Luke Skywalker
A Youtini Collection

Star Wars books you should read if you like
Luke Skywalker

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Luke Skywalker
"Luke Skywalker? I thought he was a myth."
T

he tale of Luke Skywalker is one of a hero. Growing up on a moisture farm but dreaming of flying through galaxies far beyond Tatooine, the naive young boy finds himself in the middle of a galactic conflict after his uncle charges him with the simple task of fixing up two new droids for the farm. Little did Luke know, those droids were central to the Rebellion and were attempting to escape Imperial capture, placing Luke and his family on the Empire’s wanted list. Luke’s place in the conflict is solidified as Stormtroopers raid his home and murder his aunt and uncle.

Luke is fearless, brave, and daring. He jumps into conflict eagerly, and consistently puts himself in danger to help his friends. The original trilogy shows Luke’s development as he grows from a fearless young man into a full-fledged Jedi Knight, ultimately redeeming his father. And, of course, Luke undergoes his own redemption arc, as a fear of the dark side leads to the creation of Kylo Ren and the beginning of Luke’s period of hiding. Ultimately, however, Luke recognizes his own failure and sacrifices himself for Rey and the Resistance.

As one of the central characters in the Star Wars universe (after all, the nine main series films have been termed the Skywalker Saga), Luke appears in many novels in both the Canon and Expanded Universe. This reading guide has been designed to highlight the most important books that include Luke, the books that help to build his character or are central to understanding his story. In each of these books, we see a new side of Luke and get a deeper look into his adventures beyond the movies and the ways that he grows in the Force. If you’re a fan of Luke or just want to dig deeper into this important character, this guide is perfect for you!


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Books in this Collection

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

Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor

Written by
Matthew Stover
Artwork by

Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor takes place just after the fall of the Empire and the creation of the New Republic. Despite the death of the Emperor, however, threats to the New Republic still remain. Imperial factions that are cut loose from the Empire wreak havoc, including a dangerous faction that is headed by a Sith Chieftan on the planet Mindor. Recognizing the threat on the New Republic that this has, Luke Skywalker heads up the assault to stop the faction before it grows too powerful.

As the heroes of the Rebellion begin their attack on Mindor, they realize that their adversary is no empty threat. The Sith Chieftan returned from exile in the wake of the Emperor’s death, and proves a powerful enemy. This story is an exciting look into the post-Empire world and is a compelling story of the threats on the New Republic.

Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader are dead. The Empire has been toppled by the triumphant Rebel Alliance, and the New Republic is ascendant. But the struggle against the dark side and the Sith Order is not over. Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and their faithful comrades have had little time to savor victory before being called on to defend the newly liberated galaxy.

Powerful remnants of the vanquished Empire, hungry for retaliation, are still at large, committing acts of piracy, terrorism, and wholesale slaughter against the worlds of the fledgling New Republic. The most deadly of these, a ruthless legion of black-armored Stormtroopers, do the brutal bidding of the newly risen warlord Shadowspawn. Striking from a strategically advantageous base on the planet Mindor, they are waging a campaign of plunder and destruction, demolishing order and security across the galaxy–and breeding fears of an Imperial resurgence. Another reign of darkness beneath the boot-heel of Sith despotism is something General Luke Skywalker cannot, and will not, risk.

Mobilizing the ace fighters of Rogue Squadron–along with the trusty Chewbacca, See-Threepio, and Artoo-Detoo–Luke, Han, and Leia set out to take the battle to the enemy and neutralize the threat before it’s too late. But their imminent attack on Mindor will be playing directly into the hands of their cunning new adversary. Lord Shadowspawn is no freshly anointed Sith Chieftain but in fact a vicious former Imperial Intelligence officer–and Prophet of the Dark Side. The Emperor’s death has paved the way for Shadowspawn’s return from exile in the Outer Rim, and mastery of ancient Sith knowledge and modern technology has given him the capability to mount the ultimate power play for galaxy wide dominion. Dark prophecy has foretold that only one obstacle stands in his way, and he is ready–even eager–for the confrontation.

All the classic heroes, all the explosive action and adventure, all the unparalleled excitement of Star Wars come breathlessly alive as the adventures of Luke Skywalker continue.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Before the Storm

Written by
Michael P. Kube-McDowell
Artwork by

Before the Storm is the first novel in the Black Fleet Crisis trilogy. The trilogy is unique in its focus on military campaigns, as it describes in detail the political and military threats to the New Republic. Before the Storm establishes the brewing conflict with xenophobic threat from the far reaches of the galaxy, as Leia attempts to allay the threat. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker sets out on a mission to discover the truth about his mother and her origins, leading him to her home planet.

Before the Storm is a great read for fans of more military-focused novels. It is an excellent look into the politics and workings of the New Republic. Of course, it is also an important book for fans of Luke, as it details an important quest to learn more about his origins.

It is a time of tranquillity for the New Republic. The remnants of the Empire now lie in complete disarray, and the reemergence of the Jedi Knights has brought power and prestige to the fledgling government on Coruscant. Yesterday's Rebels have become today's administrators and diplomats, and the factions that fought against imperial tyranny seem united in savoring the fruits of peace.

But the peace is short-lived. A restless Luke must journey to his mother's homeworld in a desperate and dangerous quest to find her people. An adventurous Lando must seize a mysterious spacecraft that has weapons of enormous destructive power and an unknown mission. And Leia, a living symbol of the New Republic's triumph, must face down a ruthless leader of the Duskhan League, an arrogant Yevetha who seems bent on a genocidal war that could shatter the fragile unity of the New Republic...and threaten its very survival.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Planet of Twilight

Written by
Barbara Hambly
Artwork by

Planet of Twilight takes place in the early New Republic. Leia is captured by a warlord that seeks to dismantle the New Republic, while Luke hears a message from Callista and seeks to help her, learning much about the Force in the process.

The novel is an exciting story about adventures in the Outer Rim, and is great for fans of Luke and Han. We recommend reading Children of the Jedi beforehand, as Planet of Twilight has ties to Luke’s storyline in that book.

New York Times bestselling author Barbara Hambly returns to the Star Wars universe to tell a breathtaking tale of a mysterious world where the battle between the New Republic and the Empire takes a shocking new twist...

Nam Chorios is a barren backwater world--once a dreaded prison colony, now home to a fanatic religious cult. It is here that Princess Leia has been taken captive by a ruthless and charismatic warlord bent on destroying the New Republic. Meanwhile, Luke lands on a mysterious planet in search of his lost love, Callista, only to discover the Force is his own worst enemy. But worst of all, as Han, Chewie, and Lando leave Coruscant on a desperate rescue mission, a strange life-form, unlike any the galaxy has ever seen, awakens...a life-form so malevolent it will destroy everything--both Empire and New Republic--on its path to domination.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Outcast

Written by
Aaron Allston
Artwork by

Outcast is the first novel in the Fate of the Jedi series. It takes place in the aftermath of the reign of Darth Caedus and primarily features Luke Skywalker, Han, Leia, and their children. In Outcast, an arrest order is put out for Luke, the start of anti-Jedi sentiments brewing in the galaxy, forcing Luke’s hand and setting him out on a mission with Ben Skywalker. Outcast is a great start to the Fate of the Jedi series, and continues to develop some of the main stories in the EU.

Does a new start for the Galactic Alliance mark the beginning of the fall of the Jedi Order?

After a violent civil war and the devastation wrought by the now fallen Darth Caedus, the Galactic Alliance is in crisis. From all corners, politicians, power brokers, and military leaders converge on Coruscant for a crucial summit to restore order and determine the future of their unified worlds. But even more critical, and far more uncertain, is the future of the Jedi.

In a shocking move, Chief of State Natasi Daala orders the arrest of Luke Skywalker for failing to prevent Jacen Solo’s turn to the dark side and his subsequent reign of terror as a Sith Lord. But it’s only the first blow in an anti-Jedi backlash fueled by a hostile government and suspicious public. Negotiating his freedom in exchange for his exile from the Jedi Order, Luke, with his son, Ben, at his side, sets out to unravel the shocking truth behind Jacen Solo’s corruption and downfall. But the secrets Luke uncovers may bring his quest—and life as he knows it—to a sudden end. And all the while, another Jedi Knight, consumed by madness, is headed to Coruscant on a fearsome mission that could devastate the entire galaxy.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Specter of the Past

Written by
Timothy Zahn
Artwork by

Horror comes in many forms. For Leia and Han, it takes the form of a conspiracy that threatens to topple the galaxy’s new government before it ever has a chance to truly start. For Luke and Lando, it takes the form of a cluster of attacks from clone-crewed pirate ships. For the New Republic as a whole, it takes the form of an evil believed to be long dead: Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Against readers’ expectations, Timothy Zahn picks up the story of Grand Admiral Thrawn right where he left it to spin a brand new tale of intrigue. With plenty of twists and turns, you won’t have this story figured out until its final chapters.

Once the unquestioned master of countless solar systems, the Empire is tottering on the brink of total collapse. Once commanding an invincible armada of Star Destroyers, its fleet has been reduced to a skeleton force. Day by day, neutral systems are rushing to join the New Republic coalition. But with the end of the war in sight, the New Republic has fallen victim to its own success. An unwieldy alliance of races and traditions, the confederation now finds itself riven by age-old animosities.

Princess Leia struggles against all odds to hold the New Republic together. But she has powerful enemies. An ambitious Moff Disra leads a conspiracy to divide the uneasy coalition with an ingenious plot to blame the Bothans for a heinous crime that could lead to genocide and civil war. At the same time, Luke Skywalker, along with Lando Calrissian and Talon Karrde, pursues a mysterious group of pirate ships whose crews consist of clones. And then comes the most startling news of all: Grand Admiral Thrawn--believed to be dead for ten years--is reported alive. The most cunning and ruthless warlord in Imperial history has seemingly returned to lead the Empire to triumph.

As Han and Leia try to prevent the unraveling of the New Republic in the face of this fearful and inexplicable threat from the past, Luke sets out to track down the rogue pirate ships. To do so, he will team up with Mara Jade, with whom he will share his growing mastery of the Force and the ever-present threat of the dark side. All the while, lurking in the shadows is the enigmatic Major Tierce, a disciple of Emperor Palpatine, sharing his long-dead master's lust for power, schooled in the devious stratagems of Thrawn himself, and armed with his own dark plans for the New Republic and the Empire.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Heir to the Empire

Written by
Timothy Zahn
Artwork by

Heir to the Empire is essential reading material because without it, the rest of the Expanded Universe might not exist. In this book, Zahn manages to construct a new type of Star Wars villain in Grand Admiral Thrawn who defeats his enemies with superior intellect that is every bit as overwhelming as Vader’s Force choke. Luke, Han, Leia, and the entire cast of the Original Trilogy make their triumphant return and must find a way to deal with this new threat who is poised to bring back the Empire even stronger than it was before.

Timothy Zahn has arguably crafted some of the most important books in the Expanded Universe and they all started with Heir to the Empire.

After destroying the second Death Star and freeing the galaxy from the Emperor’s clutches, Luke, Han, and Leia find themselves trying to lead the fledgling New Republic into a new age. However, in the far reaches of space, a new threat rises from the ashes of the Empire in the form of Grand Admiral Thrawn. Despite only having the remains of the Imperial military at his disposal, Thrawn’s intellectual prowess promises to push our heroes to their absolute limits. Timothy Zahn changed Star Wars forever when he released Heir to the Empire in 1991, and it continues to have a profound impact on the fandom to this day. It proved that Star Wars could not only live beyond the story of the original films, but that it could thrive. All Expanded Universe books were born out of the spirit of this novel, making it essential reading for all fans.
Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Children of the Jedi

Written by
Barbara Hambly
Artwork by

Children of the Jedi takes place soon after the Jedi Academy Trilogy, and describes the continued search for long-lost Force users in the galaxy. While Leia, Han, and Chewbacca are searching for a group of Force children, however, Luke learns of an imminent threat on a distant planet and must delve into the Force to be able to stop it.

Children of the Jedi continues to build the story of the New Republic. It is a great read for fans of Luke or those looking to learn more about everything that took place after the original trilogy.

In Children of the Jedi, Barbara Hambly introduces a new character: Callista, a brave Jedi warrior of long ago who gave her life to foil one of the Empire's darkest plans, a plot to destroy a stronghold that was a sanctuary for the families of Jedi knights.

The plot involved a dreadnaught, one of the Empire's most devious inventions, governed by a sophisticated artificial intelligence. Crippled during the war against the Empire, the vessel has drifted through space for years. But now it is slowly reactivating and resuming its inexorable mission. Only Luke Skywalker can feel its evil presence as well as the mysterious influence of that powerful woman who should have died decades ago.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Survivor's Quest

Written by
Timothy Zahn
Artwork by

Luke and Mara Jade believed Thrawn's evils were in their past...until the wreckage of The Outbound Flight was discovered.

Desperate to uncover the secrets stowed aboard the destroyed ship, Luke and Mara Jade set out with a team including an Imperial officer and a team of stormtroopers on a recovery mission. However, it soon becomes clear that the answers to their many questions will shake Luke and Mara Jade's faith in their relationship, the Jedi Order, and everything they thought they knew about the fall of Thrawn.

Sometimes it seems a Jedi’s work is never done and Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker know this only too well. Despite the bond they share in the Force, after three years of marriage the Jedi Master and his wife are still learning the ropes of being a couple—and struggling to find time together between the constant demands of duty. But all that will change when they’re united on an unexpected mission—and must pool their exceptional skills to combat an insidious enemy . . . and salvage a part of Jedi history.

It begins with a message from a surprising source: Nirauan, the planet where Thrawn, dangerous disciple of Emperor Palpatine, once held sway . . . and from which Luke and Mara barely escaped with their lives. The message itself is shocking. After fifty years, the remains of Outbound Flight—a pioneering Jedi expedition viciously destroyed by Thrawn—have been found on Nirauan. Now, the fiercely honor-bound aliens who reside there wish to turn over the remnants of the doomed mission to the New Republic. Accepting the gesture will mean a long voyage into the treacherous cluster of stars where the thousands of souls aboard the Outbound Flight vessel met their grim fate. But it may also mean something more . . . something that has stirred an inexplicable sense of foreboding in Mara.

Whatever may await, the Skywalkers will not face it alone. Joining them on the strange and solemn journey are an officer of the post-Palpatine Empire, escorted by a detachment of Imperial stormtroopers; a party of diplomats from a gentle alien species that reveres the fallen Jedi for saving them from bloodthirsty conquerors; and a New Republic ambassador who harbors his own mysterious agenda.

Soon enough, suspicion, secrecy, and an unknown saboteur run rampant aboard the isolated ship. But it is within the derelict walls of Outbound Flight itself, buried for half a century on a desolate planetoid, where the gravest danger lies. As the marooned hulk yields up stunning revelations and unexpected terrors to its visitors, Luke and Mara find all they stand for—and their very existence—brutally challenged. And the ultimate test will be surviving the deathtrap carefully laid by foes who are legendary for their ruthlessness . . . and determined to complete the job Thrawn began: exterminating the Jedi.

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Vector Prime

Written by
R.A. Salvatore
Artwork by

This novel serves as the springboard for the rest of the New Jedi Order series by introducing the Yuuzhan Vong, an invading alien race bent on conquering the galaxy. Luke, Mara Jade, Han, Leia, Chewie, and the Solo children must familiarize themselves with their new adversaries and their strange technology. However, everything comes to a cataclysmic conclusion when the Yuuzhan Vong threaten to demonstrate their very own planet-destroying capabilities.

This novel is required reading for those looking to learn about the most important stories in the EU. It is the start of a long series, and for fans of the EU, Luke, or the Solo family, Vector Prime and the rest of the NJO series are highly recommended.

Twenty-one years have passed since the heroes of the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star, breaking the power of the Emperor. Since then, the New Republic has valiantly struggled to maintain peace and prosperity among the peoples of the galaxy. But unrest has begun to spread; tensions erupt in outbreaks of rebellion that, if unchecked, threaten to destroy the Republic's tenuous reign.

Into this volatile atmosphere comes Nom Anor, a charismatic firebrand who heats passions to the boiling point, sowing seeds of dissent for his own dark motives. In an effort to avert a catastrophic civil war, Leia travels with her daughter Jaina, her sister-in-law Mara Jade, and the loyal protocol droid C-3PO, to conduct face-to-face diplomatic negotiations with Nom Anor. But he proves resistant to Leia's entreaties--and, far more inexplicably, within the Force, where a being should be, was . . . blank space.

Meanwhile, Luke is plagued by reports of rogue Jedi Knights who are taking the law into their own hands. And so he wrestles with a dilemma: Should he attempt, in this climate of mistrust, to reestablish the legendary Jedi Council?

As the Jedi and the Republic focus on internal struggles, a new threat surfaces, unnoticed, beyond the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim. An enemy appears from outside known space, bearing weapons and technology unlike anything New Republic scientists have ever seen. Suddenly Luke, Mara, Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca--along with the Solo children--are thrust again into battle, to defend the freedom so many have fought and died for. But this time, all their courage, sacrifice, and even the power of the Force itself may not be enough. . . .

Legends
Legends
Adult Novel

Jedi Search

Written by
Kevin J. Anderson
Artwork by

Jedi Search is the first novel in the Jedi Academy Trilogy, and it details the beginnings of a new Jedi academy that Luke is determined to build. The book tells stories of Luke’s search for Force-sensitive beings in the galaxy, Leia’s governmental duties and raising her children, and Han Solo and Chewbacca attempting to stop a dangerous weapon.

The book takes place in the years after the original trilogy, under the New Republic. It is an important story in the expanded universe, as it details the beginnings of Luke’s creation of a Jedi Academy and his first step into training the next generation of Jedi, while continuing to detail the clashes between the New Republic and the scattered factions of the Empire.

As the war between the Republic and the scattered remnants of the Empire continues, two children, the Jedi twins, will come into their powers in a galaxy on the brink of vast changes and challenges. In this time of turmoil and discovery, an extraordinary new Star Wars saga begins.

While Luke Skywalker takes the first step toward setting up an academy to train a new order of Jedi Knights, Han Solo and Chewbacca are taken prisoner on the planet Kessel and forced to work in the fathomless depths of a spice mine. But when Han and Chewie break away, they flee to a secret Imperial research laboratory surrounded by a cluster of black holes - going from one danger to a far greater one.

On Kessel, Luke picks up the trail of his two friends, only to come face to face with a weapon so awesome it can wipe out an entire solar system. It is a death ship called the Sun Crusher, invented by a reclusive genius and piloted by none other than Han himself.

Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Heir to the Jedi

Written by
Kevin Hearne
Artwork by

Heir to the Jedi, published in 2015, was the third novel in the new canon and picks up just after a New Hope in the timeline. The novel describes a mission given to Luke by Admiral Ackbar, to go undercover and rescue a captured cryptographer that is being used by the Empire. Luke teams up with Nakari, who also desires to fight against the Empire, aboard her yacht, as the two undertake the espionage mission.

The novel is unique in its first-person narrative, giving us a look inside the mind of Luke just after the death of Obi-Wan and destruction of the first Death Star. It provides an interesting perspective on Luke acquiring new Force abilities as he learns more. Reviews on the novel are mixed and reception was generally lukewarm–the story is not outstanding, but it is recommended reading for fans of Luke Skywalker and those looking to read more about his exploits with the Rebellion.

Luke Skywalker’s game-changing destruction of the Death Star has made him not only a hero of the Rebel Alliance but a valuable asset in the ongoing battle against the Empire. Though he’s a long way from mastering the power of the Force, there’s no denying his phenomenal skills as a pilot—and in the eyes of Rebel leaders Princess Leia Organa and Admiral Ackbar, there’s no one better qualified to carry out a daring rescue mission crucial to the Alliance cause.

A brilliant alien cryptographer renowned for her ability to breach even the most advanced communications systems is being detained by Imperial agents determined to exploit her exceptional talents for the Empire’s purposes. But the prospective spy’s sympathies lie with the Rebels, and she’s willing to join their effort in exchange for being reunited with her family. It’s an opportunity to gain a critical edge against the Empire that’s too precious to pass up. It’s also a job that demands the element of surprise. So Luke and the ever-resourceful droid R2-D2 swap their trusty X-wing fighter for a sleek space yacht piloted by brash recruit Nakari Kelen, daughter of a biotech mogul, who’s got a score of her own to settle with the Empire.

Challenged by ruthless Imperial bodyguards, death-dealing enemy battleships, merciless bounty hunters, and monstrous brain-eating parasites, Luke plunges head-on into a high-stakes espionage operation that will push his abilities as a Rebel fighter and would-be Jedi to the limit. If ever he needed the wisdom of Obi-Wan Kenobi to shepherd him through danger, it’s now. But Luke will have to rely on himself, his friends, and his own burgeoning relationship with the Force to survive.

Canon
Canon
Omnibus

Star Wars (2015): Jason Aaron (Hardcover Omnibus)

Written by
Jason Aaron
Artwork by
Various

When Star Wars returned to Marvel, Jason Aaron was the ideal candidate to steer the rebels into all-new adventures! Now Aaron's entire saga is collected in full! The Death Star has been destroyed - but the Empire isn't toppled yet! Join Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 as they continue the fight for freedom against Darth Vader! Luke battles Boba Fett! A woman from Han Solo's past returns! The Dark Lord crash-lands - but you can't keep Vader down for long! And the roguish Doctor Aphra lures Luke to the Screaming Citadel!

Marvel Comics; US hardcover, first printing, March 2019: ISBN 9781302915377

Marvel Comics; US hardcover, second printing, April 2022: ISBN 9781302934095

     
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