Decades before Disney purchased Lucasfilm for an astounding $4 billion, before the prequels, and even before the release of the first Star Wars movie, writers were already expanding the universe beyond what we saw on screen. The Star Wars Expanded Universe, with its books, comics, and games, truly lived up to its name by pushing the boundaries of the Galaxy Far, Far Away. However, in 2014, following Disney's acquisition of the franchise, the Expanded Universe was officially decanonized and rebranded as "Legends." Despite this, these books remain some of the best Star Wars storytelling available, continuing to influence the Star Wars canon today, as evidenced by the recent live-action introduction of Thrawn in Ahsoka. If you're wondering where to start with this vast part of Star Wars fandom, we've compiled a list of the best Star Wars Legends books to help you dive in.

Which Star Wars Legends Books Should You Read First?

Embarking on the journey of reading Legends books can feel daunting with hundreds of titles to choose from. To help you get started, we've curated a list of the best and most essential books to serve as your entry point. From the origins of this expansive collection—and the Star Wars franchise itself—to thrilling tales of zombie stormtroopers, legendary Mandalorian escapes, and vibrant young adult adventures featuring the children of iconic characters, these books offer some of the most enjoyable experiences in the galaxy far, far away. Each of these books is currently available for purchase on Amazon, which is the easiest place to buy books online.

Splinter of the Mind's Eye (1977)

#### Kindle Edition Splinter of the Mind's Eye

4$4.99 at AmazonThis book was the catalyst for the Expanded Universe, alongside Marvel Comics and beloved Star Wars newspaper strips. It's a legendary part of Star Wars lore, initially written as potential source material for a low-budget sequel to A New Hope in case the film didn't perform well enough to warrant a big-budget follow-up. While it was never adapted into a film, it remains a cornerstone of what would become the Expanded Universe and later Legends. The story follows Luke and Leia—no Han or Chewie, sorry Wookiee fans—as they attempt to recruit planetary residents to join the Rebellion. Along the way, they encounter Darth Vader, leading to an epic Leia vs. Vader fight scene and further exploration of the Force and its cosmic powers.

The Han Solo Adventures (1979)

#### Kindle Edition The Han Solo Adventures

4$8.99 at AmazonThis delightful trilogy is one of the most beloved Legends adventures, focusing solely on the roguish cosmic adventurer, Han Solo, making up for his absence in Splinter of the Mind's Eye. The first book, Han Solo at Stars' End, is the third Star Wars novel ever published, following Alan Dean Foster's adaptation of Star Wars and Splinter of the Mind's Eye. Brian Daley takes readers on a wild romp through the criminal underworld of the galaxy, showcasing why Han and Chewie are such a fan-favorite duo in the Star Wars universe. Subsequent books continue their intergalactic adventures.

Heir to the Empire (1991)

#### Kindle Edition Heir to the Empire

6$3.99 at AmazonWhen discussing the most influential Legends titles, the Thrawn trilogy often tops the list. Timothy Zahn kicked off the series with this book, set five years after the Battle of Endor, introducing readers to the Empire's heir apparent. Grand Admiral Thrawn, the powerful Chiss commander, became a fan-favorite character and eventually entered the Star Wars canon through The Clone Wars TV series and more recently in the live-action Ahsoka. If you're looking for a Legends book that significantly impacted Star Wars both on and off the screen, this is it.

Darth Bane: Path of Destruction (2006)

#### Path of Destruction

3$8.99 at AmazonAnother iconic Legends trilogy, the Darth Bane books focus on the infamous Sith Lord and how his reign influenced the galaxy. Drew Karpyshyn's trilogy is compelling for both Star Wars fans and sci-fi enthusiasts, offering a deep dive into Sith lore while standing alone as a gripping, dark read. Path of Destruction uniquely presents its story from a Sith perspective, providing insight into the origins of the Sith Rule of Two and one of the most powerful and feared Sith Lords in history.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force (1995)

#### Paperback Heirs of the Force

2See itGrowing up as a Star Wars fan in the '90s meant enjoying a wealth of Expanded Universe books, including this legendary series focused on the children of Han Solo and Princess Leia, Jacen and Jaina Solo. The twins study under Luke Skywalker at his Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. These Force-sensitive teenagers led this charming young readers' series for years, before Jacen's dark turn into the Sith Lord Darth Caedus in later Expanded Universe books. Jacen's storyline notably influenced the sequel trilogy's Kylo Ren.

Tales from Jabba's Palace (1995)

#### Kindle Edition Tales from Jabba's Palace

2$4.99 at AmazonThis short story collection is one of the most beloved entries in the Expanded Universe, particularly for revealing that fan-favorite Boba Fett survived the Sarlacc Pit, a detail that was canonized in The Book of Boba Fett. Beyond this major revelation, the book is filled with fun, weird, and wonderful alien-focused stories about the Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Death Troopers (2009)

#### Kindle Edition Death Troopers

2$11.99 at AmazonWhile not one of the most lore-heavy entries, this standalone horror story about zombie stormtroopers is one of the coolest additions to the Legends universe. Horror writer Joe Schreiber brought the genre back to the Galaxy Far, Far Away for the first time since the Galaxy of Fear series, and he did so with a bang. When an Imperial prison barge breaks down and encounters a deserted Star Destroyer with only two survivors, the dead begin to walk, leading to terrifying consequences.

Darth Plagueis (2012)

#### Kindle Edition Darth Plagueis

2$12.99 at AmazonHave you heard the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise? James Luceno's acclaimed tale under the Legends banner explores the infamous Sith Lord's rise to power and his training of his apprentice, Darth Sidious, who would later become Emperor Palpatine. Luceno crafts a bleakly brilliant story of Sith violence and the dangers of ambition. One of the most well-regarded contemporary Legends books, Darth Plagueis delves into the titular villain's quest for ultimate power, no matter how perilous.

How Many Star Wars Legends Books Are There?

There are nearly 400 books that fall under the Star Wars Legends banner, along with numerous comics, games, and films. This includes movies and TV shows like The Star Wars Holiday Special, Star Wars: Droids, Ewoks: Caravan of Courage, and games such as Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Shadows of the Empire (part of a massive Expanded Universe crossover event), and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The extensive range of content makes sense given that the series spanned from 1977—six months before the first film's release—to 2014, encompassing nearly forty years of the Expanded Universe.

Star Wars Legends vs. Canon

What does this all mean? Essentially, anything labeled as "Legends" was once part of the Expanded Universe and is no longer considered canon. However, as we've seen with various inspirations and actual canon appearances, this status can shift. As the Star Wars universe expands on screen, more elements from Legends may be incorporated. When a book like Heir to the Empire is made canon by Lucasfilm, it loses its Legends status and becomes part of the main Star Wars canon.

Although Star Wars Legends books are not canon, there are numerous contemporary canon novels that enrich the galaxy and its inhabitants, directly connecting to the films. A prime example is the High Republic series, which introduced a new era to the Star Wars canon and is set to appear in live-action. Other canon books include Leia by Claudia Gray, E.K. Johnston's Padmé trilogy, The Princess and the Scoundrel by Beth Revis, Last Shot by Daniel José Older, and many more.

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