When it comes to the novels of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, we have a literal (and literary) embarrassment of riches: a wonderful saga that could rival any in the history of mankind. Authors have explored this rich setting and its characters for decades now, and there’s still plenty left to see. Characters like Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade and Darth Vader will probably ascend into the mythological ranks to join Gilgamesh, Vainamoinen and Beowulf in future centuries. Who knows? thousands of years from now our descendants may look at the constellations anew, renaming them in honor of these mythic characters. As a Star Wars fan, I feel proud to be a part of this legacy.
That being said, I often wonder what a good beginning point would be for a new reader in the Star Wars universe. Should I recommend Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire? Stackpole’s X-Wing: Rogue Squadron? What about the Fate of the Jedi books? Something else? It can be a daunting task: recommend the wrong book and you may lose a reader forever.
With this in mind, I turn to you, dear readers and Star Wars scholars, with this question: What is your recommendation for a reader’s first Star Wars novel? Assume that our hypothetical reader is familiar with all six films and enjoyed them all equally, and generally enjoys science fiction literature. Where would you tell him or her to begin?
Heir to the Empire. Period. Hell, if you value your sanity, maybe it’s best to just read Zahn’s Thrawn trilogy and stop, because from there on out it’s a total mixed bag…
Hey Dunc, did you choose your handle based on the Dunc and Egg stories? I love those.
Heir to the Empire or Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor. Heir is the perfect start to post-ROTJ EU, and Mindor is the best standalone story in the EU. In fact, I just let my buddy borrow my copy of Mindor – it will be the first Star Wars book he’s ever read, and so far he’s loving it.
Definitely Heir. Then I’d recommend the X-Wing novels, both Stackpole & Allston. But to me, the Thrawn trilogy are as much Star Wars as the films. They set so much of the stage for everything to come.
Heir to the Empire is a great place to start, very OT feel. The X-wing series is 9 books of fan fun, and with Allston’s X-wing: Mercy Kill on the way next year I’d recommend those books for stepping into the EU. Although it can be heavy at times, I enjoyed the New Jedi Order too. Embedded in that series are some really great stories. A reader can pick up Vector Prime and not feel lost without the rest of the EU.
Matt Staggs: Nope, I’ve been Dunc online since 1996.
It’s Heir to the Empire and, really, will always be Heir to the Empire. The better question is what to read after someone has finished up that trilogy. For that, I say the X-Wing novels by Stackpole and Allston
There are not too many noteworthy books that take place before a reader could begin the New Jedi Order series. But I would definitely reccomend the following as must reads for a first timer… I, Jedi (Michael Stackpole), Thrawn Trilogy, and Hand of Thrawn series (Timothy Zahn).
For me it was wery simple, Heir to the Empire.
Now explanation. I’m from Poland, 45 years old. ‘Dziedzic Imperium’ (Polish version of Heir… in 1994) was the first Star Wars thing I saw and read after the classic trilogy (iron curtain, comunism etc.).
Today Star Wars is a very different thing, very different and more far, far away Galaxy then in 1994 in Poland. Why? Ask the Maker (G.Lucas).
Where to begin? Where you want. It doesn’t matter. It’s so big galaxy, that everybody will find something for him. If he find it…
[droid] from Poland
Heir to the empire, then new Jedi order books… yeah, it’s a LOT of reading… but you just can’t fully understand the rest without it …
Another way would be heir, then outbound flight then whatever
One to bolster movie appreciation would be rise of Vader followed by tatooine ghost.
It really depends on how into it they are gonna get/how much time to spend. I’ve been through well over 100 books and people always ask what I recommend, I have the most trouble recommending just ONE book, but if I do, it’s usually one that accents and makes the movies more enjoyable
Heir to the empire, then new Jedi order books… yeah, it’s a LOT of reading… but you just can’t fully understand the rest without it …
Another way would be heir, then outbound flight then whatever
One to bolster movie appreciation would be rise of Vader followed by tatooine ghost.
It really depends on how into it they are gonna get/how much time to spend. I’ve been through well over 100 books and people always ask what I recommend, I have the most trouble recommending just ONE book, but if I do, it’s usually one that accents and makes the movies more enjoyable
Definitely Heir to the Empire.
Is there even a question? The first books any newbie should read is the first books all of us read in the early 90s – the Thrawn triology.
When asked what book people should read first, I always say the Thrawn Triology. Then I say I Jedi, because I know they’ll be hooked after that and move on the X-wing series and then everything else.
I’m almost done with my 2011 goal of re-reading all the SW novels, and when I reached the Thrawn Triology, it was like a breath of fresh air. Everything else is good, don’t get me wrong, but Zahn set a high bar 20 years ago.
Timothy Zahn?
Only a good craftsman in the beginnig of ‘90 (today no so good, but 20 years older, TWENTY!).
Success? Yes. For a first job for Bantam Spectra. FIRST contract… ‘New’ writer and a such big book? Big book? When Star Wars was DEAD? Realy dead… Ask Autrey Wilson and Betsy Mitchell (quiz: what is a name of Zahn’s bathroom?).
Do not exaggerate his role. He did his contract. Yes he did it right. Built a house for trilogy money (and THE bathroom). But today, I think (Outbound Flight, Allegiance), he would not make it.
And Star Wars today… is only a market product. No magic, no Jedi hocus pocus… Everything was said. Than no matter where you begin expanded universe… (or universes, see The Clone Wars and Mandalorians). Everything is cool, if you pay money for the Maker.
[droid]
ps. I met and talk with a genuine Mandalorian, the first Boba Fett.
The Thrawn Trilogy is 100% the correct place to start. No question. (I’m glad we all agree).
Personally I started with Star by Star and then Balance Point. That was like doing a cannonball into the deep end before learning the dog-paddle. But it was fun. I’m a huge fan because of it. If someone is bored by Heir to the Empire jump them ahead to something crazier, see what happens.
I asked this on Quora and these were the results: http://www.quora.com/Star-Wars/What-is-the-best-series-or-single-novel-in-the-expanded-Star-Wars-universe
of course the thrawn trilogy, then the hand of thrawn duology. i would also recommend truce at bakura, while it is not the most amazing novel, it does take place immediately after the movies, making it more accesible
Thrawn Trilogy, hands down. The X-Wing books should be next, particularly the Stackpole ones. The movie novelizations are good too. Anything by Stover or any of Zahn’s other Star Wars books are good. I, Jedi by Stackpole is good. A.C. Crispin’s Han Solo trilogy is worth a read.
I would recommend you stay far away from the New Jedi Order, at least for a while. Don’t start with them because while they are well written books, they are nothing like the movies in terms of feel, plotting, and characterization. Fans of the movies who are trying to get into the EU are likely to think that the EU isn’t real Star Wars since the NJO is so different from the movies and therefore they won’t be interested in reading anything else. Many characters will have the same names as the ones they love but will seem completely out of character.
Definitely Heir. You should NEVER, EVER, BY ANY MEANS recommend The Lando Calrissian Adventures. Ever. Just saying;)
I agree, Heir is probably the best choice, but I think the X-Wing books would be an okay place to start or maybe the original Han Solo books. Both of those series are pretty fun and start to pull you into the universe.
I really like the Thrawn trilogy. But, to be true to the storyline, I start with Truce at Bakura. I had to read it 3 times before I really got an appreciation for the book. Loved Courtship of princess Leia, so once you get to the Thrawn trilogy, you get catapulted into a tale of awesome proportions.
Thrawn Trilogy! Unless you want to go chronologically, but then I’d say read Thrawn to get the feel of some of the characters, go back to the beginning and read things the chronological way, re-reading Thrawn when you get there.
I would tell them to read Vector Prime because of the familar characters and great storyline. Even better choice would be Shadows of the Empire.
I would start with the bane series . I feel it gives strong. Background information as to how the dark side eventually rules the galaxy in the movies .
I agree the Thrawn trilogies are good for an older StarWars fan who new only the original trilogy, until the prequels were released because it follows a character they grew up with and would be interested in seeing evolve even more. With that being said and a whole new generation of fans becoming entranced with a galaxy far, far away and Anakin/Darth Vader/Darkside being the main vocal points of the audiences worldwide. I would say Darth Bane’s trilogy would resonate more with new audiences because they could learn more of the lore of the Darkside. Also, they could learn about a completely new set of circumstances that leads a new character down the road to the Darkside and ultimately his rise to Sith Grand Master (Sith’ari)!
I know everyone is saying ‘Heir’, and it’s a good start for those of a certain age, but if they’re 25 or younger, I might suggest ‘YODA: DARK RENDEVOUS’, which is the only Yoda novel and is among the best books I’ve ever read, Star Wars or otherwise. Even with The Clone Wars series going on, this still stands as a testiment to how good a story can be set in that time, even within book form. I’d put it up against the best of Zahn or anyone else, anyday. And honestly, it feels more like ‘offical’ Star Wars to me, than just about anything else. Unfortunatly it was never released in hardback, for reasons beyond me. So much better than all the newer novels…
Start with all the Timothy Zahn books, the Thrawn Trilogy than the later Hand of Thrawn Series, and Survivor’s Quest. Than the X-Wing Series, and Jedi Academy Trilogy and I Jedi. Than New Jedi Order and Fate of the Jedi.
Timothy Zahn, Kevin J Anderson, Aaron Allston, and Michael A. Stackpole, are my four favourite Star Wars novel authors.
I would suggest that you start from the beginning, you learn so much from each book.
You have to read them in order or you get confused on what’s going on. Each book has so much information in it, and the back stories in each novel. You learn so much about Luke and Leia, things that you didn’t know before.
I feel that the Heir to the empire pushers in this forum are from an older generation. Many of these new (possibly) younger readers will be starting in the Clone wars era and would be completely lost. I started into the EU with Shadows of the Empire. I think the main thing for a starting point into the EU is that it should be within the period from Phantom Menace to ROTJ. Personally I would never introduce someone to the prequels first so I think Allegiance or Shadows of the Empire are two of the best between the film books from the original trilogy.
I have been a fan since the beginning. However, until the prequels I just watched the movies over and over every year or so. Played the games, Dark Forces and eventually the prequels and on to Clone Wars cartoons. But it still wasn’t enough.
After discovering the fun of audio books, I decided to open my Star Wars geekdom into the novels.
I recommend starting where you are most familiar. So I began with Dark Lord- Rise of Darth Vader. Next is the Han Solo Trilogy. Now worries. I will get through chronologically to Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, Last command), but not before Force Unleashed, Dark Forces, and Shadows of the Empire along with reviewing the beloved original trilogy once again in its respected place.
I’ve only been so excited since Return of the Jedi and later Revenge of the Sith as I am to uncover the connections between Han Solo, Chewbacca, the Millenium Falcon, Mara Jade, and the Jedi Academy!
I think it’s ought to be phantom menace, or new hope, or some book which is prequel to the person’s favourite episode.
or sequel. Generaly it should give wider view of what’s happening in this world and in minds of characters. For example if someons favourite episode is Empire Strikes Back I’d recommend Shadows of the Empire, if someon’s favourite character is Boba Fett I’d recommend Bounty Hunter Wars Trilogy. I stared when I was a teenage from Jedi Apprentice Series The Rising Force, and my goal was to read chronogically all the books, already released in Polish.
or sequel. It ought to be a book with familiar characters and setting, like Shadows of the Empire. My goal was to read chronologically already released books in Polish. And I stared from Jedi Apprentice Series The Rising Force.
Im only 16 and the first Star Wars book i read was The Courtship of Princess Leia and i loved it! Since then ive powered my way through the big series. I would either reccomend TCOPL or The Truce at Bakura because they are fairly easy to understand in terms of lack of EU characters ect.
I’d recommend them start where i started: with reading novelized forms of the movies. That way, they’d be used to how Star Wars books read, and there have been a few scenes and details in the novelizations that weren’t in the movies. (Ex: the scene where Luke hangs out with other teens from Tattoine in ANH)
Then, turn them to the Hand of Thrawn Books.
I, myself, read Shadows of Mindor first, simply because Star Wars was new to me, and i wasn’t even aware that there WAS an EU. I went to WalMart, and it was on the bestsellers rack. Since then, I’ve been hunting for them and grabbing with a quickness any time i see more SWEU books.
I am an avid believer in start at the beginning. I didn’t start there myself only due to a reference I read accidentally online that got me hooked on knowing what happened. I started with the New Jedi Order to find out how Darth Caedus came about. I then had to jump back to Vector Prime and go through the whole Yuuzhan Vong that I saw massive references to in NJO. I started back at the very beginning with a few out of sequence ones later when the library did not have what I was looking for next and have loved the entire EU thus far. I just finished the first two Lando novels that someone else dissed. I liked them too. I don’t think there is a bad book in the bunch. All that said, if I could manipulate the past, I would try not to find that reference to Darth Caedus and his prior identity and start with Crosscurrent. If someone were to ask my favorites I would be torn between the Darth Bane trilogy, the Yuuzhan Vong and NJO. Fair warning I think that no matter what Rogue Planet should be read before Vector Prime and the rest of the Yuuzhan Vong stuff.
I actually came into reading the EU by reading the Xwing series, mainly the Stackpole stuff. I find the stories moving and I liked the characters. I tried reading the Thrawn trilogy and it just seemed long winded to me for whatever reason. I listen to the old audiobooks though and that makes it a bit more palatable.
I started with the X-Wing series, really preferred stackpole’s take over allston’s, then read the Thrawn trilogy. I had my sister start with Allegience, gives a good tie-in to the movies and introduces Mara Jade. My aunt is going by galactic chronological order, starting with the ancient republic stuff. Also, I think the \tales from\ short stories help give a nice introduction.
maybe the darth bane series is a good start for star wars beginners…
I have always been an avid follower since I was three in 1986. I dropped out since the 3rd prequel came out. When SWTOR was released I jumped on board and tried to find everything I could reading wise. I made a spreadsheet based mostly of wookiepedia’s site of every piece of content. I am starting at the beginning and going to legacy. I think this is a great way. Some content might be hard to find but I am working on finding it all.
My website is the link to my personal spreadsheet.
Shadows of the Empire or Heir to the Empire…
I started at the very beginning of the timeline, Lost Tribes of the Sith
Depends on what you like. Prequel fan? Start with Cloak of Deception. It is a prequel to Episode one. Original Prequel fan? Start with Shadows of the Empire. It is set between episodes 5 and 6. Your favorite character is Han Solo? Start with The Paradise Snare. It is the First of Han Solo’s own prequel trilogy.
These are not necessarily my favorites books but I think they are a good entry point because they require no previous knowledge other than movies and also they do not require a big commitment on the reader’s part.
Edit:
\Original Prequel fan? \
That shoul have been Original Trilogy fan.