Recommend reading the wrath of Darth maul afterward. The authors wrote them around the same time and there is some really good crossover. Some people viewed them as companion novels.
I think it is a good thing to remember, this is not homework and there isn't a test to prep for. 😆Fans can just read what they are interested in and not feel pressured to read "everything". Legends and EU are vast. Instead of viewing it as a mountain you must climb, look at it as a pool into which you can dive! And pop up with what makes you happy in hand. Or like a really extensive menu that you can order from. There's so much to enjoy that isn't "canon".
I just finished Rule of Two last night, and the Darth Bane trilogy is my introduction to Legends. I remember seeing the Star Wars books at Walden Books in the 90s and 00s when I was a kid. I always wanted to know what happened next, like you said. There are some good podcasts about Legends that have helped me get into the books and decide where I wanted to start.
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno was such a great read. It probably gives us our best grounded look at a younger, broken Vader. There's an entire chapter dedicated to the living hell of what it's like to wear the suit. Luceno's Darth Plagueis is also really great, especially after I watched The Rise of Skywalker, it really tied things together in a compelling dark story.
Not as a starting off point but the Tales anthologies (Mos Eisley Cantina, Bounty Hunters, and Jabba's Palace) are definitely worth reading for those who like the non-Jedi, regular people-type stories.
One of my favorite legend series was the 4 Republic Commando and the one Imperial Commando books. A great Clone Wars turning into the Empire series with some cool cameos and great characters
Plagueis and the OG Thrawn trilogy I think are must reads. Death Troopers is a great read if you’re looking for something gritty, brutal, and different. Shadows of the Empire is a great read and is extremely underrated.
I’m about 3/4 through “Dark Force Rising.” It’s fantastic. I like it even better than “Heir to the Empire.” Zahn was really trying to create something different, while familiar.
Courtship catches a lot of flack, but it made me laugh outloud and I really enjoyed it. It reminds me that SW can laugh at itself. ("Kiss my Wookie!" 🤣). The XWing books are fantastic!The Stackpole books? I remember just burning through them! Exciting reads!
Glad the Legends novels are being re-published and new printings, we have them coming up in UK too. I do honestly like a whole bunch of the new canon novels, particularly Claudia Gray's novels from early new canon and them doing a big story arc like High Republic, which I've mostly really enjoyed. But for them to re-print Legends stuff is great, particularly for fans younger than us (I'm 39, born the year after ROTJ, so some novels were a great bridge between first watching the OT on VHS in like 1990, and Phantom Menace arriving in 1999).
5:00 I think that novelisations (both the RotS one and novelisations) could be good starting points for those hesitant to start on Legends outside of video games since they're stories that people know the majority of and whether they like or dislike it, while at the same time getting the opportunity to have certain aspects expanded upon and to see the thought processes of characters.
So interesting you put out this video now. Back in October, I decided to finally start reading some of the Legends books I collected a few years ago, including the X-Wing series. I read the first 8 books and absolutely loved them. I plan on reading a ton of SW material in the coming year. I'm not sure you were aware of this, but audible is releasing a lot of unabridged legends books including X-Wing.
I would recommend Deceived too for people into Sith stories. It goes into depth about Sith politics of the Old Republic era and the philosophies of Darth Malgus regarding the Force.
I loved everything about the books now classified as Legends. Thrawn was always one of my favorite characters, I’m a huge fan of Mandalorians (so the Republic Commando books were awesome), and I thought the Vong were great. The X-Wing books were some of my favorite ones too…like I said, I loved it all 😂
Damn, good timing. I started my Star Wars journey with the 2008 Clone Wars when I was a kid and branched out from there to watch and read most of the canon stuff but was just thinking at work today it might be time to dive into Legends. love this video, I think i'll start with the Plagueis and Clone Trooper books tbh, love the Prequels
I read different parts of the EU growing up, but it's been years. It's funny this video dropped because I've been planning to start from the beginning next year
I just finished Rule of Two last night, and the Darth Bane trilogy is my introduction to Legends. I remember seeing the Star Wars books at Walden Books in the 90s and 00s when I was a kid. I always wanted to know what happened next, like you said. There are some good podcasts about Legends that have helped me get into the books and decide where I wanted to start. Yes, please go back to these books. Courtship of Princess Leia is one of my favorites and all of the Rouge Squadron series! The NJO series was awesome. It was the first series for me where I thought the good guys would actually lose. One of my favorite legend series was the 4 Republic Commando and the One Imperial Commando books. A great Clone Wars turning into the Empire series with some cool cameos and great characters Plagueis and the OG Thrawn trilogy I think are must-reads. Death Troopers is a great read if you’re looking for something gritty, brutal, and different. Shadows of the Empire is a great read and is extremely underrated. I totally agree, I recommend the Thrawn Trilogy audiobooks 👍🏻The thing is, when you start reading the Thrawn Trilogy you won't stop, you'll want to read the entire sequence after that. So interesting you put out this video now. Back in October, I decided to finally start reading some of the Legends books I collected a few years ago, including the X-Wing series. I read the first 8 books and absolutely loved them. I plan on reading a ton of SW material in the coming year. I'm not sure you were aware of this, but Audible is releasing a lot of unabridged legend books including X-Wing. The death in Vector Prime destroyed me as a teen. And the aftermath of the death was more heartbreaking. I tend to tune into a LEGENDS audiobook for bedtime. I’ve read a lot of the books you’ve recommended and they’re great picks. Some of the all-time greats. If you like OT, do the OG Thrawn trilogy. Prequels, Plagueis, or the ROTS novelization, it’s that good. Just started the Darth Vader trilogy. There is also the Thrawn Duology, Spectre from the Past, and Vision of the Future for those who really like Thrawn 5:00 I think that novelizations (both the RotS one and novelizations) could be good starting points for those hesitant to start on Legends outside of video games since they're stories that people know the majority of and whether they like or dislike it, while at the same time getting the opportunity to have certain aspects expanded upon and to see the thought processes of characters. I loved everything about the books now classified as Legends. Thrawn was always one of my favorite characters, I’m a huge fan of Mandalorians (so the Republic Commando books were awesome), and I thought the Vong were great. The X-Wing books were some of my favorite ones too…like I said, I loved it all 😂ending okay I still remember my first Star Wars novel read. Young Jedi Knights: Shadow Academy. A fun read. And now I'm wondering how many audiobooks exist for some of the older books for ease of reading them or listening in this case Though I technically haven't ventured into Legends yet since I haven't read any Legends books (but am getting the Heir to the Empire trilogy this Christmas along with some canon books such as most books from Phase 1 of the High Republic, the Ahsoka novel and Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy) this channel was definitely a big part in my growth as a SW fan. Damn, good timing. I started my Star Wars journey with the 2008 Clone Wars when I was a kid and branched out from there to watch and read most of the canon stuff but was just thinking at work today it might be time to dive into Legends. love this video, I think I'll start with the Plagueis and Clone Trooper books tbh, love the Prequels I would recommend the Star Wars Legacy comics for anyone craving stories several centuries AFTER ROTJ. Lots of interesting new characters I still remember my first Star Wars novel read. Young Jedi Knights: Shadow Academy. A fun read. And now I'm wondering how many audiobooks exist for some of the older books for ease of reading them or listening in this case Though I technically haven't ventured into Legends yet since I haven't read any Legends books (but am getting the Heir to the Empire trilogy this Christmas along with some canon books such as most books from Phase 1 of the High Republic, the Ahsoka novel and Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy) this channel was definitely a big part in my growth as a SW fan. Damn, good timing. I started my Star Wars journey with the 2008 Clone Wars when I was a kid and branched out from there to watch and read most of the canon stuff but was just thinking at work today it might be time to dive into Legends. love this video, I think I'll start with the Plagueis and Clone Trooper books tbh, love the Prequels I would recommend the Star Wars Legacy comics for anyone craving stories several centuries AFTER ROTJ. Lots of interesting new characters I think this is the first time I've heard such high praise for the RotS novelization... Or I guess really have no opinion about it at all. That definitely got my attention alongside Plageius. The X-Wing novels were some of my favorites. I think reading those will go a long way to understanding why Alex and so many others were hoping we'd get a Rogue Squadron film. Not a fan of the Vong and I've avoided most of those books, but once that conflict is over the books following it are good. And if you want something just plain offbeat, Splinter of the Mind's Eye is the Sequel to A New Hope That Never Was. Shadows of the Empire is another amazing entry point to Legends, thank you for this video, legends deserve more love I am on a quest to listen to/read all of the Legends and Canon novels in chronological order. I completed everything through Darth Plagueis in the Legends Timeline. Canon is a bit more difficult since they are still releasing High Republic novels, and some of them are earlier in the timeline than where I started. I started reading around 2017 when you got me interested in Thrawn. Started with the first canon Thrawn novel and have since read a bunch of Star Wars novels. I have read all six canon Thrawn novels, almost completely done with phase one of The High Republic, brotherhood, master and Apprentice and so many more. Might dive into some legends and stories around the holidays. I was never really a book reading kinda guy but in books, the storytelling is differently paced than in movies or shows and I love it! The Expanded Universe is a great reservoir of stories. If you want to read all of the Expanded Universe, I think reading books in order of publication is a great method. That way you get to see the EU evolve like it did for all of us who read the books as they came out. If you can't or don't want to do that, the EU series/books listed in this video are a good tip-of-the-iceberg starting point. Death Star was a pretty awesome book that follows some characters from some earlier Cline Wars legend books but ties in very nicely to a new hope. Also, for prequel trilogy fans I recommend Cloak of Deception. It takes place before Phantom Menace and is very good. Outbound Flight is also a very good Thrawn-related book that takes place during the prequel era Kenobi is a really good novel. It’s basically a Western that’s told from everybody but Obi-Wan’s perspective. The Expanded Universe is a great reservoir of stories. I totally agree, I recommend the Thrawn Trilogy audiobooks 👍🏻I was looking at that just now.
Just started the Darth Vader trilogy. There is also the Thrawn duology, Spectre from the Past and Vision of the Future for those who really like Thrawn
I’ve read a lot of the books you’ve recommended and they’re great picks. Some of the all time greats. If you like OT, do the OG Thrawn trilogy. Prequels, Plagueis or the ROTS novelization, it’s that good.
I have tried multiple times to get into the Darth Plagues novel, but it just doesn’t grab me. I don’t have much interest in Legends personally, but I’m glad people still find enjoyment in it.
Fair enough, Personally found the same for me in regards to Canon, it just lacks depth compared to the EU, But yet some people prefer that lack of depth oddly
I cannot recommend these enough: The epic Star Wars middle grade era of Jude Watson, wrapped up by Alex Wheeler - the series as follows: Jedi Appreciate, Jedi Quest, Legacy of the Jedi, Secrets of the Jedi, Last of the Jedi, Rebel Force. ❤❤❤
I think this is the first time I've heard such high praise for the RotS novelization... Or I guess really any opinion about it at all. Thats definitely got my attention alongside Plageius.
Honestly, my recommendation would be to pick a faction/character/setting etc, and branch out from there. It's how I got into Warhammer 40k. I started with the novel Dante, then Devastation of Baal, then Darkness in the Blood, and then just kinda Branched out from there. I've gone through over 30 WH40K books within 2 years. Audible is also a great way to learn about the lore of a franchise while you do other things. The same can be applied to star wars. My first star wars book I believe was Deceived. Then I went to the republic Commando books, and the star wars Republic commics. Basically, pick a person, faction, Era, etc, and branch out from there. May the Force be with you!
I was super into a bunch of Star Wars books growing up. I especially loved anything with Jacen and Jaina Solo (sorry if I misspelled their names it’s been awhile) and The Last Jedi series with Ferris Olin. I haven’t read Star Wars books in a few years, but I’m excited to get back into it. I have Darth Plagueis and the Ahsoka book to start me off. Thank you for the video and recommendations! 😊
I, for one, appreciate you covering Canon over Legends for two big reasons. One, it's just a lot to keep up with, and I don't have the free time I used to to read books (and I never read comics as a kid). And two, I feel like a large majority of Star Wars Lore RU-vidrs are focused on Legends; at least of the ones I watch, almost all of them besides yourself are consistently Legends barring the shows and occasional Canon content. But Legends does have a lot of great stories, I must agree. I liked the Jedi Academy Trilogy, and though it frightened me as I don't do zombies, Red Harvest was a good one as well!
Something interesting I realized is that two of the most prolific authors; Stackpole and Luceno, also wrote a lot for Battletech and Robotech respectively. Never read any of the Robotech stuff, but Stackpole's Battletech novels are 10/10.
So my first introduction to Legends was kind of funny as I was getting back into Star Wars due to the Old Republic MMO, I saw a book titled "Revan" and simply picked it up because it looked cool. Of course, legends was on its last legs at that time as the new canon was shortly arriving and haven't dived back since, but I do think I'll eventually give it another shot. Especially since what I want right now from the new canon is new era's, which the new canon really isn't offering outside of the High Republic.
The nineties Thrawn series was my first experience of a larger Star Wars universe too and I still go back to it every couple of years or so. I actually discovered the second novel (Dark Force Rising) before the first, and thought it had a very Empire Strikes Back-like quality. Similarly, it is probably my favourite of the trilogy. Anyway, thanks for the vid... I've just gone and purchased Darth Plagueis on your recommendation!
The death in Vector Prime destroyed me as a teen. And the aftermath of the death was more heartbreaking. I tend to tune into a LEGENDS audiobook for bed time.
I still remember my first Star Wars novel read. Young Jedi Knights: Shadow Academy. A fun read. And now I'm wondering how many audio books exist for some of the older books for ease of reading them, or listening in this case
Reading the thrawn trilogy now. I can't wait to get to the academy and jedi order stuff. Seeing Luke build a new order and seeing the next generation of jedi grow sounds so awesome. Wish that was sequel movies we got. The thrawn trilogy is sooooo good so far and I'm a little over half way tough dark force rising.
Shadow hunter and lockdown are really good. The clone commando books are amazing if you loved the 2005 game and wanted more. As said, Labyrinth of Evil, Revenge of the Sith (novel) and Darth Vader Dark Lord of the Sith are a trip, also an almost great Segway into Force unleashed
I just started getting into Star Wars books. It started as wanting to learn more about thrawn so I started with heir to the empire, the hand of thrawn, and thrawn trilogy. I have started to branch out, but so far only reading Zahn. I’m interested in adding some plagueis and the bane trilogy to my reading list.
I started reading around 2017 when you got me interested into Thrawn. Started with the first canon thrawn novel and since read a bunch of star wars novels. I have read all six canon Thrawn novels, almost completely done with phase one of the high republic, brotherhood, master and apprentice and so many more. Might dive into some legends stories around the holidays. I was never really a book reading kinda guy but in books the story telling is differently paced then movies or shows and I love it!
I'd say open up a Wookipedia article on a character from the time between Episode 1 and Episode VI, go to the "Legends"-tab and then follow any link you find interesting. It's how I started my deep dive into Legends. Followed by buying books and comics as well as playing games like Empire at War, KOTOR and SWTOR (in the cases of Empire at War and SWTOR, I still do the playing (well, a modded version of Empire at War called "Thrawn's Revenge", that is)) and watching RU-vid videos on certain characters and groups. Granted, it was back before the split into canon and Legends when "Legends" was just "the Expanded Universe" but I'd imagine it would still work.
I can't say you're the reason I picked up my first Star Wars Book, but your channel was the reason I got into The High Republic novels, which were my first Star Wars books since The Force Unleashed novels. I just finished the canon Thrawn Trilogy and while I want to continue with Phase 2 of the High Republic (yes, I'm really far behind), these Legends recommendations are incredibly tempting. I'll have to see if there are good audiobooks for them, since that's my preferred method of "reading" nowadays.
Thanks Alex! That's how I started out too, with the Thrawn Trilogy and then the X-Wing Squadron books. But "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" was my actual first read since it was hot on the heels of the first movie. Hooked ever since.
I wonder if there will be a followup video based on how to start reading Legends comics (even though original versions like Omnibuses seem hard to find and expensive). I reread the Clone Wars era Dark Horse Omnibuses earlier this year and plan to get Tales of the Jedi soon.
I mostly grew up with "The Clone Wars" since I am, as I would put it, fairly young when it comes to older legends books. I remember pretty well when I actually first saw Darth Maul in 2011 when I was five. Afterwards, I watched all the movies and, well, obviously, TCW. Read my first SW book, I think, in 2016 when this version with a new cover of "The Last Command" was released in my mother tongue. Got hooked to SW even more. Unfortunately, it was only until 2020 that I discovered the sheer vastness of Legends, and oh boy, have I ordered books since then. I got like 10+ Legends books still unread and just started a new one after finishing one. My absolute favorites are the Bane ones. Cannot wait to read them all!!
I am on a quest to listen/read all of the Legends and Canon novels in chronological order. I completed everything through Darth Plagueis in the Legends Timeline. Canon is a bit more difficult since they are still releasing High Republic novels, and some of them are earlier in the timeline than where I started.
Kenobi really is a good one. It's that serious toned-down story I think a lot of people were hoping for with the Obi-Wan miniseries. Granted I kind of like that miniseries but yeah the book is on a whole nother level. I'm glad its writer John Jackson Miller is coming back to SW next year. I would also throw in Tatooine Ghost. It's a good Leia novel for people who want to see her learn more about her grandmother and also her father. It's one of those books I didn't know I needed but yeah Leia uncovering Shmi's past and building up a growing admiration for her grandmother and also coming to terms with her father is something I think a lot of people would like to see.
I started with the revan series and am now reading bane. The dark side is soo much more interesting to me because the movies mostly focus on the good guys
Death Star was a pretty awesome book that follows some characters from some earlier cline wars legends books books but ties in very nicely to a new hope. Also, for prequel trilogy fans I recommend Cloak of Deception. It takes place before Phantom Menace and is very good. Outbound Flight is also a very good Thrawn related book that takes place during the prequel era
I’m reading the Jedi academy trilogy now. I got the first one at goodwill ages ago and I tried reading it a few times but didn’t get into it. Picked it back upup yesterday I’m in love with it. I just don’t think elementary school me was mature enough to pay attention to the political aspect and wanted some lightsaber duels haha
My favorite is the Darth Bane trilogy, especially Path of Destruction. Ki Adi Mundo's quote, "Impossible, the Sith have been extinct for a millennium." Is what made me want to read those books years ago and go back to read them.
I like the Republic Commando series and how it developed the Mandalorian culture. Was a shame when Clone Wars took them in a completely new direction, but have been so hyped that they have been pivoting back towards how they were in those books
I'd like to add the Phantom Menace novelization by Terry Brooks. It was the first 'adult' fiction I read of Star Wars and is by the author of the Shannara series.
The X-Wing novels were some of my favorites. I think reading those will go a long way to understanding why myself Alex and so many others were hoping we'd get a Rogue Squadron film. Not a fan of the Vong and I've avoided most of those books, but once that conflict is over the books following it are good. And if you want something just plain offbeat, Splinter of the Mind's Eye is the Sequel to A New Hope that never was.
I loved the New Jedi Order series but also haven't read it since it came out. Been thinking of doing a reread of the series, the only thing that has scared me off is how long the series is
If you want to read all of the Expanded Universe, I think reading books in order of publication is a great method. That way you get to see the EU evolve like it did for all of us who read the books as they came out. If you can't or don't want to do that, the EU series/books listed in this video are a good tip-of-the-iceberg starting point.
Just read the og Thrawn trilogy, and honestly I didn't like them nearly as much as the new Thrawn books. I think it's the disconnect between how those books talk about the clone wars and the force, and how they're portrayed in cannon now.
I think that either this or Doctor Who (especially the audios) are the two competitors for the most difficult franchises to enter the expanded universe for... also I'm not sure which is more expensive.
I can understand Doctor Who being hard just due to the very nature of how the character works but with Star Wars it's not complicated at all because each individual story is self contained enough that you'll get by jumping in anywhere.
@@mightheal True (although I think it can still be daunting when looking at the size of certain series for Legends, such as NJO having 19 books in it) and looking at the various Doctor Who audio dramas is incredibly overwhelming when there's at least 1 series for each Doctor and a dartboard worth of spinoffs... fortunately the quality is really high and listening to them makes me wish Star Wars did more audio dramas like Dooku: Jedi Lost.
