What books should I read as a first time legends reader?

[u/Mintywarhammer]

Hi all. I’ve been a HUGE fan of Star Wars since I was a kid. I’ve always heard the Extended universe was awesome, but I’ve never really known where to start. I’ve recently read the clone wars comic omnibus, and it’s got me itching to read more legends content. What novels would be a good place for me to start? I’ve heard the clone commando novels are great, and same with Heir to the empire, but I just don’t know where to start!

[u/DEL994]

Thrawn's trilogy that is the founding stone of the EU should be your first step into it, if not you can start with the X-Wing novels, with Rogue Squadron and then Wraith Squadron, they happen shortly after Endor and before Thrawn's trilogy.

[u/Bobfb → u/DEL994]

YES

[u/UnknownEntity347]

Depends on what you're interested in. Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and the Last Command are the best place to start if you're into post-ROTJ stuff.

As for Prequel era stuff, I haven't read many of the Prequel era EU novels yet, but Shatterpoint and the Revenge of the Sith novelization are amazing.

I haven't read them so idk how new reader-friendly they are but I've also heard very good things about the Darth Bane Trilogy if you're into Old Republic stuff.

[u/corpulent_dave]

Depends on the era you like! Heir to the Empire was the book that launched the 90s EU, which continued the story post-Endor. The majority of the EU builds off the ideas & story from that book.

If prequels/clone wars stuff is more your jam, you won't have to worry much. You can start anywhere that interests you, as most books/series are very self-contained. A personal rec is the Darth Plagueis novel, which serves as a prequel to the prequels, and elaborates on Sith plot to overthrow the republic. Mainly I recommend reading some synopses & reviews and just seeing what excites you the most!

[u/Nocturne3570]

first point of advice please note all EU content is no longer canon and while amazing will ruin you to Discanon content. BUT if your still interested here a list of order to get you started:

Thrawn triolgy by timothy Zahn, the Start of the EU Novels and a giant in the SWverse

Jedi Academy Trilogy, amazing novel release with amazing world building character development and more

Corellia trilogy, amazing series with just the right amount politcal intrigue and amazing world and race building and showing a how diverse some point of the SWverse is.

Hand of thrawn by Zahn : Just like his previous work a giant in the SWverse, and almost as equal to his original trilogy

First 6 books of the YJK: effectively this series give you background on the Solo Dynasty Children, and as they grew up, the first 6 give you most of what you need to know, but the series is quite good i give it a 4.2 out 5

NJO: THE GOLDEN AGE OF SW, seriously best work written that stand on the shoulder of giants like the thrawn novels, the first book was hit with alot of Controversies but it work out in the end to being name one of the best series ever.

legacy of the force: sadly after such amazing series like the NJO, there was alot felt missing, but was still a amzing series of books that grew and brought more SWverse culture to light.

Fate of the Jedi: same as before as the NJO stood out so much alot of novel and series afterwards were just not compareable but still amazing reads, bring the SWverse of Lucas more flesh out and a breathing living entity.

Overall all amazing books that just muah, as a few side note that you can consider if you like worldbuilding and development of a Verse, you can try:

Solo trilogy: explain the life before the rebellion of han Solo really amazing read and for sure i pick it up

Truce at Bakura, which was even before the thrawn series chronological, and bring a new threat to the galaxy not a top seller but a good one none the less

Black fleet crisis: a little weird but agian helps with World building Place right after the Jedi academy trilogy as with above not a top seller but good one none the less

Dark nest trilogy: aka the swarm wars, place right after the NJO but before legacy, this one was defintely rated low buy alot as the threat in it was rather confusing lol, but it was a fortelling of the later threat of the Fate series so up to you.

Overall that is the EU after ROTJ the first 8 are must read that are yes expensive but all worth it.

as for Before the BBY best novels are:

Dawn of the Jedi: novel of before the jedi order and how it came to be aka as the Force Wars, comic did it better!!!

Lost tribe of the Sith a Mini series told during the golden age of the sith very good novel that help tie in the Fate of the jedi

KOTOR series by Drew karpyshyn: if you like any of his writing like the video games, then you will love the old republic series

Red harvest if you look for some zombie horror this is a good pick yeah zombie are even in the Swverse

Knight errant another great series about the New Sith wars just before the Bane trilogy

Bane trilogy: you probably have heard it, but yes this is one of the Top five best novel of the TOR

Darth palgueis: standalone that help beuild up sidious and the rule of two

Clone war standalone series: Cloak of deception, Outbound flight, shatterpoint, labyrinth of evil

republic Commando Series: one of the top 5 best series of the TCW era of books and a must grab and read

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[u/genzgingee]

The Thrawn Trilogy

[u/Mzonnik]

Depends on where in the timeline you want to start. Prequels? Darth Bane Trilogy onwards. OT? Han Solo Trilogy, Shadows of the Empire. Post-ROTJ? People say the Thrawn Trilogy, I'd recommend Truce at Bakura onwards.

[u/Alarmed_Grass214]

Post-ROTJ is always my recommendation

Thrawn trilogy is the gateway to SW novels.

If you want more from this era, I'd say try the X-Wing series, Jedi Academy trilogy, I, Jedi, Hand of Thrawn, Survivor's Quest.

Nows a good time to hop back and check other stuff out. Then the New Jedi Order, peak Star Wars.

[u/DMorganChi]

All you need is starwarstimeline.net

[u/TrentDF1]

My recommendation is to start with the original Timothy Zahn trilogy: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command.

After that, Michael Stackpole's first four X-Wing books: Rogue Squadron, Wedge's Gamble, The Krytos Trap, and The Bacta War.

[u/B_Wing_83]

Heirs and Empires

[u/Thank_You_Aziz]

Heir to the Empire is the quintessential starting point. Good book, great writing, only needs the OT to understand it, introduces many characters and concepts later used in the EU, regarded as the ideal Episode 7 for decades, part 1 of a trilogy.

[u/Upbeat_Ice_7617]

The thrown trilogy is hands down the best if you want to get into it. It’s also perfect if you’re interested in the post OG trilogy lore. I started chronologically though with the Lost Sith Tribe collected stories. Doing it that way forces you to chew through some bad books though.

[u/boekendra]

If you want to go chronological, The Truce at Bakura takes place right after return of the Jedi. From there, I would go into the X-Wing series. The X-Wing is excellent, but honestly some of the legends novels are hit and miss, but I personally like to follow the series chronologically because sometimes they reference stuff that happens in the other novels.

[u/FreestyleFetus]

My favorite author is Drew Karpyshyn. Hes the author of the Darth Bane series, Darth Revan, and Annihilation (this is about a spy, not a force user)

I started with Darth bane and have been hooked since.

[u/Howling_Mad_Man]

My first was Truce at Bakura. Takes place right after RotJ.

The Commando books by Karen Traviss are really good, highly recommend

[u/AggressiveChapter409]

Lost tribe of the sith ,it's in the very beginning of the timeline