takes place years from them

[@Plasmacore_V]

I'd also suggest for good places to start without relying on lots of previous lore: The Thrawn Trilogy and in no particular ranking: The Han Solo Trilogy (way better backstory for Han than Rogue One gave in my opinion.) The Han Solo Adventures The Lando Calrissian Adventures The Bounty Hunter Wars are all good kind of stand alone stuff.

[@tjmcfadden5137]

I started reading two series of books from my library about the padawan days of Obi wan(Jedi apprentice) and Anakin padawan years(Jedi quest). Both good to start out during prequel era would highly suggest knights of the old republic comic very fun and great drawings. As well the Darth bane trilogy is a good way to really learn about the sith. Loved republic commandos and suggest them for anyone best depiction of Mandalorians in my opinion.

[@seekerofnothingness]

I started with the Darth Bane trilogy and yes I didn't really know who Revan, Freedon Nadd or Andeddu were but it didn't really matter. I knew they were ancient sith and that is all you need to know about them

[@AnikinSolo19]

Great video as always! IMO if you want to start after ROTJ then I would suggest Timothy zahn's Thrawn Trilogie heir to the Empire,Dark force rising & Last command And try to work your way through the Legends chronological order! Post Episode 6 ROTJ. But if you are someone who wants to read Legends in actual chronological order starting before episode 1 TPM then I would start with Dawn of the jedi comics followed by the Dawn of the jedi book and work your way through the tails of the jedi comics so that way you learn about the ancient Sith then work your way up to the SWTOR & KOTOR for the Revan story then Darth Bane trilogy and Darth Plagues and on to the Clonewars

[@ursaber]

Truce at Bakura and Courtship of Princess Leia followed by Thrawn Trilogy.

[@TnD12754]

I started with Heir to the Empire. Now I'm reading Revan. Waiting for the rest of the Bane Trilogy and the Han Solo trilogy.

[@multikings20]

You should start while sitting in a comfortable chair in your house with Across the Stars gently playing in the background

[@sergeyoneill1344]

I'm still new to legends and I've read Dark Empire, Plagues and most of Heir to the Empire

[@manius1222]

Most of what I know about the EU I've learned from Eckhart or you (thanks for that :)). The only now Legends books I read were from the Thrawn trilogy. I've also read both Dark and Crimson Empire which I really like. Sadly I don't have the time atm to get further into the EU as I'm reading several canon stories like Alphabet Squadron or the Aftermath trilogy. Depending on whether this new Project Luminous interests me I might find the time to read some EU books. Anyway, thanks for the informative video! (btw. You mentioned that you need a lot of background knowledge to know whats happening when you start reading Pleigus for example. Maybe you could make a video like "Stuff you need to know before reading X")

[@nateryan8167]

Thanks for the advice man!

[@ImperialTrooperProductions]

I currently in the Imperial commando Book, after that I will read the X-Wing Series, Hand of Thrawn, NJO etc. I already read Darth Bane Trilogy Plagueis Cloack of Deception The RC series Labyrinth of Evil Dark Lord Death Star Story of the Bounty Hunters Thrawn trilogy Jedi Academy Trilogy And I love the EU

[@ImperialTrooperProductions]

@Tom Ffrench Uh not really, last year I read: The X-Wing Seried New Jedi order, yes all 19 Outbound flight Survivors quest Maul Shadow Hunter Maul Lockdown Dark Nest Now I am reading Legacy of the force, book 3 at the moment, after that I want to read Han Solo Adventures, Han Solo Trilogy, Millennium Flacon and than Fate of the Jedi.

[@CD-Freedom]

The Darth Bane Trilogy is a good place too.

[@rayth26]

Surprised you didn’t mention Shadows of the Empire.

[@mphodgkin]

First book was the Darth Bane trilogy.. just amazing definitely recommend.

[@turtleanton6539]

Thx for this video mate

[@alanfangor]

rogue squadron books for the win

[@jonm.2342]

People sleep on the Solo trilogy but they could be a good place to start, real easy reads

[@Anthony-cj2ju]

I started with the Bane series. To me, that was A good jumping off point leading to the reason the Jedi fell

[@DrifterG36]

I first read Plageus, now I'm 2/3 of the way through the Thrawn trilogy, and after that I have The Out Bound Flight.

[@HisLordsh1p]

>Not starting at the very begging of the star wars time line with Dawn of the Jedi Armatures

[@timfessler8415]

I've started with the clone wars multimedia project, just going from earliest to order 66 and after that just continued in the timeline regardless of the publishing date.

[@user-qd9rg3wy2n]

Slick haired Luke visits me in the nightmares

[@Reddebrek46]

The first book I read was a Galaxy of Fear book in my school library

[@lore5068]

You sould really make a list a chronological list with the best and major books and comic

[@nazcret22]

I started with Darth bane and ohh boy

[@Harshhaze]

My first Star Wars book opened with a guy hiding from acidic (or poisonous) rain. I can't even remember the title because I was so young

[@FallenShadowNinja]

Then what should I make sure i've read before Darth Plagueis?

[@jonm.2342]

Weird. My first EU book was also Star by Star.

[@moxmox8058]

Hi are there any SW books you have hated? Or disliked? What’s the worst you’ve read?

[@CoreysDatapad]

On our read-through podcast the lowest score I've given any book is Champions of the Force

[@papawedge7396]

X-wing book one.

[@infinitecanadian]

I think you are wrong about the Corellian Trilogy; I read that before most of the other novels and it was fine.

[@namelesssomebody2557]

No love for the Jedi Prince series & Dark Empire?

[@ikariiprince]

What would you recommend someone read before Darth Plaguis?

[@SbMini79]

I recently brought 49 EU books from a charity shop in my local town. Paid £75 for all of them.

[@Donker_Dank]

So post endor you should start with thrawn and dark empire trilogy, then go from there? And what should one read or know before Plagueis?

[@TnD12754]

Before Plagueis you may want to read The Bane Trilogy. It's the story of how the Rule Of Two began, while Plagueis is sort of the culmination of The Rule Of Two.

[@tracyacquard7945]

Zahn start with Zahn!

[@newfound_adventures]

Heir Of The Empire

[@michaelman957]

Just make sure to skip Courtship of Princess Leia

[@272arshan]

I'm really interested in books on the ancient world but it seems it's mostly comics

[@robertpatience5141]

My First book was The Unifying Force. Sooo I didn't follow this advice at all. I do think NJO starts well enough.

[@pilotamurorei]

Dont recommend Dark Empire? Are you fucking serious? It was released at the EXACT same time as the thrawn trilogy and was the base for the ENTIRE EU going forward. It introduced the E-Wing, the first new starfighter in star wars (tie defender in Tie fighter came a couple years later), introduced you to Byss, and it was the first time Mon Calamari was EVER shown. I started on DE when it first came out and its one of the best post-ROTJ comics outside of Legacy. Man you need to get your head checked out.

[@CoreysDatapad]

Starting off by reading Dark Empire is not a great way for people now to get into the Expanded Universe. I stand by that. It'll turn more people off than bring them in at this point. It can be enjoyable after you know what else goes on, but frankly the Dark Empire comics would probably be offputting for a lot of people to just get into now with no context and who don't already like Star Wars or who didn't read them when they originally came out. It introducing you to Byss isn't really a huge point in favour of starting there since it's not like Byss is particularly relevant outside of Dark Empire. While there are one or two references elsewhere (Black Fleet Crisis) to Luke having gone to the Dark Side, the general way Bantam and Dark Horse interacted was by kind of ignoring each other, so Dark Empire doesn't really set you up for anything else outside of that.

[@pilotamurorei]

@@CoreysDatapad I recommend Dark Empire all the time. Why? I WAS THERE WHEN IT WAS ALL WE HAD. you're probably too young to even know what that was like. Watch return of the jedi, Yodas warning to luke about turning to the dark side, then BOOM dark empire. Yes Zahn's trilogy comes before chronologically, but that was because Zahn was an egomaniac. My first exposure to the EU was at the beginning of the modern EU, and the first thing i read was DE. So yeah, saying that you wouldnt recommend it is an insult to someone who fell in love with the EU specifically because of DE.

[@AmoebaInk]

It has nothing to do with Zahn's ego, more Lucasfilm seriously underestimating how popular that book trilogy would be, and how important continuity would be for fans. Heir to the Empire was released May 1991. First Issue of Dark Empire was December of 1991. I think originally they were both set 5 years after RotJ, but DE coming after the Thrawn trilogy made a lot more sense time line wise, because HttE Luke had never fallen to the dark side. I think it's terrible they never released a novelization of Dark Empire because I know Tom Veitch wrote one. As a novel reader who wasn't into the comics, the Jedi Academy Trilogy was pretty confusing because it starts by talking about Luke's fall to the dark side. Originally I think they intended for books and novels to have a separate continuity, but I guess Dark Empire also being popular made them decide to integrate ... so would have been nice to get novelization to spackle that inconsistency.

[@pilotamurorei]

@@AmoebaInk Zahn's ego is why DE had some inconsistencies. Guess you never heard why the thrawn trilogy occurs first, when DE was originally planned to be first. This is why Coruscant didnt have a name in DE1, but was named in Zahn's books. DE and Thrawn were being developed at the EXACT same time.

[@AmoebaInk]

@@pilotamurorei I got to talk directly to Tom Veitch about it which is how I know about the novelization he wrote. The development happening at the same time was definitely the problem. But that's on Lucasfilm not Zahn. He had no control over release date or other projects. And HttE was released first. If you read both it makes way more sense for DE to follow. Otherwise you'd get two different alternate universes in books and comics. For the Jedi Academy trilogy KJA it seems was given Dark Empire to work off of instead of Zahn's novels, so that's a big part of why Mara plays such a small role in those books. They were released later, but I think DE finished it's run first before the Last Command came out. It was a messy start. I think Lucasfilm got more active about continuity in response to fan feedback.

[@chel9190]

epic