SerpApi.Org
Star Wars is a film franchise first and foremost, but novels have always been key to its identity. Before series like Star Wars: The Clone Wars, it primarily fell to written works to keep the Star Wars brand thriving between film installments. All Star Wars novels published before Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 are now considered part of the non-canon Legends continuity, but that still leaves dozens of canon stories from the past 14 years.
Like any form of art, novels are subjective, so one reader may love a Star Wars book that another hates. Despite that, a few novels are widely considered some of the best pieces of storytelling in the entirety of Star Wars canon. Avid fans of the franchise owe it to themselves to experience these authors' contributions to the galaxy far, far away.
Master & Apprentice Set the Stage for the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy
Master & Apprentice, written by Claudia Gray in 2019, explored a section of the Star Wars timeline that often goes overlooked by canon material. It was set in the year 40 BBY, nearly a decade before the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. The novel followed Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi amidst a political dispute on the planet Pijal, which was ruled by Rael Averross, a former student of Count Dooku.
Gray displayed an excellent understanding of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan as characters. Master & Apprentice showed how the duo's contrasting personalities and opinions on the Jedi Council gave rise to conflict despite the immense respect that they held for one another.
The Clone Wars cartoon did wonders for developing most of the characters from the Star Wars prequels, but Qui-Gon did not receive this treatment since he died in The Phantom Menace. Master & Apprentice was able to invest readers in the relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, rendering the former's ultimate fate all the more tragic.
Lost Stars Offered a Fresh Perspective on the Galactic Civil War
The 2015 young adult novel Lost Stars, also written by Gray, was the author's first foray into the galaxy far, far away. Set between the years 6 BBY and 5 ABY, this story depicted the struggle of the original Star Wars trilogy through a new lens. The novel focused on original characters: a pair of TIE fighter pilots named Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell.
As the Galactic Civil War unfolded, one remained loyal to the Galactic Empire while the other defected to the Rebel Alliance. Though not as dark as the later Andor series, Lost Stars tackled similar themes of propaganda and revolution, underpinned by a classic tale of star-crossed lovers.
Gray humanized the Imperials through their reactions to events such as the destruction of the Death Star during the Battle of Yavin. Lost Stars was a fascinating exploration of the Galactic Civil War's moral complexity, grounded by the relatable interpersonal drama of its protagonists. The fact that this was Gray's first Star Wars novel made it all the more remarkable.
Shadow of the Sith Reunited Two Classic Star Wars Heroes
2022's Shadow of the Sith faced the difficult task of tying in to the highly divisive Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker, but author Adam Christopher rose to the challenge. Set in 21 ABY, about halfway between the original and sequel trilogies, Shadow of the Sith revolved around Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian contending with a resurgence of Sith cultists.
Shadow of the Sith retroactively improved The Rise of Skywalker by detailing Exegol, Ochi of Bestoon, the Sith dagger, and other concepts that were introduced in the film with little explanation. Beyond filling holes in the sequels' lore, Shadow of the Sith was a highly enjoyable story in its own right.
Compared to Star Wars' Legends continuity, there have been surprisingly few canon stories about Luke's adventures after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. Further, Luke and Lando barely interacted in the films, so Shadow of the Sith was able to explore a relatively fresh dynamic between the heroes of the original trilogy.
Bloodline Placed Princess Leia at the Center of a Political Thriller
The 2016 novel Bloodline is heralded by many as Gray's best work in the Star Wars franchise. It followed Leia Organa as she navigated the politics of the New Republic in 28 ABY, six years before Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens. As is so often the case for Star Wars stories, Bloodline focused on the theme of family, hence its title.
When the galaxy learned that Leia was secretly the daughter of Darth Vader, public opinion turned against her despite all she had done for the Rebellion and the Republic. This shocking revelation also pushed Leia's son towards the Dark Side, beginning Ben Solo's transformation into Kylo Ren.
Bloodline was one of the first major stories that attempted to bridge the gap between the original and sequel trilogies. It provided important context for The Force Awakens regarding the state of the galaxy and of individual characters. Such a politics-heavy story will not be for everyone, but it is a must-read for those who enjoy the inner workings of the galaxy far, far away.
The Thrawn Series Explored One of Star Wars' Most Compelling Villains
By far the most popular novels in Star Wars canon are those from Timothy Zahn's Thrawn series. Zahn created Grand Admiral Thrawn to serve as the antagonist of his beloved Legends novel Heir to the Empire. Though Disney struck that story from canon, Zahn was given a chance to return to the character of Thrawn, this time as the protagonist of two trilogies.
Of the six canon Thrawn novels, the fan-favorite is the original installment from 2017. Simply titled Thrawn, this story took place between 15 BBY and 2 BBY, leading up to the events of Star Wars: Rebels' third season. It followed Thrawn as he climbed through the ranks of the Empire, overcoming the adversity faced by non-humans under Emperor Palpatine's regime.
Zahn struck a perfect balance of making Thrawn a sympathetic character without contradicting his evil portrayal in other media. Though he was cold, calculating, and at times, cruel, most readers could not help but root for such an intelligent and charismatic villain. Some fans were disappointed by the Ahsoka series' take on Thrawn, and that is due in large part to the high bar that this novel set.
