History of the Jedi
A Youtini Collection

Star Wars books you should read if you like
History of the Jedi

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History of the Jedi
"There is no emotion, there is peace."

If you have the sort of mind that can’t help but wonder how things got to be the way they are—who was the first to do something, who first explored a place, or any number of other people and events that influenced everything that followed—then the Star Wars universe offers plenty of tantalizing threads to pull. 

In building a universe that was both completely original and “lived in,” George Lucas didn’t hesitate to make references to things that made sense to his characters but left the inquisitive among us with questions.

Clone Wars? Senate? Republic? Why are there only two Sith Lords at one time? For that matter, where did the Jedi and Sith come from in the first place?

In some cases, our patience is rewarded on screen. The Prequel Trilogy shows us the Senate and the Republic that the Emperor discards, and—along with an entire animated series—the Clone Wars that Ben Kenobi and Luke Skywalker first obliquely mention in 1977.

In other cases, our answers lie in books in comics, and the Expanded Universe lives up to its name by expanding on these enticing references peppered throughout the franchise. In books, we get a fuller understanding of the depths of Palpatine’s machinations, and we even learn why “only two there are” when it comes to Sith Lords. 

The Expanded Universe also delivers when it comes to the earliest roots of the Jedi and Sith. Starting more than 25,000 years before the rise and fall(s) of Palpatine, books and comics explore the time before the galaxy’s Force-users fractured into opposing light and dark side camps, and then go on to explore some of the earliest conflicts that set the stage for millennia of galactic history.

If you’ve ever wondered about the roots of the endless conflict between light and dark that shapes the Star Wars universe, here are the titles that show you where it all began.

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Books in this Collection

The Youtini Collections team has hand-selected the books in this collection
Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void

Written by
Tim Lebbon
Artwork by
“For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justices in the Old Republic.” A thousand generations is a long time, and in Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void, Tim Lebbon takes us all the way back—more than 25,000 years before the events we see on the big screen. Before the Skywalkers, before lightsabers. Even before the Jedi Order as we know it. Instead, on the Force-rich planet Tython, we find the Je’daii Order. We meet young Lanoree Brock, one of the Order’s Rangers who keep the peace throughout the system. But a threat looms, as a group of fanatics pursues a project that threatens to unleash an interplanetary cataclysm. Much to her surprise, the Je’daii council tasks Brock to stop the group and its leader, who turns out to be the very brother she had long presumed dead.

On the planet Tython, the ancient Je’daii order was founded. And at the feet of its wise Masters, Lanoree Brock learned the mysteries and methods of the Force—and found her calling as one of its most powerful disciples. But as strongly as the Force flowed within Lanoree and her parents, it remained absent in her brother, who grew to despise and shun the Je’daii, and whose training in its ancient ways ended in tragedy.

Now, from her solitary life as a Ranger keeping order across the galaxy, Lanoree has been summoned by the Je’daii Council on a matter of utmost urgency. The leader of a fanatical cult, obsessed with traveling beyond the reaches of known space, is bent on opening a cosmic gateway using dreaded dark matter as the key—risking a cataclysmic reaction that will consume the entire star system. But more shocking to Lanoree than even the prospect of total galactic annihilation, is the decision of her Je’daii Masters to task her with the mission of preventing it. Until a staggering revelation makes clear why she was chosen: The brilliant, dangerous madman she must track down and stop at any cost is the brother whose death she has long grieved—and whose life she must now fear.

Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Dawn of the Jedi Volume 1

Written by
John Ostrander
Artwork by
Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons, Michael Heisler, Wes Dzioba, Gonzalo Flores
In this first installment of the Dawn of the Jedi series, John Ostrander takes us back to a time before lightsabers, before the Jedi and Sith. An earlier order, the Je’daii, have spent 10,000 years studying the Force on the planet Tython and keeping the peace in the surrounding system. Learning that the Force-sensitive world reacts violently to imbalances in the Force, the Order’s philosophy focuses on balancing the light and dark sides. A mysterious visitor changes all that when he crashes on Tython during a mission to find Force-rich worlds, and populations, for the Rakata Infinite Empire. The Je’daii successfully subdue the storms and find the strange Force-wielder, but their challenges are only beginning.

Here begins the tale of the dawn of the Jedi, the Star Wars of 25,000 years ago—before lightsabers, before hyperspace travel, before the Jedi spread throughout the galaxy, when connections to the Force were new.

On the planet Tython, a group of beings—scientists, philosophers, and warriors—strive to maintain peace and to balance the mystifying power known as the Force. But a stranger is coming, one who will disrupt the balance with his arrival and his own connection to the Force. Everything in their system is about to change . . . The doors to the galaxy have been opened! Collects Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi—Force Storm #1–#5.

Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Dawn of the Jedi Volume 2

Written by
John Ostrander
Artwork by
Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons, Michael Heisler, Wes Dzioba, David Michael Beck
After crashing on Tython and sparking a savage Force Storm that engulfed the planet, Xesh, a Force Hound of the Rakata Infinite Empire, has been exiled to the moon of Bogan by the Je’daii Order in order to find balance in the Force. There, he encounters fellow exile Daegon Lok – a Je’daii who had been exiled after having gone insane from a vision of dark warriors wielding blazing sabers, which turn out to be Forcesabers, weapons of the Force Hounds. The two exiles team up to escape the moon, and the Je’daii are soon in pursuit. While other Je’daii investigate Xesh’s crashed ship and learn more about his masters, another Force Hound arrives. With the Infinite Empire on its way, the Je’Daii Order prepares for war in John Ostrander’s second look into the ancient history of the galaxy far, far away.

Xesh, a mysterious alien warrior, is enthralled with the madman Daegen Lok and his obsession with conquering known space. Hunter teams are dispatched by the Je’daii to stop Lok and save the misguided Xesh, but they’re not alone. Xesh’s former masters have sent their own hunter—with orders to kill!

Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Dawn of the Jedi Volume 3

Written by
John Ostrander
Artwork by
Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons, Michael Heisler, Wes Dzioba, David Michael Beck
In the epic finale of John Ostrander’s series, the Rakata invade the Tython system in their tireless quest to find and enslave Force-sensitive beings to fuel their conquest of the galaxy. The Je’daii Order, progenitors of the legendary Jedi Knights, rise to the challenge and defend their home as they have over the past ten millennia. But in order to defeat these powerful enemies, the Je’daii draw on weapons and techniques that draw heavily on the dark side of the Force and sacrifice the balance they worked so hard to cultivate over the generations. With the help of the Force and the mysterious ships that brought their ancestors to Tython, the Je’daii succeed in driving off the foe. But in the aftermath of the battle one group of Je’daii refuse to renounce to renounce the dark side weapons and powers, setting the stage for conflict between light and dark side Force users that would dominate the galaxy for over a thousand generations.

The Rakata, powerful users of the dark side of the Force, have invaded the Tython system to enslave the Je’daii… With Forcesabers in hand, the Je'daii fight, led by mad Je'daii Daegen Lok and the mysterious Force Hound Xesh. But when Xesh is captured, the direction of the war is changed…

Legends
Legends
Single Issue Comic

Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire #2: Forces in Collision

Written by
Kevin J. Anderson
Artwork by
Dario Carrasco, Jr.
Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire 2: Forces in Collision is the second issue in the Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire story arc in the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi series of comics. It was published on July 23, 1997 by Dark Horse Comics. Jori Daragon is on trial for offenses against Empress Teta's government. But far from being a lawbreaker, Jori is trying to reach the Empress, to warn her of the dark plans of the Sith Empire. If she is found guilty, she will be confined to a colony planet. And then nothing will stand between the Empress and the Sith.
Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire

Written by
Kevin Anderson
Artwork by
Dario Carrasco, Jr.
An ancient Legends story of mythic proportions, The Fall of the Sith Empire is the sequel to the Golden Age of the Sith and the prequel to Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic. The warring Sith factions spread their evils to the Republic and it's up to the Jedi to restore the galaxy to rest.

The Sith Empire has rallied its forces for an all-out battle for control of the galaxy. Its goal: Crush the Republic. And with so many Sith Masters among them, the goal is not unachievable. As Naga Sadow readies his fleet to attack, one lone person threatens to undermine the entire campaign — Jori Daragon. She isn't a Jedi. She's an explorer, a mapper of hyperspace who stumbled on the plans of the Sith. And she just may be the savior of the Republic.

Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic

Written by
Tom Vietch
Artwork by
Chris Gossett
Set 4000 years before A New Hope, Tom Veitch and Dark Horse Comics launched an all-new era of Star Wars storytelling that would inspire some of the greats like the beloved game Knights of the Old Republic. The first story arc sees three Jedi apprentices on a mission to the planet of Onderon to solve a dispute between the royal family and the rebellious Beast Riders from the moon, Dxun. Their adventure leads them to an encounter with the evil spirit of Freedon Nadd and sets in motion events that would change the galaxy, and Star Wars history, forever.
Four thousand years before Luke Skywalker stood as the final Jedi, his predecessors wandered the universe, each playing his own role in keeping the peace and holding back the forces of the dark side. This 136-page collection focuses on Ulic Qel-Droma and Nomi Sunrider, two young novices training to become Jedi warriors. Their training, however, turns into a trial by fire when they prematurely have to face off against reigning crimelord Great Bogga, a Hutt who has killed one of the universe's most powerful Jedi Knights.
Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith

Written by
Kevin Anderson
Artwork by
Dario Carrasco, Jr.
A thousand years before the story of Ulic Qel-Droma, the Sith warred with one another on their homeworld of Ziost. Marka Ragnos is dead and a new Dark Lord must rise to take his place. But the potential successors, Ludo Kresh and Naga Sadow, have vastly different visions for what it means to take up the dark mantle. The fate of the galaxy hinges on the victor.

The history of the Old Republic has become legend: how the bold explorations of young Gav and Jori Daragon brought two galactic empires crashing together, how Odan-Urr became a powerful Jedi, and how the seven worlds of the Koros system were finally united by the wise and skilled Empress Teta.

Five millennia before the birth of Luke Skywalker and the fall of Palpatine's Empire, our story unfolds…

Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Tales of the Jedi: The Freedon Nadd Uprising

Written by
Tom Vietch
Artwork by
Tony Akins
Jedi Master Arca tries to relocate Freedon Nadd’s sarcophagus to Dxun, but it is captured by Nadd’s dark disciples. We learn that Princess Galia’s father, King Omin, isn’t dead after all, but is being kept alive unnaturally by the spirit of Freedon Nadd. He easily defeats the Jedi and captures Master Arca. Nadd plans to do the good-ole Sith essence transfer into a powerful Jedi body to have UNLIMITED POWER. Jedi reinforcements arrive, including new Jedi heroine Nomi Sunrider, who must help free Arca, defeat Omin, and restore peace to Onderon.

Determined to uproot Sith magic from Onderon, Jedi Master Arca orders the sarcophagi of Queen Amanoa and Dark Jedi Freedon Nadd removed to the Dxun moon. When the spirit-avatar of Nadd appears and captures Arca, Ulic Qel-Droma faces the task of saving Arca and the planet from being completely swallowed by evil.

Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith

Written by
Tom Vietch, Kevin Anderson
Artwork by
Chris Gossett, Art Wetherell
A Jedi named Exar Kun gets a little over-competitive and eager for forbidden knowledge, poses as a Jedi archaeologist and is overcome by the spirit of none other than the ancient Sith Lord Freedon Nadd. Exar Kun gets delusions of grandeur, sets up a Sith empire on Yavin IV, enslaves the Massassi natives, and goes to war with Ulic Qel Droma. Ulic gets the great idea that the only way to defeat the Sith is by joining them. . This volume follows Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic.

In the depths of galactic space, a foolish and arrogant young Jedi awakens an ancient, deadly power. This seductive evil leads him down a path that will make him a Dark Lord of the Sith

Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Tales of the Jedi: Redemption

Written by
Kevin Anderson
Artwork by
Chris Gossett
Set ten years after The Sith War, we return to the characters of Ulic Qel-Droma, now a lonely old hermit, and Nomi Sunrider, who is fraught with trying to rebuild the Jedi Order. Their stories intertwine on a level of epic and heartbreaking proportions!

Ten years after the Sith War, the Dark Lord of the Sith's chief lieutenant has been stripped of his force powers. Seeking isolation in a distant corner of the galaxy, the rejected Ulic Qel-Droma is desperate to escape all ties to the life he would rather forget - until the young and mysterious Vima appears and Ulic sees in her a chance at redemption. But, as Ulic discovered long ago, mistakes are not easily left behind. When a search party from Vima's homeland comes looking for the missing girl, Ulic finds himself face-to-face with a vengeful Jedi from his past whose own redemption will be marked by the spilling of Ulic's blood.

Legends
Legends
Graphic Novel

Tales of the Jedi: The Sith War

Written by
Kevin Anderson
Artwork by
Dario Carrasco Jr.
Former enemies Ulic Qel-Droma and Exar Kun have now united to usher in a new Golden Age of the Sith. In order to do so, they take control of a fierce army of Mandalorians! This volume is part of Dark Horse’s deep dive into the ancient history of the Jedi and the Sith (published several years before the Prequels!) and is best read after Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic, The Freedon Nadd Uprising, and Dark Lords of the Sith. These issues can be found in Star Wars Omnibus: Tales of the Jedi, Volume 2.

To become a Jedi, it is not the Force one must learn to control but oneself. Ulic Qel-Droma has spent a lifetime learning to control the Force. But now, having tasted power, Qel-Droma cannot fight the dark hunger inside him...