I was genuinely expecting a video of an old guy ranting about how legends is the best but thank you for spreading a positive attitude to what people should consider when going into star wars books and canon in general. Great first video (for me) and will be watching more and checking out some of these books!
Lmao, well there's a heavy handed compliment there. (j/j) Thanks mate. It's all Star Wars to me and none of it was always/entirely great. Moreover no one else can tell you what is and isn't Star Wars. I say pick and choose from both and you'll be surprised what you discover.
Why does it matter what’s canon or legends? Both have their ups, and downs I personally prefer more stories from legends but the only thing that matters is head canon imo. It’s up to you to decide tbh
If you love the prequels and Palpatine I highly recommend the Darth Plagueis novel and Revenge of the Sith novelisation as well as Dark lord the rise of Darth Vader. Both epic novels.
I read the thrawn trilogy to start and it was phenomenal. The audiobook had music in the background and sound effects which made the whole experience bring me back to the magic of the original trilogy. Felt like a kid again. I’ll be checking out Master and Apprentice now. 🙌🏼 Thank you for the video 🙏🏼
I've started by reading the "From a Certain Point of View" anthologies, because I love the idea of having so many different voices tell the stories of the movies we know so well, but through different eyes, and different writing styles as well. This has given me a good idea of where I want to go once I finish them!
Love your energy and expertise here! Perfect attitude and well said. This is an awesome guide and video and super appreciated as an oldhead dipping their toe into Star Wars novels. Canon or no good stories need to be read and cherished!
I'm a lot younger I was born after attack of the clones in fact (before revenge of the sith but I was too young to see it when it came out). My first introduction to star wars was actually the Lego Star wars complete Saga which I loved. But I was always sad there were no female jedi who were important (there were shaak ti, luminara and aayla as bonus characters but not for any of the story missions). So when clone wars came out I was obsessed because finally there was a character who was like me in ahsoka. That was what made me fall in love with star wars. My first star wars Book was a new dawn because I loved rebels from when it came out and now I've read most of the canon books and have just dipped my toes into legends with the jedi apprentice series and the original thrawn trilogy. Thank you for your legends recommendations! I want to read all of them someday but cloak of deception wasn't one that had caught my eye before so thank you for that!
Hi Emily, thanks for the kind words. I'm happy you enjoy both Canon & Legends. Like yourself, I was extatic when we first saw Ahsoka on screen in 2008. After Leia, she was the first major breakthrough female character on-screen . I knew from the first episodes she is a great raw model for younger audience because she goes through all the emotional challenges and frustrations of being a teen. There's a beautiful realism to her character against this fantastical background. I hope you'll find lots more to enjoy in the Legends books. There tons of interesting stories and characters to explore. I can only imagine the "feels" you'll experience once you get into Mara Jade! =)
Straight to the point, awesome. I am a star wars fan but similar to you, i didn't know there was a whole world of books. I recently went to the library and found one, i forgot which one i had seen, but i was like omg i didn't know this. So i looked into it so i could find were to start and I didn't find any useful resources until i watched this Vid of yours. Definitely gonna watch some more of you videos to learn a bit more before i start reading. Thanks for the information, really appreciate it. 👍
Glad you found this video useful. There's tons of resources to check out there. Usually when you pick up EU books in their original bindings you'll see a full reading order list. Very helpful if you want to situate yourself in the timeline.
This is so helpful!!! I can’t wait to get into Star Wars. I’ve watched the movies so many times as a kid. But I’ve been wondering about the universe beyond the movies. And I am definitely eager to get into it.
As someone who saw Star Wars in 1977 at the Drive In, what you said early on resonates - don't lose your stuff over Canon or not. Just have fun! I still have 2 of the og Han Solo paperbacks. :)
I am relatively New to the whole star wars universe... It started for me with the mandalorian and that made me more curious to the whole universe, and then watched the animated rebels and the Clone wars and from than on, I knew I had to see all the movies and now I am reading the books also. The first was Ahsoka by E.K.Johnston and the second was titled: From a Certain Point of View and that let me to the Thrawn trilogy, then I read by E.K Johnston the three Books about padmé: Queen's Shadow, Queen's peril and Queen's Hope and after that Master & Apprentice and now I am reading Bloodline by Claudia grey.... So I am well on my way, just criss-crossing through the galaxy far far away.....😀😃 And having fun along the way😊
Enjoy it. While there is no right way of approaching Star Wars franchise I would strongly encourage you explore both NEW and Legends content. Both have amazing stories to offer you.
Thank you for your opinion good sir! I've never been a reader, but my love for Star Wars and thirst for more knowledge on this amazing universe has guided me to this video. I'm not disappointed with the result, great work!
I remember during my elementary school days when I really had fun reading the novelization of Return of the Jedi, the one written by James Kahn based on the manuscript of the movie. Just to be clear, I was born in 1998 so I grew up watching the Prequel Trilogy for more than ten times on repeat. In my perspective, Return of the Jedi was my number one novel that I completed every time I am about to enter my school's library and it was really engaging that I actually became obsessed with expanding my vocabulary. In my opinion, I still consider the novels that are published from 2012 onwards to be canon TOGETHER with the Legends (Old Canon) as long as it is take place during the Prequel Trilogy, Clone Wars, Bad Batch, Rogue One, and the Original Trilogy. However, the timeline after the events of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, I prefer the old canon because Luke Skywalker is always my favorite character and will always be my favorite Grand Master of the New Jedi Order, following the footsteps of Master Yoda himself. I'm planning on adding Heir to the Empire and the Jedi Academy Trilogy into my book collection because I simply cannot stand the idea that they will just kill off Luke by replacing him with the Emperor's granddaughter as his successor.
Very good selection. Since those weren't available around the time I started and I wasn't even aware of the Tales of the Jedi, the original Old Republic content, I always wanted to find out what happens to Luke and the gang after EP6. So Truce at Bakura was my first entry. Still have fondest memories reading it.
I just started reading star wars books and I started with darth bane: path of destruction. In my opinion it as an amazing book and definetly recommend it (just bought the other two books in the trilogy). Especially if you want to know more about the history of the sith. If you've read it, what are your opinions on it? As a book and as a first star wars book.
Not only Darth Bane trilogy is one of the very best in the franchise, it will also be very hard to top. Drew Karpushyn of the Knights of The Old Republic fame is a heck of an author. I love everything the man does. Are you a fan of the video games?
@@starwarstimeline Love the first one, but I never really finished the second one. Got sidetracked, but I started playing it again after I finished path of destruction.
I’m in my 40s and the first Star Wars book I read is Shadow of the Sith and it was … meh. I kinda wish I knew what I was doing before buying that book. I read an article on line which peaked my interest. That is how I picked up SotS. I about gave up thinking all Star Wars books were slop like that one but a friend referred me to Light of the Jedi and now I’m hooked! I really enjoyed that book and I’m about finished with the Rising Storm! I listen to the audiobook as I follow along in the book and I’m enjoying this experience! After watching this video, and once I’m done with the High Republic novels I will be reading the suggested books you presented. Thank you for this video! I appreciate it. Subscribed.
Thanks for your kind words! Remember, both Legends & Canon novels are written by a diverse group of talented authors. Not all of them will be up your alley. Don't be discouraged by that. There were many books fans find "cheesy" that I LOVE while critically acclaimed titles I deemed boring (Darth Plaguies for example). A lot will depend on personal perference. Check out my updated recommendation video where I go over 30+ books for beginners. I'm sure you'll find something to enjoy and don't forget to have fun!
Loved this video, thank you! A great intro video and reminder to have fun! This year I've absolutely loved diving into rewatching the films & some of the series and just starting to enjoy acquiring and reading the books! I've picked up a few of the books that you mentioned so I'm even more excited to read them! I'm currently reading the first edition hardback of Phantom Menace I picked up from a thrift store and loving it!
Thank you for your great recommendations. Decided to go with Heir to the Empire and the Kenobi Legends novel for my first Star Wars books. Really looking forward to reading them. After that I might pick up Light of the Jedi
Great video thank you for the recommendations, I’m currently reading I,Jedi at the moment and loving it. Stackpole’s writing is really working for me. This is My first Star Wars book since reading the Zahn trilogy many years ago. I was considering reading the new Jedi order series next because I’ve heard very good things about it.
Glad you're enjoying I, Jedi. I would hold off on NJO series. There are several prerequisite readings to get the most emotional impact out of the NJO. Namely read Jedi Academy Trilogy, Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy, Corellian Trilogy, and I highly recommend K.J. Anderson's Young Jedi Knights series. This will help you understand all the cast in NJO and really experience their growth and drama in the latter books.
@@starwarstimelineWow thank you so much for the additional recommendations I really appreciate that. I subscribed to your channel, and I’ll be sure to read those first before diving into NJO. I,Jedi has really rekindled my love for the Star Wars universe and it’s all I want to read at the moment.
Wow thank you so much!! This video was so informative, explained simply and nonbiasedly. You helped answer my questions that I'd googled a billion times and never found or understood the answers to.
You won't regreat it. Those are unanimously beloved books by old fans and new. Plus, you don't have to read anything prior to that. Excellent entry point and you get some of the best SW storytelling ever!
My pleasure Theodore. I made an updated video also with 30+ book recommendations both Canon & Legends. Check it out if you have time. You'll find more ideas where to begin.
Thanks you, for such great recommendations. I just ordered the Ahaoka book and I’m so excited to get it. After I have read that I will for sure get the “Master and Apprentice” book. Great video👍
I just found out there were books. I grew up with the original trilogy and have always been a fan. But after Harding the sequels as much as I do, my kids actually told me about the legend story and that it was cannon but now it’s not. I was very confused but interested. So Im trying to do some research to see where I should start because I found there are so many books, seems like hundreds. I’ve watched a couple other videos but your explication has helped me the best. So thank you.
Thank you for the kind words Michele. The shortest explanation is, every book, comic, and other media published before 2012 is Legends. There so many great stories there. But also don't be afraid to check out the new books. Even if you didn't enjoy the sequel trilogy there are plenty of amazing stories to read.
The first Star Wars book I've ever read was Shadows of the Empire. It's a great starting point if you like the Original Trilogy, and it really pays off if you can find the comic series too. Cloak of Deception was a great tip, and can lead into the Darth Plagueis book, which is also always remembered.
I'm currently in the middle of catching up with all the Star Wars animated shows, only about half way through The Clone Wars so when I decided to check out some of the novels I didn't want to get into anything which might tie into that to much so I opted to pick up Lost Stars. Not finished it yet, but so far it has been a great stand alone story for anyone familiar with episodes 4-6. Light of the Jedi and the High Republic series might be the next on my list while I'm still catching up on the animated shows.
Oh wow, glad you're watching TCW. I love that show so much. Once you're finished you'll discover so many awesome Clone Wars era related novels in both Legends & Canon!
Cloak of Deception! Yes! I feel like the only person who liked that one. Great selection. Been reading SW since 1991 with Heir to the Empire, and I have read, I’m guessing, 85% of Legends. The books I have been recommending to people the most is Lost Stars and Kenobi by John Jackson Miller. I have most of new Canon and a lot of it is fluffy inconsequential “tie-in to the new movies/programs” that really don’t do, say or change anything for the better. I wasn’t as high on Master and Apprentice or Light of the Jedi as you were. Of new Canon I also recommend Ahsoka, and a few others that I am curious if you’ll recommend in future videos. Things I ask people who ask me about where to start reading Star Wars is how familiar with SW they are, and what kind of reader they are, as that might determine if they want a one-shot or a trilogy. No reason to recommend, for example, the excellent XWing books to people who are not wanting to read multiple titles or about too many characters they don’t know. A one-shot like Scoundrels would give them a fun light story; Kenobi a wonderful character study - that book is essentially a western, after all; Bloodline is a great Leia story.
Great info sir! I was wondering if you had recommendations that get into the history of the sith/jedi conflict? I love the idea of saber-weilding force users getting into mischief and battles
Hi Thomas. If you enjoy comics I would highly recommend the "Tales of the Jedi" series. It's a marvelous, sweeping tale of Jedi vs. Sith that served as origin and inspiration to the popular BioWare video games "Knights of the Old Republic". It features some of the most powerful, ruthless Sith Lords of all time and beautiful stories of betrayal and redemption. I can't recomend it enough to fans who want to see some of the earliest conflicts. starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Tales_of_the_Jedi
I loved Lost Stars, took me years to finish it because of circumstances and it felt funny kinda relating that every time I picked it up, the characters and I would be older.
I love the message of this video! Just love the universe that you fell in love with when you first watched Star Wars. I keep trying to tell myself that even though I was disappointed with the Sequel trilogy. I am looking forward to all the books and comics that I will read
Trust me, I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the amazing EU Clone Era novels that made Prequels more enjoyable for me. Time smoothes things over and all the new content will perhaps give you a new insight into Sequels someday. Sequels aren't perfect but neither were prequels. I'll tell you one thing. The only Star Wars movie that brought me back to my 80's childhood was The Last Jedi. Nothing could ever be more relatable than seeing my childhood Hero stumbe, fall, and come back with vengeance swinging the noble Jedi way from the hip!! I haven't seen a more noble Luke than this.
Darth Bane is a fantastic trilogy. If you're into that Old Republic era at the moment I highly recommend you check out the original Dark Horse "Tales of the Jedi" comic series (MARVEL has a reprinted version of it). It's the origin of the Old Republic from which BioWare KOTOR games and Bane trilogy took a lot of inspiration from.
@@starwarstimeline that definitely sounds like a great "jumping off point" for my SW lore (canon or legends). I was introduced to SW through the prequels but love all trilogies. That is taking into consideration their intended audiences. If I wanted to jump into some amazing storytelling regardless of era what would you recommend? Like something that emboldens love for SW.
I highly recommend the original Thrawn Trilogy. It stands the test of time as the definitive SW book trilogy. Long before prequels were even announced, many fans regarded them as the sequels to the original saga, and for a good reason.
Love the video. Do you have a timeline for the books in visual form...so if we shop/look for books we can look at the book title and see where it is on the timeline?
Thank you for the kind words. Yes I do. Check out my revized recommendation list. I have a graphical representation for both LEGENDS & CANON. You will also find the same graphic on the inside sleeve of every Legends book you purchase to guide you through. th-cam.com/video/B3TjWgmwUCs/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for this, man!♥️👍 (My favorite take-away from this video 14:38-14:52) I'm so glad Tolkien has original works that no has to wonder about concerning the legitimacy of, but this video is very interesting since I've heard many differing opinions from various acquaintances about the "Original Lore" of Star Wars. After so many new, post-modernistic/radical ideals having been injected into the newer films (and possibly books as well), I'm glad to know that there is an immense amount of *freedom for the reader* to begin reading wherever they wish with Star Wars' stories.
I wouldn't say thre are that many "post-modernistic/radical ideas" in New Canon. Most of the "contravercy" is perpetuated by angry TH-camrs who publish clickbait videos to make fans angry and spread out any lie to get clicks on their channels. That's not to say the modern Canon isn't influenced at all by modern world views. But in my opinion, non of it is significant enough to disrupt your reading. That's why I enjoy the new books. Most of them are concerned with good writing and storytelling. I haven't read a single book that was solely based on a political message. I'd be the first person to jump the ship in that instance as I really don't care to be lectured old told what to believe.
@@starwarstimeline I don't know of the existence of specific books, but a coloring book even losely based on the film _The Last Jedi_ is already too much. And I believe it's pretty safe to say they've probably made a lot more than just coloring books. Although I suppose that's where the specific definitions and terminology become much more important, as well as what we mean when we say "New Canon" (if it refers only to written form or media as well).
I was a Ledges reader, i started buying random books but then found the chronology. So i got all the books from Truce at Bakuta to Fate of thw Jedi. The X-Wing and NJO stuff was my favorite but i loved the world building qnd new characters and even give a pass to the re-cons. I yavent read and of the the BBY stuff though or the cannon stuff
Thanks, I wanted to make this video for a while. I'm sure there's tons of more I could talk about in the future. Some fans may not even want to begin with novels, but comics?
This video was so cool! It’s great to see what other SW fans read/listened to first. Outside of the movies, I mean. My 1st books were Tales from Jabba’s Palace and Tales From Mos Eisley Cantina. I chose them because I liked the idea of giving a popular movie scene and giving it a ton of depth. Now, when I watch A New Hope, I know half the people in the cantina!
I completely agree. You can jump between legends and Canon with little to no issues. Half the time I don't know I'm reading canon until someone mentions Tacodana or Ashoka in passing.
@@starwarstimeline Easily one of my favorite things about Starwars, there's so much of it that there's bound to be something for anyone to enjoy. Thanks for the great guide videos. I've been curious to see if the new High Republic stuff is worth checking out and it seems like it.
I started with the films and series on Disney, now I’ve finished them all I began with reading high republic LOJ I’m half way through and really enjoying it.
I recently picked up and already finished “the bounty hunter wars” book 1 “the mandalorian armor” and at last page it has the timeline starting from dawn of the Jedi all the way to crucible. I am very new to Star Wars but I love it a lot so far. However I find the old republic era very interesting. So I’m going to start from there and move forward in a chronological order. I loved the video and most likely not starting from the legends you suggested lol but I don’t feel as intimidated as I did when I picked up “the mandalorian armor”. It’s all for fun and entertainment!!!!
That's the best outlook really. I'm sure there will be some books you enjoy more than others but in general both timelines have excellent stories to enjoy. Check my updated vide recommendation list. I've upgraded it with more Canon and Legend books.
@@starwarstimeline I meant like prequel, sequel, and original trilogy fans. I myself abhor the sequels. I didn’t know about this legends and cannon thing in Star Wars. I wanted to get into the books for the story and lore. That’s how I found this channel.
I am reading the entire legends comics in chronological order rn. Then all the Legends Novels to fill in the blanks. I already played most of the games even the old games(Heir to the empire, knights of the old republic1 and 2, swtor, etc. and watched all movies/Shows. Then when legends is done which will take years. Then Canon comics and Novels will be aproached.
I would srpinkle a few novels in between your reading. You can mostly skip the new comics as they haven't truly added a substantive narrative (for the exception of a few good runs).
From canon I would highly recommend Ahsoka (reads like an episode from TCW) and an absolute MUST read "Master & Apprentice". One of the best novels with Qui-Gon. From legends I 'd say you have more options. Darth Plaguies is hugely popular among fans but if you want to move away from popular characters and explore a new cast I highly recommend the Medstar Duology. It's some of the best military sci fi I ever read. Reads like a gritty mature novel (think Tom Clancey) set in the Clone Wars. Brilliant book!
It’s been so daunting getting into the books. I love starwars since I was a kid only having a bee hope on vhs but the books are so vast. I was reading one a while back about luck but lost the book and gave up
Let me know if you have any questions. It's really not as daunting as it may first seem. I could set you up with a beginner list in Legends or Canon and you'll be enjoying it in no time.
I agree with u i bought dark disciple in January this year and still haven’t finished it but just keep on trying to read the book they get good eventually
@@starwarstimeline sure I’ll try what ever one you think is best I did down load the audiobook for master and apprentice and started it. If that helps you help me
I'm a big fan of Star Wars as well, especially the tv shows like Clone wars and Rebels. I read the book of Ahsoka, and tought "wow, reading star wars is cool, it gives a lot more details about culture of the different worlds". But here I am, wanting a book where I get to meet new characters, not the old usual ones like Luke, Leia, Obi wan and all. Do you have a recommendation of book with completely new introduced characters ?
You MUST read Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. She createst some of the best, layered characters that you root for throughout her stories. No fans, old or new should be w/out that book. Also highly recommend Battlefront 1/2 books. It's right up your alley with all new but memorable cast.
I'll be making a video sometime soon on that as well. From the Legends side you can't go wrong with Knights of The Old Republic comic based on the BioWare games but featuring all new cast during roughly the same time frame as the games. My absolute TOP Star Wars story outside of the OT is a series of books called "Tales of the Jedi" which chronicles the golden age of the Sith and their downfall. Brilliant storytelling with timeless characters. Modern comics I highly suggest Kanan: The Last padawan if you're a fan of the TCW or Rebels TV shows.
Great video! You now have a new subscriber. I really liked what you said at the end, at the end of the day we are reading and consuming Starwars to have fun. People should stop taking it so seriously. The first Starwars book I read was Lost Stars by Claudia Gray, I am glad you recommended that as a good starting point. Right now I am reading The Light of The Jedi by Charles Soule and thinking about what to read next, I will take into consideration what you said in this video. Thanks again!
Thank you for the kind compliments. Book recommendation is the reason I started this channel. Check out my updated recommendations with over 30 books from both canon and legends. It will give you ideas what to jump on next from the High Republic.
See now this a guy I believe has actually read the books he talks about. Subscribed. Also do you recommend any Dark side novels I’m a Dark side guy. I forgot how much fun Star Wars is an was.
Haha, thanks. I appreciate the kind words. There are plenty of great Dark Side novels. My first recommendation would be the "Bane Trilogy" 1. Path of Destruction. 2. Rule of Two 2. Dynasty of Evil. Those are available on Amazon or any other retailer (consider the original covers or the new Essential Reissues with slick new covers). This trilogy is regarded among the best in the franchise. If you feel like starting off with a single novel, check out Revan. Another great single book (even though the story continues in consequent novels, sort of). Both Revan and Bane trilogy are set in the days of the Old Republic.
Just finished Revan and 2/3 through The Rule of Two. Revan was sick. I had to order his six inch figure. Darth Bane is such an interesting character. Super fun reads. I bought thee Thrawn trilogy and the Thrawn book. I know the trilogy came first it was thinking I’d read the new because it’s more of an origin story. Darth Plagues is on its way from Amazon lol
Our son (6) loves star wars, hasn’t seen any of the movies yet as i think he’s still too young but he loves Star Wars Lego. We want to start reading longer novels to him at bed time. Would you say any of these are ok to read to a child his age or would you say the content isn’t appropriate?
I saw it when I was 7 but that was 80's. If your boy hasn't seen ANY movies yet I'd start him with "The Clone Wars" or "Rebels" animated shows. The Complete Skywalker Saga video game also goes through 9 films in a child-friendly, comedic style. From the books, TO BE SAFE start with young adult titles. CANON BOOKS: The 3-set of books focused on Han, Luke, & Leia, is a PERFECT starting point: The Weapon of a Jedi (Jason Fry), Moving Target (Jason Fry), Smuggler's Run (Greg Rucka) From Legends: The 14-book Young Jedi Knights by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta are IDEAL. Jedi Apprentice series is great starting point.
The was a pretty good video covering cannon and legend. I myself like the old Republic era, and favorite character is Revan, and droid is HK-47 Assassin droid. Though, I'm in a tough spot. My niece wants to start reading the Skywalker saga books. I don't know what's the best selection to start and minimize the amount with after the book for episode 6 return of the Jedi. Some advice in the right direction would be greatfull.
Is she old enough to know the difference between the Canon and Legends books? As long as you can explain to her the idea of two separate stories there are several books to begin with. Also the age obviously factors in regards to content. If she's 10+ I'd say Begin with Truce at Bakura. Great action involving Luke and the story takes place right after Ep.VI Also I made a newer video with over 30 book recommendations. See if you find something there you like. th-cam.com/video/B3TjWgmwUCs/w-d-xo.html
What would you say are some of the best clone wars books, ive always loved the prequels and especially tcw show and i wanna start reading star wars so i figured thats a good place to start, great vid btw!
Thanks. If you enjoy Mace Windu in TCW you'll love M. Stover's Shatterpoint. Cloack of Deception has fantastic political intrigue and Palpatine's machinations prior to EPI. Yoda: Dark Rendesvous is also really good where he intends to bring Dooku in. Now I love Kren Traviss but haven't read her Republic Commando 4 book series but I know for sure they're exceptional. Those would be good starting places.
I love your comment about books that are Legends "So what? Big deal!" I completely agree. If it's a good Star Wars story, who cares? Just enjoy the fantasy.
Thanks Scott. It always a group of fans who know the least about Star Wars who claim they know the most and go around telling other's what's "true Star Wars". It's nonense. Each fan decides what stories are relevant to them.
Not at all. There are so many resources to help guide you. Just Google the title of the book you're reading and you'll automatically know if it's Legends or Canon. The more time you spend reading from each side and familiarizing yourself with major events and characters that carry on in multiple books, the more confident you'll feel.
Hey I was wondering if you could give me some advice on what book to read my favourite characters are Maul and Luke. My favourite era is the original trilogy but I would like to know more about the prequel era
I can get into greater detail if you join our FB group and we create a topic for you there but here's my short list. LEGENDS: 1. Truce At Bakura 2. Courtship of Princess Leia 3. Original Thrawn Trilogy 4. Jedi Academy Trilogy (in that order). Luke is my favorite character and I wanted to know what happens immediately after Ep.VI Truce at Bakura begins literally the next day and is one of the best EU books to date! The rest of the books in this list will give you a general overview what the New Alliance/Imperial remnan + all the heroes look like post Ep.VI
I've so far only read one book, but as a fan of Darth Maul you might find it interesting. My first star wars book was Darth Plagueis, by the amazing author James Luceno. It details the decades leading up to the Phantom Menace from the perspective of Darth Plagueis, the master of Darth Sidious. It goes deep into the tons of clever manipulation they enacted, and it does show Maul in a prominent capacity in the final stretch. I will not spoil exactly how, but I thought it was a very interesting take on what his story was. Personally, as an avid fan, though one who has stuck exclusively with the movies and shows until now, this book was the best starting point I could've asked for. It expertly sets up the prequel trilogy era, leading seamlessly into the Phantom Menace and even providing some minor insight to the era leading up to the Clone War at the very end, and still making a great story out of the restrictions it had. If you want to learn about the nuances of the prequel era, this is probably one of the best books for you. The attention to detail is like nothing I've seen and many of the books I'm getting soon are also written by our new lord and savior James Luceno.
Hi. Thanks for your kind words. If you want a good action packed story from CANON, I suggest Battlefront: Twilight Company and it's sequel Battlefront: Inferno Squad. For legends, there is no better book to start than the Original Admiral Thrawn Trilogy. Those books are Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command.
I just ordered yesterday :Star Wars from the adventures of luke skywalker. I think it is the first Star Wars book ever written. It was written 6 months before the first movie so it was first published in 1976 . I am so exited and I can't wait to read it. Have you ever read it, and was it good? :)
Hey Michael. My understanding is you're reffering to "Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker" which is basically the novelization of the original film. Yes, I believe it's the first SW book ever published followed by "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" by the same author Alan Dean Foster.
My cousin sandra picked up a bunch of star wars books and brought them home for me. I started with vision of the future, not knowing that it came after specter of the past. Lol.
That's fine. Sometimes navigating your way around it can be a fun experinece as well. LoL, fans get so preoccupied with proper chronology so much they forget to have fun with it)))
Is there a way to get into comtact with you regarding a question on a boom before purchasing. I hate to list it in messages because i am sure it will sell then before i can get it. I just dont want to spend the money before talking to someone with knowledge on it.
"The Heart of the Jedi' is a FREE book! You don't have to pay anything for it. You can read it here or download a PDF. Hope this helps. www.starwarstimeline.net/The%20Heart%20of%20the%20Jedi.htm
Have you read Karen Traviss's Republic Commando series? I just got started on the first book, Hard Contact, and I don't see many people on TH-cam talk about it. If you have read it, what did you think of it?
Like all Legends books, I picked them up when they were coming out. I love K. Traviss (esp. her Mandalorians) but I left this series and the X-Wing for the last. I still have to go thru those but I'm sure I'll love them as I'm a huge fan of her work. Def. watch out for my reviews. I'll try to get to those next.
I honestly think it's not beneficial at all to separate the two at all. They're two sides of the same coin. Now, I would advise you START with either one to have a feel for it... and as you get more experienced and understand the overall chain of larger events, start moving from one to the other.
@@starwarstimeline not related to this but I was wondering if you were to have a bookcase of Star Wars books which out of the following would u chose 1. Alphabetical order 2. Release date 3. Chronological order 4. Something else
Sure, I can help you out. The first we want to identify is, do you mean the first book in relationship to Star Wars movies? Or literally the first book chronologically? If it's the latter, start with "Dawn of the Jedi". It's the novel (also has complimentary comics from Dark Horse) that focuses on the formation of the Jedi order.
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pin me 1000th view
Done deal. Haha, thanks for watching. Did you find any suggestions useful?
Yes the suggestion about favorite characters mine is annakin so I will start at phantom menace
I was genuinely expecting a video of an old guy ranting about how legends is the best but thank you for spreading a positive attitude to what people should consider when going into star wars books and canon in general. Great first video (for me) and will be watching more and checking out some of these books!
Lmao, well there's a heavy handed compliment there. (j/j) Thanks mate. It's all Star Wars to me and none of it was always/entirely great. Moreover no one else can tell you what is and isn't Star Wars. I say pick and choose from both and you'll be surprised what you discover.
@@starwarstimeline exactly! wish there were more people like you
@@Islaa247 Much appreciated. 🙏🏻😌
Why does it matter what’s canon or legends? Both have their ups, and downs I personally prefer more stories from legends but the only thing that matters is head canon imo. It’s up
to you to decide tbh
It's honestly a wonderful video. God bless you all ❣️
If you love the prequels and Palpatine I highly recommend the Darth Plagueis novel and Revenge of the Sith novelisation as well as Dark lord the rise of Darth Vader. Both epic novels.
I read the thrawn trilogy to start and it was phenomenal. The audiobook had music in the background and sound effects which made the whole experience bring me back to the magic of the original trilogy. Felt like a kid again. I’ll be checking out Master and Apprentice now. 🙌🏼 Thank you for the video 🙏🏼
My pleasure Jon, I just updated my list with a newer video recommending more books but Thrawn Trilogy is def. a great entrance point.
@@starwarstimeline Halfway through it already 🙌🏼
Nice!! Enjoy it.
I started with Thrawn trilogy audiobooks as well. I LOVED IT.
Ooooh, now I will get that trilogy on audible
I've started by reading the "From a Certain Point of View" anthologies, because I love the idea of having so many different voices tell the stories of the movies we know so well, but through different eyes, and different writing styles as well. This has given me a good idea of where I want to go once I finish them!
I've picked those up but haven't got to reading them yet. Hope you enjoy it!
Love your energy and expertise here! Perfect attitude and well said. This is an awesome guide and video and super appreciated as an oldhead dipping their toe into Star Wars novels. Canon or no good stories need to be read and cherished!
Appreciate the kind words!
I'm a lot younger I was born after attack of the clones in fact (before revenge of the sith but I was too young to see it when it came out). My first introduction to star wars was actually the Lego Star wars complete Saga which I loved. But I was always sad there were no female jedi who were important (there were shaak ti, luminara and aayla as bonus characters but not for any of the story missions). So when clone wars came out I was obsessed because finally there was a character who was like me in ahsoka. That was what made me fall in love with star wars.
My first star wars Book was a new dawn because I loved rebels from when it came out and now I've read most of the canon books and have just dipped my toes into legends with the jedi apprentice series and the original thrawn trilogy. Thank you for your legends recommendations! I want to read all of them someday but cloak of deception wasn't one that had caught my eye before so thank you for that!
Hi Emily, thanks for the kind words. I'm happy you enjoy both Canon & Legends.
Like yourself, I was extatic when we first saw Ahsoka on screen in 2008. After Leia, she was the first major breakthrough female character on-screen . I knew from the first episodes she is a great raw model for younger audience because she goes through all the emotional challenges and frustrations of being a teen. There's a beautiful realism to her character against this fantastical background.
I hope you'll find lots more to enjoy in the Legends books. There tons of interesting stories and characters to explore. I can only imagine the "feels" you'll experience once you get into Mara Jade! =)
Straight to the point, awesome.
I am a star wars fan but similar to you, i didn't know there was a whole world of books. I recently went to the library and found one, i forgot which one i had seen, but i was like omg i didn't know this. So i looked into it so i could find were to start and I didn't find any useful resources until i watched this Vid of yours. Definitely gonna watch some more of you videos to learn a bit more before i start reading. Thanks for the information, really appreciate it. 👍
Glad you found this video useful. There's tons of resources to check out there. Usually when you pick up EU books in their original bindings you'll see a full reading order list. Very helpful if you want to situate yourself in the timeline.
This is so helpful!!! I can’t wait to get into Star Wars. I’ve watched the movies so many times as a kid. But I’ve been wondering about the universe beyond the movies. And I am definitely eager to get into it.
Glad you found the video useful! There are tons of good books to start with.
As someone who saw Star Wars in 1977 at the Drive In, what you said early on resonates - don't lose your stuff over Canon or not. Just have fun!
I still have 2 of the og Han Solo paperbacks. :)
That's awesome!! I'm looking into getting the original publication of that solo trilogy in mint condition. So far no luck.
THIS!!! This is the video I needed!!! Thankyou so much!
My pleasure. Hope this gives you a good starting point. Don't forget my updated video where I go over 30 Canon and Legends beginner books.
I am relatively New to the whole star wars universe... It started for me with the mandalorian and that made me more curious to the whole universe, and then watched the animated rebels and the Clone wars and from than on, I knew I had to see all the movies and now I am reading the books also. The first was Ahsoka by E.K.Johnston and the second was titled: From a Certain Point of View and that let me to the Thrawn trilogy, then I read by E.K Johnston the three Books about padmé: Queen's Shadow, Queen's peril and Queen's Hope and after that Master & Apprentice and now I am reading Bloodline by Claudia grey.... So I am well on my way, just criss-crossing through the galaxy far far away.....😀😃 And having fun along the way😊
Enjoy it. While there is no right way of approaching Star Wars franchise I would strongly encourage you explore both NEW and Legends content. Both have amazing stories to offer you.
@@starwarstimeline I will definitely do that, one book at the time☺😊
Thank you for your opinion good sir! I've never been a reader, but my love for Star Wars and thirst for more knowledge on this amazing universe has guided me to this video. I'm not disappointed with the result, great work!
Thanks for the kind words Adam. There's always so much to discover in the SW universe.
I'm new to all of this and the amount of info out there is a bit dizzying 🤣. Thank you for this video, it is very informative and helpful!
Appreciate your kind words. Let me know if you have questions where to start and I'll be glad to help out.
I randomly stumbled on a podcast talking about the book the last disciple, so I'm reading this atm. Great video, will read these recommendations
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. How are you liking The Last Disciple so far?
I remember during my elementary school days when I really had fun reading the novelization of Return of the Jedi, the one written by James Kahn based on the manuscript of the movie. Just to be clear, I was born in 1998 so I grew up watching the Prequel Trilogy for more than ten times on repeat.
In my perspective, Return of the Jedi was my number one novel that I completed every time I am about to enter my school's library and it was really engaging that I actually became obsessed with expanding my vocabulary.
In my opinion, I still consider the novels that are published from 2012 onwards to be canon TOGETHER with the Legends (Old Canon) as long as it is take place during the Prequel Trilogy, Clone Wars, Bad Batch, Rogue One, and the Original Trilogy.
However, the timeline after the events of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, I prefer the old canon because Luke Skywalker is always my favorite character and will always be my favorite Grand Master of the New Jedi Order, following the footsteps of Master Yoda himself.
I'm planning on adding Heir to the Empire and the Jedi Academy Trilogy into my book collection because I simply cannot stand the idea that they will just kill off Luke by replacing him with the Emperor's granddaughter as his successor.
Thx so much I need this!!! Excited to read them on my kindle!!
Glad you enjoyed this video. Yeha, kindle is the way to go. These days I keep my collection stored away in boxes and mostly read from kindle.
I actually read Darth revan first. It made me read deceived, then the Darth bane series. Man reading those all together was such a great start
Very good selection. Since those weren't available around the time I started and I wasn't even aware of the Tales of the Jedi, the original Old Republic content, I always wanted to find out what happens to Luke and the gang after EP6. So Truce at Bakura was my first entry. Still have fondest memories reading it.
I just started reading star wars books and I started with darth bane: path of destruction. In my opinion it as an amazing book and definetly recommend it (just bought the other two books in the trilogy). Especially if you want to know more about the history of the sith. If you've read it, what are your opinions on it? As a book and as a first star wars book.
Not only Darth Bane trilogy is one of the very best in the franchise, it will also be very hard to top. Drew Karpushyn of the Knights of The Old Republic fame is a heck of an author. I love everything the man does. Are you a fan of the video games?
@@starwarstimeline Love the first one, but I never really finished the second one. Got sidetracked, but I started playing it again after I finished path of destruction.
Looove those books. The Bane trilogy is too epic. I’m still yet to read original Thrawn trilogy though! I have to read them.
Wonderful information, most importantly though I like the sentiment... don't forget to have fun :)
Glad you found it useful. There's just so much Star Wars to enjoy for everyone no matter where you come from.
Really helpful vid mate!
Thanks L, glad you found it useful))
You have such a great collection!! I'm jealous..
Appreciate it. I think we time and patience you can score a full set of these books as well. Just look out for bulk sale son E-bay.
Hey man, I'd like to say thanks for sharing this :)
I've never read ANY Star Wars novels but I'm excited to get going, so this was perfect. Thanks :)
My pleasure. Hope you find a great book to start with for yourself.
@@starwarstimeline Thanks :)
I had my eyes on Shadows of the Empire before this and the Thrawn trilogy :)
@@Wabin22 You can't go wrong with either one. Both fantastic choices and good starting points.
@@starwarstimeline Thanks for your input :)
The X Wing series I've also had my mind on, so I will have to see which to start with :)
Honestly, I picked up Master and Apprentice on a whim, and I could not have been happier with how I spent that B&N gift card!
Yeah, such a great look at the relationship between Masters and their students, with all the hardships and drama that comes with it.
@@starwarstimeline Not to mention how it re-contextualizes Qui-Gon and the Jedi Council’s antagonism.
I’m in my 40s and the first Star Wars book I read is Shadow of the Sith and it was … meh. I kinda wish I knew what I was doing before buying that book. I read an article on line which peaked my interest. That is how I picked up SotS. I about gave up thinking all Star Wars books were slop like that one but a friend referred me to Light of the Jedi and now I’m hooked! I really enjoyed that book and I’m about finished with the Rising Storm! I listen to the audiobook as I follow along in the book and I’m enjoying this experience! After watching this video, and once I’m done with the High Republic novels I will be reading the suggested books you presented. Thank you for this video! I appreciate it. Subscribed.
Thanks for your kind words! Remember, both Legends & Canon novels are written by a diverse group of talented authors. Not all of them will be up your alley. Don't be discouraged by that. There were many books fans find "cheesy" that I LOVE while critically acclaimed titles I deemed boring (Darth Plaguies for example). A lot will depend on personal perference. Check out my updated recommendation video where I go over 30+ books for beginners. I'm sure you'll find something to enjoy and don't forget to have fun!
Thank you for putting in the effort to make these videos! I really enjoy your videos
It's my pleasure Rachel, glad you are enjoying the videos.
Loved this video, thank you! A great intro video and reminder to have fun!
This year I've absolutely loved diving into rewatching the films & some of the series and just starting to enjoy acquiring and reading the books! I've picked up a few of the books that you mentioned so I'm even more excited to read them! I'm currently reading the first edition hardback of Phantom Menace I picked up from a thrift store and loving it!
Nice! I've yet to read the movie adaptations myself but I hear great things about them. There's just so much to discover from both Legends and Canon
I'm about to order the master and apprentice book and I'm really looking forward to it. thank you for helping, I was so confused on where to start
My pleasure. Enjoy the book!
Great video. Lovely perspective on both canon and legends.
Glad you enjoyed it. We as fans shoud enjoy both sides of the EU as each one has a lot to offer.
Yes. Very balanced. 👍
Thank you for your great recommendations. Decided to go with Heir to the Empire and the Kenobi Legends novel for my first Star Wars books. Really looking forward to reading them. After that I might pick up Light of the Jedi
My pleasure. Enjoy it.
Thank you for the recommendations!
My pleasure!
Great video thank you for the recommendations, I’m currently reading I,Jedi at the moment and loving it. Stackpole’s writing is really working for me. This is My first Star Wars book since reading the Zahn trilogy many years ago. I was considering reading the new Jedi order series next because I’ve heard very good things about it.
Glad you're enjoying I, Jedi. I would hold off on NJO series. There are several prerequisite readings to get the most emotional impact out of the NJO. Namely read Jedi Academy Trilogy, Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy, Corellian Trilogy, and I highly recommend K.J. Anderson's Young Jedi Knights series. This will help you understand all the cast in NJO and really experience their growth and drama in the latter books.
@@starwarstimelineWow thank you so much for the additional recommendations I really appreciate that. I subscribed to your channel, and I’ll be sure to read those first before diving into NJO. I,Jedi has really rekindled my love for the Star Wars universe and it’s all I want to read at the moment.
Have fun! And thank you for the sub.
This guy deserves more followers
Appreciate the kind words!
Wow thank you so much!! This video was so informative, explained simply and nonbiasedly. You helped answer my questions that I'd googled a billion times and never found or understood the answers to.
Hey, any time Daisy. If you like, I made an updated video with 30+ beginner book recommendations for both Legends & Canon.
@@starwarstimeline Hey, thank you! I saw that video on your channel earlier and have popped it into my watch later 😊
@@technodaisy18 Enjoy it. Let me know which books stood out for you.
I'm considering too start with the Darth bane books
You won't regreat it. Those are unanimously beloved books by old fans and new. Plus, you don't have to read anything prior to that. Excellent entry point and you get some of the best SW storytelling ever!
Thank you. Really want to get into Star Wars books and this video has helped 👍
My pleasure. I updated my list with a newer 30+ book recommendations. Check it out.
Very helpful. I'm just now getting into Star Wars and felt pretty intimidated as far as the books go. This answered all my questions. Thank you.
My pleasure Theodore. I made an updated video also with 30+ book recommendations both Canon & Legends. Check it out if you have time. You'll find more ideas where to begin.
Thanks you, for such great recommendations. I just ordered the Ahaoka book and I’m so excited to get it. After I have read that I will for sure get the “Master and Apprentice” book. Great video👍
Thanks, check out my latest video as well where I cover over 30 beginner books. th-cam.com/video/B3TjWgmwUCs/w-d-xo.html
Awesome, thank youuuuu, this helped me so much!
I'm glad you find my video useful. Check out my latest updated video with 30+ recommendations here: th-cam.com/video/B3TjWgmwUCs/w-d-xo.html
I just found out there were books. I grew up with the original trilogy and have always been a fan. But after Harding the sequels as much as I do, my kids actually told me about the legend story and that it was cannon but now it’s not. I was very confused but interested. So Im trying to do some research to see where I should start because I found there are so many books, seems like hundreds. I’ve watched a couple other videos but your explication has helped me the best. So thank you.
Thank you for the kind words Michele. The shortest explanation is, every book, comic, and other media published before 2012 is Legends. There so many great stories there. But also don't be afraid to check out the new books. Even if you didn't enjoy the sequel trilogy there are plenty of amazing stories to read.
I just got Heir to the empire and also picked up the first canon Thrawn book and dark disciple!
Nice. Enjoy it. Both are excellent choices.
The first Star Wars book I've ever read was Shadows of the Empire. It's a great starting point if you like the Original Trilogy, and it really pays off if you can find the comic series too. Cloak of Deception was a great tip, and can lead into the Darth Plagueis book, which is also always remembered.
Shadows of the empire was one of the first books I read and I love it to this day!
I found Xizor such a fun character.
I'm currently in the middle of catching up with all the Star Wars animated shows, only about half way through The Clone Wars so when I decided to check out some of the novels I didn't want to get into anything which might tie into that to much so I opted to pick up Lost Stars. Not finished it yet, but so far it has been a great stand alone story for anyone familiar with episodes 4-6. Light of the Jedi and the High Republic series might be the next on my list while I'm still catching up on the animated shows.
Oh wow, glad you're watching TCW. I love that show so much. Once you're finished you'll discover so many awesome Clone Wars era related novels in both Legends & Canon!
Cloak of Deception! Yes! I feel like the only person who liked that one. Great selection. Been reading SW since 1991 with Heir to the Empire, and I have read, I’m guessing, 85% of Legends. The books I have been recommending to people the most is Lost Stars and Kenobi by John Jackson Miller. I have most of new Canon and a lot of it is fluffy inconsequential “tie-in to the new movies/programs” that really don’t do, say or change anything for the better. I wasn’t as high on Master and Apprentice or Light of the Jedi as you were. Of new Canon I also recommend Ahsoka, and a few others that I am curious if you’ll recommend in future videos.
Things I ask people who ask me about where to start reading Star Wars is how familiar with SW they are, and what kind of reader they are, as that might determine if they want a one-shot or a trilogy. No reason to recommend, for example, the excellent XWing books to people who are not wanting to read multiple titles or about too many characters they don’t know. A one-shot like Scoundrels would give them a fun light story; Kenobi a wonderful character study - that book is essentially a western, after all; Bloodline is a great Leia story.
I loved most Clone Era novels. Some are obviously better than the other but they always added something interesting to the larger world of SW
This was incredibly helpful! Thank you!
Glad I could help, let me know if you got any specific questions.
Great info sir! I was wondering if you had recommendations that get into the history of the sith/jedi conflict? I love the idea of saber-weilding force users getting into mischief and battles
Hi Thomas. If you enjoy comics I would highly recommend the "Tales of the Jedi" series. It's a marvelous, sweeping tale of Jedi vs. Sith that served as origin and inspiration to the popular BioWare video games "Knights of the Old Republic". It features some of the most powerful, ruthless Sith Lords of all time and beautiful stories of betrayal and redemption. I can't recomend it enough to fans who want to see some of the earliest conflicts. starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Tales_of_the_Jedi
@@starwarstimeline sounds awesome thanks!
Great video. I had just started reading Lost Stars. The book is AMAZING so far. I'll be sure to check out Master and Apprentice next.
That’s great, It’s one of my all time favorites!
I loved Lost Stars, took me years to finish it because of circumstances and it felt funny kinda relating that every time I picked it up, the characters and I would be older.
Thank you for the video man
Mypleasure Andrey! Hope you found your next Star Wars book to read. There are so many great ones!
I love the message of this video! Just love the universe that you fell in love with when you first watched Star Wars. I keep trying to tell myself that even though I was disappointed with the Sequel trilogy. I am looking forward to all the books and comics that I will read
Trust me, I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the amazing EU Clone Era novels that made Prequels more enjoyable for me. Time smoothes things over and all the new content will perhaps give you a new insight into Sequels someday. Sequels aren't perfect but neither were prequels. I'll tell you one thing. The only Star Wars movie that brought me back to my 80's childhood was The Last Jedi. Nothing could ever be more relatable than seeing my childhood Hero stumbe, fall, and come back with vengeance swinging the noble Jedi way from the hip!! I haven't seen a more noble Luke than this.
Great video! I appreciate this! Thank you.
My pleasure. What was your favorite part of the episode?
This was a great video.
I haven't read any stories but intend to. I have listened to the Darth Bane trilogy which I love deeply
Darth Bane is a fantastic trilogy. If you're into that Old Republic era at the moment I highly recommend you check out the original Dark Horse "Tales of the Jedi" comic series (MARVEL has a reprinted version of it). It's the origin of the Old Republic from which BioWare KOTOR games and Bane trilogy took a lot of inspiration from.
@@starwarstimeline that definitely sounds like a great "jumping off point" for my SW lore (canon or legends).
I was introduced to SW through the prequels but love all trilogies. That is taking into consideration their intended audiences.
If I wanted to jump into some amazing storytelling regardless of era what would you recommend? Like something that emboldens love for SW.
I highly recommend the original Thrawn Trilogy. It stands the test of time as the definitive SW book trilogy. Long before prequels were even announced, many fans regarded them as the sequels to the original saga, and for a good reason.
@@starwarstimeline I'll definitely have a look at them so. Thank you for the help. May the force be with you ✌️
@@emmettenglish1537 Likewise.
Love the video. Do you have a timeline for the books in visual form...so if we shop/look for books we can look at the book title and see where it is on the timeline?
Thank you for the kind words. Yes I do. Check out my revized recommendation list. I have a graphical representation for both LEGENDS & CANON. You will also find the same graphic on the inside sleeve of every Legends book you purchase to guide you through. th-cam.com/video/B3TjWgmwUCs/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for this, man!♥️👍 (My favorite take-away from this video 14:38-14:52) I'm so glad Tolkien has original works that no has to wonder about concerning the legitimacy of, but this video is very interesting since I've heard many differing opinions from various acquaintances about the "Original Lore" of Star Wars. After so many new, post-modernistic/radical ideals having been injected into the newer films (and possibly books as well), I'm glad to know that there is an immense amount of *freedom for the reader* to begin reading wherever they wish with Star Wars' stories.
I wouldn't say thre are that many "post-modernistic/radical ideas" in New Canon. Most of the "contravercy" is perpetuated by angry TH-camrs who publish clickbait videos to make fans angry and spread out any lie to get clicks on their channels.
That's not to say the modern Canon isn't influenced at all by modern world views. But in my opinion, non of it is significant enough to disrupt your reading. That's why I enjoy the new books. Most of them are concerned with good writing and storytelling. I haven't read a single book that was solely based on a political message. I'd be the first person to jump the ship in that instance as I really don't care to be lectured old told what to believe.
@@starwarstimeline I don't know of the existence of specific books, but a coloring book even losely based on the film _The Last Jedi_ is already too much. And I believe it's pretty safe to say they've probably made a lot more than just coloring books. Although I suppose that's where the specific definitions and terminology become much more important, as well as what we mean when we say "New Canon" (if it refers only to written form or media as well).
@@starwarstimeline But you're absolutely right that far too many channels use it for cl¡c|{s and vi€ws.
I was a Ledges reader, i started buying random books but then found the chronology. So i got all the books from Truce at Bakuta to Fate of thw Jedi. The X-Wing and NJO stuff was my favorite but i loved the world building qnd new characters and even give a pass to the re-cons. I yavent read and of the the BBY stuff though or the cannon stuff
Have just ordered master and apprentice, waiting!
Oh boy, you're in for such a treat. Esp. if you're a big Prequels fan!! Let me know how you like it.
This video is a great idea, new fans join all the time and don't know what to read!
Thanks, I wanted to make this video for a while. I'm sure there's tons of more I could talk about in the future. Some fans may not even want to begin with novels, but comics?
Side note: YT keeps my channel unfollow yours for some odd reason. Sorry mate, just subbed again. Really weird bug I'm exp. with other Tubers as well.
Shouls i read the canon Thrawn trilogy or the legends one? Lovee your videos!
I would say start with the original Thrawn trilogy and move from there. It's still Tim Zahn's work and I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it all.
I'm from Brazil, and star wars books are pretty hard to find here, thank you so much for the nominations, now I know where to start!
It's my pleasure. Do you read the books in English? Hit me up on FaceBook. Maybe I can help you.
@@starwarstimeline Yes, I read in english, but thanks for offering help.
Contact me on our FaceBook group. I will help you with the books.
This video was so cool! It’s great to see what other SW fans read/listened to first. Outside of the movies, I mean.
My 1st books were Tales from Jabba’s Palace and Tales From Mos Eisley Cantina. I chose them because I liked the idea of giving a popular movie scene and giving it a ton of depth.
Now, when I watch A New Hope, I know half the people in the cantina!
I have yet to read that book lol
Awesome! Appreciate this🎉
Glad you enjoyed it. I have updated this video with the latest 30+ books recommendation. Hope you'll find that one as informative.
Hella respect for giving us your firsthand opinions and experiences
Appreciate your comment Jon.
Thank you! Very informative.
Glad you enjoyed it Orrenishi!
I completely agree.
You can jump between legends and Canon with little to no issues.
Half the time I don't know I'm reading canon until someone mentions Tacodana or Ashoka in passing.
Yeah, you can enjoy it without overthinking it too much. There will always be stories or characters that aren't for you.
@@starwarstimeline Easily one of my favorite things about Starwars, there's so much of it that there's bound to be something for anyone to enjoy.
Thanks for the great guide videos. I've been curious to see if the new High Republic stuff is worth checking out and it seems like it.
@@sofaking1627 I highly recommend it. It's a fantastic series in the best traditions of NJO.
I started with the films and series on Disney, now I’ve finished them all I began with reading high republic LOJ I’m half way through and really enjoying it.
That's great to hear. Have fun!
I love Heir to the Empire and Light of the Jedi. I’m reading only ebooks as it’s easier for me to read on both computer, tablet, and phone.
Same here. I love collecting physical books but I read them all digitally myself as it's more comfortable in most cases.
I recently picked up and already finished “the bounty hunter wars” book 1 “the mandalorian armor” and at last page it has the timeline starting from dawn of the Jedi all the way to crucible. I am very new to Star Wars but I love it a lot so far. However I find the old republic era very interesting. So I’m going to start from there and move forward in a chronological order. I loved the video and most likely not starting from the legends you suggested lol but I don’t feel as intimidated as I did when I picked up “the mandalorian armor”. It’s all for fun and entertainment!!!!
That's the best outlook really. I'm sure there will be some books you enjoy more than others but in general both timelines have excellent stories to enjoy. Check my updated vide recommendation list. I've upgraded it with more Canon and Legend books.
@@starwarstimeline awesome I will check it out!!!
This man has no bias to star wars fans
My only bias is good stories. LoL, I really don't care what side they come from, Legends or Canon.
@@starwarstimeline I meant like prequel, sequel, and original trilogy fans. I myself abhor the sequels. I didn’t know about this legends and cannon thing in Star Wars. I wanted to get into the books for the story and lore. That’s how I found this channel.
I love this 😍 Thank you and God bless 💓
I'm happy you enjoyed it. Stop buy for more book reviews and recommendations.
@@starwarstimeline Will do!
As somebody who is more of a comic reader than book reader, id be very interested to see a video similarly like this for the comics
Thanks. I might circle back and do one for the comics sometime.
I am reading the entire legends comics in chronological order rn. Then all the Legends Novels to fill in the blanks. I already played most of the games even the old games(Heir to the empire, knights of the old republic1 and 2, swtor, etc. and watched all movies/Shows. Then when legends is done which will take years. Then Canon comics and Novels will be aproached.
I would srpinkle a few novels in between your reading. You can mostly skip the new comics as they haven't truly added a substantive narrative (for the exception of a few good runs).
What books do I start to read once I've finished watching star wars the clone wars series??
From canon I would highly recommend Ahsoka (reads like an episode from TCW) and an absolute MUST read "Master & Apprentice". One of the best novels with Qui-Gon. From legends I 'd say you have more options. Darth Plaguies is hugely popular among fans but if you want to move away from popular characters and explore a new cast I highly recommend the Medstar Duology. It's some of the best military sci fi I ever read. Reads like a gritty mature novel (think Tom Clancey) set in the Clone Wars. Brilliant book!
It’s been so daunting getting into the books. I love starwars since I was a kid only having a bee hope on vhs but the books are so vast. I was reading one a while back about luck but lost the book and gave up
Let me know if you have any questions. It's really not as daunting as it may first seem. I could set you up with a beginner list in Legends or Canon and you'll be enjoying it in no time.
I agree with u i bought dark disciple in January this year and still haven’t finished it but just keep on trying to read the book they get good eventually
@@starwarstimeline sure I’ll try what ever one you think is best I did down load the audiobook for master and apprentice and started it. If that helps you help me
@@14cudakid Do you want to start with Legends or Canon novels? Also do you have a favorite time period or characters you want to begin with?
@@starwarstimeline cannon I guess I’m a big fan of obi.
I'm a big fan of Star Wars as well, especially the tv shows like Clone wars and Rebels. I read the book of Ahsoka, and tought "wow, reading star wars is cool, it gives a lot more details about culture of the different worlds". But here I am, wanting a book where I get to meet new characters, not the old usual ones like Luke, Leia, Obi wan and all. Do you have a recommendation of book with completely new introduced characters ?
You MUST read Lost Stars by Claudia Gray. She createst some of the best, layered characters that you root for throughout her stories. No fans, old or new should be w/out that book. Also highly recommend Battlefront 1/2 books. It's right up your alley with all new but memorable cast.
@@starwarstimeline Ooooh okay thank you I will look into it right now ! I think I could really appreciate these novels !
How about the comics im really interested but dont know where to start.
I'll be making a video sometime soon on that as well. From the Legends side you can't go wrong with Knights of The Old Republic comic based on the BioWare games but featuring all new cast during roughly the same time frame as the games. My absolute TOP Star Wars story outside of the OT is a series of books called "Tales of the Jedi" which chronicles the golden age of the Sith and their downfall. Brilliant storytelling with timeless characters. Modern comics I highly suggest Kanan: The Last padawan if you're a fan of the TCW or Rebels TV shows.
@@starwarstimeline thank you
@@anakinpimpwalker Any time.
Great video! You now have a new subscriber. I really liked what you said at the end, at the end of the day we are reading and consuming Starwars to have fun. People should stop taking it so seriously. The first Starwars book I read was Lost Stars by Claudia Gray, I am glad you recommended that as a good starting point. Right now I am reading The Light of The Jedi by Charles Soule and thinking about what to read next, I will take into consideration what you said in this video. Thanks again!
Thank you for the kind compliments. Book recommendation is the reason I started this channel. Check out my updated recommendations with over 30 books from both canon and legends. It will give you ideas what to jump on next from the High Republic.
what book do i read after master and apprentice
I love master and apprentice :) but my fav charachter is raven also i mostly read audiobooks
Revan is awesome. I love his books and KOTOR story)
Darth Bane trilogy is a good start!
Absolutely. The Old Republic lore is rich and exciting and thankfully you don't have to play any of the video games to enjoy the trilogy's story.
Literally needed this thank you man just subbed!!!! any opinion on jedi lost?
My pleasure. I haven’t read that one yet so I can’t personally recommend it but my friends say it’s really good as an audio book.
@@starwarstimeline Awesome thanks man!!!
See now this a guy I believe has actually read the books he talks about. Subscribed. Also do you recommend any Dark side novels I’m a Dark side guy. I forgot how much fun Star Wars is an was.
Haha, thanks. I appreciate the kind words. There are plenty of great Dark Side novels. My first recommendation would be the "Bane Trilogy" 1. Path of Destruction. 2. Rule of Two 2. Dynasty of Evil. Those are available on Amazon or any other retailer (consider the original covers or the new Essential Reissues with slick new covers). This trilogy is regarded among the best in the franchise. If you feel like starting off with a single novel, check out Revan. Another great single book (even though the story continues in consequent novels, sort of). Both Revan and Bane trilogy are set in the days of the Old Republic.
Just finished Revan and 2/3 through The Rule of Two. Revan was sick. I had to order his six inch figure. Darth Bane is such an interesting character. Super fun reads. I bought thee Thrawn trilogy and the Thrawn book. I know the trilogy came first it was thinking I’d read the new because it’s more of an origin story. Darth Plagues is on its way from Amazon lol
I started with my fav characters: Revan and darth plageuis
Yeah, that's a great way to get started. Just pick characters you enjoy and expand from there.
Great video I only started when light of the Jedi came out
Wow, so you have a whole world to discover! I'm jealous of you haha. You can enjoy the EU for decades to come.
@@starwarstimeline yeah man, I’m gonna read all canon books then want to get into the legends of old republic and the Mara jade stuff
No better place to start than Thrawn trilogy since it's where Mara is first introduced. You're gonna have a blast with it!
Our son (6) loves star wars, hasn’t seen any of the movies yet as i think he’s still too young but he loves Star Wars Lego. We want to start reading longer novels to him at bed time. Would you say any of these are ok to read to a child his age or would you say the content isn’t appropriate?
I saw it when I was 7 but that was 80's. If your boy hasn't seen ANY movies yet I'd start him with "The Clone Wars" or "Rebels" animated shows. The Complete Skywalker Saga video game also goes through 9 films in a child-friendly, comedic style. From the books, TO BE SAFE start with young adult titles. CANON BOOKS: The 3-set of books focused on Han, Luke, & Leia, is a PERFECT starting point: The Weapon of a Jedi (Jason Fry), Moving Target (Jason Fry), Smuggler's Run (Greg Rucka) From Legends: The 14-book Young Jedi Knights by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta are IDEAL. Jedi Apprentice series is great starting point.
@@starwarstimeline thankyou so much for replying
@@kyleVanZan My plesure. Let me know if you'd like more suggestions.
The was a pretty good video covering cannon and legend. I myself like the old Republic era, and favorite character is Revan, and droid is HK-47 Assassin droid. Though, I'm in a tough spot. My niece wants to start reading the Skywalker saga books. I don't know what's the best selection to start and minimize the amount with after the book for episode 6 return of the Jedi. Some advice in the right direction would be greatfull.
Is she old enough to know the difference between the Canon and Legends books? As long as you can explain to her the idea of two separate stories there are several books to begin with. Also the age obviously factors in regards to content. If she's 10+ I'd say Begin with Truce at Bakura. Great action involving Luke and the story takes place right after Ep.VI Also I made a newer video with over 30 book recommendations. See if you find something there you like. th-cam.com/video/B3TjWgmwUCs/w-d-xo.html
Please do more videos like this on the books it was a great video
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'll def. make more of these free form videos where I talk about the books I loved.
@@starwarstimeline yeah cuz I love watching videos on books as I’ve just only got into them :)
I got you!
What would you say are some of the best clone wars books, ive always loved the prequels and especially tcw show and i wanna start reading star wars so i figured thats a good place to start, great vid btw!
Thanks. If you enjoy Mace Windu in TCW you'll love M. Stover's Shatterpoint. Cloack of Deception has fantastic political intrigue and Palpatine's machinations prior to EPI. Yoda: Dark Rendesvous is also really good where he intends to bring Dooku in. Now I love Kren Traviss but haven't read her Republic Commando 4 book series but I know for sure they're exceptional. Those would be good starting places.
Thanks
My pleasure Karol.
I love your comment about books that are Legends "So what? Big deal!" I completely agree. If it's a good Star Wars story, who cares? Just enjoy the fantasy.
Thanks Scott. It always a group of fans who know the least about Star Wars who claim they know the most and go around telling other's what's "true Star Wars". It's nonense. Each fan decides what stories are relevant to them.
I’m wondering.. After reading so many canon and Legends Books.. Will I not get confused with what stories are canon and which not?
Not at all. There are so many resources to help guide you. Just Google the title of the book you're reading and you'll automatically know if it's Legends or Canon. The more time you spend reading from each side and familiarizing yourself with major events and characters that carry on in multiple books, the more confident you'll feel.
Thanks for this video.
Glad you like it!!
Hey I was wondering if you could give me some advice on what book to read my favourite characters are Maul and Luke. My favourite era is the original trilogy but I would like to know more about the prequel era
I can get into greater detail if you join our FB group and we create a topic for you there but here's my short list. LEGENDS: 1. Truce At Bakura 2. Courtship of Princess Leia 3. Original Thrawn Trilogy 4. Jedi Academy Trilogy (in that order). Luke is my favorite character and I wanted to know what happens immediately after Ep.VI Truce at Bakura begins literally the next day and is one of the best EU books to date! The rest of the books in this list will give you a general overview what the New Alliance/Imperial remnan + all the heroes look like post Ep.VI
I've so far only read one book, but as a fan of Darth Maul you might find it interesting. My first star wars book was Darth Plagueis, by the amazing author James Luceno. It details the decades leading up to the Phantom Menace from the perspective of Darth Plagueis, the master of Darth Sidious. It goes deep into the tons of clever manipulation they enacted, and it does show Maul in a prominent capacity in the final stretch. I will not spoil exactly how, but I thought it was a very interesting take on what his story was. Personally, as an avid fan, though one who has stuck exclusively with the movies and shows until now, this book was the best starting point I could've asked for. It expertly sets up the prequel trilogy era, leading seamlessly into the Phantom Menace and even providing some minor insight to the era leading up to the Clone War at the very end, and still making a great story out of the restrictions it had. If you want to learn about the nuances of the prequel era, this is probably one of the best books for you. The attention to detail is like nothing I've seen and many of the books I'm getting soon are also written by our new lord and savior James Luceno.
Like I want to start with the first book, I’m new to reading the series
Go with either book I recommend here or in my lastest 30 book recommendation.
I’m jealous that you have got the hardcover for most books
I only started doing that with Canon books but for Legends, most of my set is paperbacsk. ))
Nice video man..hey Can you please recomend me some good Heavily Action packed noveles ..legends or cannon..please 🙂
Hi. Thanks for your kind words. If you want a good action packed story from CANON, I suggest Battlefront: Twilight Company and it's sequel Battlefront: Inferno Squad. For legends, there is no better book to start than the Original Admiral Thrawn Trilogy. Those books are Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command.
I just ordered yesterday :Star Wars from the adventures of luke skywalker. I think it is the first Star Wars book ever written. It was written 6 months before the first movie so it was first published in 1976 . I am so exited and I can't wait to read it. Have you ever read it, and was it good? :)
Hey Michael. My understanding is you're reffering to "Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker" which is basically the novelization of the original film. Yes, I believe it's the first SW book ever published followed by "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" by the same author Alan Dean Foster.
@@starwarstimeline Yes that's the book i meant. I was wondering if you've read it and if you liked it :)
-and thanks for answering :))
@@michaelmacho6980 Nope, I'm saving the Star Wars movie novelizations for the last. After I finish my last Legends book then I'll def. go to those.
My cousin sandra picked up a bunch of star wars books and brought them home for me. I started with vision of the future, not knowing that it came after specter of the past. Lol.
That's fine. Sometimes navigating your way around it can be a fun experinece as well. LoL, fans get so preoccupied with proper chronology so much they forget to have fun with it)))
Is there a way to get into comtact with you regarding a question on a boom before purchasing. I hate to list it in messages because i am sure it will sell then before i can get it. I just dont want to spend the money before talking to someone with knowledge on it.
Feel free to post your question in our FaceBook group and I'm sure we'll be able to help.
"The Heart of the Jedi' is a FREE book! You don't have to pay anything for it. You can read it here or download a PDF. Hope this helps. www.starwarstimeline.net/The%20Heart%20of%20the%20Jedi.htm
@@starwarstimeline yeah i prefer to read regular books i usually dont read online, but thank you.
Have you read Karen Traviss's Republic Commando series? I just got started on the first book, Hard Contact, and I don't see many people on TH-cam talk about it. If you have read it, what did you think of it?
Like all Legends books, I picked them up when they were coming out. I love K. Traviss (esp. her Mandalorians) but I left this series and the X-Wing for the last. I still have to go thru those but I'm sure I'll love them as I'm a huge fan of her work. Def. watch out for my reviews. I'll try to get to those next.
Would u say it’s better to read canon before legends
I honestly think it's not beneficial at all to separate the two at all. They're two sides of the same coin. Now, I would advise you START with either one to have a feel for it... and as you get more experienced and understand the overall chain of larger events, start moving from one to the other.
@@starwarstimeline not related to this but I was wondering if you were to have a bookcase of Star Wars books which out of the following would u chose
1. Alphabetical order
2. Release date
3. Chronological order
4. Something else
i want to start reading them i want to go from the first book in the timeline can anyone help? what is the first book?
Sure, I can help you out. The first we want to identify is, do you mean the first book in relationship to Star Wars movies? Or literally the first book chronologically? If it's the latter, start with "Dawn of the Jedi". It's the novel (also has complimentary comics from Dark Horse) that focuses on the formation of the Jedi order.
@@starwarstimeline i’m after the first book chronologicaly. will definitely give that book a read. thank you so much for the help