Top 12 Best Star Wars Books Updated 04 /2024

If you're a fan of "Star Wars," movies and TV shows may be the big events in the world. But literature has been a part of the franchise since the very beginning. In November 1976, Alan Dean Foster wrote the official novelization of "Star Wars," which was called "Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker." It came out months before the movie came out. First, Foster wrote the first official spin-off novel, "Splinter of the Mind's Eye," two years after the first book came out.

Books about "Star Wars" filled the void for fans when there were only whispers about a prequel trilogy, so they bought them to read. Heir to the Empire was written by Timothy Zahn and released in 1991. It was a new story that continued the adventures of Luke, Leia and Han after "Return of the Jedi." It was a lot of fun to see what they did after that. Authors could write new stories about their favorite characters after reading "Heir to the Empire." "Dark Force Rising" and "The Last Command" were the two sequels that came after "Heir to the Empire." The prequels opened up more opportunities for "Star Wars" authors to explore. They set out to write a history of the galaxy far, far away that spanned over 25,000 years, and they did it quickly.

Disney changed the "Star Wars" timeline in 2013 and started a new wave of "Star Wars" books. The older books were moved to the "Legends" line, which is not canon. Still, many of the best "Star Wars" stories have been written, not shown. Find some of the best books about "Star Wars."

The Darth Bane trilogy

The Darth Bane trilogy is set a thousand years before the events of "The Phantom Menace." It tells the life story of one of the most important Sith lords. It turns out that Bane was a skilled miner who joined the Brotherhood of Darkness, an army of Sith that waged war against both the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order. Bane was excited to be a part of the group, but he became worried that the competing Sith Lords were too focused on getting power to rule the galaxy, so he left.

Bane came up with the Rule of Two, which George Lucas used in "The Phantom Menace." It was because of Bane's law that the Sith could only have a single master and one lone apprentice at all times. Darth Zannah is Bane's apprentice in the books "Path of Destruction," "Rule of Two," and "Dynasty of Evil." He plans to destroy both the Jedi and the Sith, and he trains her. For this reason, Zannah wants to kill her master and become an apprentice herself. She also wants to find a new master for her own.

The trilogy ends the Old Republic era of the "Star Wars" timeline and starts a thousand years of peace before "The Phantom Menace." During this time, the Jedi Order stopped working with the military, thinking they had defeated the dark side.

Master and Apprentice

Even though by the time "The Phantom Menace" came out, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi had a mature relationship and were able to understand each other. The maverick Qui-Gon didn't like to follow the strict Jedi rules. His apprentice, on the other hand, was a strict follower of rules who didn't get along with his strong-willed master. Claudia Gray wrote a canonical book called "Master and Apprentice" that talks about an early adventure that brought the two together.

Yoda invites Qui-Gon to join the Jedi Council, even though the troublesome master doesn't want to join the group. The other Jedi think that Qui-unique Gon's perspective is important, even though Yoda doesn't. That's why Qui-Gon doesn't join the council. He'd have to give Obi-training Wan's to another Jedi master, which breaks his apprentice's heart. When Obi-Wan finally starts to connect with his strict teacher, he is afraid that he will disappoint him.

As Qui-Gon thinks about the decision, the two are sent on a mission to the planet Pijal, where a young ruler is in danger from a new terrorist group. The assignment brings Qui-Gon back together with Rael Averross, a Jedi who lost his own Padawan in a tragic fight. It's a thrilling story that explains the interesting relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Obi-training Wan's was shown in the YA series "Jedi Apprentice," but few older "Star Wars" books have covered this time.

Darth Plagueis

When Darth Plagueis the Wise was killed, it was one of the most famous scenes in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. But it's not just a story about a person who died. That Plagueis was a real Sith Lord, and that Palpatine was his apprentice. When Plagueis killed Darth Tenebrous, Luceno's book, "Darth Places," reveals the secret history of how Plagueis killed Tenebrous and became obsessed with studying midi-chlorians, with the goal of making life.

During his time as a politician on Naboo, Plagueis tried to get Palpatine to fall in love with him when he was still learning about his Force powers. Plagueis used Palptaine's political connections to get into the Galactic Republic and run the InterGalactic Banking Clan under the name Magister Hego Damask II, which is what he used to be known as. Disillusionment grows in the government because of Plagueis' and Palpatine's work together. They set up the fall of the Supreme Chancellor Valorum.

Plagueis helps start the deals with the Trade Federation that led to the conflict in "The Phantom Menace." He wants to make Palpatine the Supreme Chancellor. He also trains Maul to be an assassin and lures the Jedi Dooku to the dark side. Before the election, Palpatine said that he would make Plagueis his co-chancellor. Palpatine then betrays Plagueis and kills him in his sleep. Palpatine then goes on with Plagueis' study of the Force's ability to extend life, trying to make himself immortal.

Shatterpoint

Second-in-command on the Jedi Council, Mace Windu, starred in this Clone Wars-era novel. In it, he went back to the planet where he was born. He was born on Haruun Kal, a planet that was split in two by a war called the Summertime War, which was fought between natives and people from other planets. Mace Windu grew up there. Windu doesn't remember much about his past, but he asks for the job when his former Padawan, Depa Billaba, goes missing on the planet.

"Attack of the Clones" is set only a few months after the end of that movie. Windu is filled with doubt. She has gone dark, which is another one of the Jedi's "blind spots." He's puzzled by how quickly a galactic war could start. Because Windu is known for being quiet, he fights for himself when the Separatists attack the place where he was raised.

Rarely does "Shatterpoint" give us a glimpse into Windu's mind. He is very concerned about Anakin and wonders if he is the Chosen One. During the writing process, author Matthew Stover got ideas from a classic Vietnam movie called "Apocalypse Now," which George Lucas had originally planned to direct but never did.

Jedi Trial

As one of the most important events in the story, Anakin is trying to become a Jedi Knight. The book "Jedi Trial" from the time of the Clone Wars sheds some light on this important moment and shows that Anakin is a good leader.

It's up to Anakin to help a Republic outpost on the planet Praesitlyn that has been abandoned. As Count Dooku's henchman Pors Tonith plans to invade, Anakin must help the understaffed world get ready. Only a rag-tag group of battle-tested Republic officers can protect him. If Praestilyn was overrun by droids, the Separatists would be able to get to important hyperspace routes. In "Jedi Trial," there is a lot of action. However, the book also talks a lot about wartime strategy, which isn't always seen in Star Wars novels,

"Jedi Trial," one of the darker books in the series, shows how war takes a toll on people who don't have Force powers. Anakin's leadership in this book shows why the Jedi Council gave him knighthood even though they were worried about his impulsiveness.

The Dark Lord trilogy

Before and after "Revenge of the Sith," this trilogy of books tells the story of how Anakin became Vader. Last days of the Clone Wars. Anakin and Obi-Wan search for Count Dooku's master while General Grievous plans to kidnap the Chancellor and take over the government. Similar to the animated "Star Wars: Clone Wars" miniseries, the novel teases the battle above Coruscant that kicks off "Revenge of the Sith" in the same way.

"Revenge of the Sith" by Luceno is the most detailed Star Wars movie novelization ever written. It's more detailed than any other Star Wars book. It has scenes that were cut from the movie, like Padme's early involvement with the Rebel Alliance. It also talks about Vader's thoughts as he dies on Mustafar. He thinks about Padme's death and how angry he is with Obi-Wan. It's a better ending than the cheesy scream Vader makes in the movie itself.

Finally, "Dark Lord" starts in the early days of the Galactic Empire, when Padme's bodyguard Captain Typho is looking for Anakin, who was thought to have been killed at the end of the Clone Wars. They make an alliance with Chewbacca as the Empire invades Kashyyyk, and Jedi masters Bol Chatak and Roan Shryne survive Order 66. Olee Starstone, a Padawan, also makes it through.

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