Ultimate Guide to Star Wars Legends

Books and comics have been part of the Star Wars universe since the beginning. The first book, the original film's novelization, Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, hit store shelves before the movie even came out! 

Not knowing how well his project would do at the box office, George Lucas commissioned Alan Dean Foster (who had ghostwritten the novelization) to write Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, the first true novel of the Expanded Universe. 

That book was originally envisioned as a potential low-budget sequel. However, with the phenomenal success of Star Wars, the franchise was ready to blast into hyperspace. Hundreds of books followed, blazing a trail into what would soon be affectionately known as the EU.

What is Star Wars Legends?

For more than 35 years, writers and artists produced hundreds of novels, comic books, young adult novels, and children’s books that expanded the Star Wars universe beyond the films. 

In fact, fans often credit Timothy Zahn’s early 90’s Thrawn trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command) with reinvigorating the franchise.  ‍

Of course, all that material can make it challenging to figure out where to start — it was already confusing me in the early 2000s. Fortunately, we’re here to help you make sense of it all!

If the sheer number of titles wasn’t daunting enough, Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012 and began planning the future of Star Wars. To avoid having the newly announced films restrained by already existing plotlines, Lucasfilm essentially reset the entire Star Wars universe. ‍

In one fell swoop, everything published until April 2014 became known as “Legends.” ‍

The change upset many who felt that stories they had grown to love over the years no longer mattered, but here at Youtini, we know that they still matter! The stories are still out there, they’re still fun, and Youtini celebrates them all.

Canon vs. Legends in Star Wars Books

So, aside from the publication date, what is the difference between Legends and Canon? We have a complete guide that provides an in-depth answer here, but the short version is this: Star Wars Canon stories — the films, the television series, things confirmed through official sources, and material published since 2014 — are part of the official Lucasfilm storyline. 

Legends, on the other hand — those books and comics from before the reset — are not considered “history.” That doesn’t necessarily mean they didn’t happen; they just didn’t make the in-universe history books or holovid documentaries.‍

In fact, creators have brought several elements from Legends into the new Canon. This includes several ships, planets, species, and even major characters like Grand Admiral Thrawn.

How to Tell the Difference Between Canon and Legends Star Wars Books

Luckily, telling the difference between Canon and Legends books is really simple, though not necessarily obvious.

There are clear visual differences between Canon and Legends Star Wars books.Since 2014, reprints of Legends books have a helpful gold banner across the bottom or top that simply says “Legends.” Canon books have no such branding.

Youtini

Between 2014 and 2023, Legends reprints (all in mass-market paperback) were smaller than their Legends counterparts. Since 2023, Random House Worlds has reprinted select Legends titles as the Essential Legends Collection. These reprints are in the larger trade paperback format but include a gold band on the cover and spine that says "Essential Legends Collection."

Shopping at a used bookstore or on sites like eBay can be trickier. Older books don’t have the gold banner, and older hardcovers are often the same height as new Canon editions. Fortunately, you can always rely on the Youtini Timeline, which includes both Canon and Legends and makes it easy to tell where a given book belongs.

The Star Wars Legends Timeline

The Star Wars Legends timeline spans more than 25,000 years. It predates the origins of the Jedi Order and Sith, includes the Clone Wars and the fall of the Empire, and extends generations beyond the films.  Just like the volume of titles, the expansive timeline can be difficult to figure out. ‍

In addition to being expansive, the Legends timeline can get a little... messy. 

Some books span several years, such as Darth Plagueis, which begins 67 years before the Battle of Yavin (BBY) and ends 35 years later during The Phantom Menace. 

Other books and series overlap. For example, the three books in Brian Daley’s Han Solo Adventures occur sometime during the same timeframe as Rebel Dawn, the last installment of A.C. Crispin’s Han Solo trilogy.

Youtini's interactive Timeline has you covered there. It shows the placement of every Canon and Legends Star Wars book. With a resource like that at your fingertips, you don’t need to let anything stop you from enjoying decades’ worth of Star Wars storytelling!

Getting Started With Star Wars Legends Books

The Best Star Wars Book Reading Order

Once you’ve decided to read Star Wars Legends books, what’s the best way to start? With such a richly detailed fictional history — and the Youtini timeline and Legends era guide to help you — you may have had the idea of reading according to in-universe chronological order. 

We believe that it can be a difficult way to go, and you certainly shouldn’t feel like you have to do it that way. We developed what we think is the best Star Wars reading order and a four-step plan, but the best order for reading Star Wars books is one that suits your tastes — a reading order that will keep you reading.

To help you figure out what that is, Youtini offers The Youtini Reading Order. It breaks Star Wars books down into four different tiers to help guide you in selecting your next read while giving you the flexibility to pick and choose what appeals to you.

Youtini also offers a vast array of collections that our team has painstakingly curated to help you find books and comics focused on the characters, themes, events, and eras that interest you most.

The Best Legends Star Wars Books to Read First

If you’ve never read Star Wars Legends before, we recommend starting with our foundational books. These will help you get a feel for what Legends has to offer and perhaps even give you an idea of what aspects of the Star Wars universe you’d like to explore further.

If you want to skip the line and jump right into the #1 book, you’ll want to pick up Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith Novelization.

‍A novelization is really the best book? Yes. Yes, it is.

This novelization expands an already fantastic story with new scenes, dialogue adjustments, and masterful tone shifts, all approved by George Lucas himself. For more information on Revenge of the Sith and other phenomenal Legends books, check out the Youtini Essential Six to start your journey.

The Best Star Wars Legends Books of All Time

Youtini scores books based on the plot, characters, writing, and sheer entertainment. Of course, people have their own ideas about what makes some Star Wars books better than others.  As you read, you’ll develop your own hierarchy, too! 

Not surprisingly, our review process results in a bit of overlap between the best books to read first and the best Star Wars Legends books of all time. They’re all very good, and we specifically chose our foundational books and reading order to provide good places to start exploring what’s available. That includes showcasing some of the franchise’s best!

Based on our scores, these are our top five Star Wars Legends books of all time, along with comments from some of our team members’ reviews:

Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover

“This is the best Star Wars book. I'm not sure how much more emphatically I can state that. Matthew Stover elevates Revenge of the Sith far past what exists on the screen to a tale of brutal heartbreak and emotional distress with the best prose that the Star Wars universe has ever seen. This is what a novelization should be. This is what a Star Wars book should be.” – Eric‍

Random House Worlds

For more information about Revenge of the Sith, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the book directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

Kenobi by John Jackson Miller

 “You can feel every ounce of love and appreciation for Star Wars and Obi-Wan that went into the creation of this book.  It’s a true and timeless gift to the Expanded Universe.” – Andrew

Random House Worlds

For more info about Kenobi, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the book directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

Rebel Dawn by A.C. Crispin

“As Han nears where we meet him in the beginning of A New Hope, more familiar faces and places begin to pop up, and Han gets even closer to the scoundrel we know and love.” – Charles‍

Random House Worlds

For more info about Rebel Dawn, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the book directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn

“It was a tall order for Timothy Zahn to craft a villain in 1991’s Heir to the Empire. One who could stand alongside the likes of Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine in the minds of Star Wars fans as an imposing figure capable of engineering the destruction of our beloved heroes ...With Thrawn, he did exactly that.” – Jared‍

Random House Worlds

For more info about Heir to the Empire, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the book directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

Darth Bane: Path of Destruction by Drew Karpyshyn

“Darth Bane: Path of Destruction was my first Star Wars novel and I'm glad I started here. I'm a big fan of the Sith, and this book is basically about the origins of their kind and of the "Rule of Two" that we see being honored in the films. It was fun to learn more about the dark side users while meeting a new one in the process.” – Heather

Random House Worlds

For more info about Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the book directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

The Best Star Wars Legends Book Series

A unique and, for many, fun aspect of Legends is its series, some as large as nineteen books. The new characters we meet have their own galactic-scale arcs, and we get to tag along!‍

Han Solo Trilogy by A.C. Crispin

Random House Worlds

Before the 2018 movie revealed Han’s backstory, A.C. Crispin’s trilogy followed him from his rough childhood on Corellia through his racing days and time in the Imperial Navy until his fateful encounter in the Mos Eisley cantina. 

For more info about the Han Solo Trilogy, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the books directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

Republic Commando by Karen Traviss

Random House Worlds

In this five-novel tie-in series to the Republic Commando video game, Karen Traviss follows Omega Squad — a group of Clone Troopers who are each the sole survivor of their previous units — through the Clone Wars, the fall of the Republic, and the rise of the Empire.

For more info about the Republic Commando books, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the books directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

‍X-Wing Series by Michael Stackpole & Aaron Allston

Random House Worlds

These ten novels from Michael Stackpole and Aaron Allston focus on two squadrons formed by none other than Wedge Antilles. The books primarily cover six years, starting a couple of years after the Battle of Endor, while the tenth installment is set 40 years after Return of the Jedi. ‍

For more info about the X-Wing Series, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the books directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

New Jedi Order by Various Authors

Random House Worlds

The New Jedi Order series, nineteen books by a team of authors, chronicles the invasion of the galaxy by a new species two decades after the Battle of Endor. The handful of knights in Luke Skywalker’s restored Jedi Order and the fragile new Republic are all that stand between the galaxy and catastrophe.

For more info about the New Jedi Order books, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the books directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

Legacy of the Force by Various Authors

Random House Worlds

Set four decades after the Battle of Yavin, this nine-book series portrays the galaxy recovering from the previous war. The Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, the New Republic’s successor state, finds itself in rising conflict with Corellia as the Solo and Skywalker children face their own destinies.

For more info about the Legacy of the Force books, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the books directly and help Youtini out in the process.

Star Wars Audiobooks

If you’ve never listened to audiobooks before — or, if you have and felt they weren’t for you — you have to listen to a Star Wars audiobook. 

Like other audiobooks, they’re both convenient and entertaining, but Star Wars audiobooks are in a league of their own. 

With the music and sound effects from the films, as well as top-notch production and impressive voice actors, you’ll feel like you’re right inside the films!‍

If you’re ready to explore Star Wars Legends audiobooks, be sure to take advantage of a free Audible book from Youtini! Some of our favorites include the Bane and Thrawn trilogies as well as Darth Plagueis and Kenobi.‍

And don’t just take our word for it! We were lucky enough to interview renowned audiobook narrator Marc Thompson on The Living Force Podcast where he shared all his knowledge about what goes into creating these incredible productions.

Star Wars Legends Comics

Comics have been a part of the franchise for almost as long as novels, with the first issue of the original Marvel Star Wars run hitting shelves in April 1977. 

Don’t fall into the trap of dismissing these stories as "just for kids" just because they’re comics. Talented artists and writers have been weaving compelling Star Wars stories and impactful visual art for decades.‍

Marvel Comics

Marvel’s original run lasted from 1977 until 1986 and gave us 107 issues. They include some outright wild stories, and some can feel like they’re barely Star Wars! But at the same time, they offer a fascinating look into off-screen Star Wars storytelling in the franchise's early years and are definitely worth checking out!

In the early ’90s, Dark Horse picked up the license and gave us even more tales, including Tales of the Jedi, The Force Unleashed, and Dark Empire. These stories span from the origins of the Jedi Order itself to more than a century after the Original Trilogy, before the Disney purchase returned the license to Marvel in 2014.

Over the past several years, Marvel has been gradually re-releasing many Legends comics as Epic Collection trade paperbacks, and these make a convenient way to enjoy these classics.  

The Best Star Wars Legends Comics to Read First‍

The Knights of the Old Republic by John Jackson Miller and various artists

Marvel Comics

This 56-issue series serves as a prequel to the popular Knights of the Old Republic video games while introducing a compelling cast of original characters. Now available in three Epic Collection volumes, this is a must-read if you’re a fan of the game or just curious about that era.

For more info about The Knights of the Old Republic, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the books directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

The Clone Wars by various authors and artists

Marvel Comics

This three-volume series collects 45 single-issue comics and seven comic short stories set during the Clone Wars. They pre-date the popular computer-animated Clone Wars television series and present not only entertaining stories but also a fascinating look at storytelling in that era of the Star Wars timeline before George Lucas brought on Dave Filoni and introduced us to the likes of Ahsoka Tano.

For more info about The Clone Wars, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the books directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

The New Republic by various authors and artists

Marvel Comics

These four volumes present more than 50 single issues and eighteen shorter stories, all set after Return of the Jedi and include the entire run of the popular X-Wing: Rogue Leader and X-Wing Rogue Squadron series. These tie into the novel series, and if you’re a fan of starfighters (or just Wedge Antilles), they’re definitely worth checking out!

For more info about The New Republic, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the books directly and help Youtini out in the process.‍

Legacy by John Ostrander and various artists

Marvel Comics

This series collects nearly 60 issues into three volumes and follows the story of an heir to the Skywalker legacy more than a century after the original trilogy. It’s as far into the future as anything in the Star Wars franchise, and it turned out to be one of Dark Horse’s best-selling series and a fan favorite.

For more info about Legacy, visit our Official Book Profile. Here, you can find publisher summaries, user reviews, and affiliate links to order the books directly and help Youtini out in the process.